I've written before about American exceptionalism and what it is exactly. It's the commitment to personal, individual liberty, based on the central idea that our rights are not bestowed by government, but come from "the creator." Whatever creator you believe in.
Today was the roll call of states at the Republican Convention to nominate Mitt Romney for president. Romney has already nameed Paul Ryan (one of my favorite people) as his running mate.
I watched the convention today -- the roll call my favorite part, though those pesky newspeople kept cutting in when I wanted to hear the states brag about their unique resources, history, and commitment to American freedom.
Ann Romney's speech was very nice. I like her. She has a real upfront-ness about her. No BS. I suppose anyone who raised five sons, survived breast cancer and is living with multiple sclerosis doesn't have a lot of tolerance for the "small stuff." She was very good.
I liked Chris Christie, too, Republican governor of New Jersey, a very democrat state, and known for his, shall we say, frankness. He was suggested for VP with Romney, but I don't know that Christie's style would work well much past central Pennsyvania. He can be abrasive. Anyway, a few people have criticized his speech for being too much about himself and too little about Romney. But he was keynoting for the whole convention, and he made a very compelling point.
He talked about what America has brought to the human banquet table, you might say. The idea of individual liberty, protected by law. And how that comes with a lot of personal discomfort as well -- mainly the requirement to make your own way in the world. Because that's what freedom is: making your own way in the world. It isn't easy at all. It isn't without pain, confusion, faillure, times of despair. But America also never holds failure or despair against you, as long as you eventually snap out of it.
One thing I loved about Christie's speech was he said his mother always told him to "Be who you are." And then he applied that to the USA, the free, the restless entrepreneurial, the courageous -- facing every day with the firm hope, even confidence, that you'll get through it and even make it your day.
We don't understand Obama. We don't "get" the socialist message. We don't hate rich people. We don't resent success. I'm sure some people do, but it's really not a significant feature of the American character. Instead, we're ambitious, hungry, innovative, and extremely generous -- especially with moral support -- all the "Atta boys" and "Way to go's" you get when you talk to just anybody about your aspirations.
We admire success, and collect success stories, and want to be rich -- at least rich enough to be as comfortable as we need to be.
Americans also despise people who don't/won't work. Always have. Ever read Uncle Tom's Cabin? The yankees had nothing but contempt for the planters, who dumped all the hard work on the backs of their slaves. It's this distinctively yankee thing. Work is good for you. Work provides you a sense of fulfillment, self-assurance, and individual purpose. If you don't work... well, you suffer the consequences.
That is so deeply engrained in the American culture. It also is the source of the infamous -- and in some places intolerable -- American optimism. "Yeah, so your dog died and your horse ran away. Your wife took off with the traveling salesman. Look at this way, now you start over and do it right." Or, more simply said by Scarlett O'Hara: "Tomiorrow is another day."
Anyway, Christie says, as his mom told him, what America needs to do, after recent years of trying on someone else's culture, what America needs to do is "Be who you are."
Work. Create things. Sell things, Dream. Pile up huge amounts of wealth.
Don't let anything stand in your way.
Save the Republic.
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