From The Front Lines of the Cultural Civil War
Who believes in American Exceptionalism? Judeo-Christian values part XXIV
Nov 1, 2005
by Dennis Prager
The cultural civil war in which America is engaged is, in large measure, about American exceptionalism. Conservative America generally believes in the concept; liberal America generally finds it chauvinistic and dangerous.
What is American exceptionalism? The belief that America often knows better than the world what is right and wrong. This belief drives most of the world's opinion-makers crazy. And it particularly infuriates the American Left, that part of America that trusts what is called "world opinion" more than it trusts the American people.
And from where does this belief in American exceptionalism derive? Mostly from the religious beliefs that underlie American values. That is a major reason the current culture war is about the place of Judeo-Christian values in American life. Those who believe that America must remain a Judeo-Christian nation (in terms of values) are far less respectful of international institutions than those who wish to make America a secular nation.
Nov 1, 2005
by Dennis Prager
The cultural civil war in which America is engaged is, in large measure, about American exceptionalism. Conservative America generally believes in the concept; liberal America generally finds it chauvinistic and dangerous.
What is American exceptionalism? The belief that America often knows better than the world what is right and wrong. This belief drives most of the world's opinion-makers crazy. And it particularly infuriates the American Left, that part of America that trusts what is called "world opinion" more than it trusts the American people.
And from where does this belief in American exceptionalism derive? Mostly from the religious beliefs that underlie American values. That is a major reason the current culture war is about the place of Judeo-Christian values in American life. Those who believe that America must remain a Judeo-Christian nation (in terms of values) are far less respectful of international institutions than those who wish to make America a secular nation.
posted by BigBubba at 1:45 PM
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5 Comments:
I think Prager's slightly off on this one. The left has it's own morality which combines "freedom" and "secular humanism" that supercedes their respect for the law (hence there are so willing to practice "civil disobedience") and disobey the law of the land.
It's a different, and many times incompatible, moral value system.
-FJ
Prager is right on the target with this one. The secular humanist's have a value system that is not based on the Judeo-Christian, or any other system of morality. It is simply a value system based on their own flawed pseudo-intellectualism. It is their misplaced pride in an intellect (that is deeply flawed) that makes them so insufferable. They do not hesitate to demonstrate because their value system and superior intellect place them above a law they believe can be easily mitigated with the correct activist judge changing the intent of the law.
I think you nailed the source of their idealism (amour propre), but I disagree in that I think it IS morally based, based upon a hodgepodge of mistaken values... some Christian, some secular, and all mostly selected on the American "cafeteria" plan.
I think they respect ALL human life and hold it sacred to the detriment of the "good" life. They deny personal responsibility and blame their failures, and those of others, upon "society". They've led very sheltered lives and are largely unfamiliar with real hardship.
But their biggest problem is as you described, they chaffe at the slightest touch of authority due the unduly high opinion they hold of their own intellect, and the love of the personal freedoms it allows them to enjoy (their "rights"). As a result, they are becoming more and more "ungovernable". Being an American President is an exercise in cat herding
-FJ
I don't think they have any respect for human life unless politically expedient. They loudly proclaim the latest number of Iraq casualties, and are silent about the abortion numbers.
Pardon moi, but, Big Bubba is a sentimental old fool who is deeply concerned about the 1.5 million estimated deaths by abortion that occur annually in this country.
I grieve every single death of a professional soldier in Iraq. I too was a professional soldier who sits here punching my keyboard not because they didn't try to get me, they did, and didn't. It is what we, professional soldiers, do for a job. We go to dangerous places and do dangerous jobs for our country. Some people use the casualties for political capital and to do so is a shameful, cowardly act that is an insult to their survivors.
Sorry Farmer John I got sidetracked.
You're right about abortion. They love themselves too much to face up to personal responsibility and any hardship that might require.
-FJ
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