CROSSVILLE —
America is different than all other nations and has been since the day of its inception. Unlike all other nations before and since, America has proclaimed as a self-evident truth that all men are created equal. Our Founders wanted to create a nation where no matter who one’s father is, the individual could freely choose to pursue his own ambitions without regard to one’s hereditary status or class distinctions. Americans would be free to act and be judged by their merits alone.
In all other countries, most especially European countries, citizenship is a matter of birth, of blood, of lineage or of ownership of property. To become an American all that is required is that one pledge allegiance to the Republic and to its principles. In all other countries the rights of the citizens, if any were conferred, were allowed by kings and princes and occasional parliaments and these could be taken away at a whim.
Rights in America have been recognized from the beginning to be conferred by God and could only be taken away by illegitimate means such as socialists attempt and sometimes succeed doing today through judicial manipulation.
It is very perplexing to socialists that America is the only developed country which has failed to adopt socialism, and is by the way the richest, most powerful and charitable nation the world has ever known. Socialists persistently want America to be like Europe, the same socialist Europe which is presently destroying itself and wanting America to become a partner in the destruction. Socialists seem to be the last people on earth to believe the historical fact that socialism has never worked... ever.
The term “American Exceptionalism” is believed to have been originated by Stalin when an American Communist leader told Stalin that he had no intention of performing the role Marx had given to the American worker, that is to become the worldwide proletariat leaders of the coming socialist revolution which of course failed as it always does. Stalin supposedly shouted, “Away with this heresy of American Exceptionalism.”
American Exceptionalism challenged the monarchies of Europe with its republican ideas of the American Revolution such as the average citizen was capable of ruling himself in spite of elitist beliefs to the contrary. Europeans observed that America was only concerned with money and would not last, nor could they determine any generosity, economy, honor or any kind of ideas.
So much for the snobs of Europe. Whenever they are in difficulty of any kind, which is often, they come begging to the supposed heathen Americans to bail them out… yet again. While the European philosophers and poets could only see vulgarity in America, the peasants saw that “the hard, practical money getting American democrat was in truth living in a world of dream” and was “guiding nature with a kinder and wiser hand than had ever yet been felt in human history.” Youth in America most especially during the sixties see only the worst of the American society such as war, racism and poverty. Unfortunately it rarely occurs to them to ask the simple question, “Compared to what?” Once reality hits, one time leftists discover that there is no nation on earth to which they would rather emigrate.
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Stumptalk is published weekly in the Crossville Chronicle. The opinions expressed in this column are not necessarily those of the Chronicle publisher, editor or staff. To contact Stumptalk, email coordinator Phil Billington at stumptalk@charter.net.
Opinion
STUMPTALK: No matter, America is exceptional
- Opinion
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Stumptalk: A super majority legislature
Much media attention has recently been focused on the inability of the super majority of Republicans in the 2013 legislature to enact every Republican bill into law. Why is this different from some of the recent super majority Democratic legislatures? If you were paying attention to the debates in the committees, and analyze that debate, you will find that Republicans don’t automatically follow their party leaders when it comes to doing what each individual legislator thinks is best for Tennessee. Republicans actually try to do what they think is best for our citizens.
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Tidbits: Jolie’s move a conversation starter
Angelina Jolie, named the “Sexiest Woman in the World” by People Magazine in 2005, stunned the nation last week when she revealed she had chosen to have a preventative mastectomy after genetic testing revealed she had about an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
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LION AND THE LAMB: Ten years in captivity
Traditionally male violence against women has been delivered by fist or gun. On May 6, however, another delivery system was brought to light: chains and rope.
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WE THE PEOPLE: Crashing those Pearly Gates
Too often when one of our “public servants” dies, even if he is a blot on the human race, he is elevated to sainthood before they can get a tag on his toe. Then the press eulogizes him right into heaven before St. Peter can check his credentials. Even those who are a bit skeptical of this revision of history tend to adopt a “forgive and forget” attitude. Margaret Thatcher’s recent death seems to indicate that the British are less forgiving and have a better memory.
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TIDBITS: Practical advice for new grads
Another graduation season is upon us, and soon a new crop of young adults will head out into the world, full of hopes and dreams for the future.
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STUMPTALK: The right to bear arms
The anti-gun activists are wacky as a June bug for their solutions to eliminate gun-violence. They have it backwards. Instead of going after those that perpetrate these despicable acts, they are mounting attacks on law-abiding citizens, restriction of access to firearms, limiting magazine size and universal background checks.
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Small Town Girl: Britain's missing royalty
Last week, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, after a 33-year-reign, abdicated in favor of her son, the now-King Willem-Alexander. He is now the youngest monarch in Europe and is the first Dutch king in more than 120 years. One has to wonder how Prince Charles of England felt while attending the coronation ceremonies. After all, he has been waiting to inherit the English throne from his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, for over 60 years.
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We the People: Minimum wage is not enough to live on
For folks too young or too unaware what has happened to our economy the past 30 years, here is an answer. Ronald Reagan, G.H.W. Bush and the Republican Party are responsible for what we know as "Reaganomics," an economy that continues today resulting in few "labor unions” and the resulting low wages and lack of worker benefits.
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Lion and the Lamb: In the eye of the beholder
The May 5 issue of People magazine appeared with an astonishing cover. It proclaimed in big letters "World's Most Beautiful Woman!" and featured 40-year-old actress Gwyneth Paltrow. The issue also included the facial pictures of over a hundred other American beauties from age 15 to 70.
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I'll be the first to agree the life of a reporter isn't glamorous, especially when you work at a small town newspaper.
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