"Is America exceptional? If so, how so? If no, why not?

America is a country that has risen from a humble beggening to being a a powerful country. There are opertuniteis offered in America that arn't offered anywhere else in the world. It is one of the wealthyist most influential contries in the world. If this is how you define exeptional then America is exeptional. However, these are not the only criteria I use to look at American exeptionalism. I do not beleive that America is the City upon a Hill that Winthrope proclaimed it to be. Bigotry is still common in America. Prejudices, supposedly wiped out with the Civil War, are still common throughout the country. In every city, homeless can be found on the streets. People die every day because they cant afford healthcare. In many countries these problems wouldn't occur because every citizen has healthcare is. America has come a long way from its humble roots however it still has a far way to go before it becomes truly exceptional.

Is America exceptional? If so, how so? If no, why not? (Try to reference Winthrop and/or Crèvecoeur in your response, please).

When I think about this question, I have a double reaction to it. On one hand, I agree with Crèvecoeur and Winthrop in that as a young, brand new (to the Europeans, at least) continent, America held and still holds a lot of potential and opportunity. Like Crèvecoeur, I appreciate the Puritan work ethic, the opportunities that lay in America, and the melting pot of cultures that became America. On the other hand, I cannot go as far as Winthrop and Crèvecoeur in their praise of America. They both portray America as the golden society, or the chosen land. Like I said, I think America has a lot going for it, but there is also great value in the long, rich histories of older countries. To ignore these values because of a belief that America is perfect is, I think, a serious issue. There is so much to learn from European history, and I think that America could learn from the old world’s “experience,” so to speak. Also, if a group of people does not believe they can have flaws, then they have no potential for improvement. That belief in perfection is, as I see it, a flaw in itself.

American Literature CLOG: Prompt for Round 1-A

American Literature CLOG: Prompt for Round 1-A: "Is America exceptional? If so, how so? If no, why not? (Try to reference Winthrop and/or Crèvecoeur in your response, please)."

America is certainly exceptional. There are numerous reasons why America is so exceptional from democracy to religious freedom. Many people reference America as a global melting plot. This is because so many people from so many different cultures all come to America. Why do they come to this marvelous destination? The simplest reason is that one has more freedom here than anywhere else. As noted by both Winthrop and Crevecoeur, America offers infinate opportunities for all of it's people. All of the prestigious opportunities this country offers is great but what people like most about America is the abundant ingenuity and the uncomplicated lifestyle also noted by Crevecoeur.

Prompt for Round 1-A

Is America exceptional? If so, how so? If no, why not? (Try to reference Winthrop and/or Crèvecoeur in your response, please).

Welcome!

I hope you all will find this class blog to be a fun place for virtual conversations about American Literature, and that these virtual conversations will translate into many interesting real-life exchanges in class this year.