American Exceptionalism

All countries have their own uniqueness about them. You find different things in England than you would in Japan, different things in Africa than Russia, India than Mexico- it's why we have developed cultures. No two countries are alike and I think that all people pride themselves in that- the individuality of culture. 

But then- what about America? We seem to not only take a pride in uniqueness, but also in exceptionalism. We like to believe that we are better off than other countries- but why? What do we have that puts us ahead of other nations? 

Maybe it's the fact that we were founded on such patriotism. From the very birth of the nation, we believed that it was great. Most other countries were founded on survival and unity in ages past, but America was founded because we thought we could be a better force for good without Britain breathing down our necks. 

Maybe it's because of our success. Think of other nations- the fractured countries of Africa or the Middle East- compared to the powerhouse that is America. We all rebelled. We all threw away that tyranny that oppressed us. But somehow America rose above the rebellion and made a country out of it- rather than broken factions and civil wars. 

Maybe it was God. Mostly it was God. The reason for America's exceptionalism for so many years was because of the exceptionalism of it's God. So... maybe as we try to shove God out of the picture of our country, we also shove out the exceptionalism. Can America be exceptional without God?