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Essay On American Exceptionalism

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More than similarities and differences, this week’s readings forced me to question issues of compatibility. While messages of exceptionalism could encapsulate discussions of human rights implicitly, explicitly, or mutually, many of these conversations do not. A state actor could say “The United States has the best record of human rights” However, often, to have productive discussions on human rights, a state would be forced to put aside the ways that they are ‘exceptional’, and rather focus on the ways in which they need improvement. Thus, the findings by Gilmore could contribute to the messages surrounding human rights dialogue. Frequently United States leaders will only send out messages that they feel will be perceived highly by national …show more content…

It tells the global stage the narrative we want the world to know while simultaneously giving insights into how we view our self. If the United States both believes, and wants to be perceived as, a God-fearing nation, a light for other nations to follow, and a nation where everyone has an opportunity to succeed, it is logical that it would avoid statements that contradict this story. Consequently, because exceptionalism is a mechanism used to separate the United States from its competitors. Gilmores conclusion that messages with exceptionalism occur more with competitors than with states that do not have the same relative power as the United States. In this sense, exceptionalism can be a mechanism to provide assurances to allies, and when used out of context or in the wrong situation, it can provoke adversaries. Thus, messages of exceptionalism can have lasting consequences for the United States. For instance, in 2002 President Bush’s gave a speech where he labeled Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the “axis of evil”, and highlighted the United States as a defender of liberty and an example of democracy. This explicitly impacted how American’s perceived these nations, and influenced the future course of foreign policy with these

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