U.S. Individualism:
"Oh, look at this person! What an Individual! They made history! Amazing! Individualism is great!"
"(But they died an unknown penniless pauper...)"
"Oh, how sad! We will strive better to understand the power of Invividuals in the future! Oh! Look at that other great Innovator! He's an individual! Amazing! The system works!"
"(But... He was a big jerk who stole uncredited and uncompensated ideas from others and repressed people to gain wealth and glory.)"
"Never mind! He was a genius! An Individual! Go Individualism!"
"Ok, but the homeless black woman you met on the street today. She was an individual once, who tried to succeed, but every time, from childhood, she was beaten down, even by her own parents, her teachers, all employers who would take her. Like any human would under the circumstances, she broke when she saw how rigged the collective game was. She used her individualism to chose to give up and live on the street rather than face the heartbreak of one more unjust setback."
"Oh. Well, she's a mooch. A leech on a society of Individuals™ like me (not a collective AT ALL!) She should have tried harder! Individualism only applies to those who do what we dictate: Work hard. Be male. Be white. Be educated. Be abled. Above all, BE NORMAL. Play by the collective rules set by collective Individuals who have succeeded before. If you cannot do this, you have not earned the right to be an individual. You have not earned the right to be human."
Published on March 21, 2015 02:14