Mintz+Wall+Two+Reflection

Americans have a tendency to see themselves not just as individuals, but as a part of a larger whole. This is one of the main focuses of John Steinbeck's //The Grapes of Wrath//, summed up by Reverend Jim Casy. ". . . A fella ain't got a soul of his own, but on'y a piece of a big one." This tendency has been used, for good or for ill, throughout American history to manipulate the feelings of the American people. Propaganda has long been used in this country as a rallying cry for the American people. Using words like "we" and "together" and depicting strong, beautiful people, this medium created a strong sense of nationalism and community in America. The government made the people think that they were a part of something great and powerful (which usually was the case), and so the people wanted to fight for whatever the cause //du jour// was. During the Cold War, on the other hand, Pete Seeger (a prominent American folk musician) wrote the song "Rainbow Race". The goal of the song was to remind Americans that people are people; everyone is the same. He encouraged the members his "rainbow race" to treat each other with respect and kindness. He used this sense of communal soul as part of a call for peace, not just in America but around the world.