Lest you think propaganda was invented by David Brock, consider what I was taught in elementary school. There, not necessarily promoted as an idea to be emulated, was the American Exceptionalism (AE). Beginning before the Revolution but encouraged by it, AE found its first political enactment of the Monroe Doctrine.

The justification of this keep out of OUR hemisphere was of course AE.

American Exceptionalism

Notice the capitalization of Exceptionalism. This is my effort to stress the idea that AE is truly capital idea. Capital in the sense that AE is not a wonderful dictum but that it is capital in the same manner as Capital Punishment.

American exceptionalism has been historically referred to as the belief that the United States differs qualitatively from other developed nations because of its national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. The difference is often expressed in American circles as some categorical superiority, to which is usually attached some alleged proof, rationalization or explanation that may vary greatly depending on the historical period and the political context. However, the term can also be used in a negative sense by critics of American policies to refer to a willful nationalistic ignorance of faults committed by the American government.

On the one hand, American intervention on the world stage has claimed a moral purpose of acting altruistically in defense of freedom and democracy. On the other hand, America has been accused of behaving as a "nation above nations" imposing its hegemony on the rest of the world, acting in its own interest, with no concern for others. The U.S. is far from unique in claiming to be special. Many nations, ancient and modern, have regarded themselves as having a special role to play, sometimes blessed by God. Pinnacle nations can be forces for good or for evil in the world. History suggests that pinnacle nations that temper power with morality, with the aim of maintaining peace, of spreading justice or of defending human rights may have a crucial role to play in securing a sustainable future for the planet and human race. Former imperial powers are among the world's strongest champions of human rights and human equality.

If my disbelief offends you, cease reading. This is how I feel. It is never suggested that any believe what I write, only that fair consideration be given to sometimes uncommon, and thus unpopular (by definition), ideas.

Swallowing the Monroe Doctrine (MD) unquestioningly, as is the wont of young people, its concept lingered latently in my brain. With this foreknowledge of Hemispheric Hegemony, pushed upon us and the rest of the world by Mr. Monroe, it was of course easy to subconsciously forgive the excesses implied by MD when those imperial thrusts poked others than ourselves. War becomes personal only when it is personal. Your life on the line. Or your sister, your father, son, daughter, etc. No skin in the game--one doesn't feel the pinch.

Statement of personal experience: I have not fought in a hot war. Yet I have made what efforts I was able to provide to those poor, spiritually broken men and women suffering a broken mind. A broken mind appears on the surface as desperation, hopelessness, anomie. Before the surface appearance, the terror and cruelty of war, of killing fellow beings against whom you hold no personal animosity simply devours the inner person, the deep part which is never meant to be bared to other humans. To some degree or other, this process afflicts anyone in battle--at least anyone who had a soul before entering into mortal combat. Soul = Empathy. It's that basic. One can not divide the concept of soul any more finely than this. No feelings for fellow humans means no soul.

Cherish the life of others impartially unless others plan or commit harm to others undeserving of such, or any, harshness.

AE at its center must be understood on a personal level. Otherwise, it cannot be understood at all. To hear is not to understand. Understanding comes not from touch, smell, sight, sound. Those senses are but messengers to the inner core of one's being. Not all are capable of hearing this message. Not all are equipped to understand the suffering or unmet needs of others. Not all are capable of understanding this simple maxim: "There but for the Grace of God go I".

AE metastasizes from "seize the day" to "seize the life and whatever makes it dear". Is there any other way from which to progress from the belief that some nations and those within it are gifted by virtue of fortunate birth, to a belief that those ideas MUST be adopted by those now the object of AE?

Human behavior is on a spectrum in regard to responding to external pressure. When of such magnitude as to threaten life itself, the easier path is to submit. Submission to preserve one's life is understandable.

But is there a point at which principles must intervene, preventing submission? History shows that many intrusions by one nation into affairs of another is often met with resistance. Resistance in the face of violence begets war. Beware of "the Resistance", the principles of which neoconservative bellicosity is evil to its core.

Why are we, or anyone, superior to any other? Because we say so.

This is the lie upon which AE, or any other excuse to expropriate life or domicile to another.

George Washington said government is force. Yes, indeed. There must be some degree of centrally directed encouragement to abide by codes of conduct--codes of conduct however that must respect the rights of any other to live in a way which does not harm any other. As the best instincts of some people are not "best" to the well-being of others not harmful to people, constraints must be, at limited times, be forceful. Consider taxation, a curse present ever since humans decided to abide in long-term gathering such as cities. As many people would be reluctant to carry any burden requiring contribution to the commonweal, persuasion (often amounting to force) must be imposed.

Yet force should be kept to a minimum. This applies particularly to the concept of AE. AE is on its face pure expression of privileges arrogated to the US by Mr. Monroe and his cronies. There is no moral, intellectual, cultural rationale justifying AE. Its only justification is BECAUSE I SAY SO.

Even before the US officially became a country, putatively republican, the genocide of Amerinds had proceeded with steady efficiency. This is our country, you savages (which indeed many were, with as much venality as their ultimate obliterators). The noble savage is a myth. But that is a story more suitable to essay on the nature of Homo unsapiens.

No savagery, whether internally nor externally directed can be excused. Our brains have not evolved anywhere near as fast as human manipulation of the environment, limited as it still is. Humans unfortunately do not behave as MLK hopefully spoke about the arc of justice growing to replace the extant cruelty then present. Cruelty ever growing.

The cure: demise of Empire. Rejoice not for that day, should it ever come in our lifetimes, because, as surely as the sun rises in the east, new empires, perhaps even crueler than our own, shall arise. As long as armies can travel beyond their tribe's borders, the infliction of "we know what's good for you. Convert or die" will continue. Must continue. This, in any manifestation, not yet reified, is the unfortunate trait of man: new empires arise from the debris of older, exhausted ones.

Yes, AE may be combatted but I fear it is too firmly rooted in our subconscious to be displaced.

What to do?

Step 1: realization

Step 2: spread the message

Step 3: the wisdom for further steps along the desired path is not in my possession. But bravery is essential to overthrow the present order.

The ship of state, regardless of the pilot, inevitably goes down at sea or beaches helplessly. A steady hand at the helm can avert disaster. But only for a while.

When I was stone blue, rock and roll really got me through.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8L_eb0zjtQ]

Wind tearin' through the backstreet, I hear the rhythm of my heartbeat
Rain blowin' to my face, I'm tired of bein' in the wrong place
Blues knockin' on my back door, I can't jump from the second floor
Turn up the radio higher and higher, rock 'n' roll music set my ears on fire

When I was stone blue, rock 'n' roll sure helped me through
When I was stone blue, rock 'n' roll sure helped me through

Laid off work and I can't be free, I need some rock 'n' roll therapy
Put on a 45 and let the needle ride, jukebox jumps and I'll be satisfied

When I was stone blue, rock 'n' roll sure helped me through
When I was stone blue, rock 'n' roll sure helped me through

Oh, let me ride on your mystery train
Ride through the night in the pourin' rain
Rock 'n' roll in my soul, got me losin' control, lemme roll

Stone blue, rock 'n' roll sure helped me through
When I was stone blue, rock 'n' roll sure helped me through

Rock 'n' roll in my soul, got me losin' control
Let it roll, let it roll, let it roll, let it roll

(Stone blue) rock 'n' roll sure helped me through
(Stone blue) rock 'n' roll sure helped me through
(Stone blue) walkin' on a backstreet
(Stone blue) I hear the rhythm of my heartbeat
(Stone blue) pick up the beat 'n start to run
(Stone blue) I'll be home before the mornin' sun
(Stone blue) rain blowin' to my face
(Stone blue) I'm tired of bein' in the wrong place

When I was blue, stone blue, rock 'n' roll helped me through
When I was blue, stone blue, rock 'n' roll helped me through
Turn up a radio, turn it up, yeah, higher and higher
Turn it up, turn it up, woo, yeah, higher and higher

You gotta help me through, you gotta help me through
You gotta help me through, you gotta help me through
You gotta help me through, you gotta help me through
You gotta help me through, you gotta help me through
When I was stone blue, when I was stone blue
Gotta help me through, help me through