Thanksgiving and Other Fine Mythologies
Gwytherinn | November 22, 2007 | 10:51 pmSo the typical argument between looking at our country’s history full in the face and denying it by clinging to a couple of comforting mythologies has begun. The idea that this nation’s foundation is built on genocide, the deaths of up to 30 million people and the lawful decimation of their culture is a rather problematic thing to consider for most people. The idea that this country’s early economic success can in large part be attributed to slaves is something many would rather forget. And built on this foundation, the idea that our nation’s lifestyle has continued to be preserved over the past century through the blood and suffering of others, literally on their backs, is unthinkable.
It never ceases to fascinate me that we Americans live in a culture that seems to work on a few unassailable myths. We have been brought up in a society that is in theory democratic, a meritocracy that anyone can succeed in if only they work hard enough. Free speech is enshrined and we live under a government that in theory would never punish us for exercising that right. In light of this, it’s incredibly difficult to believe that your government would be involved in events the world over that have and continue to cause the incredible suffering of others. It’s incredibly difficult to face up to the idea that our lifestyle, just by virtue of living it, causes us to have an obscene amount of blood on our hands.
The American Dream is another one of these myths. The idea that if you work hard enough, if you really pull yourself up by your boot straps you can get anywhere. Again, that the United States is a meritocracy and that individual backgrounds have no impact on one’s success. This seems to reinforce, above all, the peace of mind of those of us who have been born in a privileged position. We never have to go beyond the idea of “if only they worked hard enough” to understand the complexities that face groups of people who have to work damn harder than we probably ever will and are still only barely keeping their heads above water.
The myth of “choice.” This one has been near and dear to my heart lately. Say you’re facing sexual harassment/racism/homophobia (pick your poison) at your place of work. But hell, you need that job to feed your kids. No one is KEEPING you there… you still have the <i>choice</i> to leave.
- This is a work in progress.
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The mythologies of our society, government, and culture are amplified
jasonteknut | November 25, 2007 | 5:09 pmThe mythologies of our society, government, and culture are amplified when you visit other countries or have dialog with foreign individuals. Everyone here seems content to live a lie, however, because they are satisfied with the level of material comfort they have or have available to them. As soon as the US starts to infringe on the general benefit and happiness of the american people to a gernerally recognizable extent, I think people will be catalyzed to change the myth back to reality.
What is particularly interesting is the extent to which foreign governments are afraid of their citizens. The U.S. was supposed to be a paramount example of a government for the people, by the people. Clearly, the aforementioned “people” are not the citizens in modern day; the citizens fear the government and have no power over what it does except through loose concepts of election. In France, the populace riots if there are social injustices, and the government listens. In our country, people are so afraid of the government and so disconnected from each other that no organized meaningful response to problems is ever affected.
Who knows if this will change in our lifetime? I daresay that it will only change under world calamity. At the rate of mankind’s raping of natural resources and environment, perhaps such calamities are closer at hand than we’re prepared to accept!
I think I would argue with you that it's not
Gwytherinn | November 25, 2007 | 8:41 pmI think I would argue with you that it’s not so much foreign governments that fear their people, so much as it’s their people who take a stand and do their best not to be silenced. Though perhaps I am getting at the same thing you are, but from a different direction. I recently saw footage of protests in Bolivia when the World Bank saw fit to privatize their water, all the way down to each drop of rain that fell. It’s always awe inspiring to see people standing up to these monoliths. It would be nice if the same kind of political actions were taking place in the U.S. But then, I am a sheltered white girl who has never known true fear of her government.
I completely agree with you that the general apathy and disconnect comes from a comfortable material culture. One of our out of control consumer culture’s main purposes is to enhance and aid the construction of America’s idyllic cultural narrative. It continually amazes me what is under the veneer and gloss when you take a closer look.