The myths that we continue to swallow each day.

[KlatooBNikto]

1. Our rulers are well intentioned and virtuous men and women.Even when they perform acts of a vile nature ( Abu Ghraib), their intents are good.
2.Our corporations are run by highly efficient managers who take enormous risks all the time and need to be rewarded for those risks.
As for John Snow, Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld and the King of the Mountain W himself.
3.That our Press is made up of intelligent, dedicated and diligent men and women well versed in history who can call our rulers to account fearlessly.For example David Brooks, Tom Friedman, Judith Miller,not to mention Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Ted Koppel,Bill O'Reilly and hundred other wannabes.Oh, I almost forgot the Queen Bee Maureen the Dowdy.

[Huckebein the Raven]

1. Oswald acted alone

Ronald Regan defeated communism
* is keeping us safe
WMD's were in Iraq (for Kool-Aid drinkers)
* is a good Christian man

[KlatooBNikto]

3. For quite some time I wondered why the movies of the Abu Ghraib

tortures were not released even after the Congressional Committee members got to view the tapes and came out with their voices shaking.This is because the well preserved myths of our virtues as against the evil represented by the Arabs and Muslims need to be preserved at all costs so that our murderous regimes can continue their spree in Iraq and possibly other countries in the name of terror. Any rude awakening of our population from their collective slumber might prove too much of a handicap in promoting the terror image.As the POWWER OF NIGHTMARES says:"When all the grand scenes have lost their credibility, all that the politicains have for maintaining their power is the fear of a phantom enemy". That single sentence captures the essence of why the politicians do not want us to see what the prisoners at Abu Ghraib have experienced.

[Huckebein the Raven]

8. I agree but also

I think it's about American foreign policy as a whole. There's no critical examination of our foreign policy in the public dialogue. I wonder how many people know about Sept. 11 1973 or our actions in Iran or in Africa. My parents for instance were suprised when they found out that the Iraqi P.M has ties to the CIA.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

2. "Anybody can succeed if they work hard."

"America has the highest standard of living in the world."

"If all the money in this country were equally distributed, the same people would soon be rich again after x number of years."

"Government should be run like a business."

"The private sector is always more efficient."

"Christians are persecuted in this country."

"Nobody needs to be unemployed. Just look at all the job listings in the newspaper."

"I don't need to travel abroad. We've got everything right here in this country."

"My kids don't need to learn foreign languages. Everyone speaks English."

[KlatooBNikto]

4. Very Good list LL.Thanks.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

6. And I can add to it!

"Sports build characte, but the arts are an unnecessary frill."

"The military personnel killed in Iraq died to protect freedom."

"Global warming is a myth because we're having a cold snap right now."

"Environmentalists like animals and plants more than people."

"My SUV keeps me safe."

"George W. Bush may not be so bright, but he has surrounded himself with competent and experienced advisors."

"Real men don't...(fill in the blank)."

"People who don't have children are selfish."

"Gays and lesbians will destroy the institution of marriage."

"(Any Democratic politician) is a socialist/far-left winger."

[secular_warrior]

5. Biggest myth: the military's sole purpose is to defend America.

The reality is that for the most part, war is a business: the military is a tax payer/human life subsidized arm of the GOP from which the corporations and the military industrial complex reap the riches.

[Huckebein the Raven]

7. Did you see Andy Rooney's take

on the M.I.C on Sunday's 60 mins ?

[obreaslan]

9. And another...

B*SH IS LEADING IN THE POLLS!!!

...Ha! Kerry in a landslide :headbang:

[skygazer]

10. Define "we"

I have not swallowed any of those examples for many, many years.

[KlatooBNikto]

11. By we I meant those of us who have not woken up yet.You, of course,

do not belong to that group.

[OxQQme]

12. Here's the biggie

There is only one GOD

[Eric J in MN]

13. I don't think most people at this board believe Bush is virtuous (nt)

nt

[KlatooBNikto]

14. The lack of skepticism about 9/11 indicates to me that even people here

are incapable of thinking about the unthinkable.

[OneBlueSky]

15. that our country is always right because . . .

well, we're AMERICANS! . . . trust me, a lot of people actually believe that . . .

[info being]

16. At least that's how the media portrays us

While a good many Americans do believe things like this, let's not make the mistake of believing that the media's portrayal of us is accurate.