Modern Myths
E-mail: jay(at)salsburg(dot)com


The American Heritage Dictionary defines the noun myth as:

1.a. A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the world view of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society.
1.b. Such stories considered as a group.
2. A story, a theme, an object, or a character regarded as embodying an aspect of a culture.
3. A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology.
4. A fictitious story, person, or thing.

Myths are not what is meant by the noun Mythology:

1.a. A body or collection of myths belonging to a people and addressing their origin, history, deities, ancestors, and heroes.
1.b. A body of myths concerning an individual, event, or institution.
2. The field of scholarship dealing with the systematic collection and study of myths.

So here are some modern myths.

Anyone who uses their brain, follows their intellect, wants to pursue something intelligent, is accepted and rewarded.

You'll go broke underestimating the intelligence of the American Public.

The most trusted people in America; Walter Chronkit and Betty Crocker.

Angels will save you, especially in a crash, because you believe in them so much.

The American people are far more intelligent than they're given credit for. Politician's canard.

The race problem in America was solved by the Civil War.

Heroes got where they are by doing the right thing.

You can count on Americans doing the right thing.

The President is the Commander in Chief.

Sit ups in the mud will help you become a man.

There is a Heaven, Hell, and Angles.

There is not enough food to go around.

Prayers are answered.

There is a God.

God loves us.

God will take care of you and your family.

God forgives sins.

Always Tithe.

The Pope is the Vicar of Christ.

Churches should not be taxed.

There is a difference between secular and non-secular.

The Bible is the Truth.

The Bible was inspired by God.

God is male.

God is Love.

God Loves us.

God is Pro-Life.

Satan is real.

Argument is the act of the Devil.

God controls our lives through the Supernatural.

If it exists through Faith and is invisible it must be true.

Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and Franklin Graham speak for the majority.

Muscle and Cunning are too small to rule the world.

Psychics can commune with the dead.

If software is complicated, it must be sophisticated.

Science is secular and cannot be trusted.

Congress is moral.

Life begins at conception.

The sanctity of life is sacred.

The world is 6000 years old.

There is a Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Messiah and Savior.

We are alone in the Universe.

You can trust your boys alone with Catholic Priests.

Stars are lights from heaven.

People can be Gods.

Jesus is God, no, Moses is God, no, Buddha is God, no, Mohammed is God, no, Sri Krishna is God, no, Stiener is God, no, Gurdjief is God, no, Blavatsky is God, no, Guru Maharaji is God, no, Reverend Sun Myung Moon is God, no no no, Will the real God please stand up?

Faith in Christ is to be rewarded by an eternity of bliss.

You know wishing will make it so.

Hoping will do it.

Praying will do it.

Religion will do it.

Philosophy will do it.

The supreme court will do it.

The president and the congress will do it.

The H bomb will do it.

The sun and the moon will do it.

God will do it.

I will do it for you.

Banks are organized to serve the public.

Everything you need to know can be found in a Library or Church or the Internet.

All you need is Love.

Your needs are always important.

Everything worthwhile must be a struggle.

A house must be made of wood.

A house must have a roof.

A house must have square sides.

A house must have electricity.

A house must have a foundation.

Familys have values.

Your loved ones will never hurt you.

You can own property.

There is no free ride.

You can't take anything with you when you die. (except someone else)

This is the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.

The Press is fare and impartial.

The courts are fair.

People always know the difference between right and wrong.

Knowing what is right makes no difference.

Questions do not matter, only answers.

Never mind asking questions, what is the answer?

Doing the right thing is the most important part of right and wrong.

Because God gave us a Mind, we can always be just.

Justice is Blind.

All men are created Equal.

Your vote is Important.

The United States Government is on your side.

You should always do what the Government says.

The Army is here to keep the Peace.

The Police are on your side.

You have Freedom of Choice.

You have Freedom of Speech; especially at your place of employment, in court, in jail, in church, with your government.

You are in good hands with Christians.

America is a Christian Nation.

Nuclear weapons keep the Peace.

Peace is the organizing principle of civilization.

America will not bomb your country even if it is inhabited by Brown people.

Tax money is well managed.

Management exists.

Power is shared.

Perception is Reality.

Perception is everything.

It does no good to deny people power.

I can afford to waste.

The economy is outside my control.

The economy is all there is.

Economic prosperity is logical.

Nothing bad ever happens, why should I care?

People should never engage in argument.

No, it is not possible to hold two ambivalent and contradictory thoughts in my head at the same time.

In America you can always get Justice.

Public schools are the nurseries of goodness and morality.

In business you can trust that your competition will always play fair.

In business you can trust that your boss will always play fair.

In business you can trust that your colleges will always play fair.

In business you can trust that your government will always play fair.

If that guy is a successful businessman, he must be fair and honest.

Children never have sex (at home, school, church, camp, with the neighbors)

Teams can be successful despite apathy, mistrust and deceit.

No matter what is said, it is always possible to detect the truth.

It is possible to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Advertisers are straightforward, honest, and trustworthy.

Reconstruction in the South was successful.

Black athletes are better because of their race.

Progress is only possible through consistency.

Progress is only possible by being reasonable.

Man is a peaceful and righteous creature.

The world is sane, stable, and viable.

Mother Nature is not a comedian.

Industry is more important than personal health.

Institutions are organized to serve their constituents.

Charity organizations are here to help people.

History books are accurate.

I should never question my Government because they are always right.

There is never a need to protect my country from my government.

If it is printed in the Newspaper or heard on the News, it must be true.

Life is not as difficult as people think.

You can do something with your life if you try hard enough.

Whistle blowers have nothing to fear.

If you try to get to "know" people, you're asking for trouble.

It's not nice to judge others.

Do unto others before they do unto you.

The really best people have no defects.

You are responsible for your problems.

Beware of intuition and gut instincts, they are completely unreliable.

Never give up on an idea simply because it is bad and doesn't work.

Dwell on the past.

Beware of the dangerous trap of looking ahead.

Enjoy yourself all the time, and do whatever you want.

Improvement plans usually fail and offend others so avoid them.

Good-news stories are an inspiration but why tell others, they will just put you down behind your back.

It is always best to fire the people at the bottom.

Most managers believe, down deep, that the average person is a would be star just waiting to be listened to.

Managers truly agonize over every defective product or botched customer transaction.

Corporate chieftains spend most of their time on granting true autonomy to their workers.

Machines are more important than the men who operate them.

New ideas are bad ideas.

Managers who share their plans with their workers are nuts.

Top-down management always works.

Always play cop and never coach your workers.

Staff presentations are more important than the staff.

Be consistent, and never be flexible.

If the solution does not solve all problems at once, you are not aiming high enough.

The right answer should always make you happy.