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September 25, 2004
"Individualist Culture"
She Who Wears Red has a thought provoking post on the nature of Western culture, in particular our individualism.
I think it starts with the phrase, "all men are created equal."
It's a very simple idea with profound consequences. A literal interpretation is that society is immediately de-stratified. The master is legally no more a man than the apprentice. The priest has no more say politically than the parishoner. The infantryman can determine his commander-in-chief.
I realize it's over-simplified—and I do not want to broach to social, religious, political, or economic topics here (except as they apply to sexuality, particularly mine)—but bear with me.
I don't know if we have a national identity anymore as much as we have a nation of identities—and a lot of those are in crisis. We idolize individuals. We really believe Frank when we hear him sing "I did it my way." We love our restaurants because they tell us we can have it our way. Our iPods play our way. Our media, our entertainment, our history books highlight stories about the individuals who made a difference.
At any rate, I think it's culturally endemic that we look only to ourselves for what we think we need. And we internalize that we can trust no one. And that to be strong is to never need to ask for help, to never complain.
I have to say a lot of it is true for my own life. Your mileage may vary.
But I think it's why I have so many issues. I have a half-transplanted family. I am missing part of my personal history.
And I think in part that's why I am now going to support groups.
And why I'm going to learn who my father is.
It helps me feel connected. Otherwise... if I can't connect I'll go off the deep end.
But as to the secrets? We keep quiet what we do not want others to know. We are our own PR agents, managing public perception and spinning events and pimping circumstances.
I'll find out what you need to hear. And you will believe.
[+] Posted by Sinner, who was transgressing at the time (September 25, 2004 2:30 AM) by thinking evil. [+]
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Sorry there's so many of us, then :-)
JFK told the nation that we were special. We believed him. From then on, we equate that with special priviledge for the individual rather than the community. We are a group of individuals, you are right. Gone are the days where we all seemed to see ourselves as part of the bigger whole. Terrorism helps us see that, but then we think of the US as a priviledged individual over our foreign sisters.
I'm just rambling. I don't have the answers. Thanks for a thought provoking post.
I keep my real life completely secret, I really only trust myself. Very few people know me, I like it that way.