http://www.wordnik.com/lists/mythic-america.xml I'm using "myth" NOT in the sense of "fiction" but of larger-than-life. This is not a list of important people or events in American history, or it would be much longer. It's a list of people, events, phrases, or anything else that has a mythic, legendary quality and exists in the collective American (meaning United States) subconscious. <br /> <br />Again, it isn't about famous people, no matter how great they were. Everything on this list is bigger than itself (himself/herself), the name or phrase itself conjures not only a period of time or an event, but at the root of its meaning, speaks to something in the "American character." (Whatever that is.) It isn't enough for a person to invoke myth, and lots of people are heroes of mythic stature within their specific fields. But to enter the American pantheon of mythic heroes, they'd have to have tapped into something even bigger and more enduring, and something we want to believe about ourselves or our country. <br /> <br />It's a difficult concept in my mind and I'm not articulating it well... I'll keep trying till it makes more sense. <br /> <br />Other lists that are kind of distantly related: Loaded Words and Loaded Words Part Deux. Those are for more politically-charged words and phrases (respectively). <br /> <br />Also, this seemed to belong somewhere around here, so here it is: <br />"And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope." (Barack Obama, Nov. 4, 2008) And this one: "We never hide from history. We make history." (John McCain, Nov. 4, 2008) <br /> <br />Mythic ideals in action. http://www.wordnik.com http://www.wordnik.com/words/lady liberty Thu, 30 Apr 2009 12:08:17 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/lady liberty http://www.wordnik.com/words/utah beach Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:53:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/utah beach http://www.wordnik.com/words/lexington and concord Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:52:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/lexington and concord http://www.wordnik.com/words/the west Thu, 22 Jan 2009 15:51:57 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the west http://www.wordnik.com/words/40 acres and a mule Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:30:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/40 acres and a mule http://www.wordnik.com/words/minutemen Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:51:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/minutemen http://www.wordnik.com/words/uncle tom's cabin Mon, 27 Oct 2008 12:51:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/uncle tom's cabin http://www.wordnik.com/words/the south Mon, 20 Oct 2008 19:23:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the south http://www.wordnik.com/words/amber waves Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:13:49 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/amber waves http://www.wordnik.com/words/spirit of '76 Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:17:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/spirit of '76 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wilderness Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:08:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wilderness http://www.wordnik.com/words/natural law Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:16:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/natural law http://www.wordnik.com/words/wyatt earp Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:07:23 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wyatt earp http://www.wordnik.com/words/wildcatter Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:40 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wildcatter http://www.wordnik.com/words/e pluribus unum Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:13:18 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/e pluribus unum http://www.wordnik.com/words/city upon a hill Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:54:46 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/city upon a hill http://www.wordnik.com/words/gold rush Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:02:48 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/gold rush http://www.wordnik.com/words/transcontinental railway Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:02:07 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/transcontinental railway http://www.wordnik.com/words/picket fence Fri, 29 Aug 2008 01:01:52 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/picket fence http://www.wordnik.com/words/jamestown Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:15:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/jamestown http://www.wordnik.com/words/billy the kid Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:04:13 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/billy the kid http://www.wordnik.com/words/civil disobedience Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:13:42 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/civil disobedience http://www.wordnik.com/words/rosa parks Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:13:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rosa parks http://www.wordnik.com/words/(protestant) work ethic Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:12:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/(protestant) work ethic http://www.wordnik.com/words/anyone can grow up to be president Thu, 28 Aug 2008 19:12:44 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/anyone can grow up to be president http://www.wordnik.com/words/government of the people, by the people, for the people Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:27:35 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/government of the people, by the people, for the people http://www.wordnik.com/words/all men are created equal Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:27:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/all men are created equal http://www.wordnik.com/words/founding mothers Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:15:33 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/founding mothers http://www.wordnik.com/words/republican motherhood Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:15:23 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/republican motherhood http://www.wordnik.com/words/cowboy Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:14:59 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cowboy http://www.wordnik.com/words/home of the brave Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:08:53 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/home of the brave http://www.wordnik.com/words/land of the free Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:08:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/land of the free http://www.wordnik.com/words/land of opportunity Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:08:41 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/land of opportunity http://www.wordnik.com/words/manifest destiny Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:46:33 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/manifest destiny http://www.wordnik.com/words/daniel boone Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:46:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/daniel boone http://www.wordnik.com/words/conestoga Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:06:49 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/conestoga http://www.wordnik.com/words/year of jubilo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:06:34 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/year of jubilo http://www.wordnik.com/words/nation of immigrants Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:06:20 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/nation of immigrants http://www.wordnik.com/words/pioneer spirit Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:05:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/pioneer spirit http://www.wordnik.com/words/uncle sam Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:05:14 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/uncle sam http://www.wordnik.com/words/yankee doodle Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:04:58 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/yankee doodle http://www.wordnik.com/words/fourth of july Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:04:50 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/fourth of july http://www.wordnik.com/words/boston massacre Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:04:24 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/boston massacre http://www.wordnik.com/words/paul revere Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:03:56 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/paul revere http://www.wordnik.com/words/samuel adams Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:03:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/samuel adams http://www.wordnik.com/words/boston tea party Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:02:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/boston tea party http://www.wordnik.com/words/jesse owens Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:02:27 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/jesse owens http://www.wordnik.com/words/joe louis Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:01:56 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/joe louis http://www.wordnik.com/words/babe ruth Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:01:48 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/babe ruth http://www.wordnik.com/words/dime novel Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:46 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/dime novel http://www.wordnik.com/words/jackie robinson Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:21 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/jackie robinson http://www.wordnik.com/words/frontier justice Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:59:02 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/frontier justice http://www.wordnik.com/words/railsplitter Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/railsplitter http://www.wordnik.com/words/log cabin Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:46 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/log cabin http://www.wordnik.com/words/old hickory Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/old hickory http://www.wordnik.com/words/gone with the wind Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:31 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/gone with the wind http://www.wordnik.com/words/the lone ranger Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the lone ranger http://www.wordnik.com/words/the birth of a nation Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:12 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the birth of a nation http://www.wordnik.com/words/the jazz singer Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:58:06 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the jazz singer http://www.wordnik.com/words/the monitor and the merrimack Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:56:52 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the monitor and the merrimack http://www.wordnik.com/words/the great train robbery Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:56:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the great train robbery http://www.wordnik.com/words/the virginian Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:56:30 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/the virginian http://www.wordnik.com/words/frontier thesis Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:56:16 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/frontier thesis http://www.wordnik.com/words/frederick jackson turner Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:56:07 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/frederick jackson turner http://www.wordnik.com/words/march to the sea Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:56 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/march to the sea http://www.wordnik.com/words/emancipation proclamation Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:50 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/emancipation proclamation http://www.wordnik.com/words/atlanta Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/atlanta http://www.wordnik.com/words/vicksburg Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:39 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/vicksburg http://www.wordnik.com/words/gettysburg Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:34 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/gettysburg http://www.wordnik.com/words/horatio alger Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/horatio alger http://www.wordnik.com/words/mount vernon Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:55:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/mount vernon http://www.wordnik.com/words/moby-dick Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:54:57 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/moby-dick http://www.wordnik.com/words/longfellow Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:54:52 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/longfellow http://www.wordnik.com/words/natty bumppo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:54:32 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/natty bumppo http://www.wordnik.com/words/rugged individualism Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:54:21 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rugged individualism http://www.wordnik.com/words/leatherstocking tales Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:54:11 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/leatherstocking tales http://www.wordnik.com/words/last of the mohicans Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:54:04 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/last of the mohicans http://www.wordnik.com/words/rip van winkle Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:53:57 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/rip van winkle http://www.wordnik.com/words/sleepy hollow Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:53:50 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/sleepy hollow http://www.wordnik.com/words/framers Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:53:03 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/framers http://www.wordnik.com/words/founders Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:52:16 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/founders http://www.wordnik.com/words/bill of rights Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:52:02 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/bill of rights http://www.wordnik.com/words/declaration of independence Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:51:55 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/declaration of independence http://www.wordnik.com/words/buffalo soldiers Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:51:19 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/buffalo soldiers http://www.wordnik.com/words/benedict arnold Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:50:54 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/benedict arnold http://www.wordnik.com/words/go west Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:50:36 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/go west http://www.wordnik.com/words/print the legend Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:50:26 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/print the legend http://www.wordnik.com/words/stonewall jackson Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:48:43 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/stonewall jackson http://www.wordnik.com/words/custer's last stand Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:48:38 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/custer's last stand http://www.wordnik.com/words/geronimo Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:48:30 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/geronimo http://www.wordnik.com/words/sitting bull Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:48:25 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/sitting bull http://www.wordnik.com/words/buffalo bill Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:48:17 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/buffalo bill http://www.wordnik.com/words/wild west Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:48:10 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/wild west http://www.wordnik.com/words/captain america Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:47:51 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/captain america http://www.wordnik.com/words/john henry Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:47:38 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/john henry http://www.wordnik.com/words/miles standish Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:47:22 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/miles standish http://www.wordnik.com/words/paul bunyan Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:46:47 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/paul bunyan http://www.wordnik.com/words/johnny appleseed Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:46:39 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/johnny appleseed http://www.wordnik.com/words/cherry tree Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:46:30 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/cherry tree http://www.wordnik.com/words/parson weems Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:46:15 +0000 http://www.wordnik.com/words/parson weems