The Cult of the individual.
"Individualism". A concept that is often idolized and worshipped in 'Merika, though I'm guessing definitions differ greatly from person to person.
I do, however, think individualism can have it's merits. However, this would require further elaboration on the term, as well as acknowledgement of the human as a social and/or pack animal (which perhaps seems contradictory).
I guess in my mind, there are certain responsibilities all individuals must strive towards if they want to practice a healthy and adult form of "individualism".
One of my more radical ideas in this area is that a healthy adult should be accountable for their actions and not blame external sources. If you choose to get a new hairdo, then find out you don't like it, you're the one to blame. Admittedly, if the stylist did a shitty job or it was physically painful, then I could see some justification for blame or anger. Having gotten a few bad haircuts, I have found that it's usually most productive to own my part of the "problem" (that I tried something new that didn't work out) and try to skip the anger part.
I guess one of the things that really bothers me / tends to have me slapping the label of "childish" on a person is if they chose to do something they don't want to (for whatever reason), end up being miserable about the choice they made, then still find a way to try and justify why it was the "right" decision. It's even worse if they end up taking out their frustration or anger towards others around them and/or develope a "victim" mentality.
I think this is something most of us do at some time or another, and is something I make a conscious effort to work on.
Along these lines, I feel individuals have a responsibility to not seek self gain if it means harm or loss to others. Conversely, as social creatures, when a person loses or fails, it has negative reprocussions to many others. When others are lifted up or given support, it betters the community and ourselves.
The cult of individualism will not work if it means neglecting others or a focus that is entirely based on selfish acquisition of wealth or status with little or no thought given to the impacts on others. Ignorance, of course, can cloud this. Greed, however, is perhaps one of (if not the worst) capacities of man kind. To completely isolate from the notion of bettering all is "pure" greed.
However, it is easy to get caught up in these thoughts and perhaps unfairly judge or attempt to force one's will on another while attempting to sit on a mountaintop. To achieve individualism, we have to allow others to be individuals as well. They have to be allowed to chose to do activities for whatever reasons they may see fit (rational or not). However, it is a truth that a singular human being is the only one that can make decisions for themselves. "But, so and so said I had to do this!" It is, regardless, the choice of the individual to do or not do whatever "this" was. I can choose to do anything I want. Start a business. Have sex. Create art. Kill someone. Anything. However, it requires effort to realize those choices, and each choice will have consequences.
Since most people probably wouldn't like to deal with the consequences of criminal activities, most people don't break the law. You always have the choice to break laws. You always have a choice to be a victim or to do something about it. May the consequences be difficult? Sure. Most people don't like the prospect of death, arrest, or pain.
So, what about those situations where you MIGHT hurt someone's feelings or MIGHT cause discomfort? Well, you can only be responsible for your own actions. If you sincerely don't want anything to do with someone's bar mitzvah, you can politely decline and see if they do or do not understand. If it was someone you really cared about, it may be worth going ahead and doing for the potential benefits of further solidifying a relationship, in hope of such sentiments being returned, or so that you don't piss off your mother. However, if you do submit yourself regularly to things you have no desire to be involved in and that have no discernable positive outcomes, where does the gain come in?
But, I'm beginning to ramble. I need to go write a letter.
I do, however, think individualism can have it's merits. However, this would require further elaboration on the term, as well as acknowledgement of the human as a social and/or pack animal (which perhaps seems contradictory).
I guess in my mind, there are certain responsibilities all individuals must strive towards if they want to practice a healthy and adult form of "individualism".
One of my more radical ideas in this area is that a healthy adult should be accountable for their actions and not blame external sources. If you choose to get a new hairdo, then find out you don't like it, you're the one to blame. Admittedly, if the stylist did a shitty job or it was physically painful, then I could see some justification for blame or anger. Having gotten a few bad haircuts, I have found that it's usually most productive to own my part of the "problem" (that I tried something new that didn't work out) and try to skip the anger part.
I guess one of the things that really bothers me / tends to have me slapping the label of "childish" on a person is if they chose to do something they don't want to (for whatever reason), end up being miserable about the choice they made, then still find a way to try and justify why it was the "right" decision. It's even worse if they end up taking out their frustration or anger towards others around them and/or develope a "victim" mentality.
I think this is something most of us do at some time or another, and is something I make a conscious effort to work on.
Along these lines, I feel individuals have a responsibility to not seek self gain if it means harm or loss to others. Conversely, as social creatures, when a person loses or fails, it has negative reprocussions to many others. When others are lifted up or given support, it betters the community and ourselves.
The cult of individualism will not work if it means neglecting others or a focus that is entirely based on selfish acquisition of wealth or status with little or no thought given to the impacts on others. Ignorance, of course, can cloud this. Greed, however, is perhaps one of (if not the worst) capacities of man kind. To completely isolate from the notion of bettering all is "pure" greed.
However, it is easy to get caught up in these thoughts and perhaps unfairly judge or attempt to force one's will on another while attempting to sit on a mountaintop. To achieve individualism, we have to allow others to be individuals as well. They have to be allowed to chose to do activities for whatever reasons they may see fit (rational or not). However, it is a truth that a singular human being is the only one that can make decisions for themselves. "But, so and so said I had to do this!" It is, regardless, the choice of the individual to do or not do whatever "this" was. I can choose to do anything I want. Start a business. Have sex. Create art. Kill someone. Anything. However, it requires effort to realize those choices, and each choice will have consequences.
Since most people probably wouldn't like to deal with the consequences of criminal activities, most people don't break the law. You always have the choice to break laws. You always have a choice to be a victim or to do something about it. May the consequences be difficult? Sure. Most people don't like the prospect of death, arrest, or pain.
So, what about those situations where you MIGHT hurt someone's feelings or MIGHT cause discomfort? Well, you can only be responsible for your own actions. If you sincerely don't want anything to do with someone's bar mitzvah, you can politely decline and see if they do or do not understand. If it was someone you really cared about, it may be worth going ahead and doing for the potential benefits of further solidifying a relationship, in hope of such sentiments being returned, or so that you don't piss off your mother. However, if you do submit yourself regularly to things you have no desire to be involved in and that have no discernable positive outcomes, where does the gain come in?
But, I'm beginning to ramble. I need to go write a letter.