Why Progressives have made such statements about being embarrassed by American Exceptionalism, and wanting to tear down such institutions
THIS is something that baffles me about liberals/progressives/lefites - I detest "progressive" because it's just a euphemistic shift to a term they believe they can use to greater effect, because the word "liberal" has become SO tarnished by their escapades of the past, they'd like to avoid it being used. Kind of how "climate change" is used in place of "global warming" even though the central, most vigorously promoted premise of the entire issue is the raising of global temperatures by the prevalence and use of greenhouse gases.
BUT I digress ---
Lefties - and associates of mine from various European nations and others - they detest the idea of patriotism. The notion that you love your country, you're thoroughly proud of its accomplishments, you root for them on the world stage in sports, the flag in the breeze fills you with pride - all that, they disdain. I've heard MANY persons from countries north to south in Europe, where they don't feel all that interested in it - are amazed that most Americans can sing their national anthem or any number of patriotic songs, when they're not certain they would RECOGNIZE their own.
And they'll say, no, I don't feel any more patriotic about Germany/France/Sweden/Netherlands etc. We're all part of humanity and a lot of other crap.
That, I can sort of grasp. It's when you actually CHALLENGE this lack of fierce loyalty, that it comes to light.
Don't for a minute suggest that German/French/Italian/Greek/Spanish/British contributions to the world are in ANY way inferior to anyone else, LEAST of all, Americans. Or that their PEOPLE are in any way, less than others, especially Americans. They will be swift to tell you what their nations invented, what scientific breakthroughs, what music, what literature, what art - that their government is better, their schools are better. They will make this point about AMERICA, but if you were another European nation - they STILL do it.
Now, to Russia and China's credit - they're fiercely patriotic. They think their respective nations have done everything.