Over the past few weeks, the concept of “American exceptionalism” has dominated the airwaves.
With crises brewing both at home and abroad, Americans have been forced to confront many pressing priorities and to re-evaluate their country’s role as a world leader.
In short, Americans must decide just how exceptional their exceptionalism is and, more importantly, how this exceptionalism should manifest itself to the millions who look toward it as a guiding beacon of hope in an often dark and hopeless world.
In this debate, two schools of thought have emerged, which some claim appear to pit Spider-Man against Alexis de Tocqueville.
The former school of thought views America’s military might as exceptional and refers to the fact that “with great power comes great responsibility,” while the latter school takes the view that America’s self-reliance and resultant prosperity is what makes it exceptional.
Both are true.
Rather than being mutually exclusive, they are interdependent. Without prosperity, America would not have the resources to fund its military, and without its military, America would not be able to protect its prosperity or anyone else.
This is self-evident.
Unfortunately, many on the left fail to see this. They focus solely on America’s larger role in the world while ignoring the underlying source of its strength. America is a world leader today and will continue to be so only if all recognize America’s strength is drawn from all Americans.
The opportunity afforded to individuals for a better life is what makes America unique. Despite no guarantees of success, this opportunity has drawn millions of immigrants from foreign nations to American shores. This same opportunity is afforded to all native-born Americans as well. In no other country could the son of a foreign father, whom society should have discounted based on his familial and economic status, rise to become leader of the free world.
America’s obligation is not to cure the ills that ail everyone but rather to ensure this same opportunity for success remains available for future generations. This is best accomplished by removing government barriers to individual success and allowing relatively unfettered access to the free market.
The globe’s greatest minds have come for access to that market, which has resulted in the globe’s greatest inventions and successes.
America is the most exceptional nation in human history.
Though we have had problems along the way, America still is a beacon to a world looking for light.
The hope of a better life and chance to succeed through hard work is exceptional and a concept known only sparingly throughout history and other parts of the world.
While America may intervene in the affairs of others, this is not its lasting legacy. Individual opportunity and freedom from government interference will be.
American exceptionalism is exceptional, and it will continue to be so as long as America recognizes where its true strength lies.
Zack Smith is a first-year law student. His column appears on Mondays.
