We, the Exceptionals
by Rajani Kanth
American Exceptionalism?
Agreed.
Yes.
I can swear to it, having spent most of my life here.
We are the exceptionals (even if we say so ourselves).
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To examine, further.
We are defined , in one respect (of this uniqueness), by our werewolf lusting after the chimera of ‘freedom’.
Which is oft synonymous with obeisance to another similarly consecrated delusion called
‘happiness’.
Yes.
We are free.
Nay, free-er (than others).
In fact, we may be the free-est.
But, in what way?
Let me extol some freedoms , amongst many, that may otherwise go unnoticed.
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For starters, we’re , arguably, the least informed of all the major industrialised
nations, i.e., we are, ever so blissfully: ‘fact-free’.
Barring the 1% of the educated ( I know: but let’s exaggerate, a little) most of us know zip about the nature of the outside world ,i.e., the many nations that our Intrepid governors own and operate (mostly, on their own behalf).
Mark Twain quipped that God invented war, so Americans could learn geography.
If so, S/he (i.e., ‘god’) was much too hopeful.
We’ve been at war 93% of our history – 222 out of 239 Years – Since 1776: with no solid gains, apparent as yet, amongst the populace, even as regards simple geo-knowledge.
The idiotisation of the populace – a normal desideratum of hegemony – is near complete.
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Next, as the most Amoral of all human societies in the history of the planet, we are also, insouciantly: ‘conscience-free’.
We must be: since the government has conducted wholesale slaughters of overseas civilians, in pursuit of state policy, for decades now , with few batting an eyelid, or missing a beat.
If Congress is any indication, as witnessed during the recent SOTU address , the appetite for even more bloodshed is yet alive and well – and cheering.
As one views the political landscape, one can , daily, witness gender combating gender, race fighting race, religion crossing religion, restroom pitted against restroom, and so on- as diversionary, divisive, politics is ever granted full reign – to extra loud attention from the media: but few there to mourn the gruesome casualties of runaway Militarism ( nor the innumerable victims of the Casino economy), despite their horrifying toll (of course, even fewer would be heard, if they did speak out ).
In fact, au contraire, a TV news anchor , recently, nearly soiled himself praising the ‘beauty ‘ of our killing machines.
In some irony, George Washington University had awarded him an honorary ‘Doctorate of Humane Letters’ ( though -I’d hope – not for that choice quip).
More prosaically, we have, in wilful misanthropy, calmly murdered more than 20 million innocent civilians in 37 nations , since WW2.
And it’s far from over yet : for we are still at war – declared , or not – with some 11 countries right now.
How many could even name these countries?
And how many know why: or , even care?
No, as yet , no inspiring memorials to that holocaust: few movies, few best selling novellas, few tv series.
No surprise, naturally.
We should know at least this , if we know anything of world history, these last four hundred years: black and brown lives simply don’t matter.
But wait.
A red line may have been crossed, by now, in this regard.
We may have, finally, gone beyond bigotry?
Perhaps it wouldn’t matter any more, in this brave new Neo-Con World, even were these foreigners to be white (say, e.g., Russians) : we would still dispense murder (in the spirit of ‘equal opportunity’).
Of course, for the sprawling defense-financial complex, no scruples , of any denomination, can exist: for there’s big money in them thar missiles.
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Then we are, also, unmindingly, often unabashedly, ‘truth-free’.
Indeed, the system , quite proudly, flaunts its ‘post-truth’ nature.
That was, likely, a gift from our Post-Modernist English Departments , perhaps, steeped in quizzing all ‘narratives’ (yes: injustice, iniquity, exploitation, are but so many ‘discourses’) as suspect?
The fact is plain.
Everything is gamed, everything rigged.
The sheer scale of the rank corruption is breathtaking: a case in point – a trifling $21 trillion went ‘missing’ in the DOD, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development , between 1998-2015.
And, an audit , called years later , is said to have, simply, ‘failed’.
The ensuing silence, on the subject – from media or government – is ear-splitting.
If that doesn’t that make us Numero Uno, and by a stretch! : for who else could ‘lose’ $21 trillion, and not give a hoot?
We may not know how it was lost, but we can likely guess at who found it.
Chicanery, historically, was ever an Anglo-Norman ruling-elite penchant (vide., the hoary ‘perfidious Albion’ characterisation), and was one of the Two strengths that helped gain them world mastery (cannon was the Other); and the US and the UK still virtually lead the world in generating, incessantly, ever more blatant ,and bizarre, weapons of ingenious, grand , mass deception(s) : and, what’s more, with such efforts meeting with supernal success.
Indeed, Media fabrications , in both countries set – and exceed – the global gold standard in the genre, as but daily fare: with only their governments able to give them any real competition.
No wonder they’re all so riled up about Assange!
He ripped off the veils, revealing the hideous ugliness beneath.
Oops.
The post of Liar-in Chief has not (yet) been created, but would make for some sprightly competition from many high luminaries, I would imagine: from Church, State , and Media.
It should , in fairness, be made a Trans-Atlantic tourney.
Maybe, we might even choose one, annually, by open election?
Why not?: it’d be the American Way.
One must keep an open mind, of course.
It might, as a contest, well end in a tie (since we lack the old, 5 Sigma, Pinocchio test) ?
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Finally, we are, also, and in a significant measure, ‘culture-free’.
In fact, Philistinism might well define our present ruling geist.
Barring the autistic indulgences of the rich, expressed in the genre of the Lincoln Centre, Broadway, et. al., and the scant few who still function under the vanishing rubric of ars gratia artis , most of us live in a squalor of spirit that virtually defines a Modernist existence, shuttling between the binary placements of work and home :with crass, even sordid, hedonism taking up any residual leisure time remaining.
A personal anecdote suffices.
In Kosovo , the UN, as part of its pacification mission, sent young Volunteers from all major nations to help.
On the first holiday granted them, here is what transpired.
Every other young national went out , exploring their novel geographic and cultural environs, all day.
Except our exceptionals.
They went (conspicuously, for being few) straight to the bar lounges: and spent the day in drunken revels , till closing time.
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So much for some of the little noticed ‘freedoms’.
But, perhaps, I left out a few?
Let me hasten to make amends: no, I wouldn’t wish to damn the enterprise with faint praise.
Here’s a few other liberties we possess.
We (plebs) are ever free to starve (food-free), not have a job (income-free), be homeless (shelter-free), be sans health coverage, be broke, or simply drop dead from insufficient heat in a polar vortex winter, sure : but still free to walk into the Plaza Hotel , any day, or night, and order dinner, like any city nabob, despite those minor disabilities.
And none dare stop us: no, sir.
And , to be sure, the system is , also, equally fair to millionaires (yes, the 1% may also not be discriminated against): they , too, can sleep under bridges, or lie on hostile-design benches, as per choice, mixing with the shelter-free – with no one looking askance.
Now that’s more than mere freedom: that’s real equality, in my book.
In fact, I’ll tell you wherein we are most equal.
It’s where rich and poor can both ride, helter skelter, in the same, out-of control, Streetcar named Dystopia.
Only in God’s Own Country.
The cup, surely, runneth over?
So many freedoms, so little time…
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So, there it is.
We are, truly, even staggeringly, exceptional.
Q.E.D.
Who would dare contradict that?
Certainly, not moi.
But one gets the mild impression that a little dialing back of our special dispensation(s)
might not be a bad idea?
Of course, I didn’t mention some rarefied ‘freedoms’ that yet elide us: the freedom to care, nurture, give, succor.
Recently, a Good Samaritan trying to feed the poor got swiftly arrested.
But, who knows?
With incremental ‘progress’, some day, in the far future, altruism will not be deemed a crime, and we’ll simply be let off with a strong caution?
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Consider who we are, then, in this short, pithy, catechism form
A-social.
A-moral –
A-merican ?
A-men!
But I also wonder: could be it’s only thanks to the grace of a benign Providence that we remainexceptionals (can you imagine the state of being , if the entire world took after us?)?
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[©R.Kanth, 2019]
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Professor Rajani Kanth, Author of Coda, and Expiations, is Trustee of the World Peace Congress
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