On Individualism
May. 10th, 2016 09:07 pmA friend of mine said that when she went to Argentina, it felt like home. When I asked why, she said that one reason was that everyone moved their hands a lot when they talked. She does this also (though not as much), but that embarrasses her mother who wants her to sit on her hands. So it was kind of exhiliarating for her to see that.
Another reason is that Argentinians are not into individualism as much as we are. So they have extended families and they are more community-minded. And she feels that America's love of individualism leaves people to have to do things by themselves, and when they fail, they get blamed for not trying hard enough.
I had never thought of that before. But I've definitely heard of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. And of people not realizing that some people are living life on a much easier game setting than others.
As for me, I am a huge fan of individualism (for myself). I do get to live life on almost the easiest setting possible, so I don't have any problems associated with that (unloving parents, racism, sexism, serious health problems, etc.).
And I love that I get to live my life the way I want to. I mean an extended family sounds fine, but it would be my family. Much as I love my family, and I do love them all greatly, I prefer my current living situation.
Also, I don't want kids, and I don't have to have them. In an extended family, of course my nieces would be running around all the time.
And I don't have to go to church (or synagogue). And my lover can be the gender I want. And we can move away from our home towns (I much prefer Austin to Chicago except possibly in August). And if I want a low-stress job even though it's low-paying and low-status, that mostly affects just me. And all kinds of stuff like that.
Yet though the U.S. still has an individualistic mentality, now it is being tied to the idea that everyone should be the same anyway. The far right wing sure wishes that everyone should be sticking to the gender assigned to them at birth, waiting for sex until marriage, marrying someone of the opposite sex, having kids with them, not having abortions, attending church, not getting divorced, and not getting on welfare or needing food stamps.
Yes, in a perfect world where everyone wanted that, and where there were no fetal problems or rape, etc., this would probably be nice. But not everyone wants that. Even people who do want that sometimes change their minds about part of it as they go through life. So that is not what the U.S. is supposed to be about! We are supposed to be multi-cultural! And live-and-let-live!
Semi-related Quote of the Day
R - It's so annoying when people want everyone to be just like what they changed into. [Example: some people who no longer smoke]
D - That's still better than when people want everyone to be just like they wish they were, but they're not, and they feel guilty, so they take it out on everyone else. [Example: some closet gay people]
Other Quote of the Day
D (after Cruz dropped out of the primaries) - The good news is Ted Cruz won't be president.
**
D (later) - I'm now thinking that if Trump becomes President, he will quickly get angry about Congress not doing everything exactly how he wants and he will stomp his feet and resign. (And try to sue them all.) So maybe he wouldn't be so bad after all. It depends who he picks for vice president.
Looks like he's picked Ted Cruz. Okay, nevermind.
Another reason is that Argentinians are not into individualism as much as we are. So they have extended families and they are more community-minded. And she feels that America's love of individualism leaves people to have to do things by themselves, and when they fail, they get blamed for not trying hard enough.
I had never thought of that before. But I've definitely heard of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. And of people not realizing that some people are living life on a much easier game setting than others.
As for me, I am a huge fan of individualism (for myself). I do get to live life on almost the easiest setting possible, so I don't have any problems associated with that (unloving parents, racism, sexism, serious health problems, etc.).
And I love that I get to live my life the way I want to. I mean an extended family sounds fine, but it would be my family. Much as I love my family, and I do love them all greatly, I prefer my current living situation.
Also, I don't want kids, and I don't have to have them. In an extended family, of course my nieces would be running around all the time.
And I don't have to go to church (or synagogue). And my lover can be the gender I want. And we can move away from our home towns (I much prefer Austin to Chicago except possibly in August). And if I want a low-stress job even though it's low-paying and low-status, that mostly affects just me. And all kinds of stuff like that.
Yet though the U.S. still has an individualistic mentality, now it is being tied to the idea that everyone should be the same anyway. The far right wing sure wishes that everyone should be sticking to the gender assigned to them at birth, waiting for sex until marriage, marrying someone of the opposite sex, having kids with them, not having abortions, attending church, not getting divorced, and not getting on welfare or needing food stamps.
Yes, in a perfect world where everyone wanted that, and where there were no fetal problems or rape, etc., this would probably be nice. But not everyone wants that. Even people who do want that sometimes change their minds about part of it as they go through life. So that is not what the U.S. is supposed to be about! We are supposed to be multi-cultural! And live-and-let-live!
Semi-related Quote of the Day
R - It's so annoying when people want everyone to be just like what they changed into. [Example: some people who no longer smoke]
D - That's still better than when people want everyone to be just like they wish they were, but they're not, and they feel guilty, so they take it out on everyone else. [Example: some closet gay people]
Other Quote of the Day
D (after Cruz dropped out of the primaries) - The good news is Ted Cruz won't be president.
**
D (later) - I'm now thinking that if Trump becomes President, he will quickly get angry about Congress not doing everything exactly how he wants and he will stomp his feet and resign. (And try to sue them all.) So maybe he wouldn't be so bad after all. It depends who he picks for vice president.
Looks like he's picked Ted Cruz. Okay, nevermind.