encouraged to stay divided, it will not become a threat to these values that support the uneven distribution of wealth in America. These myths must be dispelled for until they are, the smallest segment of the population will continue to control the greatest percentage of resources. What is most dangerous about these destructive myths and cultural values is how easily they are presented as being of a positive nature. The reason that these false beliefs are so prevalent in our society is because they are distorted meticulously in order to seem virtuous. Although the idea of America as an Egalitarian society is a myth, the idea of equal opportunity evokes nothing but positive feelings. The idea of an enormous middle class sharing wealth and opportunity is not inherently corrupt. The idea however, becomes corrupted when one realizes that the middle class by that definition is non-existent. Through this corruption of otherwise positive values and beliefs, the American people have been exploited in the worst way possible. Although hegemonic values in this country often serve to promote inequality, most people don’t hold those values for that reason. Instead, people hold onto dominant values and beliefs because they are deceived into believing that these ideals are the ideals that this country was founded on. To free ourselves from cultural myths that encourage categories of difference, we must look beyond the surface of our cultural values and examine them critically. Only then, will these ideologies become exposed for the chains they actually are. The idea of equal opportunity and the American dream were undoubtedly originally intended to represent the highest of ideals. Unfortunately, a small but very powerful section of the population has found a way to take advantage of these ideals to in order t...
