17/10: What is Our National Myth?
Category: American Culture
Posted by: an okie gardener
In Plato's Republic the participants discuss the creation of a just city (society). One of the first suggestions is that the stories told to children are powerful, shaping souls/minds. It is agreed that not any set of stories will do if the members of a just society are to be shaped properly. For example, the old myths of the gods inculcate too many bad ideas and attitudes, therefore new stories must be created to shape souls/minds to virtue. These new stories, "fables," may be literally untrue, but must convey truth about ultimate reality (God).
Plato--and the human mind does not get much better--recognized that we are shaped by the stories we tell one another. These stories may shape us badly (injustice, lack of virtue) or well (just, virtuous). For a just and virtuous society to be formed, attention must be given to the shared stories, the shared mythology, of the society.
I am using the word "myth" in this post to mean "significant story," that is, a story that is intended to signify truth: a story intended to locate us within the universe and within society. "Myth" in this sense is the story that tells us who we are as individuals and as a society. For example, my primary source of insight into the purpose of Jesus' parables is from Amos Wilder (Thornton's brother) in his book Jesus' Parables and the War of Myths. In the parables Jesus is telling his followers who they are, and what the world is really like. He is giving them stories with signifying power.
In his recent and excellent post Immigration and Acculturation, Farmer concluded by writing (cont. below)
5. Recognize that ACCULTURATION is the key to security. The market drives immigration. Integration and assimilation will happen naturally over time [Farmer, did you mean to say "will not happen naturally?]. Most importantly, and this will not happen without our specific attention and action, we need to acculturate these immigrants; that is, we must inculcate these groups with traditional American values.
In ordinary circumstances, this would not be a daunting task. Our immigrants are generally inclined to see the good in our system and our history. However, we are currently atop an educational complex run amok. Instead of imbuing students (immigrant and native-born alike) with a history that values "one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," our system is busy poisoning these optimistic immigrants with an alternative narrative of exploitation, pessimism and victimization.
6. Recognize that promulgating a narrative that takes apart the single unifying principle of a nation is suicide.
What Farmer is here talking about is our national "myth," the significant story that tells us who we are as Americans and as American society. He is correct that without a unifying narrative, there is nothing enduring that will hold society together. We are shaped as Americans by an American story. I am not sure if Farmer has read Plato but he is in agreement with him.
Farmer also is correct that our present educational system is intent upon "deconstructing" a unifying narrative, at least insofar as it is a positive narrative. As implied by my use of "deconstructing," this project is part and parcel of Postmodernism/s, which reject the idea of a unifying narrative (a metanarrative, a story that unites all the separate individual stories). On the historic, rather than the philosophical level, we continue to live with those who became disillusioned with America during the Vietnam War and Watergate; and, with those whose perspectives have been shaped by metanarratives of victimhood. (Yes, it is contradictory to claim there is no privileged metanarrative, then to assert that the experience of victimhood gives one a framework within which to understand everything. Welcome to postmodernism/s.)
With the loss of a metanarrative for America comes a loss of cohesion, indeed, a loss of the ability to communicate with one another since we are talking "different languages" arising out of different narratives. (Interestingly, in the Republic, after talking about the importance of "fables," the dialogue continues with a discussion of language and the ways in which it shapes human beings. Therefore, attention must be given to proper language to shape virtuous citizens.) The folly at the heart of multiculturalism is that instead of bringing us together into a more just society, by privileging our differences (that is, our different narratives)a more contentious society is created in which different groups can see only their differences. When this becomes the situation, then the only politic activity available is power politics, not consensus. Rejecting the primacy of a common story, a common history, means to reject the idea of a society in favor of multiple societies.
So, now what? Here are some thoughts regarding An American National Myth. That is, some suggestions for the unifying narrative that will shape our citizens and our nation/society: an American Significant Story that will tell us who we are as individuals and as a society.
First, the National Story must be truthful. We are talking about the history of our nation. Therefore, the myth cannot be a fable; it must be true both in its form and in its content. (There is a place for national fables such as George Washington and the Cherry Tree, but that is another post.)
Second, as a truthful narrative it must present both the good and the evil of our national history. Children and adolescents tend to think in purely dichotomous fashion: pure good versus pure evil. Our past national narrative erred on the side of presenting America as purely good; our present "narrative" taught in too many classrooms presents America as purely evil. We need an adult story, one which recognizes both good and evil in the world, including in our society. And, we need to move beyond the post-adolescent thinking that states "Life is all grays." That statement should be the beginning of analysis, not the end. Not all grays are equally dark or equally light. There are degrees of imperfection. I think that a truthful national myth, while recognizing the evil of America, will recognize that the good has tended to be stronger. (Especially as compared to other nations.)
Third, here is my proposal. Taking my cue from Foner's wonderful The Story of American Freedom, I suggest that our national myth be: We are a nation founded upon dedication to liberty; We have argued, and even bled, over what this means; Some Americans have restricted liberty by race and/or sex; But, the overall plot of the American story is toward liberty and justice for all; How will your life contribute to this story?
Admittedly, analysis is easier than synthesis, critique easier than construction. I welcome comments suggesting ways that the National Story may be constructed better.
Plato--and the human mind does not get much better--recognized that we are shaped by the stories we tell one another. These stories may shape us badly (injustice, lack of virtue) or well (just, virtuous). For a just and virtuous society to be formed, attention must be given to the shared stories, the shared mythology, of the society.
I am using the word "myth" in this post to mean "significant story," that is, a story that is intended to signify truth: a story intended to locate us within the universe and within society. "Myth" in this sense is the story that tells us who we are as individuals and as a society. For example, my primary source of insight into the purpose of Jesus' parables is from Amos Wilder (Thornton's brother) in his book Jesus' Parables and the War of Myths. In the parables Jesus is telling his followers who they are, and what the world is really like. He is giving them stories with signifying power.
In his recent and excellent post Immigration and Acculturation, Farmer concluded by writing (cont. below)
5. Recognize that ACCULTURATION is the key to security. The market drives immigration. Integration and assimilation will happen naturally over time [Farmer, did you mean to say "will not happen naturally?]. Most importantly, and this will not happen without our specific attention and action, we need to acculturate these immigrants; that is, we must inculcate these groups with traditional American values.
In ordinary circumstances, this would not be a daunting task. Our immigrants are generally inclined to see the good in our system and our history. However, we are currently atop an educational complex run amok. Instead of imbuing students (immigrant and native-born alike) with a history that values "one Nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all," our system is busy poisoning these optimistic immigrants with an alternative narrative of exploitation, pessimism and victimization.
6. Recognize that promulgating a narrative that takes apart the single unifying principle of a nation is suicide.
What Farmer is here talking about is our national "myth," the significant story that tells us who we are as Americans and as American society. He is correct that without a unifying narrative, there is nothing enduring that will hold society together. We are shaped as Americans by an American story. I am not sure if Farmer has read Plato but he is in agreement with him.
Farmer also is correct that our present educational system is intent upon "deconstructing" a unifying narrative, at least insofar as it is a positive narrative. As implied by my use of "deconstructing," this project is part and parcel of Postmodernism/s, which reject the idea of a unifying narrative (a metanarrative, a story that unites all the separate individual stories). On the historic, rather than the philosophical level, we continue to live with those who became disillusioned with America during the Vietnam War and Watergate; and, with those whose perspectives have been shaped by metanarratives of victimhood. (Yes, it is contradictory to claim there is no privileged metanarrative, then to assert that the experience of victimhood gives one a framework within which to understand everything. Welcome to postmodernism/s.)
With the loss of a metanarrative for America comes a loss of cohesion, indeed, a loss of the ability to communicate with one another since we are talking "different languages" arising out of different narratives. (Interestingly, in the Republic, after talking about the importance of "fables," the dialogue continues with a discussion of language and the ways in which it shapes human beings. Therefore, attention must be given to proper language to shape virtuous citizens.) The folly at the heart of multiculturalism is that instead of bringing us together into a more just society, by privileging our differences (that is, our different narratives)a more contentious society is created in which different groups can see only their differences. When this becomes the situation, then the only politic activity available is power politics, not consensus. Rejecting the primacy of a common story, a common history, means to reject the idea of a society in favor of multiple societies.
So, now what? Here are some thoughts regarding An American National Myth. That is, some suggestions for the unifying narrative that will shape our citizens and our nation/society: an American Significant Story that will tell us who we are as individuals and as a society.
First, the National Story must be truthful. We are talking about the history of our nation. Therefore, the myth cannot be a fable; it must be true both in its form and in its content. (There is a place for national fables such as George Washington and the Cherry Tree, but that is another post.)
Second, as a truthful narrative it must present both the good and the evil of our national history. Children and adolescents tend to think in purely dichotomous fashion: pure good versus pure evil. Our past national narrative erred on the side of presenting America as purely good; our present "narrative" taught in too many classrooms presents America as purely evil. We need an adult story, one which recognizes both good and evil in the world, including in our society. And, we need to move beyond the post-adolescent thinking that states "Life is all grays." That statement should be the beginning of analysis, not the end. Not all grays are equally dark or equally light. There are degrees of imperfection. I think that a truthful national myth, while recognizing the evil of America, will recognize that the good has tended to be stronger. (Especially as compared to other nations.)
Third, here is my proposal. Taking my cue from Foner's wonderful The Story of American Freedom, I suggest that our national myth be: We are a nation founded upon dedication to liberty; We have argued, and even bled, over what this means; Some Americans have restricted liberty by race and/or sex; But, the overall plot of the American story is toward liberty and justice for all; How will your life contribute to this story?
Admittedly, analysis is easier than synthesis, critique easier than construction. I welcome comments suggesting ways that the National Story may be constructed better.
Tocqueville wrote:
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