Midterm Review
What is An American? -- Peter Farrara Any race Any religion Generous Democracy (voting) Embodiment of human spirit of freedom Large Group Metanarrative of America Puritans coming to America Jewish history and deliverance of the Law (we're like the Jews and we identify with their story -- pilgrimage, miraculously delivered from sin, live in covenant) Church of England and Puritans Our narrative is a part of other people's narratives Massachusetts Bay Company 1629 Royal Charter to trade and commerce Gold and God (religion and commerce/trade; prophet and profit) Puritans left excesses of King Winthrop gave way to establish new way of life; place for new narrative, new land, A Plea for Caution from Russia -- Putin written because of events surrounding Syria it is important that the UN doesn't collapse and if you go against it it will collapse like the League of Nations US should not get involved with the events in Syria Extremists might move on to other countries and cause trouble Russia wants to help Syria fix own problems You can only go against another country if in self-defense or if it goes through security council Bad for US because they would be relying on brute force -- they will go against anyone who is against them US should in avoid military action because they can end this by taking advantage of Syrian willingness to put aside the chemical warfare and agree on stuff Be careful about saying you are exceptional McCain -- Russians deserve better than Putin McCain says he is not anti-Russian, he is pro-Russian than the regime that rules Russia because he respects their dignity and right of self-determination and inalienable rights Russian Government tries to put down all acts for freedom Citizens have no real rights -- fake rights put on by the government --Administration is corrupt Russian economy doesn't have good resources to last in the long run Putin does not believe in the Russian rights He says he is anit-Russian government, not anti-Russian people Opiate of Exceptionalism -- Scott Shane Americans need constant reassurance that our country is the best Winthrop said we could be exceptional if we did God's will, but people now assume we are already We are taught that we are exceptional We have done exceptional things but we need to be humble Mayflower Compact -- November 11, 1620 Expresses the political beliefs of "Puritan Non-conformists", or separatists who left England after religious persecution Leaders: William Bradford and William Brewster Aim: "to draw up a document setting out the aims of the new government they wished to implement;" they combined into a Body Politik "for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends foresaid" Reflects: 1) religious views of separatists, reflective of Jewish background; 2) developing social contract theory -> Hobbes and Locke Laws set forth could be changed for the general Good of the Colony Model of Christian Charity - Winthrop Mass Bay Colony to create a godly and just society He wa