I wrote and published this article originally in April of last year. Like wine it might have more flavor today than when first crafted.
American Exceptionalism…It’s the Cure not the Disease
Sorry folks, I’m getting a little tired of all the bashing, hand wringing, or the self loathing I keep hearing surrounding the American Exceptionalism argument. Hopefully many of you haven’t bought into all this trite the so-called “Ivy leaguers” like to espouse. For me, I’ll take a little more talk, and action from people wearing cowboy boots than the wing tips.
Have most people in this country forgot that it wasn’t the suits, and ties that forged into the unknown with nothing more than a horse, a wagon, and yes a gun. If that bothers anyone, save the emails, I could care less. The schoolboy crowd could have never taken root in this new unknown until the people who had the courage to go out and do It…Did It! Only after these pioneers settled themselves in, and actually built the infrastructure that would allow this “genius crowd” to actually attend a school could they then look down their noses at them.
The term “Cowboy” was once revered in the lexicon of American culture, and I would argue throughout the world. As of late it seems more, and more that any pain being suffered by the “book smart” elite is instantly shoveled onto the vapid argument that it’s because American exceptionalism never really existed. The problem to me is, it doesn’t exist for them.
This “thing” of A.E. is not about studying, It’s about doing! You don’t look for the “How to build a better world 1.0 manual” you go out and build it. When you need to chart a new course, and there hasn’t been any maps created yet, you venture out into the unknown and make one. You also don’t wait for permission from any self-appointed know it all to give you some made up hog wash that they have sanctified your endeavor.
I would venture to say that the real crisis facing this nation, and our economy is that we who hold dear the underlying principles that created the Greatest Nation this little planet known as Earth has ever seen, is in trouble because the wing tips have somehow snookered the boot wearing crowd with drivel that we need to consult their approval first. Nothing could be further from reality, and I give here an example that fills this chin rubbing set with a fear scarier than not getting their Tee time at 9.
It’s more than likely if you have an MBA, Ph.D, BS, or any other host of so-called wonderful acronyms after your name, even if it’s held from one of the those “greatest institutes of learning” you will likely be presenting yourself to be hired by some company which was founded by a dropout. Sorry to be the one to inform you, but yes, more than likely that latest and greatest company will be because of a “Cowboy.”
I don’t know about you, but I take great pride donning my cowboy boots. And they have points that can be so useful when the wing tip wearer who just tried displaying his superiority bends over to tie his undone laces.
Hi Ho Silver!
© 2011 Mark St.Cyr
I would like to add this footnote in light of what I see transpiring across the spectrum. It seems to me many are forgetting a few things when they’re debating this issue. If memory serves me correctly, no government agency supported or paid for the pilgrims voyage. There were no roads, bridges, schools, hospitals, libraries, universities, and more to help the frontier pioneers. Too many are trying to make a case or debate today’s issues within some form of the “chicken or the egg first?” quandary. Forgetting or intentionally keeping it as some cloudy riddle. However if you truthfully start from the beginning it settles the argument which came first.
Entrepreneurs of all stripes settled, built, and will continue to move this world ahead. Even when every “Ivory league” or so-called “Smart crowd” know it all tells us we can’t.
Yipee Ky-Yay ____-_____!
© 2012 Mark St.Cyr www.MarkStCyr.com
