That seems to be the right-wing code word these days. That if you don’t think we’re the best, then you hate America. Pandering and browbeating combined, at their worst.

Thinking that we’re just “good” or even “great” is not enough anymore. However, the distinction crosses a dangerous line. You can’t be content just thinking good things about yourself, you have to believe that you are better than others, that you stand above them, and they below you. The relative association is critical. As “good” is to “best,” so “pride” is to “arrogance,” and “patriotism” is to “nationalism.” Such is the nature of supremacy. Right-wingers are not just saying that we’re a great nation, they must insist–no matter what the facts say, no matter what we have actually earned–that naturally, automatically, intrinsically, America is better than anyone else, that Americans are of course better than everyone else.

It’s funny, because right-wingers usually despise the idea that we have to build up the self-esteem of children by telling them they’re the best no matter what, and give them awards despite not winning anything.

And yet now if you don’t do this at a national scale, you hate America.

Worse, if you are cognizant of Santayana’s warning and recognize the wrongs done by America so we will not repeat them, then you hate America even more–you are one of those filthy heretics who apologize for America. That’s the term used by right-wingers today–not that you “disrespect” America, but you apologize for it. An apology requires an outsider, someone you are apologizing to, bringing us back to the relative exceptionalism theme. If you apologize to those others, if you bow to them, then you are placing yourself below them. Remember, this is a binary choice here–there is no equality, you are either better or they are. You apparently cannot apologize or show respect amongst equals.

No, America must be dominant. It is our birthright, no matter how we rank in actual terms.

This is “American Exceptionalism.” Because it sounds much better than “Nationalism.”