'Newsweek' Editor Declares Era of 'American Exceptionalism is Over'

News Busters. ^ | May 5, 2008 | Geoffrey Dickens

[george76]

NBC's "Today" show invited on "Newsweek International" editor Fareed Zakaria to promote his book "The Post-American World," on Monday's show and during his segment the author depicted the United States as a nation in decline as he declared the "era" of "'American exceptionalism' is over."

As examples of America's declining standing in the world the "Newsweek" editor cited such facts as China now having the "Largest ferris wheel in the world," Minneapolis' "Mall of America" no longer being the largest in the world and Macau having surpassed Las Vegas in the size of their casinos.

[normy]

“Yeah well the world needs ditch diggers too.”

[RetiredArmy]

So, let me get this straight. BECAUSE Vegas has SMALLER casinos than some other worthless, unknown place, except to a bunch of millionaires who waste their money gambling, America IS DONE? Is that what this idiot is saying?

[668 - Neighbor of the Beast]

And what has ascended in the same era that America declined? Liberalism and nothing but liberalism.

[dfwgator]

Do we still have the world’s largest ball of twine?

No but we still have the House of Mud - only the largest free-standing mud dwelling ever built.

[moose2004]

I don't care how Fareed chooses to describe why he thinks America is in decline, I believe the bottom line motive of this "journalist" is the Iraq War. Zakaria so adamantly opposes the war, I've seen him on abc and nbc argue against it, that I believe it has totally filled him with anti-American venom. I would no more listen to him speak than I would Ramsey Clark.

[pillut48]

I wouldn’t insult my two cats by using torn up Newsweeks in their litter box!! What a bunch of feldercarb! [spits]

[jmcenanly]

I will believe that the era of American Exceptionalism is over when I see Chinese troops bringing aid to the site of a disaster in the US, Chinese movies and television shows becoming popular in the US or more students going to China to study than the US.

As for the Malls , consider that the world's largest mall is not the brick and mortar structure in Macao, but the Internet, which was originated and is mainly based in the US.

[Huck]

How many Jackalopes they got in China?

[dead]

Lot of Freepers snorting “nonsense!” but, funny thing, where was your computer made? Your car? The can of tuna that went into your sandwich? The shoes on your feet?

It takes a pretty exceptional nation to pay all the little people around the world to make their stuff.

I'd be much more worried if I see my grandkids pulling 14-hour shifts in the little paper umbrella factory so fat Chinese guys can sit poolside with imported rum drinks.

[weegee]

What four?

[weegee]

I'd be much more worried if I see my grandkids pulling 14-hour shifts in the little paper umbrella factory so fat Chinese guys can sit poolside with imported rum drinks.

"I'm Tom Vu, Come to my seminar!!! I show you how..."

[weegee]

Schadenfreude

http://www.fareedzakaria.com/about.html

Zakaria has won several awards for his columns and cover-essays, in particular for his October 2001 Newsweek cover story, "Why They Hate Us." In 1999, he was named "one of the 21 most important people of the 21st Century" by Esquire magazine.

[snip]

He serves on... The Trilateral Commission, and Shakespeare and Company.

[weegee]

Things are bigger in Texas:

[weegee]

He’s the author of “Why They Hate Us” from Newsweak - Oct 2001 (in the wake of the WTC attacks).

He should just be honest and write “Why I Hate The U.S.”.

[jjm2111]

b.s. dude. The kids in Iraq and Afghanistan aren’t shrugging.

[Right Wing Assault]

Things are getting so bad, I won’t be able to afford to buy Newsweek.

[theFIRMbss]

>b.s. dude. The kids in Iraq and Afghanistan aren’t shrugging

That's certainly true.
But politics is about
big numbers. Groupings.

I'm not sure which group--
responsible, engaged kids
or loser deadheads--

is the larger group,
is more representative
of kids overall.

I have to tell you
my direct experience
with teenagers now

hasn't been too great.
I don't see too much passion,
too much engagement . . .

[jjm2111]

I would bet $$$
that
Iraq Vets
vote in greater
numbers
especially
as a percentage
of the whole
then
the losers.

[JohnQPublic2010]

Somehow, since Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek wrote this, I will take it with a grain of salt. If the American era is really ending, who is the one coming up? Don’t tell me China or India, most of their people are woefully poor, and hundreds of thousands of people from both countries keep coming to the USA.
Fareed’s take on “exceptionalism” is nonsense, because there is no other place in the world that offers the kind of the opportunity and a chance for a better life than the USA. He can start talking when people stop trying to immigrate here illegally. People all over the world try to come here and spare no expense to get a chance to become an American. Fareed is in immigrant himself, and this country gives him a chance to spout his nonsense.