While the host (the U.S.) supplies filet mignon and his finest bottles of red wine, his guests (Rest of World) bring half-eaten Twinkies and stale Cheetos to share. Furthermore, the host tells the guests how honored he is that they attended his shebang, how his filet mignon tastes just like Cheetos, and, in fact, that Cheetos and Twinkies really are the preferred pot-luck contribution to any fine-dining event. After pumping up the greatness of Cheetos for some inordinate amount of time, he allows each guest the opportunity to speak on the greatness of Cheetos while also railing against the pretentiousness of filet mignon and fine red wine. When his guests depart after the party has concluded, the host bows and reiterates how supreme Cheetos really are.
That's what it feels like to be an American spectator during the United Nations General Assembly. What a pompous charade.
I don't know when Americans first started confusing elitism with exceptionalism, but it needs to end, now. In recent history, politicians and White House leadership have tried to marginalize what it means to be exceptional. Implying an egotism and self-interest not properly defined in the term, academically cheap and socially manipulative politicians have engineered a movement against the unique greatness of America. These folks would have you (and the rest of the world) believe that American exceptionalism means that we are better than other countries, and that this auspicious comparison creates undesirable geopolitical tension. This form of exceptionalism (to them) suggests that we would prefer to go it alone and damn the rest of the world.
Let me be clear (sound familiar), that is not exceptionalism. That is actually elitism. Elitism refers to pride in being a part of a favored group. People we deem to be elitist usually exhibit errs of being too good to associate with people of other socio-economic groups. Elitism discriminates on the possession and being of other members of their group. Like a ritzy version of Gangs of New York, elitists still believe that they too are a part of a certain group. They just don't want you in their group (unless you bring Twinkies and Cheetos to their elegant pot-luck dinner).
Elitism = Associated by what you have and don't have
Instead of defining identity within a certain group, exceptionalism compares actions against the norm. This implies that exceptional individuals, groups, and countries don't count themselves a part of any certain group (the way elitists do), they just insist on being distinguished from the acts of the status quo. Through excellence in achievement and steadfast action, exceptional people (and countries) elevate expectations for conduct and governance. They rise above the fray by commonly demonstrating uncommon behavior. This is what it means to be above the norm. This is the definitional truth of the term exceptionalism.
Exceptionalism = Differentiated by what you do and don't do
During future United Nations General Assemblies, American leadership should confidently accept this important distinction. As the single presiding superpower of the world, America naturally embodies the term exceptionalism. Therfore, instead of handing out participation trophies to all of our birthday party friends and championing their pot-luck Twinkies and Cheetos, let's call it like it is. Cool the hot air, speak softly and carry a big stick. Remain exceptional. Be great. America. #AmericanExceptionalism #ExceptionalismISgreatness
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