Exceptionalism and The War On Us

As the Trump administration continues to escalate the war on our communities across the country, and specifically in Chicago, the question has to be asked; what is stopping people en masse from opposing such a blatant violation of our rights and freedoms? Why are we choosing to side with those that are making war on us?

When we look at the self-loathing that working and poor people in America have for themselves (which they would claim is a hatred for the lazy, criminal, and alien), the source of it is unmistakably that they are not part of the ruling class and they are told that they should be. The toxicity of the American Dream lies in its simultaneous inclusive promise and exclusionary practice.

We are told that just by being a part of this country (mind you a legitimate part), we are exceptional people that have risen above the stagnation of the rest of humanity. It doesn’t matter how much money you have (it does) so long as you work hard (never hard enough). It doesn’t matter where you came from or what color of skin you have (it always will), so long as you assimilate into American culture (which will never be allowed). In this country you can live freely (within limits that are enforced with viscous cruelty) and no one has the right to tell what what to think or believe (just make sure you freely choose correctly).

All we ask is that you believe in America, its unblemished past, and that its best days are yet to come. Just don’t associate with anyone who is different, aka Un American.

Certainly don’t organize to address any problems that you and your fellows may have. If there are poor people that is their fault (your fault). If people are being attacked for being different it is because they refused the dream they were offered, so join in the persecution or you will become its target. And most of all never ever, ever point out that everything that they are telling you is a lie. That is the most unforgivable sin that America has.

This is why we hate ourselves, the path to exceptionalism is an impossible Esher staircase that almost never leads anywhere. We spend our lifetime being beaten down by the ruling class, we are taught to hate ourselves for it, and so we then turn that fury on our fellows with a cruelty that the bosses admire. That is the true heart of American Exceptionalism.

There is another way.