of the isolationist impulse in American life is actually a cultural one? I would agree with that. And, you know, culture is a slippery concept. And I think the geographic dimension ended up being part of our culture and our identity. And in my mind, it all can be wrapped up in the concept of American exceptionalism. And this is going to sound bizarre to most listeners because ever since 1941, American exceptionalism has basically been a justification for running the world. The U.S. sees further. The U.S. knows better. Everybody in the world in the end of the day wants to be a liberal Democrat. It's our responsibility to let them find that outcome. Before 1941, and certainly before 1898, American exceptionalism was exactly the opposite. It was a justification for running away from the world because Americans believed that even though they had an obligation to share their experiment with others, they would do so only through the power of their example. And the fear was that anything more (16/33)
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