In your own words, how does too much emphasis on American exceptionalism hinder our understanding of American history?
Sounds like the teacher has already made up his/her mind that American exceptionalism has hindered our understanding of American history.
I told me daughter to say that we don't have enough emphasis on American exceptionalism.
The schools, K through post graduate I assume, need to be ridden of all these liberal Marxists.
I feel like this is easy to explain.
Answer the following question:
“In your own words, how would communism respond to the current healthcare crisis?”
That question is not telling you to be a communist. It’s asking you to demonstrate you understand communism well enough to explain a problem from their perspective. It’s not asking you to embrace their perspective or assuming that you do.
-Aristotle, quoted more than once here on GAW.
The point of this question was asking her to understand a perspective. American exceptionalism absolutely exists. Whether it’s widespread or inappropriate or undesireable can be debated, but many American citizens undeniably think America is a special place in the world and in history compared to everywhere else.
The question asked her to consider what things might be missed by someone with a certain perspective. Could problems with America be downplayed by someone who believes America is exceptional?
Absolutely. How?
If you can’t understand the perspective of another person, then you’re at a disadvantage. Always. You don’t have to agree with the perspective. You can be repulsed by the perspective. But the mark of intelligence is being able to predict the logic and argument from other perspective. Honestly. Fairly. Even if you hate them and think they’re wrong.
Now, what if the teachings are one sided and only the problems are what is being taught? Wouldn’t your argument work both ways? If she took the stance to honestly, fairly, and evenly present a logical perspective believing America is exceptional would that make her wrong? I have two boys in college and saw first hand the regurgitation the professors wanted. One was an advanced poli sci class where anti Semitic chapter was a picture of trump with his hand up, chapter title Heil trump. The other was an intro to composition with papers on topics like immigration, transgender, and race. It was obvious they only wanted regurgitation, not critical thinking or writing. Seeing both sides is a sign of intelligence. Not being able to critically think or present a difference of opinion is not teaching. It’s indoctrinating.
The "Aristotle" quote that wouldn't die. 😵
It's fake news. It never appears in Nicomachean Ethics.
You’re correct. Good catch.