Opinion of the following Quote

[Beet]

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William Schlamm, a German refugee and "father" of the National Review, once mocked Russell Kirk's "desperate" attempts to rediscover America's political tradition as conservative by pointing out that the United States is the only society in the world created by conscious human thought.

Throughout its history there has been the notion of the American idea, although it can be used for hubris as well as good, as we have seen with the war in Iraq. And foreigners may object to the notion of an American exceptionalism. But neither is necessarily the same as the notion of America as an idea. Discuss this idea and what place, if any, does it have in foreign policy?

[tik 🪀✨]

Foreign policy views based on a foundation of "American" ideals may seem brave and noble, but to much of the rest of the world it is arrogant and foolhardy. The way we treat the rest of the world is more often than not rooted in our own interests, naturally. This bastardizes the idea.

But without using the idea of America as an excuse to do whatever we'd like, it would be better to live up to this idea domestically, as the quote states. Rather than force it upon the rest of the world, we should be leading by example. Otherwise we are betraying both the idea as well as the perception of it.

So, to answer the question in the thread title, I think it is a good, albeit fanciful quote. But as a motivation or inspiration for foreign policy it is tripe. Much like this disorganized reply

[jokerman]

It's a concept I strongly support.  General foreign revulsion towards America these days is no rebuttle against the advancement of American ideals, but is rather a call for us to finally live up to them in full force.