Individualism in America
According to the Oxford dictionary, individualism is “the habit or principle of being independent and self- reliant” and Poranaee Natadecha-Sponsel puts it all in context in her essay “The Young, the Rich, and the Famous: Individualism as an American Cultural Value”: “Individualism as one of the dominant values in American culture is expressed in many ways. This value probably sterns from the history of the society as a frontier colony of immigrants in search of a better life with independence, freedom, and the opportunity for advancement through personal achievement.” It is embedded in the country’s constitution, a document inspired by the principles of the Enlightenment, which encourages and respects individual rights and liberties and born from the noblest hopes of a few to make America a model society.
Individualism as value is inoculated form a young age. Natadecha gives an example of an American family. When a kid falls, he will cry and then learn how to stand up, back on his tiny feats alone. It is a metaphor for the whole concept of the life of one individual: one needs to learn how to care of its self, without seeking or expecting help from anybody out there. “You make your own luck” how the expression says it. Although it may seem as a cold approach in many cultures, this can build up a healthy character. A second lesson comes later on and Natadecha helps here with the positive example of the “affluent American couple’s” kids, despite being so young they have age appropriate jobs like babysitting and delivering the morning newspaper. They learn how to handle life and its responsibilities.
One of the bad examples and the direct result individualism is the egoism of the healthcare system. In the matter of national security and defense: every citizen contributes thru the taxes they pay but it is for the benefit of all as a nation. When it comes to the healthcare, the story changes and each is expected to flip their own...