Why I Believe America is Exceptional

As a combat veteran and a retired police officer I see things differently than many people. In the last several years, we have heard politicians and activists say they want to “fundamentally change America.”  I believe them when they say that and I believe that is just wrong. Using my training and experience, I’d like to explain why I believe America is an exceptional place in which to live and raise a family.

Like many, I believe that America is that “shining city on a hill” spoken of by Ronald Reagan.  This lofty concept of a “city on a hill” was first used by Jesus during his Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 5:13–16 we read: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Today we can apply this not only to individuals, but communities, even a nation.

The phrase was also used by John Winthrop in his treatise, “A Model of Christian Charity,” delivered on March 21, 1630 before the Puritans sailed to the New World. In his treatise John Winthrop explained that those pilgrims would be an example to the rest of the world of Christian charity.  He impressed this upon them when he said, “For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are upon us.”

Alexis de Tocqueville understood that America was that “city on a hill” when he called the new nation “exceptional.” He stated, “… but America is still the place in the world where the Christian religion has most retained true power over souls; and nothing shows better how useful and natural religion is to men, since the country where today it exercises the most dominion is at the same time the most enlightened and the most free.”

For me, the designation of this land being something set apart goes back even farther than this.  The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi, who lived 600 years before Christ, tells us that America is the “land of promise.” In 2 Nephi 1:5, 7 we read:  “ . . .we have obtained a land of promise, a land which is choice above all other lands; a land which the Lord God hath covenanted with me should be a land for the inheritance of my seed. Yea, the Lord hath covenanted this land unto me, and to my children forever, and also all those who should be led out of other countries by the hand of the Lord.  Wherefore, this land is consecrated unto him whom he shall bring. And if it so be that they shall serve him according to the commandments which he hath given, it shall be a land of liberty unto them; wherefore, they shall never be brought down into captivity; if so, it shall be because of iniquity; for if iniquity shall abound cursed shall be the land for their sakes, but unto the righteous it shall be blessed forever.” These powerful words help us understand not only the promise of this land but the responsibilities of those who live here.

President Ronald Reagan believed America was exceptional and preserved by God when he stated, “There was some divine plan that placed this great continent between two oceans to be sought out by those who were possessed of an abiding love of freedom and a special kind of courage.”  The phrase “American exceptionalism” became universal when it was added to the official Republican party platform in 2012.

Saying that America is exceptional is not the same as saying America is better than other countries. You could also say that America is unique from other countries, but saying it is exceptional means so much more. It’s a belief that this country’s laws and standards are different from other countries. America is not just the biggest and most powerful country on earth, it is exceptional because it is the standard of freedom and liberty in the world.

America is unique among the other nations of the world because it was founded on the principles of individual liberty, private property rights and the idea that justice belongs to everyone who lives here. This country was established on the idea that all men are created equal under the law. In a letter to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island on September 9, 1790, George Washington expressed why he believed this new nation was the most exceptional nation in human existence to date.  He wrote, “The citizens of the United States of America have the right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of as if it were the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights, for happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.”

America was built on the eternal principle that all men are created equal and they have certain rights given to them by God. Because these rights are God-given, they cannot be taken away by man.  This was a completely new concept in the world at that time. In every other society, the citizens’ rights came from man, such as a king or dictator.

America’s founding has always been about its ambitions. The founders did not claim the country would be perfect, only that through freedom it may encourage greatness among its citizens. If one looks at history honestly, we see that the great men of our founding succeeded in creating a nation in which individual freedom became the pathway for unparalleled levels of achievement by its citizens.

These enlightened men who established this nation understood what makes America great and remarkable is its citizens and not the government. They knew that the government can encourage goodness only by protecting its people from the aggression of others, even from within the government.  Although this government was designed to encourage greatness by its citizens, it has not always lived up to its own ideal.  It imposed injustices such as the legalization of slavery, indentured servitude, denying the right to vote to some, forced segregation, and cronyism.  These things took place by flawed and dishonest men because they were mere mortals, but our founders did their best to prevent it and prepare for it when it did happen.

Another new concept was the idea of limited government. The rights guaranteed by God are “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Americans were truly free to pursue happiness because their government was limited. America is truly exceptional because it is the only country in the world that obtains its greatness from God-given rights and laws. Our founders believed the government received its authority from the “laws of nature and from nature’s God,” as stated in the Declaration of Independence. Mankind everywhere generally understood and recognized the laws of nature. But the founding fathers understood that these laws came from God and He is the ultimate authority. They understood that to have a legitimate government in place for all of its citizens and not just a select few, those rights came from natural law or, if you will, God Himself.  They believed since all things were created by God, man had inherent rights given to them by God that no government could deny or take away.

The power of government was limited and the rights of the citizens were ensured through the Bill of Rights. Articles I through VII of the Constitution define how the government will be administered.  The amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, restrict the government’s authority over the people. The citizen’s freedoms are clearly enumerated in these amendments.  For example, Amendment I guarantees the freedom of religion, freedom of the press and our right to peaceably assemble and to petition the government if we have grievances. Amendment II gives us the right to keep and bear arms. Amendment IV ensures the right to be “secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects.” Amendment V explains that no person can be tried twice for the same crime, cannot be compelled to testify against himself, and cannot be “deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.” These are only a few of the rights guaranteed by the Constitution, which I believe was divinely inspired.  Since the ratification of our Constitution in 1787 there have been a total of 27 amendments, the last being ratified on May 7, 1992 dealing with when Senators and Congressmen shall receive a raise in pay.

Another concept unique to America at the time of its founding is the idea of equal justice under the law. Our founders were not thinking of social justice as some do today.  They did not expect that everyone should be equal in wealth or social status for they knew that everyone had different talents and opportunities in life.  Nothing was guaranteed except your right to pursue your desires and your happiness. Some will say that equal protection was not the case at the country’s founding, and they would be correct. However, the beauty of our constitution is the addition of the Bill of Rights and the ability to add amendments that rectified these wrongs in time. This is evidenced by the passage of Amendment XIII, (1865), which abolished slavery, Amendment XIV, (1868), which gives to all equal protection under the law, and Amendment XIX, (1920), which gave women the right to vote, to name but a few.

The founders had a genuine suspicion of government because of what they had experienced while being governed by Great Britain’s monarchy. They knew for government to be “for the people”, it had to be an outline of rules and laws that allowed people to construct their own moral and civil code. James Madison once said: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary… In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and the next place, oblige it to control itself.”  It’s the people who must control government because government won’t do it on its own. In America the people have a say about how they will be governed and by whom.  If they are not happy, they can vote their leaders and representatives out of office. This was a new concept in the 18^th century, which made America exceptional.

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota.  Looking up at four of America’s best presidents reminded me of just how exceptional America is.  This country has been blessed with powerful leaders who put America first and were not corrupted by their position of power.

The four faces on the mountain are, from left to right: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln. The two most prominent faces are George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  Washington was the father of our country, a man whom the Lord spared from death during the many battles he was in.  This is evidenced by the fact that he was never wounded.  During the battle of Monongahela during the French and Indian war he had two horses shot out from under him.  After the battle in which General Edward Braddock was killed, Washington discovered four musket-ball holes in his tunic, but suffered no wounds.  During his life he contracted tuberculosis, diphtheria, dysentery on many occasions, smallpox, malaria, pneumonia, epiglottitis, carbuncles, and quinsy. To most men at the time just one of these ailments was a death sentence, but Washington was saved by the hand of Providence.

Abraham Lincoln was the perfect man to save the Union. He was a God-fearing man who I believe was lifted up by the Lord to serve at that time. He was blessed by God with the vision needed during one of America’s darkest times to bind up the nation’s wounds. I believe with God’s help he was able to rid the country of the stain of slavery while at the same preserving the nation.

Next to Washington is Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. He wrote these famous words, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Without these words America would be like all other countries on earth, receiving our rights from men who have the power to suspend those rights at their whim.

Between Jefferson and Lincoln is Theodore (Teddy) Roosevelt.  He wrote these famous words, “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in that gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” To me these words sum up one of the reasons America is exceptional.  Because of the liberties we enjoy, men and women are free to dream and then succeed in whatever endeavor they choose.

American exceptionalism does not mean that people here are better than in other countries. It means our Constitution is exceptional. It gives all who live here the opportunity to succeed or fail in what they choose to do in life. This enlightened document inspires, uplifts and encourages American citizens, both native born and immigrant, to live better lives, dream bigger dreams, and work hard for themselves, their families, and their fellow citizens.

Americans have been given a wonderful gift, Freedom. It is up to us to preserve it for this generation and all future generations. Benjamin Franklin summed up this idea when he was asked by a woman, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?”  He replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.”