A handful of works in history have had a direct impact on social policy: one or two works of Dickens, some of Zola, 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' and, in modern drama, Larry Kramer's 'The Normal Heart.'
Tony KushnerRead
There are no gods here, no ghosts and spirits in America, there are no angels in America, no spiritual past, no racial past, there's only the political, and the decoys and the ploys to maneuver around the inescapable battle of politics.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the absence of spiritual and mythical influences in American life, focusing instead on the realities of political struggles.
In this quote, Tony Kushner suggests that America is devoid of divine or supernatural influences, highlighting that the nation's identity is rooted purely in the political realm. This statement poses a stark view of American society, asserting that the complexities of politics and the various strategies employed within it are the primary forces shaping people's lives, rather than any spiritual or historical legacies.
Themes
PoliticsAmericaSpiritualityIdentityPower
In practice
Example use cases
In a debate on American identity, one might quote this to emphasize the political versus spiritual aspects of society.
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