The metastatic cancer of slavery, genocide, misogyny and related ills have always distorted our high ideals, which were always aspirational, as we were among the first nations in the world to espouse and attempt to implement democracy. But not for all. Our white male largely 'Christian' founders included slave owners. Then the greed for land and wealth led to the displacement and slaughter of our Native Peoples over almost the whole span of our history, followed by the illegal seizure of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California from Mexico (Mexicans were brown skinned mestizos--people a mix of First Peoples, African ex-slaves and Hispanics, so this was apparently okay), and let's not forget that women could not vote or inherit property until modern times. We have aspirations to do better, but many among us aren't too anxious to do that if it means giving up their privileges as white male Christians.
We are a great nation precisely because we HAVE fought against racism and ignorance throughout our history. Sometimes, it seems to win for a while, but people are fighting hard now to get back on a path to greatness, through increased electoral, economic and social equality for all. The ongoing struggle and eternal vigilance are what history needs to describe. We would not be so great if it were easy.
"America is indeed special, but American history is pockmarked by oppressive racism. Both can be true. That’s not revisionist, it is realist." This "both can be true" seems to be the hardest part to grasp. Just like being being pro Palestinians and pro Jews. I think what really hurts us now is that our negatives are beginning to far overshadow our positives. Or maybe they always have. How do you weigh the good of pursuing democracy and equality against the bad of the atrocities we, as the Ugly Americans, have committed both at home and abroad? And still commit. Trump has shown we are not trustworthy, not honest, won't fulfill our promises, keep our treaties, fight with our allies, defend democracy. Now THAT'S exceptional.
The metastatic cancer of slavery, genocide, misogyny and related ills have always distorted our high ideals, which were always aspirational, as we were among the first nations in the world to espouse and attempt to implement democracy. But not for all. Our white male largely 'Christian' founders included slave owners. Then the greed for land and wealth led to the displacement and slaughter of our Native Peoples over almost the whole span of our history, followed by the illegal seizure of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California from Mexico (Mexicans were brown skinned mestizos--people a mix of First Peoples, African ex-slaves and Hispanics, so this was apparently okay), and let's not forget that women could not vote or inherit property until modern times. We have aspirations to do better, but many among us aren't too anxious to do that if it means giving up their privileges as white male Christians.
We are a great nation precisely because we HAVE fought against racism and ignorance throughout our history. Sometimes, it seems to win for a while, but people are fighting hard now to get back on a path to greatness, through increased electoral, economic and social equality for all. The ongoing struggle and eternal vigilance are what history needs to describe. We would not be so great if it were easy.
"America is indeed special, but American history is pockmarked by oppressive racism. Both can be true. That’s not revisionist, it is realist." This "both can be true" seems to be the hardest part to grasp. Just like being being pro Palestinians and pro Jews. I think what really hurts us now is that our negatives are beginning to far overshadow our positives. Or maybe they always have. How do you weigh the good of pursuing democracy and equality against the bad of the atrocities we, as the Ugly Americans, have committed both at home and abroad? And still commit. Trump has shown we are not trustworthy, not honest, won't fulfill our promises, keep our treaties, fight with our allies, defend democracy. Now THAT'S exceptional.
So much information to digest. I can see a lot clearer now!
1984 is here.