A Large Regular was lucky enough to get a few minutes of time from Joseph Campbell the world renown expert in comparative mythology who has recently shown a great interest in American politics.
ALR: First off thank you for your time and secondly - how should I address you? Is it Dr. Campbell? Professor Campbell?
ALR: Great fun? How so?
JC: Well with my background in comparative mythology I tend to look at things a little bit different than most people. For instance I cannot help but think modern American politics is some sort of manifestation of the Nigerian trickster god Edshu.
ALR: I'm sorry but could you explain that for me.
ALR: You wrote extensively about mythology in regards to the hero's journey. Do you see anyone in politics today who could be a hero in the mythological sense?
JC: No - not really. You see politics and being a hero don't go hand in hand. Most people go into politics not just to be part of the crowd but to lead the crowd. The hero's journey, however, is a lonely journey. James Joyce once wrote, "I do not fear to be alone. And I am not afraid to make a mistake, even a great mistake, a lifelong mistake, and perhaps as long as eternity too." Politicians fear making mistakes especially when they think they will cost them votes. A politician unafraid to make a mistake would never look at a poll and we all know that all politicians look at polls.
ALR: But don't some political figures reach mythic hero status? I'm thinking in particular of John Kennedy.
ALR: Can you explain that a little more.
JC: Sure Chris. Kennedy will always be historically famous because he was a president and he was assassinated. James Garfield was young, handsome and an American President who was assassinated just like Kennedy but nobody remembers Garfield the way they remember Kennedy. And it is not just because Kennedy is still fresh in the memory or because Kennedy had the advantage of TV and advanced photography. Kennedy will be remembered fondly because people can assign their beliefs to him. For instance many people remember Kennedy as a civil rights crusader but the truth is that he was afraid to push the envelope out of fear of alienating his Southern base. It was Lyndon Johnson who passed the Civil Rights Act but most people think it was Kennedy. Vietnam became a huge military struggle under Kennedy but most Kennedy apologists believe that if Kennedy had a full second term that he would have gotten us out of Vietnam when there really is no basis in fact for those beliefs. Probably the biggest myth about Kennedy deals with the Cuban Missile Crisis and Kennedy staring down the Soviets. The truth is Kennedy caved to the Soviets and agreed never to do anything about Cuba militarily which was a huge victory for the USSR yet a book and a couple of movies have been put out showing Kennedy to be the hero. To be a true mythic hero - the truth must underpin the actions. With Kennedy that just isn't there.
ALR: Why is the common perception often so wrong when the truth is available to see?
ALR: I really like the idea of a trickster god messing with US politics.
JC: How else can you explain Nancy Pelosi and Trent Lott if not by the hand of some god with a sense of humor?
ALR: Thank you so much for your time.
JC: My pleasure entirely.
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