How We Got to Where We Are and Who We Are

The readings assigned in our class have led many students to at least skeptically question whether the United States, as a government rather than as a people, could be a nation of tyrannical device.  The history and development of the communications field, as we’ve read, is one shrouded in propaganda, psychological warfare, and attempts at putting to use the notions of mind control and other militaristic, aggressive methods of the strong over the weak, those in power over those without, and, as we’ve discussed, those First World players who have fiat capital over those who couldn’t possibly work hard enough to get sufficient funds to become players in the greater game.

“Oliver Stone’s Untold History of the United States” is a thoughtful reexamination of the same period of time in which the development of the communications field has blossomed.  His series sends the clear message that history books, as they are written by those who can dominate the message and the power of a First World superpower, can conveniently leave out the dissenting and difficult details that aid in completing the so-called whole truth.

The Daily Beast’s writers, Andrew Romano and Michael Moynihan, both smother themselves in the othering of Oliver Stone’s retelling of American history.  This is likely due to the very reason that Stone underlines as the sickness of American exceptionalism.  We are a people living in fear, and often what we fear is the notion that our government could be no better than the tyrant of any other institution of power.  The American identity is defensively protected by a people whose nationalism could see no fault in their own country despite the innumerable criticisms of the politicians who run it, who are elected by the public.

These criticisms overflow into the international scene, as well.  If the argument could be made that what makes the United States hegemony worthwhile is its superiority over other nations, then what good does our superiority over other nations do if our citizenry can neither be better off than those of many other nations nor are able to critically examine the faults that have led us to such a place?

Oliver Stone’s series is a wonderful glimpse into how we got to where we are and who we are.