Over the past few weeks, I have been suggesting to you ideas I want to expound upon. I have been telling all of you to step up, be individuals, think for yourselves and refuse to be herded cattle. These directions, if not understood properly, could actually be quite damaging.
This is because these instructions touch upon an interesting dichotomy between the idea of individualism and community. In no place is this such a forefront issue as in the United States, a land known for its individualism.
Individualism can be perceived as a gift or a curse depending on the circumstance in which it transpires. Since contemporary society finds it imperative that people think independently, decide autonomously and take personal initiative, the impression of individualism has attained a positive association.
Nevertheless, individualism is also connected to the predisposition to vacate from social life and turn in toward oneself. When not understood properly, it becomes a dangerous evil. Individualism is no longer healthy, and in reality it becomes a form of narcissism, one in which there is a focused passion not in the idea of being an individual, which I will explain shortly, but in the idea of oneself. This malignant transition arises daily and in ways much easier than you might imagine.
For you see, proper individualism by definition is always in the context of others. The “no man is an island” principle is central to an accurate and working view of the individualism. Unfortunately, the framework of individualism in which most people function today is merely a manifestation.
Because of our distorted view of the word, we all feel as if things are done in isolation from others, but if we spend time thinking about our actions, it is easy to realize this is merely an illusion.
Let’s look at an effortless act like walking down the street. Who labored to make this street? Walking down the street, my clothes and supposedly unique sense of style give me confidence. Wait, who made the clothes and shoes I am wearing? Who taught me to read the street signs? Who placed them there? How did I even learn to walk? We are not just autonomous individuals in an ever-expanding world; everything we are is a result of someone else, whether it is love, hate or fear.
It seems like this sense of community is being attacked from all angles – MySpace, YouTube, My 101.7, My AOL, My Yahoo, etc. Instead of feeling like a part of a community on a networking site or like you, along with many others, are enjoying that new hit single, you feel as if it is tailored specifically for you and your enjoyment.
That then is why it is so easy for you and me to completely forget about others, especially the poor and needy in this country. They have no effect on us, right? “I’m not giving MY hard-earned money away to them; they should get a job!” And yet, in other European countries, poverty has been completely eradicated because of people “giving up” some of “their” money. Tragically, we feel no connection or responsibility toward them.
What a distorted view of individualism and freedom! Freedom is becoming the delusion of freedom, and that delusion is your prison. We are like a hive of bees that has no sense of direction. Our definition of individualism is hindering us as a whole, keeping us from progressing. In our quest for individualism, we have lost all sense of purpose and direction. We must return to our roots and realize our vitally strong connection to others. If we truly want to make a difference in this world, we must realize our choices and views affect others.
The simple truth is this: We do nothing in isolation. And this is where individualism goes wrong. In actuality, life itself pours into us and permits us to have the facade that it truly originates from us, but when we stop being cognizant of that fact (life pours into us, not out of us) and start taking the facade to be the authority, we put ourselves in an unfathomable peril.
It is imperative that we as an American society persist to acknowledge the truth about life in both mind and endeavor, lest we wish the utter dissolution of any kind of orderly society.
Julio Cespedes is a junior majoring in biological engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected].