New Myths Needed

One of the great hidden myths of our society is that we have a hidden war going on between the Government and Individuals’ liberties.

If we look at the perennial problem of guns in America, some people think guns are necessary and any government that takes any of them away if on a path to tyranny. Or perhaps we could think of the huge amount the tax system takes from us and the resentment that causes for many. Or possibly it’s to be seen in the imbalance between highly paid directors who give themselves wage increases and the working poor. Wherever we go we see this myth of war and struggle.

We do not see myths of cooperation or harmony. Yet there are plenty of examples of cooperation that do increase the levels of fairness and harmony. We, do, in fact, have a governmental system that seeks to make the lives of ordinary citizens more stable. It may not always succeed, but at least the system is in place.

Those who doubt this need only to look back a hundred years to see that injustice, starvation, inequality, and lawlessness have decreased in this country. Yet the myth persists of violent struggle against any form perceived as “controlling”.

We could choose to reframe the experience we’re having, but we cling to this war myth. The war on drugs, the war on terror, the war on obesity…. Lots of wars. Chief amid these is Republican against Democrat, a war that has paralysed the House and Senate.

We need a myth of cooperation and connection to others. We need to strengthen the myths of caring for others – myths that emerge so movingly after disasters as practical generosity flows towards victims. Those myths are every bit as powerful as the war myths. Why don’t we focus on those?