The International Herald Tribune setting up an e-mail exchange on "American Exceptionalism" among seven writers and professors. This is a sampling of what they had to say:
Michael Barnett, professor of political science, University of Minnesota: "I'm disgusted with the American political discourse at the moment. We have not even begun the process of acknowledging just how much pain and destruction we Americans have caused with our foreign policy."
David Rieff, author: "(This) America is as arrogant as it is complacent. Adherence to the idea of American exceptionalism is simply incompatible with a constructive role for the United States."
Andrew Moravcsik, professor of politics, Princeton University: "The truth is we are truly exceptional. With few exceptions, other democracies neither want our political or economic institutions nor wish to export their own to other countries."
Stephen Heintz, president, Rockefeller Fund: "If we Americans cling to notions of unipolar dominance, the country is certain to fail."
Author Amitav Acharya, who seems to love the America that most of us do, puts it more plainly than the professors: We have lost our way -- and a lot of friends and credibility.
[Excerpt of an Opinion piece by Richard Reeves, Yahoo News]
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