It is hard work sometimes understanding America and Americans, but I think some light is dawning (ok, I know I am slow, because all of you, dear readers, probably know it already - but when you're pushing 80 you are a bit slower on the uptake).
For days I just couldn't get my head round the fact that an American journalist was beheaded, and three minutes after Obama was shown the video he heads off to the golf course. A similar situation in Britain with David Cameron going off to play golf, would be beyond our comprehension, wouldn't it. We would come together as a nation in righteous anger, the PM would make a beeline for the House - not the golf course - and there would be REPURCUSSIONS, because that is something - as Churchill famously said - "up with which we will not put".
But I am learning - and herein lies the key to my understanding - Obama was brought up to believe that the cause of terror in the world is because America in the past has treated other nations badly. That the attack on 9/11 and all subsequent terror attacks are, in fact, America's own fault, its comeuppance. And I don't know why I was so slow grasping that.
He, Obama, does not subscribe to the right wing, conservative, Republican view of "American Exceptionalism" a term often bandied about by the right wing media, and especially just lately.
'American Exceptionalism' is a term used to describe the belief that the United States is an extraordinary nation with a special role to play in human history, a nation that is not only unique, but also superior. And I can see why Obama wants to lead the nation away from such an ideology.
I think I will leave it at that for today.
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