Myth and Contradiction: A Genealogy of American Disorder

The text analyzes the contemporary identity crisis of the United States, indicating that political polarization is the result of deeper conflicts surrounding national myths. Drawing on the concepts of Richard Slotkin and Benedict Anderson, the author examines how myths function as mechanisms for constructing an imagined community and a sense of belonging. The analysis focuses on the tension between universalist declarations of freedom and the reality of the 'White Republic' and the systematic exclusion of groups that do not fit the dominant narrative. The author argues that national myth is not merely a distortion of history, but a social tool which, when confronted with historical facts, can become a source of deep disorder and identity conflicts within American society.