In 1877 the tune “Mary Had A Little Lamb” was aurally reproduced from the first phonograph. Two years later the same man created the light bulb. Though American inventor Thomas Edison was one of a kind, the fact that he was an American is not what made him exceptional. Throughout history there were scores of great and lasting inventions from French, German, Danish, Dutch and English minds. Inventors are not exclusively American. So what is?
Columnist George Will quotes a participant in NATO’s 1949 founding as saying the alliance’s purpose in overseeing post WW2 European protection was to keep “the Russians out, the Americans in…” The assumption was that the United States was not interested in maintaining its 1944 D-Day invasion to eventually make Europe its 51st state. After 70 years one would think the world would get the message: US military installations placed in Europe remain to discourage ambitious imperialists from trying their hand at state building. Vladimir Putin’s recent return to Soviet invasion tactics assumes the opposite of the NATO founder’s statement: “If America is out, the Russians are in.”
Is America out? Has America resigned its post WW2 role as the leading voice of freedom for other freedom-seeking nations of the world? How many years will it take to convince international critics, and the ones within our own borders, that bases in foreign countries exist to protect those countries and our interests from the “Putins” of coming generations? If 70 years of our European military presence hasn’t convinced these proponents of “American pull-back” – perhaps their view is simply ideologically driven denial. Pull back the US from leading the world and guess what you get in return?
What makes America exceptional is in its founding documents. “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights: (the rights of) life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” America is exceptional because of its inherent belief in a Creator who endows these rights to all. Those rights are not earned but are assumed regardless of race, age or creed.
Therefore those rights must be protected from those who seek to remove them. Since we are the most powerful and wealthiest nation of the world, as well as the global rally-point of the past 238 years for all who seek to live by these rights, it is logical that the USA is exceptionally cast into the role of “leader of freedom.” Even more exceptional is the fact that there is no other nation who has earned that job description.
There will always be those who oppose freedom. But those who live within its warm cloak, who tout the adage that their freedom was ill-gained, unfounded or of little value live under a unique umbrella. Their right to denial is also assumed and even protected by those who vehemently disagree.
What makes America exceptional is what made Thomas Edison exceptional. His inventions were created within a culture of freedom: freedom of expression, freedom of ownership, freedom of financial reward commensurate with exceptional genius; opposed to the state owning his intellectual property. Edison fulfilled his role as a creative leader because he was living and creating within a free culture of exceptionalism. An exceptional nation nurtures exceptional citizens.
When America turns from its fundamental belief of exceptionalism, it loses the moral right to protect others from those who steal freedom. Without the American glue that holds freedom-seeking peoples together, the cohesiveness of freedom’s bond is lost. Chaos is the result. Those who don’t believe in American exceptionalism, yet choose to live in freedom because of it, will be the first to blame America for that which is in chaos.
On Veteran’s Day we owe thanks to those who are at the forefront of freedom’s frontiers, at home and abroad. They are the exceptional of the exceptionals.
“If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?” Psalm 11:3
Photo by Luke Michael on Unsplash
