I looked through many different political speeches searching for one that had more than one of Larsen's Myths in it. My curiosity was searching for just how prevalent these myths are and their use in our society. I have never followed Rand Paul, but I found that his presidential announcement speech held many of the myths I was looking for. I also liked that he staged his announcement in his home state instead of some high profile site elsewhere. I guess I think that the people who sent him to Washington should be the first ones to hear his announcement, he owes them that much. Rand Paul seems different for usual politicians, he keeps a serious tone and seems somewhat uncomfortable, although confident, on stage. He has a very courageous American spirit about him and doesn't seem to be posing for the cameras with smiles and waving to his supporters. His persona makes you feel like you can trust this guy and he will stand up for the people. He is speaks clearly and doesn't talk in circles that confuse the audience. Interesting charisma.
Rand Paul began his speech with Larsen's myth the presence of conspiracy when he stated that, "we have come to take our country back from the special interest. . . and the Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms and invades every nook and cranny of our lives. . " The statement implies that there is some conspiracy to take our freedom and control our lives and that we must save ourselves from this evil that has taken our country. Quite an effective tactic. His use of the word 'we' also implies that we are all part of this group fulfilling our need for belonging, according to Maslow. It also give one a sense of fear and anger, motivating emotions, at what has happened along with a sense of power that we have the ability to change is happening, falling into place with Packard's compelling needs.
Mr. Paul then uses the next of Larsen's Myths; the eternal return. He states, "I want to be part of a return to prosperity, a true economic boom that lists all Americans." Mr. Paul continues to use this myth throughout his speech as he talks about America's success in the past and his vision for a brighter future created with better jobs, better education, equal justice, protected liberty and security. One quote from him that supports this myth is, "America has much greatness left in her. We are still exceptional and we are still a beacon for the world. We will thrive when we believe in ourselves again." This rhetoric fits perfectly with the eternal return myth which refers to the idea that Americans yearn for and reenact better times from the past and seek to create new beginnings. He uses Packard's needs again to give a sense of our worth, that we as Americans deserve these things, also a sense of our roots of a once great America.
Mr. Paul uses Larsen's Myth of the wisdom of the rustic in two ways. This myth refers to America's heritage and the concept that Americans value humble beginnings and believe that difficulty teaches. He stirs memories of our heritage with the following statement, "We need to go boldly forth under the banner of liberty that clutches the Constitution in one hand and the Bill of Rights in the other." Again, giving us a sense of our roots and worth according to Packard. He also uses this myth as he talks about the menial jobs he worked from a young age and the self esteem it gave him along with a sense of who he is. He also refers to his two sone who are working the same type of menial jobs to put themselves through college. His stories are his proof that difficulty teaches. These stories also promote feelings of esteem from Maslow's hierarchy and teach us how to achieve motivating emotions of pride and happiness.
Mr. Paul also talks about his long years of medical training to become a successful eye surgeon and how he was influenced as a young child by his grandmother's eye issues that eventually led to blindness. The idea of being honest and hard working brings into play Larsen's Myth of the possibility of success. His honest desire to help people maintain or re-gain their eyesight coupled with his hard work from early childhood and in medical school to become an eye surgeon fulfills this myth. The story of his grandmother also supports Larsen's Myth of the value of a challenge. He says, "My hope that my grandmother would see again made me want to become an eye surgeon, to make a difference in people's lives." He goes on to tell of a medical mission to Guatemala where they operated on 200 people restoring their eyesight. Truly the challenge of watching his grandmother go blind and the motivation to help others avoid this same fate proved a valuable challenge and benefited the lives of many others. His ability to help so many people fits with the ego-gratification of Packard's compelling needs and Maslow's hierarchy of self actualization and esteem.
Mr. Paul ends his speech with Larsen's Myth of the coming of a Messiah. He states that he has come to "rescue a great country now adrift" and that with "God's help" and the help from "liberty lovers everywhere" he is putting himself forward as a candidate for the president of the United States of America. He puts a pretty messianic spin on his desires and abilities, but we have come to expect this from our politicians. Throughout his speech, Mr. Paul makes his audience feel like they are part of his solution for what ales the nation. He is very effective in using Packard's sense of worth, sense of power and Maslow's sense of belonging. He has a great ability to make you want to jump on board and become part of the messianic solution.
Mr. Paul creates cognitive dissonance with his audience throughout his speech as he talks about the contradictions that exits in our present world such as; Washington is broken but they control our lives, a weak military who are supposed to protect us, giving millions of dollars of foreign aide to countries who hate us and burn our flag, a government who is monitoring our computer and phone records without cause, and American companies taking jobs overseas due to high taxes of doing business here while there are many Americans without jobs. These contradiction cause the loss of group prestige, economic loss, loss of personal prestige and uncertainty of prediction. Again, causing the audience to feel anger, fear and insecurity and motivating them to want to feel power, worth and safety. Mr. Paul gave a very effective speech.
