Believing that one was living in the greatest nation in the world was the norm all over Europe in the years leading up to World War 1. Then things went kind of bad... American patriotism isn't really exceptional. Just very, very old-fashioned.
American patriotism isn't really exceptional. Just very, very old-fashioned.
To the extent that we're indoctrinated in this way, it's not as all consuming as it was in early 20th century Europe. A lot of it depends on where you live as well. Unsurprisingly, it's far more common in conservative leaning communities. I got it a lot at church. I didn't get any of it in public school.
It also differs from Europe, even today. In Europe nationalism runs approximately "we're the best because we're nation x" whereas in America it's "we're the best for reasons x, y, and z" where x, y, and z are not completely connected to ethnicity and culture. The latter is more prone to self-reflection, although with modern propaganda the reality about x, y, and z is often easy to hide.
Personal anecdote that I've mentioned here before - even in the Lutheran school I attended until I was 12 years old, we were taught that schools in Europe were much better. The poor rankings of American schoolchildren vs. other industrialized nations were known to me at a young age. When I was 16, I went to Germany for two weeks with my German language class. During a week long family stay, we spent a few afternoons at the local school in the middle class city we were in. My public school was a little bit above average for the US, so I was expecting some impressive students and facilities. It turned out to be the opposite - the school reminded me of an inner city American school without the violence and cultural dissaffection. The facilities were poorly kept and the students had zero interest in learning. The teachers simply talked over students who were paying no attention. Music class amounted to listening to CDs. It was an interesting myth-breaking experience.
you are the media you consume.
It also differs from Europe, even today. In Europe nationalism runs approximately "we're the best because we're nation x" whereas in America it's "we're the best for reasons x, y, and z" where x, y, and z are not completely connected to ethnicity and culture.
I don't believe you are correct here. I agree with the ethnicity part, which is at least not mentioned explicitly in the States. But cultural exceptionalism is stronger in the US than in most european countries.
And garden variety patriotism in Europe is indeed all about "we're the best because of...". Only the rabid nationalists explicitly talk about culture or race. Just like in America.
There are two kinds of nationalisms (even if cataloguing like this is Platonism and reducing the complexity of the world, thus losing information... IE, this is not true, but a pedagogic lie).
First you have the normal one. Based on culture and ethnicity. All over the place. Might not be bad, as long as it doesn't turn aggresive.
Then we have the other one, based on ideology and values. We have it in the USA, France and the old Soviet Union.
These are often more dangerous as the nations feel they have a creed or ideology to spread, a mission civilicatrice.
But as I said above, nothing is as clear cut as this. Soviet nationalism was also based on Russian imperialism, the American variety have strong WASP elements and French republicanism of course also have ethnic markers. But it's still very different from the view in Germany or Sweden (even if the Swedish elites are much closer to the French view). Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
Civic nationalism though... That can still be used as a cover for armed robbery on a geopolitical scale, to spread "democracy" or promote "womens rights" and so on. Peak oil is not an energy crisis. It is a liquid fuel crisis.
