The Right Way to Live

"How does a country's myth effect their imperialist tendencies and/or colonialism?"
The Poisonwood Bible, written by Barbara Kingsolver, inspired the above question in my English class this morning. A Baptist minister with his family move to the Congo with a plan to 'enlighten' the village of Kilanga.

There is the fatal assumption. Well, fatal could be an over-dramatization, but it's the assumption I'd like to question. What 'information' informed the Price family that they know the best way to live? That they could enrich the Congolese's lives by imposing their own culture upon them?

A background;
America has a history of white racial supremacy. The White Man's Burden, by Rudyard Kipling, is a haunting poem you must read that exemplifies the ideology amongst Americans and Europeans in 1899. Infact, it was written as an appeal to Americans to take up the task of 'civilizing' the Philippines.
Although the story begins in 1959, the us-them dichotomy was not resolved. Nathan Price grew up in a time in which minorities were still segregated. He probably grew up learning the Bible as complete truth.

I don't think Nathan ever questioned or truly thought about his religion. On page 45 Nathan announces his own calender and Easter to start off the church. He devoids the holiday and removes all spiritual connection from it. This is an action that reflects shallow consideration behind his religion.

Nathan's failure to critically think about his beliefs feeds other assumptions. Because he assumes that the bible is the word of God, he assumes that he is saving the Congolese with his actions. Who's to say that's what's occuring? Who's to say they need saving? As a 21st century reader it's not hard to see this as an imperialistic assumption that could probably never be justified. As a 21st reader, you should still ask yourself why this still occurs though.

1959 has made quite a bit of progress since the 19th century, yet The Poisonwood Bible still resonates a legitimate concern. There are Americans who still perpetuate the idea that we as a nation know more than other countries. Did you know the majority of Americans support Arizona's immigration law? That some people should always have identification to ensure that these 'unwanted' immigrants don't live in our country. There's a myth that we as Americans have the answers on how to live life correctly. There's a myth that America is the mighty nation that will show other nations the light of Free Market Capitalism and democracy that will save them.

Do we really know what's best?