From: Witness For Peace Date: 24 Sep 92 12:27 PDT Subject: WFP Myth of the Month: October 199 Message-ID: <1563600207@igc.apc.org> Lines: 75 Status: RO Witness for Peace 1492-1992 Expose the Myths: Calling for a Just World order Myth of the Month--October 1992: Myth America Contest Myth: There is nothing we can do to make a just world order. Response: Confronting myths that are fundamental to our history and our current policy requires a great deal of creativity and perseverance. Benjamin Linder, a U.S. citizen killed by the U.S.-funded contras in Nicaragua while trying to help construct an electricity system, said once, "You must do whatever you can." What can we do? To answer, it is important to understand what we are "up against"_what are the particular myths that we need to confront and why are those myths so powerful? Once we identify the myths, we can expose them as false, and envision and work toward a more just reality. Myth-America Contest: For the last 500 years, a series of myths have driven and justified national and international relationships. Myths such as "discovery," "Divine Right," and "manifest destiny" became almost a religion for the European colonists of the 16th through 19th centuries. Now, in the 20th century, similar myths continue to guide international relationships. Name those myths! Hold a contest, or just a house meeting, to discuss (1) what is the "best" myth of America (i.e. what myth has had and continues to have the greatest impact on U.S. policy), (2) how can we confront that myth, and (3) what is the just world order we will work toward creating. How to start: 1. Gather a group together_synagogue, church, youth, music, political interest group, school class, etc. You can play individually or in teams of two or three. 2. Ask each person or team to write down what they think is the "best" myth of America and give three reasons to justify their selection. Why is this myth important? How has it been used? What are the actual human results of the myth as it plays itself out in the United States and elsewhere? 3. Each person or team writes down what a "just world order" would look like. How do we get there from here? Alternatives/Extra Credit: * Skip the writing and simply discuss the myths. * Draw, paint, or make a collage of photos depicting (1) the myth, (2) the reality, and (3) what the just world order would look like. This could be used in schools, with children's groups, or in other small groups. * Ask other members of the group to discount and/or defend the myth from a "devil's advocate" perspective. * Send your vision of a just world order to your congresspersons, media, education boards, etc. Encourage schools to have a "Myth America Contest." Action Suggestions: * Sponsor a Myth America-contest in your synagogue or church. * Sponsor a Myth-America writing or art contest in your school. * Organize an "art showing" to display different people's perceptions of a just world order. Invite your Congressperson to enter her or his vision. * Send Myth-America writing or drawing pieces to your local paper, with an accompanying letter to the editor exposing the Columbus myth, discussing a present-day myth that affects U.S. policy, and calling for a just world order.