With great blessings comes great responsibility

Emonty,

LOL! I love your post.

I also find it interesting that, when Bean first started contributing as a panelist, her bio line included "mother of eight." Somehow, that got dropped.

Wonder why.

Wow! I have to congratualte WaPo; I do not think they could have found a writer less representative of most Catholics if they had tried. Perhaos she needs to be reminded that she is not schilling for Fox News? One could posit that using this person as a columinist is an 'anti-Catholic' thing to do.

Ms. Bean, I could not disagree with you more. The reason those of us on the left appear apologetic is because those of us on the right (like you and Sarah Palin) like to boast about American exceptionalism and make fools of ourselves. It comes across as blatant superiority. As an American I feel compelled to apologize for such behavior. It's embarrassing. There is nothing more egregious than someone who boasts about how superior s/he is. American exceptionalism by those on the right is also a euphemism and justification for American military imperialism. Let's make War, by God, because "we are right." God ordains that we Americans are righteous above all. Bologna. Anyone that stands behind God as justification for violence is vastly insecure. An dead wrong. We become no better than the terrorists we fight. With this statement of "exceptionalism" it is clear to me those Americas (like you) are making an attempt rekindle a contemporary version of the Crusades. So, yes, I am apologetic. And humiliated by such talk.

"They do so as a defensive measure against the anti-Americanism of those in positions of power on the left."

I actually think the flag-waiving nationalism on the right is a red herring. It is a distraction from the real issue: America is losing its exceptional status in the world. I align myself with "liberals" and Democrats not because I am "anti-American" but because I fear that the policies of the right will make America less exceptional and less influential in the world. For instance, I worry that economic inequality (which is at an all time high) is eroding our republican political system and increasing corruption. I worry that Republican-backed corporate deregulation and tax cuts for the wealthy is not only increasing inequality, but growing the crippling deficit. I am concerned that we import all our products, and export all our labor to China. I fear that our two wars have made the Middle East less stable (and me, less safe.) I am appalled that Republicans jumped to bail out wealthy, criminal bankers but refuse to extend unemployment for Americans who lost their jobs in this Wall Street-fabricated depression.

I am a liberal, and I believe in American exceptionalism, but I reject the hollow, empty nationalism of Mrs. Palin and Mrs. Bean.

Twmatthews:
“Gladerunner, I stand (actually, I'm really sitting) in awe of the quality and thoughtfulness of your responses. Are you a professional writer by chance?”

(Blushing) I’ve had a couple of things published, personal essays in compilation books, nothing that you’ve likely heard of. I also maintain a few of my own blogs that have nothing whatsoever to do with religious/political debate. Writing is definitely more than just a hobby, though I have no delusions of quitting my day (night) job anytime soon. Thanks for the kind words!

Gladerunner, I stand (actually, I'm really sitting) in awe of the quality and thoughtfulness of your responses.

Are you a professional writer by chance?

(Cntd)
jpalumbo201:
Aside from being ‘no religious test’ and the first amendment, the only place you see reference to a god, any god, is at the bottom where it says ‘in the year of our lord’ which even then was about as specifically religious as saying ‘bless you ‘ after a sneeze is now.
What the individual FF’s believed was therefore only coincidental to the framing of our nation. It is only what they could agree upon and ratify that became the actual foundation for the nation.
This is much like my bowling team, the fact that 80% of the guys go to church has little to do with the team’s actual goals at the alley, and nothing at all to do with the league membership card they agreed to sign.

“guess at the ages of 6 thru 12 I should have recognized how I was "buying into political pandering"---how did I miss that as a child”
I bought it as a child as well, but eventually realized the bigger picture.

“when we observe a strong movement to remove the 10 Commandments from public places and govt buildings, “
You are completely wrong. The offense is not in the ‘removal’ of the 10C’s, the offense was having them there in the first place. The first several commandments are a loyalty oath to a specific god. There is simply no other way to look at it. Those first commandments specifically state that this specific god is the one and only. This is a bold, strong religious statement that clearly states that one god is better than the others. It’s fine and dandy for you to make that statement, or for reverend Bob to, It’s even fine that the local privately-owned/publicly traded department store says it. But the first amendment bars the Gvmnt from picking one religion over another.
“when people are now trying to remove Christ from Christmas”
Who’s doing that? Who is taking ‘Christ’ from your personal celebration of Christmas? Who is telling you that you can’t have Christ in your Christmas?

“and when some believe Thanksgiving is not about thanking God but about killing Indians,”
We are in America, we are allowed to BELIEVE whatever we want to believe. What I BELIEVE is not for you to decide.

“that tells me a movement exists to remove God from society”
Don’t be absurd. I drive past packed churches every Sunday morning and don’t even give it a thought. Believe what you want to, on your own time, your own dime. That’s all anyone is asking.

"no one is forcing you to remain here...find a place more suitable for your beliefs"
Or we, like you, can lobby and vote for changes in the system according to the rules of the political process. That's the way it works here. I have as much right to petition the government as you.

jpalumbo201:
“. . . Declaration of Independence, it said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal. . . they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights”
I know what the DOI says. But that Jefferson, whose idea of ‘god’ was quite different than what many contemporary denominations currently espouse, wrote that does not mean/prove that men are actually so endowed. The sentence starts with ‘We hold’ which is the same as ‘we believe.’ It is a statement of belief, not of actual known, indisputable fact. It’s a subtle, yet important difference.
When the President of the U.S. says ‘I believe in God’, he is making a personal statement of belief as well. It does not define or change my belief, or that of anyone else. Nor does it prove the existence of that specific creator.

“(I imagine that includes our unborn!!),” This is also a statement of belief. It does not alter actual facts.
“my point is that God played a part in the establishment of our country”
No more so than any other country. To be more accurate it can be said that this country was started by people who had somewhat similar belief systems, primarily of one form or another of Christianity.
The same can be said about my bowling team. At least 80% of those guys go to church once in a while.
The problem with the DOI is that it is often used to define the establishment of this nation. That is somewhat a mischaracterization. The DOI was written to explain/justify a separation from British rule. It lays out the grievances and explains that the colonies had come together decided to not play by Britain’s (the King’s) rules anymore.
In simpler, more familiar terms, it was a divorce decree.

Once the inevitable revolution concluded, it was necessary to create a NEW set of rules for the now-liberated colonies, a constitution. When we talk about ‘establishing’ or laying a foundation, it is at this point that we should start. The DOI laid out some broad goals and ideas, but it would be only the constitution that would ‘establish’ the new nation.
I am not saying the DOI was unimportant, not at all, I’m just pointing out that it was what it was, a separation decree, not a blueprint.
There was much, much debate about the constitution. This thing was fought over, every word, every phrase, every detail, for several years. As was typical of all political processes, there were compromises, trade-offs, etc.
Slavery was a hot topic, it went back and forth for quite a while. The (mostly) southern colonies were ready to walk out over that issue, a compromise was reached, that compromise was that slavery is neither entirely banned, nor is it established as law of the land, in fact only mentioned a couple of times.
Now for religion. There was every opportunity for the FF’s to include praises to Jesus, shout-out’s to god in that document, but once again we see that it is barely mentioned. (continued)

To Gladerunner, while I agree with establishing and protecting individual liberties, my comments were more focused on where these liberties came from..the last time I read the Declaration of Independence, it said,"We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal (I imagine that includes our unborn!!), that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable rights, that among these are LIFE, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."..my point is that God played a part in the establishment of our country..you are right that I was in gradeschool after 1956---I guess at the ages of 6 thru 12 I should have recognized how I was "buying into political pandering"---how did I miss that as a child??(if it actually is true)...when we observe a strong movement to remove the 10 Commandments from public places and govt buildings, when people are now trying to remove Christ from Christmas, and when some believe Thanksgiving is not about thanking God but about killing Indians, that tells me a movement exists to remove God from society..I really don't believe I said those not appreciating the greatness of our country should be EVICTED, did I??...I just said, for those who choose to apologize for our country and try to deny the influence of God in the establishment of our country, and who want to change what marriage is, and who continue to criticize this country, no one is forcing you to remain here...find a place more suitable for your beliefs---or lack thereof.

jpalumbo201
“I am not too tired to realize the problem seems to be that people have forgotten or chosen to ignore what our founding fathers based this country on, rights and freedoms upon a Christian foundation.”
Actually, they set the foundation for the establishment of and protections for individual liberties, including to not have the government mandate or treat preferentially any particular religious creed, in essence to segregate the two. They had experienced the incestuous evil that is a church-state and saw how it served as a two-headed serpent to subjugate individuals.

“I recited the pledge of allegiance in grade school, I do remember saying,"...one nation, UNDER GOD..."
Which merely means you went to grade school after 1956. We were in a cold war with the ‘godless communists’ and this phrase was added to fire up an otherwise complacent populace, to create a common evil. It was an act of overt political pandering, you apparently bought into it.

“DESPERATELY to obliterate any and all mention of God”
No one is trying to obliterate any and all mention of god. We are simply trying to stop he government and its institutions from treating Christianity, and Christians any differently than other religion, as the FF’s specifically intended. To make this new nation a nation of laws of, by and for 'the people'.

“...to those so upset with continued expression of Christianity, including Thanksgiving and Christmas”
I have no problem with Christmas or Thanksgiving. I don’t even care one iota how you or anyone else celebrates them. I don’t think more/less of you because you say ‘Merry Christmas’ rather than ‘Happy Holidays’. We don’t care that you like to keep Christ in your Christmas. It is not us, the non-religious that are trying to dictate to you on the ‘proper way’ to celebrate these holidays. Deck your halls, follow the star, away in the manger, we don’t care, knock yourself out!

“. . . feel free to pack up and go somewhere else if you think this is not a blessed country!!.”
Oh, now you want to dictate/mandate/evict us for what we think…. Seriously? THAT’s what the FF’s had in mind? My God’s way or the Highway?

Knew I would forget something---first of all, to "EEZMAMATA", sounds like racism is alive and well!..do you recognize that derogatory comments towards whites are ALSO racist???..I wonder where YOUR thoughts are being published---and where YOUR picture is posted so all can criticize your appearance!!..guess it's obviously non-existent, and all reading your post can certainly see why..if Danielle even reads these posts, which I hope she does not, due to the extreme personal attacks on her, realize you are a light in this world of consuming darkness...and you and I both know, when you are "persecuted for righteousness' sake", where your (abundant!!) reward will be!

CKEN stated it correctly...in addition, while my life is busy with a large family, ill parents, and helping my self-employed husband, I am not too tired to realize the problem seems to be that people have forgotten or chosen to ignore what our founding fathers based this country on, rights and freedoms upon a Christian foundation...while it's been many years since I recited the pledge of allegiance in grade school, I do remember saying,"...one nation, UNDER GOD..." The biggest division we seem to have is between those that continue to acknowledge God in our past, present, and future, and those that are trying DESPERATELY to obliterate any and all mention of God...to those so upset with continued expression of Christianity, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, who's forcing you to stay in this country if you do not appreciate all it has to offer??...feel free to pack up and go somewhere else if you think this is not a blessed country!!...don't think we'll miss you!!

Most of the nonsense in this column has been touched on by critics who understand what is going, but Ms. Bean seems to have been given a pass on her casual racism. I guess that we haven't really moved very far in the last 150 years. Yes, the Revolt of the Slaveholders was put down, but Jim Crow was often just slavery by another name and it lasted for about a century. Equal rights may have become the law a century later, but there are still people in this country who proudly celebrate that they are racist or that there was a war to save slavery. Despite that, Ms. Bean is completely clueless about why anyone would criticize how we have treated the descendants of slaves in this country. Even the Pope isn't that backward.

We in America need to be less smug about how good we are. We are not good. We still let racism hold sway. We complain when valid complaints are made about how our country treats minorities. We are shameless in boasting about how good we are. Who cares if Jesus criticized smugness, self-righteousness, and religiosity? The Right certainly does not.

I'm sure sick of this left vs right argument, you people think that's all that matters, your stupid political argument over whose political ideology matters to your silly god.

I'm surprised that a whiny looking white broad like you would be having a peniis contest with liberals like this.

"It makes me so sad that the idea of 'American Exceptionalism' has somehow become an affront to our sensibilities."

Ludere,

It makes me deeply nauseous that the idea of American exceptionalism should exist at all.

It's nothing more than a schoolyard battle over bragging rights.

"hmmmm...maybe these religious folk actually have a bit more intellect and wisdom than those disagreeing?"

Nah. They're just a bit more smug.

"I suppose some of Mrs. Bean's detractors commenting here do not celebrate our national day of Thanksgiving. From their comments, one would think they have nothing to be thankful for, these Thanksgiving Scrooges and Grinches! But they stand against a long and hallowed American tradition of thanking God for our new land, our new harvest, our new friends, our new nation, our new opportunities, and his continued blessings upon us."

Wow, Rock3. You need to brush up on your history. The first official Thanksgiving was actually a celebration for the massacre of Pequot men, women, and children in 1637. There's a reason those who were here first consider Thanksgiving a day of Mourning. Give Thanks, but remember whose blood fed the soil you're Thankful for.

Here is the vid an American Exceptionalism. Really worth the couple minutes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn4IH3yng4k or search for Dennis Prager, The American Trinity

It makes me so sad that the idea of "American Exceptionalism" has somehow become an affront to our sensibilities. America has done more good in the world than any other nation. She is exceptional. Those that can't see that, really need to study history. For a great start, check out Praeger University on youtube.

Danielle,

I am not going to accuse you of blasphemy but, as one Catholic to another, you must know that our faith does not lay much stress upon "God's plans", as if we could ever know the mind of the Creator or outcome of Creation itself.

Similarly, the Church is composed of many nations, one of the true international bodies of the world, and this has been the case since its founding 2000 years ago. During that time many Catholic countries have also warred against eachother, hence, I cannot believe that God has much preference for any particular side.

It stuns me how rude people are toward Danielle just because they disagree with her opinion, or dislike her emphasis. If one wishes to express one's own (contrary) opinion, or make a different emphasis, then do so in a thoughtful comment. But "Miracle Whip" comments and "fascism" remarks just show off one's ignorance or lack of civility.

I suppose some of Mrs. Bean's detractors commenting here do not celebrate our national day of Thanksgiving. From their comments, one would think they have nothing to be thankful for, these Thanksgiving Scrooges and Grinches! But they stand against a long and hallowed American tradition of thanking God for our new land, our new harvest, our new friends, our new nation, our new opportunities, and his continued blessings upon us. This is not jingoism. Just because we recognize our exceptional blessings does not mean we deny the exceptional blessings of other peoples. The Italians can take pride in their exceptional sculptors and painters, the French in their Gothic cathedrals, the Austrians in Mozart, the Greeks in their philosophers, the Chinese in the world's oldest civilization, the English in their parliamentary government, the Germans in their exceptional advancements in math and science, the Russians in their history of space exploration, the Swiss in their neutrality. Why cannot American's recognize and be thankful for their exceptional republican government, constitutional law, abundant agriculture and economic prosperity? Granted, there are evils in America, but this does not negate our blessings. And if we thank God for these blessings, why should unbelievers ridicule us for it when our belief in God is certainly not unreasonable? I can almost hear Mrs. Bean's mean spirited opponents muttering, "Bah humbug!" But that, my friend, is not an argument.

Whether she meant to or not, Ms. Bean nails the problem that many have with those in the public eye who profess to be Christians with opinions emanating from the right.

Where is the humility? Whenever I hear someone talking about "American exceptionalism" or implying that this country is chosen by God, I always point out Jesus's parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

America's exceptionalism is not about Americans being exceptional people, and it is not really about the blessings of wealth and abundance (though they are in many ways a result of what makes us exceptional).
We are exceptional in the history of the world because of our constitution--which results in unprecedented personal freedoms; a president who relinquishes his office after four or eight years, without exception; an economy that allows for people (not all, but those who work hard, persevere and use their abilities well) to enter it at the bottom and rise to the top; a country who sends it's military to other countries and when it leaves ask only for the land necessary to bury its dead.
When we speak of American Exceptionalism we are not bragging, or denigrating others....we are saying that this country, as it was founded, is a place where any person from any country can come and be free and succeed.
Insofar as our constitution continues to be followed, we will continue to be exceptional.

Frankly, I'd take Danielle's optimism over the jaded, embittered attitudes I'm seeing in this com-box any time. We ARE blessed to be Americans and I'm not ashamed to say it.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, mates.

I disagree. It is not right to say that liberals are being anti-American when they criticize the actions of a previous administration. That is a classic example of changing the subject. When liberals say, it was wrong of you to torture prisoners, rather than defending torture you instead say liberals were mean and wrong and anti-American to criticize you. Same thing with racism. It seems that among conservatives it is considered a worse sin to call someone a racist than for someone to actually do racist things.

And, I don't like the whole idea of thinking that America is called by God to do things. That comes too close to rationalizing things by the ends rather than the means. We need to all be humble and introspective and make sure we are doing the right things, rather than waving flags and being hypersensitive to criticism.

Exceptionalism also means that you have to intepret God's will in everything. Yes, Jeremiah Wright said 9/11 was America's fault. Pat Robertson said the same thing about Hurricane Katrina.

If God really wants Sarah Pallin and Chrintine O'Donnell to have public office, then they really don't have to do anything. God's will is the winner, not them. On the other hand, if they don't get that public office, maybe they are being punished by a God who doesn't like being told what His will is.

People who divine God's plan, like Danielle Bean, are really scary. They like to think that God speaks to them personally, and tells them that He has only good plans for America, if they win. If they have the power, they will do God's will, even if it means dumping your governorship to make millions on the speech front like Saarah Pallin is doing.

Remember, "Gott mit uns" (God is with us)was written on every soldiers' belt buckle in World War II. The Nazis were sure that God favored them, too. That Germany was an exceptional state.

So, who is the mouthpiece in America that speaks as God's voice to humanity? Danielle Bean, when she says she knows God's will?

It's funny how God demanded a sacrifce from all his biblical prophets, but insists that His prophets in America have nine figure incomes.

I could not say it better, so I copied another writer' comments -

Oh hogwash, Ms Bean. What a load of jingoistic merde. God most certainly did not bless this country any more than any other country. Luck and geography had a lot more to do with our good fortune than any mythical being. You sound just like the rest of the facist crowd, running around crowing about how great we are while we fall farther and farther behind the rest of the developed world in almost every measure.

jpalumbo201:
“Why do all you liberals have to be so mean, hateful, and stooping to the low level of NAME-CALLING”
I’m not a liberal! Stop the name calling already!

Of course the United States is blessed and exceptional! The United States as a whole and Americans as individuals enjoy an unprecedented and unmatched abundance of wealth, freedom, power, and opportunity. No one can deny that.

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God gives his blessings to all people who believe in Him, whether they be American, Haitian, or any other nationality. If America is so "blessed", does that mean God has "cursed" places like Haiti? Does God hate the Haitians and love the Americans? Of course not!

It is OK for Americans to thank God for what they receive, but it is an egregious sin for Bean and anyone else to proclaim that God loves Americans better than other peoples.

Of course the United States is blessed and exceptional! The United States as a whole and Americans as individuals enjoy an unprecedented and unmatched abundance of wealth, freedom, power, and opportunity. No one can deny that.

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God gives his blessings to all people who believe in Him, whether they be American, Haitian, or any other nationality. If America is so "blessed", does that mean God has "cursed" places like Haiti? Does God hate the Haitians and love the Americans? Of course not!

It is OK for Americans to thank God for what they receive, but it is an egregious sin for Bean and anyone else to proclaim that God loves Americans better than other peoples.

As a Catholic, I am truly embarrassed that you are also a Catholic. You are so unCatholic you should just join another religion. You sure do not espouse Catholic beliefs and attitudes.

America is some times exceptional, but its not and can not be an inherent trait. America is exceptional when it LEADS. Leading means making sure you are being followed. America has led in political rights, and in some ways has led in Civil Rights. America should continue to make itself exceptional by leading on
1. Human Rights, here there and everywhere.
2. Climate Change and environmental protection.
3. Insuring that over fishing does not happen.
4. Insuring freedom of religion.
5. Insuring Human Rights include women and children.

People refuse to admit America has made mistakes are more dangerous to America than any of our current foes. History shows to be a world leader, a country has to continually evolve and improve.

Why do all you liberals have to be so mean, hateful, and stooping to the low level of NAME-CALLING to express your "profound and deep thoughts"?? (that's sarcasm, in case you didn't recognize it.) I always find it interesting that those religious people who agree with this excellent Catholic writer are able to express themselves typically with respect, while those disagreeing with her are so hate-filled and angry...hmmmm...maybe these religious folk actually have a bit more intellect and wisdom than those disagreeing?...maybe these far left people who may be good but definitely misguided could learn a bit more by actually listening and thinking about another point of view instead of angrily defending things/ issues that may actually be morally wrong. Just a thought---go ahead, let the angry backlash begin!!!(we all know how productive THAT is!)

Oh hogwash, Ms Bean. What a load of jingoistic merde. God most certainly did not bless this country any more than any other country. Luck and geography had a lot more to do with our good fortune than any mythical being. You sound just like the rest of the facist crowd, running around crowing about how great we are while we fall farther and farther behind the rest of the developed world in almost every measure.

Wow, what unabashed, insensitive, ignorant drivel. This woman really needs her meds adjusted. She is a living parody of the delusional religious right.

Danielle:
Very disappointing. This column looks like you just couldn't be bothered with original thought so you just slapped some old, boilerplate Limbaugh-isms together.
Yes America is blessed, well, not so much for the Native Americans and descendents of slaves, and maybe those 52 million aborted fetuses. Maybe not so much in the deep south where poverty, disease and hunger are still de rigor. Maybe not for the gays, unfairly burdened with unnatural lusts, or the homeless and displaced mentally ill. Then there's all those families of dead and maimed solders. And the elderly trying to eke out a living on Social Security... Maybe not for the single moms, abandoned by the fathers for whatever reason, forced to decide between multiple minimum wage jobs vs. welfare. And maybe not so much all those children abused by adults.
How exactly is the nation 'blessed' Danielle?
Don't you really just mean that you and maybe your circle of comfortably affluent friends are blessed?

The other issue is that exceptionalism tends to inform people that there is something inherent about themselves that is better. There is not. Yes, the American way - democracy - is definitively better then dictatorships or communism. But, the Catholic writer would have to agree, that's not out of something where Americans are inherently better than everyone else. That's a unique blessing that America has been able to benefit from for 200+ years.

So, since there's nothing that we did to earn what we have, and since we're plainly celebrating our blessings, I don't see how there's anything wrong with acknowledging our guilt and shame, either. America is a blessed nation, but it is awfully sinful as well. We also know that in our hearts. And knowing that we error in so many ways will give us humility in how we go forth - not "righteous indignation in defense of our great nation." Any meaningful reading of the Bible gives no reason for any nation to be "righteously defended." Israel? The Roman Empire? The Persian Empire? The Assyrian Empire? All fell short.

Why does this woman remind me of Miracle Whip?

Posted by: bigbrother1
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This woman IS miracle whip. She is unexceptional, however. The Vatican ought to do something here. I mean, haven't they suffered enough?

What's wrong with feeling guilt?

The problem with American exceptionalism is that it allows people to ignore the errors that they (and the country) have made in the past. "Let bygones be bygones," we say. But those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

People do both good and evil things. We encourage one another and we tell lies to one another. We treat some people well and we treat other people poorly. Some of the time we sin, and some of the time we don't. (As a Catholic writer, I think you would acknowledge that most people sin all the time by virtue of not carrying out God's will.)

A stronger argument by the writer would have observed that liberals and conservatives - all Americans - like some aspects of their nation and abhor others, and that aspects tilt depending on where you're coming from (such as being a descendant of people that were owned and enslaved by people of the same race as the author of this article).

But, well, would that polarize people? I guess not.

Why does this woman remind me of Miracle Whip?