Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are conveying their messages to the American public focusing on their unique characteristics, principles, and planned policies. They are presenting themselves as pivotal characters in America’s ongoing narrative, influenced by recent events and the deeper threads of U.S. history, conveyed through our rich national myths. The shared consensus is sparse in this election, apart from a mutual anticipation that defeat would bring about devastating consequences. Each one is attempting to portray the election as a momentous chapter in America’s ongoing saga, encouraging voters to perceive themselves as key actors in this narrative.
No other modern nation leans on its myths as heavily as America does. There’s the fable of the frontier that brings our national origin into the spotlight, leading back to the colonial settlements and the following spread to the west. The legend of the founding reflects the establishment of our national entity by a group of wise and righteous individuals. The Civil War tested the integrity of this founding myth and gave birth to two clashing conceptual traditions.
In these widespread myths, the archetypal American nationality is attached to whiteness. As part of his 2024 campaign narrative, Trump presents a similar sentiment. He proposes that America’s greatness peaked when its political and economic structures were supervised by a specific group of individuals, and the societal balance was disrupted by the political and cultural revolutions that erupted during the 1960s.
Harris, on the other hand, maintains the focus on economics and frames her personal journey within the context of the civil rights movement. Amidst the current division, components of a fresh Democratic narrative are already coming to life.
Democrats could gain the upper hand by crafting their initiatives within a context that mirrors the compelling consistency and emotional appeal of a heroic tale. However, considering the nation’s sharp divisions, it is doubtful that the 2024 election will successfully reconcile these cultural discrepancies.
In the absence of a shared national myth that could unite Americans, states are diverging along ideological divisions, resulting in strikingly different laws concerning voting, public health, racial discrimination, gun rights, and history education. If this trend persists, the national myths will persist as symbols for internal strife rather than a unifying image of our collective history.
Following this line of thought, Donald Trump’s 2024 electoral discourse emphasizes a narrative building on the idea of reclaiming the glory days. This is a concept carried forward from his past campaign – a time when America was considered great under the governance and structure by a specific cadre of people.
However, this perspective is seen misinterpreted by some. The ’60s, small pockets of dissenters argue, was a chaotic period which disrupted the social order, but the broader perspective favors seeing it instead as an era of necessary evolution and change.
Against this backdrop, Kamala Harris appeals to voters with an emphasis on economic issues. Her personal history, intertwined with the civil rights movement, provides her with a powerful platform.
She is crafting an alternative narrative, one which appeals to the Democratic base seeking a refreshed perspective. However, the road is hard-fought as a new narrative takes time to root and resonate.
Despite the potential benefits that the Democrats might accrue from a tightly structured narrative with emotional undertones, it also acknowledges a sober truth: the chasm currently dividing the nation is wide and it is uncertain if the 2024 election will manage to address, let alone resolve, these conflicts.
This disjointed national narrative makes room for individual states to build their own ideologies, leading to disparate laws concerning critical issues such as voting regulations, public health policies, racial bias, gun rights, and education.
This disparity exposes the truth: without a common national narrative to bring together its populace, the United States risks deepening the divisions among its people, causing further misalignment.
The continued polarization of legal frameworks suggests a future where our national myths may continue to be misappropriated as partisan arsenals, rather than serving their traditional purpose as a unifying symbol of America’s unique and shared past.
Yet, amidst these divisions, the presidential campaigns of both Donald Trump and Kamala Harris attest to the resilience of American beliefs. Aspiring to play pivotal roles in shaping the story of America, they are inviting voters to join in scripting the future.
Ultimately, the choices made now will determine whether these narratives inspire feelings of national unity and shared direction, or whether they perpetuate an era of disparity and discord.
Trump’s 2024 Campaign: A Nod To America’s Founding Principles appeared first on Real News Now.
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