Many are depressed because Traditional America seems to be disappearing
Bill O'Reilly speaks about the loss of traditional America. Traditional America is a very loaded statement as he really could be talking about any era of America history. Although within context, he is referring to some era, where the president doesn't support social justice and perhaps even a white president. Interestingly, when you do see his commentary on "A Tale of Two Americas", O'Reilly makes it sound like "many" Americans are disappointed in the direction that the country is heading towards. I doubt that many Americans are deeply disappointed in losing traditional America. America, as history shows, has the ability to change its norms. Who knows what this new term can bring?
We have learned in the class that tradition changes with the times, and that is true; but there is a certain “Traditional America” that Bill O’Reilly refers to when he says “traditional America seems to be disappearing.” These are the traditional American values (freedom, family, hard work, keeping what you earn, etc.) that started America and made it exceptional. I personally know a lot of Americans that are in fact grieving, because, with the results of this past election, these traditional values that have worked for America since its beginning are evolving.
ReplyDeleteThis brings a question about whether or not the concept of traditions changing is a good or bad thing. About half the people in America (more or so the people who voted for Romney) are very disappointed in this loss of traditional America and would say that no, changing traditional values is not good. Likewise, the other half of the people in America (pretty much people who voted for Obama), are not sad at all that these traditions are changing and would be all for traditions changing. It is all a matter of perspective.
O'Reilly's statement seems almost like a modern Frontier Thesis. The nation has changed, and he is not fond of what he sees. Of course O'Reilly is not talking about bringing back the frontier, but rather bringing up the topic of a masculinity crisis with a president strongly interested in social reform. He may see the last generation as one strong in American Ideals, and the current generation on a new playing field. Especially in the aspect of masculinity, having radical social reforms could be reflected on poorly. People like O'Reilly fear the loss of the Self Made Man, introducing the wimpier Government Handout Boy.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jacob, O'Reilly's statement is simailr to that of the Frontier thesis in the respect that he is demonstrating anxieties of losing masculinity, dominance, and indidualism. This dicussion of the break from "traditional America" speaks to the new American era that is less centered on the individualist motivations of capitalism, and instead focuses on the alturistic motivations of collective contributions for a common group (ie. American citizens). This change differs from the previous American ideology of "pull yourself up by your boot straps", which is the anxiety that O'Reilly is working through by making this statement.
ReplyDeleteoutstanding, y'all.
ReplyDeletegeorge, excellent - you bring up really good points!
kelly, totally - and you've pointed to the fact that o'reilly (and the other folks you know) are mourning a SPECIFIC set of traditions. even the concepts you point to like family and keeping what you earn have shifted throughout American history. i think a good question is why this election, and this set of choices, indicate a 'loss of tradition,' who is attached to those traditions, and how those traditions are shifting.
jacob and reilly - brilliant. i love that you point out the working through of anxieties (because otherwise, why is o'reilly upset?) and the imagining of a 'wimpy' masculinity (one that takes help from people/the government). i think it's still a good idea to ask who is disappointed and who is imagined to be 'less masculine' than, say, romney. Americans have gotten benefits from the government since least the Civil War, and things like Medicaid and Medicare were originally intended for white war widows and their children. the shift from 'tradition' might have more to do with who represents these ideas, and who is benefitting from them, than it does with traditions that don't change or are being lost.