In his book “The Game Free Life,” Stephen B. Karpman describes a concept called the drama triangle. Many psychologists find this to be a useful tool to model interpersonal traumas experienced by their patients. As shown in the picture on the top right, this triangle has on its edges, the persecutor, the rescuer, and the victim. The body of the triangle is filled with guilt, fear, and shame. The game features changing roles. Over time, rescuers become persecutors; victims become rescuers; persecutors become victims. In other words, the participants use shame, fear, and blame in the perpetual games that they play with each other in life. This approach is not limited in its application. It can apply to a wide variety of splits that divide families, communities, nations, or even religious denominations.
To illustrate, I submit that the drama triangle can partially explain the racial divisions that we experience in America. Let’s start by asking the question: “Who are we?” To answer this question, first one would have to decide who are the “we .” Suppose the we in the question represents a particular population. The answer would then be those things which are common to its members; it could include those characteristics to which the group aspires. A Jew might say:
We are children of Abraham, the people of the covenant. We worship solely the one God of the Universe and strive to love one another. Our great prophet Moses gave us the Torah and we do our best to please God by adhering to its precepts. Our respected rabbis interpret these laws so that they are relevant in our generation.
It doesn’t matter if this description is universally true. It doesn’t matter if every person perfectly represents the portrayal. It doesn’t even matter if every Jew agrees with the statement. Collectively, each Jew is part of the worldwide Jewish family. You could say that the above statement is a mythology of community. Despite what might be said in our world of Science and Technology, myth is important. A myth of community is a metaphorical statement that binds a group together. It likely has a historical foundation, but it does not have to be 100% historically accurate.
A nation’s mythology is one or more stories its people use to represent themselves. It points to the past, but more importantly, it encapsulates the ideals to which such a nation strives. Annual celebrations reinforce these stories and keep them fresh and alive. Without myth, there can be no cohesion and no unity. All that exists is a bunch of people with little or nothing in common, ready to fight at any moment. Without regular celebrations, the mythological principles lose their vigor, and fade into distant unimportant stories. Absent myth and their associated commemorations, a nation is doomed to destruction. If not through external conquest, then it will come from within. The drama triangle that I described above moves to the center of the ruin.
Let’s turn to America. Who are we as Americans? I am quite sure that a large percentage of our people would have trouble answering this question. So, let’s consider a possible answer. We are a diverse nation of immigrants, who arrived at this continent seeking freedom. We believe that every person is endowed with the unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These cannot be removed or diminished by government. Our November Thanksgiving and July 4th Independence Day celebrations reinforce these concepts.
Thanksgiving commemorates the 1620 arrival of 102 individuals (37 of whom were Christian) to the coast of Massachusetts on a ship named the Mayflower. During the journey, there were real concerns because of the unruliness of some of the travelers. Hence, a short 200-word Mayflower compact was drawn up. This diverse community agreed to elect leaders as their representatives who were tasked to create laws for the benefit of all. This manifest is the origin of our democratic form of government.
Upon arriving, explorers found only a few abandoned Indian villages depopulated by disease. Things were bleak. Massachusetts weather was frigid, so crop planting was not possible. During the first winter more than half of this newly formed community died. One day, when things were especially dire, a representative from a local tribe walked into the community and suggested an alliance. Another Indian named Squanto spoke fluent English, and so, he facilitated the negotiations. This led to a treaty that lasted 25 years. After being taught how to survive in North America, the Pilgrims and their indigenous friends celebrated America’s first Thanksgiving. This recalls a time when there was peaceful cooperation between the settlers and local Native Americans. Each Thanksgiving celebration commemorates and honors this event.
Our other major annual celebration is Independence Day. It points back to the writing of the Declaration of Independence. The 33-year-old Thomas Jefferson was chosen to create a first draft. Its purpose was to justify the American Revolution. Jefferson detailed the grievances that the 13 colonies had against King George III. Two parts of this first draft are significant:
Preamble : We hold these truths to be sacred & undeniable; that all men are created equal & independent, that from that equal creation they derive rights inherent & inalienable, among which are the preservation of life, & liberty, & the pursuit of happiness; that to secure these ends, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed;
Slavery : He (King George III) has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life & liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the warfare of the CHRISTIAN king of Great Britain. determined to keep open a market where MEN should be bought & sold.
The paragraph on slavery was omitted from the final version. Why? The declaration required unanimous consent so the 13 colonies could present a united front against the British. Jefferson later writes that only 11 (including Virginia) assented. So, to keep the colonies united in the Revolutionary War effort, the paragraph was removed.
For over 200 years, these two stories embodied the American foundation myth. Is it an accurate representation of our history? Not entirely. It fails to address the darker sides of our past. I’ve learned first-hand from indigenous people their accounts of broken treaties. I’ve spoken with those kidnapped, removed from their families, and brought to abusive residential schools. This not all. Most Americans are well aware of the scourge of slavery, and how we struggle with its lasting repercussions.
But are these foundation stories made-up fabrications? No. They are valuable because they provide Americans something around which we can unite and aspire. We welcome others of diverse backgrounds to join and be part of our national family. We value the democratic form of government in which the rights of all are protected. We are thankful for the many providential blessings that we experience.
It is of note that our founders were well-aware of our nation’s shortcomings. I’ve included two snippets from the Thanksgiving addresses of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln:
George Washington (1789) : that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions;
Abraham Lincoln (1863) : The Most-High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. … And I recommend … that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they (our citizens) do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience.
There is an alternate version to America’s traditional founding accounts. This one was put forth by the New York Times in what it calls the 1619 project. It starts with the pronouncement: “We’ve got to tell the unvarnished truth.” Their thesis is gaining steam as it finds its way into thousands of public-school curriculums. It goes as follows:
In 1619, the residents of Jamestown encountered a Spanish slave ship. They negotiated with the crew and agreed to trade food for the purchase of 20 African slaves. Everything in America, from then to now, is infected with the scourge of slavery. This includes the concept of capitalism, which originated from the plantation system. The infection includes our laws and our form of government which are designed to perpetuate racial oppression. It especially impacts our traditions. The Revolutionary War for example, was largely fought to preserve the institution of slavery as the British were beginning to legislate against it. All of our heroes including Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln were racists.
Is this negative version really “The unvarnished truth?” The vast majority of reputable historians, including those with a progressive bent say: “No.” They insist that the above narrative is at best exaggerated. At worst, it is simply false.
American history is complex. Some of our forefathers were honorable; others were not. There were those who wished to establish a fair and benevolent society; there were others who were greedy for wealth, power, and dominance. Many came to this continent voluntarily in the hope of escaping oppression. Blacks came in chains and were greeted by still more anguish. Most slave owners were White. However, Black freedmen sometimes owned slaves. So did members of indigenous tribes. Abolitionists fought to immediately resolve the injustice. Others sought short-term compromises along the road to a long-term permanent solution. Still more doubled-down in opposition. There frankly is no “unvarnished truth” as the NY Times claims to put forth.
We have to ask: “What is the purpose of the 1619 project?” Likely, it is to raise awareness and push forward the idea of social justice. Surely, the goal is worthy. But, is this a good way to accomplish that end? Will it lead to an unfortunate backlash? I’ll leave it for you to decide.
The 1619 narrative illustrates the drama triangle (as described at the start of this article). The victim is the Black population. The rescuers are the social justice activists. The persecutors include the descendants of slave owners and those of their same ethnicities. The game is played by attributing blame and shame. The goal is reparation. However, there is no clear definition what this should be or when the wrongs will be sufficiently addressed. The moral debt can never be paid in full.
There is another triangle shown at the top left of this article. That triangle represents the triune God. The edges (depicting the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) exist in mutual love, submission, and unity. Within the triangle appears humanity, living under the umbrella of God’s grace, boundless love and forgiveness. Since we all are endowed with God’s image, it is our job to mirror him in our relationships. This means: don’t consent to play the game of life. Move away from the drama triangle and work together towards mutually beneficial solutions.
Should our schools teach the shortcomings of our past? Of course, they should. Should they recognize the greatness of our founders, despite their obvious flaws? Again, yes. It is important though, that while judging our past, we understand that we also fall short. How will our descendants judge us? I suspect, not very well.
It is a mistake for us to reframe history and abandon our traditional founding myths. They have value. They provide narratives that can unite us and provide the seeds for us to plant and thereafter grow into a more perfect union.
I’ll close with a Bible verse, which I think is appropriate:
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Eph. 4: 30-32).
Thanks for listening,secondlooknow.com
Whew.
What a mess of facts. Real life is that I guess.
So glad you didn’t ask me to sort it all out.
But, being kind, tenderhearted, forgiving. That’s in reach.