Blogs for Victory - Why America is Different (and Better) Than Other Nations

The contemporary example showcasing visions and ideas expressed by De Crevecoeur in 'Letters from an American Farmer' that I have chosen is the webpage http://blogs4victory.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/why-america-is-different-and-better-than-other-nations/.

I decided that, in order to obtain a real, first hand insight into American values, exploring pages that wouldn't neccessarily be seen as reputable, such as blogs and popular websites, was extremely benefitial.

The 'Blogs for Victory' page I have chosen to analyse suggests that De Crevecoeur's perception of America as a new and exceptional nation has grown and intensified over time, as early as the title; boldly named 'Why America is Different (and Better) Than Other Nations'. This sense of explicit Americanism resontes throughout the text, and can be closely compared to the ideas of De Crevecoeur, particularly in the third letter of 'Letter's from an American Farmer.

A piece of text from the wed source that particularly drew my attention was when the writer confidently states that, in relation to settlement in 18th Century North America, 'Only the most stern, disciplined and motivated people would even try…and only the best among them would live. A nation founded by such people was bound to be unique – and better than any other nation out there; and so it has proved. This quote presents the idea that America is essentially the amalgamation of all of Europe's most elite individuals.

This can be closely associated with the words of De Crevecoeur in the third letter of his text, in which he explains how 'Americans are the western pilgrims, who are carrying along with them that great mass of arts, sciences vigour and industry', and 'here they are incorporated into one of the finest systems of population which has ever appeared.' It could be suggested that the comparison of these two extended quotations supports the idea that the basis American values and visions have stayed the same over the nation's history, and the more subtle approach of De Crevecoeur compared to the blog writer's overt nature suggests, if anything, that the views have strengthened over time.

The writer of the blog also shows that De Crevecoeur's theories about opposition to the American ideal continue today. Letter Nine sees the writer explain how areas like Charles-Town in South Carolina are adopting customs such as slavery; opposing American values. Although the writer of the blog isn't specific in the way he desciribes opposition to the ideal, he does explain how there are 'forces out to destroy the American ideal'. The level of fear and concern that the character of James and the writer of the blog possess illustrates the importance of American values to Americans and the intensity of their belief that the American way in the right way.

The fact that these themes resonate so strongly between two texts written by writers from different walks of life and from different time periods illustrates the continual strength of the nation's dedication to exceptionalism and