The New American Exceptionalism

One of the clear turning points in American politics can be traced back to Reagan's famous Shining City upon a Hill speech. As someone who grew up in the Reagan-era, I remember the sense of American exceptionalism that dominated that era. Make no mistake about it, this story is the story of the second half of the 20th Century.

We find ourselves on the cusp of a new era. It is up to us whether America can restore its leadership role in the world. Recently, we've seen a renewed call to embrace core American values in the campaign of Barack Obama. The best example, of course, is his famous Iowa victory speech.

Make no mistake about it ... The future of our nation rests on what we do right now.

As a member of the Post-Boomer Pre-Echo generation (formerly known as Gen-X), I long for an America with the optimism of my youth. Perhaps this is our year?