I countered that "The Godfather," while hugely entertaining, kept alive destructive myths, and suggested "Donnie Brasco" as a compelling depiction of hard-luck mob life.

And for those who are living out destructive myths, some therapists are using insights into the myths at the heart of their patients' problems as a key to treatment.

'The other destructive myth in our lives is that sexual activity is natural, while sexual inactivity is not.'

Those words were taken out of context, she says; she had been listing the many destructive myths that circulate in Africa about the cause of the disease.

The concurrence of so many great performances, both offensive and defensive, gives lie to the most destructive myth about baseball: that expansion has thinned out talent.

But probably the most destructive myth is "it must have been something she did."

One was the monumental decision in Brown v. Board of Education - the nation celebrated its 40th anniversary this year - which attacked the destructive myth of separate but equal schools.

The destructive myth that women stab one another in the back becomes part of international politics.

We had thought these destructive historic myths, which have been a source of anti-Semitism for centuries, were a thing of the past.

Goldberg's comments about "The Godfather" could easily be used to describe his own article: while hugely entertaining, it kept alive destructive myths.