Why Congress needs a lesson in Myths

I am currently reading Joseph Campbell. He can be a challenging read. He makes great jumps from Jewish mythology to Algoquin mythology and ties it together with moral challenges that we face in the inner-city. Campbell is intelligent and should be read by every person in congress if not the government in total. It is clear that this will not happen because of time constraints, fact finding missions and probably the congressman's inability to understand Campbell's intelligent prose ( this of course excludes your congressman, as you would not vote for a dolt that was only interested in trips to Dubai, of course this is obvious).

A point that Cambpell made that struck me like a bolt of lightning were myths taught mankind what was proper societal behavior. The mythology of the tribes and societies passed along what the Gods, Demi-gods, or Devils found appropriate and acceptable. In our advanced society we do not need Gods, Demi-gods or Devils to guide us in appropriate societal behavior--we have Judges, Senators and Congressmen to guide us. They are not immortal, but do believe they are infallible, god-like, beings that knows what is best for all of us. This collection of civil servants cannot even agree on protecting our own sovereignty with Mexico.

Campbell explained that the reason for the initiations of many tribes was not only to celebrate the graduation of the boy to the man, but the initiates responsibilities to the tribe-- supplying food, shelter and protection from rival tribes. These initiations were accompanied with many mythic stories and examples to enforce the sacred responsibilities of the initiate to his tribe. The myths were the societal glue of the tribe.

The United States had some exceptional myths that are now being debunked by the post-modern dolts. Manifest Destiny was not a myth, but an idea of mythic proportion which resulted in the US from sea to shining sea--along with some iron-clad sovereignty. Washington crossing the Delaware may not have been as romantic as the painting but it gave the colonies a rallying point and the United States a future quasi-myth to beat our chests. Andrew Jackson, by all accounts a real arse-hole, kicked butt at the battle of New Orleans, the only problem was the war was already over. Nonetheless, the Battle of New Orleans is another bragging point in our keepsake chest of mythology.

We now have a government that uses wars for political posturing rather than dominating the enemy and ending the conflict. Our "civil servants" cannot agree on how or if to protect our border with Mexico. The tribal mythos enforced sovereignty and prepared the tribal members to fight to the death. We have those tribal members, the volunteer army, but unfortunately our leadership is busy trying to invent their own myths.

Five hundred years from now what lessons will we learn from Al and Tipper inspiring Love Story, or his invention of the internet. Or, what about John Kerry's Schwarnegger-like destroying of the Viet Kong, while taking injuries in his rampage. Or what about Bill Clintons.... ah never mind you get the point.