Governor Chris Christie: American Exceptionalism or Reproduction of Political Myths?

"The United States must also become more discriminating in what we try to accomplish abroad. We certainly cannot force others to adopt our principles through coercion.  Local realities count; we cannot have forced makeovers of other societies in our image.  We need to limit ourselves overseas to what is in our national interest so that we can rebuild the foundations of American power here at home - foundations that need to be rebuilt in part so that we can sustain a leadership role in the world for decades to come. "

What Christie calls for it seems is the need to internally regroup, to solidify the nation's foundations at a time where globalisation and international relations are taking over the world. With a Middle East pact with tensions, new international key players such as India, Russia and China demanding for more political voice.

Coming back on what he had just said, Christie then added, "The argument for getting our own house in order is not an argument for turning our back on the world. 

We cannot and should not do that.  First of all, our economy is dependent on what we export and import.  And as we learned the hard way a decade ago, we as a country and a people are vulnerable to terrorists armed with box cutters, bombs, and viruses, be they computer generated or man-made.  We need to remain vigilant, and be prepared to act with our friends and allies, to discourage, deter or defend against traditional aggression; to stop the spread of nuclear materials and weapons and the means to deliver them; and to continue to deprive terrorists of the ways, means and opportunity to succeed."

His point however seemed to be that for the U.S. to regain its world supremacy the U.S. first need to focus on its domestic problems and a strong leadership.

"You see, without strong leadership at home-without our domestic house in order-we are taking ourselves out of the equation.  Over and over, we are allowing the rest of the world to set the tone without American influence.

I understand full well that succeeding at home, setting an example, is not enough.  The United States must be prepared to act.  We must be prepared to lead.  This takes resources-resources for defence, for intelligence, for homeland security, for diplomacy.  The United States will only be able to sustain a leadership position around the world if the resources are there-but the necessary resources will only be there if the foundations of the American economy are healthy.  So our economic health is a national security issue as well."

While the main topic of Christie's speech was based on American exeptionalism, it seems to be, just like the concept itself vacillating between contradictions and illusions.

In its classic forms, American exceptionalism refers to the special character of the United States as a uniquely free nation based on democratic ideals and personal liberty.