I'm sorry, Dennis. LOL Here I am talking about the changing understanding/meanings of words and phrases and fail to clarify my own usage of one of them - "manifest destiny".

"A vast complex of ideas, policies, and actions is comprehended under the phrase 'Manifest Destiny'. They are not, as we should expect, all compatible, nor do they come from any one source."

~E. L. Tuveson

That said (or quoted), when I suggested a sort of unconsciously held "manifest destiny paradigm" in today's world, I was referencing more a part of John O'Sullivan's original term; specifically, that part which has to do with belief/notion God has preordained and blessed this particular people with a great mission in the world (without necessarily limiting that mission to one goal). It often seems to me, in today's world, this particular paradigm might realistically be called romantic nationalism.

It is this romantic nationalism, if you will, that spurs us to erroneously shy away from authentic evaluation of figures and events in history. The U.S.A., according to this paradigm has never made any significant mistakes. It has no feet of clay in any respect whatsoever and this pedestalic viewpoint extends to many people and events within our "orthodox view" of history.

I think within recent years, this is being somewhat addressed by some professional historians (at least those who write for a living). This is all to the good, imo.

Your second paragraph and the difficulties many of us have in seeing that our forebears behaved toward others in ways contrary to our modern thinking is a small part of all this. Especially when we try to reconcile our own religious beliefs of right/wrong with this semi-religious feeling that the U.S.A. is somehow ordained by God, and therefore, it hasn't erred ... ever. Those difficulties have occurred for many people who study history, even the "pros". It's, at base-root, what influences us to give a little unconscious "PC-spin" to historical people and events ... and to the phrases they wrote or uttered.

As to your last comment, it's my prayer our grand-kids don't lose too many more of our historical freedoms whilst we worry overly much about so-called safety in what is, of course, a very unsafe world.

My wise old mother used to say, "There are worse troubles than death."

Regards,
Penny