NAME
PROFESSOR
GOVT 329-B01
16 January 2020
Discussion Board One: American Exceptionalism
Prompt: Summarize what the course authors and speakers have said makes up American
Exceptionalism. In light of that definition, discuss your own experience living in America. Do
you find the definition of American Exceptionalism to be relevant based upon your own
experience? Why or why not?
Response:
Throughout the course of history, the exceptional nature of America has been made
evident. As Charles Murray states, “American exceptionalism is not meant to imply that America
is excellent or superior, but that it is different from all other nations.”1 Entire books have been
dedicated to the uniqueness of America, but there are a few key points that summarize American
exceptionalism. One exceptional characteristic of America is that it is a nation with a mission to
the rest of the world. As Americans, “We are a nation with a mission beyond ourselves and
beyond our borders.”2 America is also unique because it broke away from the traditional
European model in which the government defined citizens’ rights. In the video presentation with
Newt Gingrich, he stated that, in America, “We, the American people, define the government’s
rights.”3 The most predominant difference between America and other nations is that “Our
founding fathers believed there are things called truths and that one of those truths is that our
Creator had endowed us with certain unalienable rights.”4 While other nations often used religion
to incentivize good behavior or oppress citizens, America has forged her way as the freest nation
in the world by guaranteeing all citizens the God-given right of true religious freedom. America
has allowed more of its citizens to experience freedom and prosperity than in any other
civilization in human history.5
My years spent in this country have confirmed that America is indeed exceptional. My
six siblings and I were born into a home with an abusive father. After saving enough money to
escape him, my mom raised us by herself. For the majority of my life, money has always been a
struggle. We all had jobs by the time we were fourteen, most of us younger, to purchase personal
needs and save for college. Despite these circumstances, I attribute how far we have come to the
nation that we live in. My older siblings have all graduated from prestigious universities with the
highest honors. My mom and siblings are the most dedicated, hard-working, and giving people I
know. My mom selflessly looked after us for all of our lives and we now get to take care of her.
1 Murray, C. A. (2013). “Introduction.” In American exceptionalism: an experiment in history. Washington, D.C.:
AEI Press.
2 Metaxas, E. (2017). If you can keep it: the forgotten promise of American liberty. New York: Penguin Books, 21.
3 “What is American Exceptionalism?” (n.d.). [video file]. (accessed January 13, 2020).
https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?
content_id=_37197529_1&course_id=_570677_1
4 “What is American Exceptionalism?” (n.d.). [video file]. (accessed January 13, 2020).
https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?
content_id=_37197529_1&course_id=_570677_1
5 Sempa, Francis P. "Is America Exceptional?" American Diplomacy (2012). Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints
(accessed January 13, 2020). https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/apps/doc/A311935871/OVIC?
u=vic_liberty&sid=OVIC&xid=87c5f3f6
People in other countries are not so fortunate. My German grandfather was in Hitler’s Youth
Corp during World War II and was privileged to migrate to America. He would always tell us
stories of the horrors of Germany; it was nearly impossible to be successful. But, in America, we
have equality of opportunity. I am so thankful that my grandfather migrated to America to give
us a brighter future. As Newt Gingrich put it, “America is not just a great country; America is a
great idea.”6 America truly is the greatest nation in the world.
Replies:
Joshua,
Thank you for your discussion post. I enjoyed reading your perspective on what makes
America unique, as well as how your time in America testifies to its exceptionality. I appreciate
that you specified that the inalienable rights of American citizens are God-given, not government
given. This is an important distinction to make because if the government gave us these rights,
then they can take them away. To add to that, our founding fathers believed that the only function
of government is to protect people’s inalienable rights.7 I am particularly passionate about the
subject of our inalienable rights and I believe everyone needs to understand the serious threat it is
that so many Americans today do not understand their inalienable rights and the purpose of
government. When Americans no longer understand these fundamental values, they are “in grave
danger of trading their spectacular heritage of freedom for social constructs that place individual
liberty below what any given government deems expedient at the time.”
Additionally, I enjoyed reading about your experience as a German native and how your
twelve years there have impacted your view of America. As I shared in my post, my grandfather
migrated to America from Germany shortly after the end of World War II. It is frightening to hear
that the rights that are so basic to American citizens are not afforded to Germans. However, it is
also an encouragement for Americans to take the torch from those who have gone before us,
continuing to protect this great, free nation.
Word Count: 274
William,
Thank you for your discussion post. I enjoyed reading your perspective on what makes
America unique, as well as how your time in America testifies to its exceptionality. I appreciate
that you called attention to the apprehensive attitude that many younger Americans have today
towards America. As I was raised in a family that greatly values hard work and gratefulness, it is
obvious to me that many Americans nowadays are often too comfortable, and many have not
grown up around older Americans who have seen much worse, to understand how great our
nation is.
In addition to the things you mentioned that make America exceptional, there is another
very important facet of our country that makes it unique: a people-governed nation relies on a
6“What is American Exceptionalism?” (n.d.). [video file]. (accessed January 13, 2020).
https://learn.liberty.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContentEditable.jsp?
content_id=_37197529_1&course_id=_570677_1
7 O'Dell Townsend, Rebecca. "God-given inalienable rights." Florida Bar News, January 1, 2009, 2. Gale General
OneFile (accessed January 19, 2020). https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/apps/doc/A193247662/ITOF?
u=vic_liberty&sid=ITOF&xid=5aab0675.
self-governed people. As Eric Metaxas explained, “The founders understood that the more each
person governed himself, the less there would be a need for strong government.”8 This concept
reminds me of a verse my mom ingrained in me from a young age: “One who is faithful in a very
little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.”9
In order to maintain as small a government as possible and as free a people as possible, the
individuals within the nation must first be responsible in leading themselves.
With this in mind, I feel the personal urge to ensure I am doing everything in my power
to govern myself responsibly. What steps do you think individuals should take to ensure the same
for themselves?
Word Count: 281
8 Metaxas, E. (2017). If you can keep it: the forgotten promise of American liberty. New York: Penguin Books, 36.
9 Luke 16:10, ESV.
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