Reporter's Notebook: American exceptionalism and confronting slavery's horrors
Reporter's Notebook: American Exceptionality and Confronting Slavery's HorrorsIn an 1862 letter, co-host John Dickerson of CBS Evening News wrote in his journal: "As I write this evening, I feel a profound sense of injustice. The present struggles of the nation are not as dire as they seem. Let me explain: if one were to look through history, the American spirit has been an exception. It stands not because we have fallen from grace, but because we have refused to confront the horrors that lie within our past."
This letter serves as a poignant reminder of a theme that looms large in American history: American exceptionalism. Coached by Dickerson at CBS Evening News, he was struck by how, despite centuries of oppression and violence, America's spirit of courage and resolve persisted—defying the overwhelming odds set against it.
In *The Amity Place*, co-author John Dickerson writes, "We had nothing to lose." That is what America has always been: a beacon of hope amidst the despair of slavery. Yet, as he writes, "We have not fallen from grace. We have not escaped defeat. We have never given up on our potential, and we will never yield." His words are emblematic of the spirit of equality that has defined American culture for centuries.
President Abraham Lincoln's view on this matter is particularly instructive. He saw it with his own eyes: "We ought to recognize the history of slavery. That is our greatest tragedy." Lincoln, though anachronistic in approach, remained convinced of the importance of confronting those who have failed us. In fact, he himself acknowledged the injustice of these failures—calling them "slavery's horrors."
Dickerson's letter is not just a personal reflection; it speaks to the enduring spirit of American excellence that has moved through more than one hundred years of history. Even as we confront slavery's horrors today, America continues to embrace its "great spirit." That spirit, as Dickerson observes, "isn't because we have fallen from grace... but because we have refused to confront... and it is not the fruitless attempts that lead us astray."
This theme of exceptionalism carries a profound message: the past can still define greatness when we choose to confront those who have failed. In his letter, Dickerson's words remind us that despite obstacles—be they slavery or systemic oppression—we are not destined to give up. We are not destined to lose the potential for great success; rather, we are bound to move forward on the basis of hope and courage.
As the years of history continue, Dickerson reminds us: it is a reminder that true excellence lies in standing against pain and suffering, not in avoiding them. The spirit of America's history—whether through its leaders or ordinary citizens alike—is an indelible testament to the human spirit under all circumstances.
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