Individualism & Community In America

1162 Words5 Pages
Individualism & Community Everything changes; this is a basic law of the world we reside in. Given time everything in life will change in some way or another, whether good or bad it can be sure, it will happen. The role of communities and the individuals they consist of are no exception to this truth. Specifically, the extent to which individuals pursue self-serving interests in comparison with their efforts to interact with and benefit associated communities will also change and evolve. This evolution ultimately alters the dynamics of interactions between individuals and their communities on a national scale even though it may take a significant amount of time for it to become evident. Given that civilization has existed for thousands of years and that its societies have continuously and successfully evolved to the point of modern day civilization, it can be logically inferred that in spite of numerous historical shifts in behavioral and sociological patterns, the concepts of individualism and community have mutually endured and will continue to indefinitely, short of nuclear holocaust. This is not to say that all changes have been beneficial to society as Bellah et al. is so eager to point out, but in the same light it would be unfair to say they have all been destructive as well. As is the nature of evolution, it is quite apparent that as a species we have continually adapted and advanced throughout the years, which gives rise to the notion that the relationship between individualism and community is quite resilient and can withstand indefinitely a dramatic shift in sociological behaviors one way or the other. Quoting Parker Palmer, “In a healthy society the private and the public are not mutually exclusive, not in competition with each other. They are, instead, two halves of a whole, two poles of a paradox. They work together
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