Welcome Congressman, I look forward to hearing your perspective on the political process!

Mark Steyn makes a profound point in the video that I wish was found in the classroom. Mark's point about the emotional reality of multiculturalism is they key to the left's victory in the classroom. It is not important to have specifics when one is (essentially) debating broad points about world peace, etc. The "conversion" of many across the political spectrum is rarely emotional, but always pragmatic.

As a (very) recent college graduate, I debated this point for the past four years with numerous avid moral relativists. The most powerful phrase, from my experience, in the vocabulary of many in academia is "who are you to say". For example : "who are you to say that native american infanticide is 'evil' "? (Personal Experience)
One must approach the case of American exceptionalism not from a decidedly religious position, but rather one steeped in the history. Christopher Hitchens, when asked this question, points to the Revolutionary period as the greatest gift one nation could bring to the altar of civilization. But I would take it one step forward and above. Now that I confused you, I will clarify.
Rather than claim the county is "great" simply for its attainment of a moral victory (impossible to relativists), a fixed point or goal, let us champion our nation's journey. For (in Ezra Klein terms) more than a hundred years we have continually pushed our nation's forward and backward to attain our "city on a hill" to the betterment of countless nations and peoples. What makes our culture superior? This journey we constantly fight for isn't simply an empty emotion.

Neal I am certainly with you on your eloquent point, thanks for it. To a certain extent I appreciate the development of the show from including literary/cultural staples (one fun game is to go back and see all the books they read on the island) into the mythological/religious archetypes (Jacob vs. Esau anyone?). My frustration hinges upon the fundamental question that is left unanswered regarding the island's true power. But yes, as you put so well, such is life.

I am certainly in league with Jimmie in regards to the lack of questions answered. While watching the finale of Lost last evening, I simultaneously compared it to the final episode of the NBC reboot of Battlestar Galactica, a much anticipated event with (arguably) much more closure. The biggest issue I have with last night was the tremendous amount of faith it demanded from the viewing audience. Whether this is a thematic choice or a little bit of insurance for another genre (graphic novels, etc.) it is disappointing that the creators wanted us to celebrate the heroism and relationships of individuals who struggled to overcome...well don't worry about what they actually overcame, just believe that it was all magical.