See the whole post, but I have copied a wonderful part of it below
x-post from sandyleelee
http://boards.fool.com/american-quotexceptionalismquot-30238...

As one who has travelled fairly widely, I can attest to the fact that there are many wonderful things about America which make her unique in some ways. I can also attest, however, to the fact that the same thing is true of Croatia, France, New Zealand, Italy, Tanzania, Scotland, The Netherlands, South Africa . . . and many others. This is no doubt true of every nation on the planet.

We are not a nation of kings, destined to rule the world. We are but one of many nations, all citizens of the Earth, all equally entitled to the same basic necessities of life, all contributing in our various splendid ways to the rich tapestry of life on this planet. We each have our own virtues and vices, our own brillance and stupidities. We are nothing more than one of the thousands of ways in which mankind has expressed his need to organize societies -- and societies exist precisely for the purpose of cooperation among their members to ensure survival.

We are both special and ordinary. As are all other nations. The American ego notwithstanding.

SLL