As I recall, it was John Edwards who ran for President proclaiming that there were “two Americas.” He was addressing economic differences, but the term applies at an even more fundamental level.
What most of the faux patriots chanting about American Exceptionalism fail to recognize is what actually was exceptional about the establishment of this nation: it was the first country to define citizenship as allegiance to a governing philosophy–what I have called The American idea–rather than rooting citizenship in the various notions of blood and soil that had previously defined the concept.
Today, we tend to think of “blood and soil” citizenship in connection with Nazism, but even before the rise of the Third Reich, it was common to believe that citizenship in a nation must be defined by common ancestry (“blood”) rooted in tradition and nature (“soil”).
America’s Founders disagreed. They saw government not as an expression of tribal identity or the expression of divine right, but as a mechanism that “the people” created to protect what they considered (in the aftermath of the Enlightenment) to be inalienable human rights. Rather than exercising the divine right of kings, government was to operate in the public interest–and that interest would be expressed by the votes of We the People.
True, People originally were limited to White landowning men, but the Constitution and Bill of Rights had erected what was a truly innovative, exceptional concept of government. America was the first nation to base citizenship on behavior rather than upon identity. As American notions of citizenship continued to expand–as We the People became a more commodious concept–the 14th Amendment explicitly extended citizenship to all persons born in America, with the expectation that, whatever their race or religion, they would be part of the American tapestry, supporters of the American Idea.
Despite that constitutional commitment, Americans have never been without a substantial contingent of “blood and soil” throwbacks. Today’s Christian Nationalists are anything but Christian–indeed, anything but religious in any sense. Christian Nationalism is an entirely political, White supremacist and ethno-nationalist movement–a reincarnation of “blood and soil,” and thus fundamentally inconsistent with the American Idea.
Edwards wasn’t wrong. There are two Americas. One America–and I believe it consists of a majority of us–understands citizenship to require adherence to the fundamental premises upon which this nation rests, including–importantly–civic equality and the rule of law. The other is hysterically opposed to the very philosophy that made America truly exceptional–the notion that diverse people can come together to create a government that operates for the good of all, a government protective of individual liberty and expressly forbidden to impose the beliefs and/or prejudices of any particular tribe on the rest of the citizenry.
Bottom line: America is a country founded on the principle that citizenship requires allegiance to the American Idea. It is not a country where citizenship is based upon skin color, purported religious identity, or ancestry.
There is nothing more anti-American than “blood and soil” Christian Nationalism.
Very well said Sheila!
For me, I could never just get over the treatment of the African slaves in this country. 3/5 human? Or the native Americans which were not considered human at all! They were more of a pest that needed to be eradicated, merciless slaughter and Trojan horse diseased blankets designed to infect and kill. Or the Chinese used as pack mules for the railroad, and considered subhuman.
This attitude never was abated, it’s stuck with society to this day. The Irish, and then the Italians, felt the whip of this sort of mindset also. In the end though, the Irish and the Italians turned their hatred towards the native Americans and the Africans and the Chinese! In many cases they could blend into The euroscape of this society especially the second generations!!.
For the others, physical appearance was something that could not change in a generational manner, and that particular issue is what the current administration is asking the courts to allow. To stop people because of the way they look and detain them. It really is back to the Future! Was progress made concerning equality concerning human and civil rights? For a brief moment, and in the grand scheme of things, what was given, was also taken away.
I will say, the Roman Church, and the Church of England, had much to do with dehumanizing races of people because that was the easiest way to be superior. Catholics or Protestants, it made no difference. Because men perverted religion to support their own personal desires, and scripture be damned.
Today, this country is reaping what was sown. The idea of the equality of your fellow humans was a very calloused one and very selective. Therefore when you dehumanize races, that doesn’t disappear, it hovers right below the surface, like an alligator or crocodile waiting to eviscerate its prey when the time is right.
Personally I have a very eclective ancestry, some I can relate to, and some I cannot. But it made me who I am, and I’ve learned a lot through generational history of our family. And one thing I know for sure, this world, or this country, is more evil than anyone ever realizes. And that’s unfortunate! Because if you cannot reject the past conduct and chicanery, then it is doomed to repeat itself over and over.
Did this country change course after the civil war? Absolutely not. Reconstruction never happened because of Lincoln’s assassination, Which gave rise to Jim Crow, and those of African descent, who managed to carve out businesses and even political careers, were cleansed from society. And or, not given credit for their additions to the betterment of humanity.
Do not expect things to get better, that ship has sailed quite a while back.
The “American ideal” was just a great piece of propaganda. As John so eloquently pointed out, “we the people” was a con job. The oligarchs at the time were tired of being taxed by a King and a country an ocean away and getting relatively nothing in return, not to mention the whole taxation without representation issue. The main difficulty is who the white oligarchs owned and oppressed. John didn’t mention the Jews, but they were also an inferior race. Our local oligarchy prevented them from living where they wanted and doing what they wanted. The blacks, Chinese, and Jews were specifically oppressed. Our little community didn’t have enough manufacturing workers, so we bused in people from TN, but they could only live on the South side of the city, or away from the middle and upper class.
I don’t want to offend people, but what is the hoop one must pass through to be a Christian? I’d also like to know what the requirements are to be a Christian “pastor” or leader of a church. I’m considered a minister, and I’ve never read the Bible or accepted the man-made principles contained within. I want all the documents to be included.
We are far from exceptional, but we are the next great empire behind the United Kingdom. “Might makes right!” We have a giant military base, which is used by the oligarchy to force its will on other countries. What if our only goal was to protect our shoreline? Period?
“What business is it of ours whether Russia or Germany or England or France or Italy or Austria live under democracies or monarchies? Whether they are Fascists or Communists? Our problem is to preserve our own democracy. And very little, if anything, has been accomplished to assure us that the World War was really the war to end all wars.”
~ Indiana’s General Smedley Butler
Both John and Todd make good cases for the coming demise of our democracy.
I read an article about Pete Hegseth this morning in the Denver Post. He admits, by his actions and affiliations, that he is pure “Christian” Nationalist. Gee. We have a SecDef who doesn’t want women voting, nor any people different from him in any position of authority. What could possibly go wrong?
Hegseth is the personification of Trump and Trump-ism. This is what the 24% of our citizens who voted for these monsters put in place to “govern” us. This is how democracies fail: When not enough people exercise their duty to the Constitution – flawed though it may be – to at least try to put leaders in place who try to rectify our mistakes instead of those who try to make them worse.
There were the “exceptional” (female) professionals when I was moving into adulthood- mathematicians, physicians who weren’t ovgyn’s – women were nurses and teachers- not “real” professionals-,then “exceptional “ Black People- always Collaborators with “The Enemies”- Today we have both the Ignorant Poor as well as the better off Collaborators- who help keep “Christian Dominance” alive- The Adelsons- Jewish Lovers of The Right-opposition takes Real Commitment- much more than a few emails and sending the some Money- Too Late for just that!
Along the lines of “con jobs” and “exceptionalism,” is another misunderstanding many hold. The term “American exceptionalism” was originally not a complimentary, but a derisive term. It was first uttered by Joseph Stalin in 1929 criticizing the Americans who he alleged were not ready for revolution.
Hegseth…perhaps that is why he was working for Faux News before being elevated to the bunghole’s administration.
Religion has been the source of many wars since humans became “civilized,” and now we are in another one because Trump knew (he said so) how dumb the Republicans were/are.
The fact that the country was established upon an idea of commonality is irrelevant to the Christian Nationalists, who, I think, think that they are doing their god-thing’s work.
In Nazi Germany, it was “Deutschland über alles!” In In CNland it is god-thing uber alles!
Perhaps, we have moved to a new exceptionalism…Americans can make as money as they want any way they want and behave any way they want with minimal concern for their fellow citizens.
“Today, we tend to think of “blood and soil” citizenship in connection with Nazism, but even before the rise of the Third Reich, it was common to believe that citizenship in a nation must be defined by common ancestry (“blood”) rooted in tradition and nature (“soil”).”
“America’s Founders disagreed. They saw government not as an expression of tribal identity or the expression of divine right, but as a mechanism that “the people” created to protect what they considered (in the aftermath of the Enlightenment) to be inalienable human rights.”
I can’t think of better words to describe the current two Americas, the one Constitutional and the other MAGA.
I have always been proud to be both the grandson of immigrants and alive in a country populated by immigrants, waves of them from every other nation on earth.
That’s our common story. We are people from diverse backgrounds who come together under a singular umbrella idea: we are now Americans, and we have Constitutionally limited government.
MAGA was never conservative because they want unlimited government able to step on any toes they need to in any way they want to. Powerful government. Unlimited government serving an aristocracy centered at Mar-a-Lago.
We have to become the American Revolution and the Union of the Civil War once again. Can we do it without the bloodshed of those earlier times? I have no idea except to know that a world without Americans is unthinkable to me.
One of your best, Sheila. Thank you, and amen.
Awhile a go I was reading comments on the Democrats that left Texas over gerrymandering and MAGA folks or Republicans were stating that the people against them WANT a civil war.
So they are assuming that we are just itching to be bullies and violent? Talk about projection! Yeah thats why in Ohio there was a group of protesters all holding hands together. They are just itching for it.
For those who’ve mentioned Hegseth and Trump, if they are truly anti-feminism which they openly confess, why do they both require input by their wives?
Hegseth was taking his wife to national security meetings and including her on military matters via Signal. An article I read yesterday said that Melania is influencing Trump with Russia, China, and Ukraine.
How does that jive with their anti-female, pro-male dominance?
Heather Cox Richardson.
EL antioni. HCRs,mention of his doctorial at northern ill univ. praised the saints etc for his whatevers. finishing with, to our lord ,with who anything is possible.
after the slaughter at the polls in 11/24, seems anything is possible.
ill stick with reality. the sun comes up, the sun goes down. we have distroyed
enough of the earth to kill us off..now comes trump.. eat the rich..
The model for American Exceptionalism today:https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/13/mark-zuckerberg-underprivileged-children-pickleball-president?CMP=share_btn_url
Todd:
i never seen hegs wife, trophy like trumps, or educated?
Todd,
I didn’t forget the Jews in this country, and we’re all aware of that history I would imagine, in Germany, and in Vienna, and the Middle Eastern Homeland also!
Ever wonder why jewelry is called jewelry? Ever wonder why many Jews have the word gold or silver in their name? Because the Jews were the money changers of the world. They handled finances for Christian monarchy and governments because of their Christian belief that handling the money themselves was prohibited, a sin!
The Jews were cloistered in ghettos, and they actually had curfews! They weren’t allowed to mix with the general population. Although, the Jews in those locations were extremely wealthy. Their business interests were Jewels, gold, and silver, along with various forms of currency. This made a lot of folks suspicious, and also made Jews targets of the criminal element because of their attachment to the precious gems and precious metals and the currency. The thing about the Jews during that time, is the day definitely stuck together and work together and were networked throughout the regions. And they became powerful businessmen and women, politicians, bankers, entertainers, and the like. That created a lot of jealousy, and put a target on the Jews from everyone.
And let’s not forget women fighting for their rights as human beings and not just receptacles. Not just baby factories! The amount of autonomy women would have depended on the particular household, and how magnanimous their husband would happen to be. Women had a very difficult time trying to run a business, and of course in the beginning they couldn’t vote, and had to live under the Christian version of Sharia law. That particular mentality is still there. Like I said, like a misogynistic or anti-Semitic crocodile / alligator right below the surface, waiting for its opportunity to pounce on their target.
Hate because of preconceived bigotries promoted by the church, is always lurking, and as you can see, The fascistic Christian nationalists, has given rise to all modern day wars and conflicts. And because of these conflicts, Protestant slaughter Protestants, Catholics slaughter Catholics, and in the other realms of religion, you have Hindus slaughtering Hindus and Muslims slaughtering Muslims! That is definitely not sustainable for an eternity. This bodes positively concerning the direction of society as a whole. It’s reaching the point of complete global collapse.
“Now I urge you, to keep your eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them. 18 For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattering speech they seduce the hearts of unsuspecting ones”
(Romans 16: 17 – 18)