Americans are part of a democratic Protestant society. The Pope is not infallible – in fact he is the Devil incarnate. But America is a society that values free-will and individuality and those values are worth protecting. They stem from a shared history, a shared culture, shared values and a shared religion. These are the values that are constantly under threat from non-democratic communist/socialist ideologies, the different racial and cultural values of Latinos and Blacks, and religious infiltration from the like of Catholics, Jews and Muslims.
Americans, as a nation, must stand strong against these heinous ideologies and reassert our belief in the greatness of our nation, its wondrous superior heritage, the legacy of our forebears paid for in blood and our religion. Full of patriotic fervour, in knowledge of our righteousness, Americans must do all in their power to support the might of our nation in war against the aggressors to reassert our beliefs.
Even though our nation is manifestly unequal and full of racist attitudes we know that we alone are chosen, superior and have the correct ethos. Every one of us is capable, with God’s help, of becoming President or achieving the status of a millionaire.
We demonstrate our support of this narrative through the clothes we wear, the churches we attend, the saluting of flags, pledges of allegiance and singing of anthems.
This is what joins us in one nation (an artificial subjective idea) under one god (another artificial subjective idea).
The problem with America today is that there is no longer a single, unifying myth. The myth you identify in this post describes select WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) who, quite frankly, are a minority in American society today. Unfortunately, they still yield incredible power. That earlier American myth no longer appeals to the non-WASP citizens – and most women of all ethnicities and races. Trump has served to put the stresses on the American myth under a public and international microscope. That’s how I see it.
What do you think about that, John? I wish you had said more.
Cheryl – it is certainly an interesting topic to investigate further. John, as a fully fledged Historian, is much better placed to take it further. I’d like to hear more of his views too.
That is true and who I was thinking of when I wrote it. It is the WASP myth. I do think that other minorities bought into it though. But not all. There are many other myths at work. And that is the trouble when you generalise and stereotype in order to reveal that particular underlying narrative.