The American Myth

One would think that myths could do little to trouble a society, and one would be wrong.

Myths are memes. Memes are patterns which shape thought and action-ideas.

Memes are the reason the pen is mightier than the sword.

Memes can be infectious:

Fads, political parties, fans, fanatics, etc.

The particular American Myth which is splitting the USA, is the "Self-Sufficient American Frontiersman."

It is a myth all, self-sufficiencies are partial at best. Perhaps that may change in the future, but for all of history humans have survived largely because they live in groups.

A human being with no contact to others is a pathetic creature which is most likely to expire rapidly as humans are ill-equiped to deal with the universe without tools and/or help.

Humans are social. We live and work in groups.

All of our greatest deeds and artifacts are the result of many people cooperating.

So how come it's dangerous?

There are several different ways it causes problems.

For starters, if you believe in the myth, your beliefs will cause you to act in ways which are harmful to yourself and others.

If you are doing well, it encourages you to think that it's because you, yourself have somehow earned what you have...which is often at least part of the truth--but never the entire truth.

The assumption is that the primary reason people do what they do & have what they have is entirely determined by their own actions.

In turn, this infers that those with less favorable situations earned what they have not by their own actions, and thus have 'chosen' to be sick, or poor, or damaged.

The belief in self-sufficiency inhibits the social nature of humans to assist one-another.

It encourages selfish use of resources by the use of the favorite word of infants: mine!

Truth is, none of us could survive without others.