American Exceptionalism

vs Social Collectivism

To the Editor:

We stand at a crossroad in our political evolution where we have to rethink and possibly rekindle the spirit of American Exceptionalism within our democratic system, which seems to have been forgotten by some of us who have taken its benefits for granted and become complacent, looking at this idea of collective security which has been tried and which has failed.

We are still a great nation because of the many efforts and sacrifices that those before made for their children so that one day they would have the golden opportunity to rise to the greatest level possible in their human development as that is their natural right.

This ideal, however, cannot become a reality unless efforts are made at home, in the community, in school to develop the most important human resource that we all possess — the ability to improve the quality of our thinking so that we can use the power of our mind to achieve our highest development.

We are going through a critical paradigm shift where old perceptions and thinking are being replaced by new ideas and concepts. We are moving into a “Creative Economy,” where money chases new products and services. We have been operating in a “Knowledge Economy,” where existing ideas and concepts were dominant. Like all the electronic devices of the past which have been discarded by most, we have to learn to think about where we are and where we want to go with our lives and with our nation.

If we move toward social collectivism, we will have failed ourselves and our future generations, because we will have failed to develop this most important ability to use our minds to solve the problems to face the challenges and to live our lives with a conviction that as humans we possess the resources to fulfill our dreams and ambitions. And that is the attitude that the immigrants had and have who come to this country.

An exceptional opportunity exists because there are basic American Freedoms that have guaranteed economic and political development. It is this incredible American experiment that is one of the reasons why we are unique in the world and the reason why so many see to migrate here to fulfill their dreams. They recognize and want to participate in this “American Exceptionalism” that youngsters born here fail to appreciate. There are many forces and entities that are competing to control their thinking, and, in some cases, preventing them with having to think for themselves and the real things that are important in human development.

So we stand at the crossroads of history and the question I ask, “Are our schools making this their priority, e.g., developing students’ abilities to think as that is a skill that can be developed as it has in other industrialized countries like Singapore, Australia, Great Britain, etc.” Or are we willing to leave good enough alone and not worry about tomorrow since the next generation will figure it out for themselves. It’s time to decide.

Rudy Magnan

60 Watkins Drive, Sandy Hook                             September 4, 2012