Creating A New American Mythology" Resonated as Topic of Conversation
by Al Schroeder
Tucson's Rincon Market: At our table, the topic "Is the perfect the enemy of the good" (i.e. "can a person's focus on perfection keep him or her from achieving anything at all?") didn't fly. I think it didn't light a spark with our table because it required too much explanation to get it started. It's like explaining a joke: If people don't it right away, explaining it doesn't help.
So I did a quick switch to the question, "If you could create a new American mythology, what would it be like? "I introduced it with a reference to the "returning a penny in a snowstorm" myth about Honest Abe Lincoln, plus the cherry tree myth about George Washington. Both stories, like myths in general, were designed to teach behavior valued by the society in which they arose rather than to present an objective view of history.
Frances noted that the second-graders in her classes were fascinated by the Greek and Roman mythology she read to them. She also noted that myths are used to warn people about behavior that can be harmful, as in the myth of Icarus and Daedulus. She wondered if the Harry Potter books present a modern form of mythology, since they teach values like sticking by your friends and acting honorably. People generally agreed that children's fascination with them has stimulated many more to read books on their own initiative than has been the case with any other books for children in decades.
Beverly offered some ideas about the need to teach cultural values to children who are overwhelmed by violence and other offensive behavior and values presented in the media (e.g., the Sopranos).
Eric suggested that the traditional American mythology encompassed in the American Dream has either been achieved by the middle class or placed out of reach of the poor. He suggested that the idea of living simply could form the core of a new mythology that promotes values different from the passion for acquiring possessions embodied in the traditional American Dream.
Dave took up that idea and talked about his own disenchantment with the corporate life he had led for decades.
The diversity of ideas about the elements of a new American mythology made last Thursday's discussion one of the most interesting I've attended. It was very cordial, with no one seeking to dominate the conversation or dictate a particular viewpoint.