Putin's remarks about American exceptionalism, Syria raise hackles

[n2doc]

MOSCOW, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's commentary urging caution in Syria prompted a flurry of comments, including a U.S. senator saying he wanted to vomit.

Putin's commentary arguing against military intervention in Syria over chemical weapons use was published by The New York Times Wednesday. Among other things he said it was "alarming" that military intervention in foreign matters "has become commonplace for the United States."

But what really got some people ticked off was Putin's remarks about President Obama's comments on what makes the United States exceptional during his national address Tuesday night, CNN reported Thursday.

"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," he wrote, concluding that, "We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal."



Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2013/09/12/Putins-remarks-about-American-exceptionalism-Syria-raise-hackles/UPI-93881378994206/

[annabanana]

1. "American exceptionalism" . .always reminds me of

"THIS time the market is different.. It will NEVER go down"

[pscot]

2. We're number 1

It's an article of faith.

[geek tragedy]

3. "we must not forget that God created us equal. . . .

except for the homosexuals and the accursed Chechens, they are scum

[HappyMe]

12. Yeah, he's just a paragon of fairness and virtue.

I don't think he should be yammering on about exceptionalism. It seems to me he has a huge ego and thinks that he is pretty exceptional himself.

[Catherina]

4. Rec'd

but he needs to work on the LGBT created equal part. Thankfully, many thoughtful comments in response to his OP politely pointed that part out even as they thanked him for his stand on Syria.

[Little Star]

5. I liked the way the WH responded....

The White House called Putin's jabs at Obama "irrelevant," CNN said.

A senior White House official said the key issue now is that Putin is "fully invested in Syria's [chemical weapons] disarmament."

Also agree totally with what Kristopher Wells, an assistant professor at the University of Alberta in Canada tweeted.

"In his open letter Putin says 'God created us all equal' -- guess he forgot about the gays & his discriminatory laws,"

[2naSalit]

6. ...

Heaven forbid someone might suggest that uhmerca take a good, hard collective look in the cosmic mirror and see what an ugly thing (in the eyes of the rest of the world) it has become.

Shooting the messenger, whom we have been fully conditioned to despise, isn't going to make the image look any better unless you just close your eyes. Seems like one of those "you can't say that about us because you're no angel..." problems. It's a claim that often serves as rational thought anymore.

So what if he ruffled some feathers? What he said was pretty spot on IMHO.

[bunnies]

7. "God created us equal"*

*Except gay people, political activists, journalists, NGOs and anyone who dares disagree with him.

[The Link]

8. At least this whole Putin thing has made people at least pretend to care about gay rights.

It started with Snowden in Russia. Now Putin and Syria.

That is a positive.

[get the red out]

9. I agree

[polichick]

10. Putin's not wrong about American exceptionalism. Doesn't matter who...

is saying this:

"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation,"

It's true.

[leftstreet]

11. Obama and Kerry have to own this

They Forrest Gumped their way through this debacle and thrust Putin into a western media spotlight he would never have normally achieved

[Enrique]

13. it's so silly

especially the part about American Exceptionalism. What, are people expecting Vladimir Putin to come out in favor of American Exceptionalism?

[GeorgeGist]

14. American exceptionalism means ...

we're better than them.


And we've got the guns to prove it.

[Solly Mack]

15. I know it will anger some for saying this but

I'm amused at the outrage over Putin's remarks.

His words would naturally anger those who wrap themselves in the flag and enjoy screaming "We're number 1" regardless of how delusional that sentiment is. And his words will anger those who see America's war crimes and crimes against humanity as somehow not as bad as when other countries do it ...because, you know, we're the "good guys" who torture people in "good faith". And his words will anger those who rightly claim Putin is being a hypocrite - and he is - but America has its own problem with hypocrisy and pointing fingers. People will contort themselves with rationalizations of why America's hypocrisy isn't really hypocrisy, and why its war crimes and crimes against humanity are, somehow, kinder and gentler than the next guy's. Putin successfully got under the skin of how some Americans see (or want to see) America. They won't be forgiving of that.

By violating international law and international customary law (or "norms&quot itself, the U.S. has opened the door to such letters.

I read his words. I didn't get angry. I didn't squirm. I wasn't offended or outraged. I just said touché.

[pampango]

16. Given the US' role in the world in the decades after WWII, for a while people looked at the US as

an arbiter of sorts on occasions when something bad would happen in the world. The rest of the world moved on from that attitude decades ago but the self-image lingers in the American psyche - well at least in our politicians. It is difficult for them to make the transition from being from being top dog to being one of many dogs in the world.

People in most countries know that, while they may be proud of their country and its heritage, they know they are a fairly small part of the bigger world and have to be mindful of that when they and their country interact with the rest of the us.

Most of us, having grown up after WWII, are used to the world to some extent accommodating itself to what the US wants and not the other way around. We tell Syria what we want to do and they can like it or lump it. Our first inclination is not to negotiate but to dictate. The same happens with too many countries in too many policy areas - war and peace, trade, climate change, arms control, etc. To me that is the essential definition of "American exceptionalism".