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Shortly after beginning his presidency, President Obama was asked whether he believed in American exceptionalism. He replied, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” Many took that comment to say that America was only exceptional in the eyes of those predisposed to believe in American exceptionalism (i.e. Americans). Is there any reason to believe that America is actually different from the other nations in the world?