As Putin continues to take new actions regarding Crimea, Americans question the actions and inactions of President Obama.

Though Putin’s advances are in discord with international law, it’s fair to say he believes he is still acting appropriately and justly.

He compared Russia’s occupation in Ukraine to that of America’s  assistance in other countries during their liberations.

Putin recently said Americans “have come to believe in their exceptionalism and their sense of being the chosen ones … that they can decide the destinies of the world, that it is only them who can be right.”

Americans believe we’re significantly distinguished from every other nation, and, because of this, we’re entitled to police the world.

We decide what’s right and wrong, and then force our decisions of what is morally correct on the world. First by international law, and then by military might if necessary.

Our idealized version of a democracy, we believe, is envied by all — the world desires to achieve what we have achieved. When a nation overthrows a tyrannical government, we believe they’re trying to become like us.

In reality, these countries have their own aspirations. They too can desire equality and liberty, without having anything to do with us.

This idea of an exceptional America isn’t new by any means. In 1630, John Winthrop shared his vision of America as city on a hill. America, on display for the world to see, served as an example and model for the rest of the world to aspire to and mimic.

This idea is romantic, but unrealistic. Nationalism exists in all countries, and we’re foolish to think the rest of the world both admires us and wants to be like us.

Undoubtedly, America is powerful. We’re the world’s hegemony, dominating the world socially, economically and having a far superior Navy. All of these making us powerful enough to enforce policies and practices. Still yet, these things make us no more worthy of action on another nation than any other.

As Putin charges on, Americans grow impatient, demanding that our government take some kind of action, mostly not even caring what action he takes. The mass criticize President Obama for his apparent indecision.

What makes us so bold as to think that we have control over Russia is “American exceptionalism” — the idea that we’re always right, always noble, always just and always perfect.

Even when the U.S. has made questionable judgements in past foreign entanglements, we wouldn’t dare condemn ourselves and acknowledge we’ve done things equally reprehensible.

Putin doesn’t care what Americans think or don’t think of his actions. It’s absurd to assume a man with such an agenda will base his next actions on our reactions.

We neither caused him to start his prerogative nor will we convince him to retract, despite what we’d like to believe. American’s should, for once, be content with simply doing nothing, because regardless of our actions, we’ll be no better off, and Putin won’t have changed his plans.

Sarah Greenlee is the opinion editor for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].