Myths Shaped America. Now They've Brought Us to the Brink of Crisis.
Jul 10, 2024
14:50
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Author Richard Slotkin discusses how national myths have led to America's current polarization. Topics include manipulation of American symbols for political ideologies, the role of gun rights in justifying anti-government actions, and the influence of national myths on the political divide, including the rise of American fascism within the MAGA movement.
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Quick takeaways
National myths in the US shape cultural identity and government purposes.
Make America Great Again movement uses American myths to fuel ideology, intertwined with calls for political violence.
Deep dives
The Significance of National Myths in Shaping American Identity
National myths serve as foundational narratives that shape cultural identity and support the unity of a nation. These myths are communicated through traditional stories passed down over generations, encompassing shared history and values. In the US, myths like the frontier myth, founding myth, and good war myth have played vital roles in defining American identity and government purposes. During crises, people often refer to these myths to interpret events and guide their actions.
The Role of Myths in Cultivating Political Movements like MAGA
The Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement draws on specific American myths like the frontier, founding, and lost cause myths to fuel its ideology and actions. Symbols such as the Betsy Ross flag and Gadsden flag invoke revolutionary patriotism, while references to the frontier myth reinforce beliefs in American exceptionalism and laissez-faire economics. MAGA's use of myth intertwines historical narratives with calls for political violence, particularly evident in their incorporation of gun rights and insurrectionary theories.
Comparison of National Myths Between Blue Coalition and MAGA
The Blue Coalition, comprising liberals, moderates, and progressives, is working to establish new national myths centered on historical events like the New Deal and Civil Rights Movement. These narratives aim to offer a coherent ideological basis and vision for the future, emphasizing themes of labor rights, equity, and patriotic solidarity. By contrasting with MAGA's mythologies and actions, the Blue Coalition seeks to redefine American identity and promote inclusivity in their national myth-making process.
We are a nation of mythmakers. But in his new book, "A Great Disorder: National Myth and the Battle for America," Richard Slotkin argues those myths may be to blame for our current polarization.
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