Posted on 09/12/2013 6:43:39 AM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
(CNN) -- If Vladimir Putin wanted to get Americans' attention, he seems to have done a pretty good job.
The Russian president's op-ed article arguing against military intervention in Syria, published on The New York Times' website late Wednesday, set off a flurry of reactions -- some outraged, some impressed, and some just plain bemused.
Democratic Sen. Robert Menendez said the piece made him almost want to throw up.
Putin said he had written the opinion piece "to speak directly to the American people and their political leaders."
Putin makes his case in op-ed
Vladimir Putin's call for peace But he appeared to have raised some peoples' hackles with the last paragraph in which he disputed the idea of American exceptionalism.
It was a reference to President Barack Obama's address Tuesday night, in which he said that while America can't be a global cop, it ought to act when in certain situations.
"That's what makes us exceptional," Obama said. "With humility, but with resolve, let us never lose sight of that essential truth."
Putin's answer to that?
"It is extremely dangerous to encourage people to see themselves as exceptional, whatever the motivation," he wrote.
He concluded with the line, "We are all different, but when we ask for the Lord's blessings, we must not forget that God created us equal."
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
(sighhh) Not even going to engage.
Okay. I'll engage a little.
He's the leader of the most Godless GOVERNMENT on the planet.
Sheesh. Some people.
That is true. Isn't part of our problem a few generations of baby-boomers and younger who were brought up thinking they're special?
America's exceptionalism was a result of being a people who would work hard, be innovative in solving problems, and do right for the world. We've lost our way as a nation.
Of course Putin might have done just that, I know. But, again, this is the problem with seeing the world through CNN's spectacles. Once you've learned those goggles are like the "X-ray glasses" hawked in the back of old comic books (plus give you a headache and make you look ridiculous), it's natural to develop an aversion to putting them on, even for the weather.
Next topic.
What’s the big deal? Obastard spent his entire first year as Community Organizer in Chief trashing the notion of “American Exceptionalism.” Putin is just agreeing.
I thought Obama said we were not exceptional, now he wants to be exceptional?
Geez listen to this turd we have as President. He makes up his lies to suit his speech.
And where does he get this great idea that Muslims helped in the creation of this country?
Newt wrote a book and I will post the reference. But he looks at it from a whole different viewpointthan Obama, ie.e, historically rather than righteous. Where it says read more...go for it.
In his own words.
BUMP!
His remarks regarding American exceptionalism only come at the very end of what is almost exclusively an appeal to strengthening the credibility of the United Nations Security Council.
Unfortunately, the remarks he made about his own understanding of "exceptionalism," marked as it is by Russia's latent fear of Nazi Germany, is what the demented press in the United States sets as the headline.
Putin compares "exceptionalism" to Obama's statements about the U.S. going it alone, unilateralism, and not from any appreciation for the U.S. and its role in founding and maintaining the modern West.
In short, Putin (like Obama) has no sense of American exceptionalism as expressed, for example, by Governor Palin. Nor should anyone expect him to understand what Americans believe about themselves and our historic role.
A U.S. president should, at the very least, understand (and rightly should share) Sarah Palin's understanding of that phrase. But, this administration has a greater misunderstanding and fear of its meaning than Putin.
Ironic, isn't it? An American president with genuine hatred for American exceptionalism lectured on the topic by a Russian leader who has mistaken it for unilateralism.
Reality is much stranger than any fiction.
I find it positive that Putin references Rule of Law and Christian principles.
Don't be too impressed. Remember his squashing of russia's free press and that he has essentially established one man rule in russia.
Nor should you forget the various poisonings and nefarious disappearances of leading opponents.
He ain't somebody you want to play paddy-cakes with.
The Soviet Union was Godless, but Russia is not. Russia is building churches while America is trying to tear them down.
In a way he is correct. We have fags all in our faces and the military, queer marriage, exploding debt, gutting our defense, porous borders, heavy tax burdens, half our population on welfare, our achievements now are social media widgets as opposed to putting men on the moon, industry is shrinking... Compared to what we were in the 80s or before we have lost a lot.
However, I will only say to him if we are so bad why does everyone want to come here? (Inside I know that most just want a free ride)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.