Cooper Is Wrong

I don't agree with Cooper's statement that Americans had nothing on which to write about. He himself was writing, wasn't he? There were many other authors before him who wrote as well.

I strongly disagree that Americans had no history to write about. Since it's "discovery" in 1492, people have been immigrating to North America bringing with them cultures and histories that have found their way into the fabric of American life. With or without a "prior" history, Americans wrote about the events of their day; the Puritans especialy were well aware that they were living in a historically important time period.

If the Americans of Cooper's time weren't interested in writing about their lives or history, they had the Native Americans and other peoples in which to draw inspiration from. The Native Americans themselves passed on their histories and stories through the oral tradition, and if Americans were really "short" on material, they could look to the Native Americans to supply them with a wealth of fascinating and important topics on which to write.

Last but not least, there is the human imagination. If there were no history or other cultures to write about, one could simply make up something. This is how fiction is created. There is no limitation on the human mind and the possibilities for stories, myths, and legends are endless. Write a poem, write newspaper articles, write recipes, write something! Cooper complained there was no satire, drama, or romance to comment on. Then make up a satire, drama, or love story! In other words, use your brain.