The divide between individualism and
communitarianism flashed to the surface last week during the
presidential campaign. It came about after President Obama rather famously
told a Virginia audience. ”If you were successful,
somebody along the line gave you some help. There was a great teacher somewhere in your life.
Somebody helped to create this
unbelievable American system that we have that allowed you to thrive. Somebody invested in roads and
bridges. If you’ve got a business. you
didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen. The Internet didn’t get invented on its own.
Government research created the Internet so that all the companies could make money off the
Internet.”
This may sound like an esoteric
question, but it really gets at the heart of the discussion now going on within
the presidential campaign. Communitarianism or individualism? Where do you fall?
Texas Faith is a weekly column at Dallas Morning News managed by Editors William McKenzie and Wayne Slater, the material is contributed by several panelists, for all responses please visit http://religionblog.dallasnews.com/2012/07/texas-faith-communitarianism-or-individualism-where-do-you-fall.html/
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas
MIKE GHOUSE, President, Foundation for Pluralism, Dallas
From the moment one is born to the
moment life ends, a normal human being cannot survive without nurturing. He
cannot birth himself or bury himself. There is always another human to be a
part of the support system from birth to death.
We are indeed
an individual strand in the web of the community. Whatever affects the web
affect us (Chief Seattle), and vice versa. Global warming, mad cow disease and
other issues are communitarian in nature, but driven by individuals in both
directions.
Everyone’s
psyche or conscience is a product of one’s environment, and our morality is a
necessity of co-existence.
Strict
individualism works well, as long as one is capable of taking care of one’s
self. However, no individual is free from vulnerability of accidents, diseases,
wars and old age. We are dependent on others to produce or consume.
Religions have
contributed greatly towards building the communitarian life where the
invincible (lol) and vulnerable both can live his or her life to the fullest
extent possible.
Indeed
morality is the insurance for the safety of individuals in a community.
Where do I
fall?
There is a
balance to be maintained in life. Justice is the core value and basis for the
success of any given society, without which no society can maintain its social,
moral and economic equilibrium.
One can get
away with murder or taking advantage of others. But that creates an imbalance
and rots the society with insecurity. It also puts the responsibility back on
individuals to restore that elusive and dynamic balance.
Individualism
and communitarianism can be best understood by looking at the extreme
ideologies: responsible capitalism and communism. Individuals have the burning
desire to excel and to do well, and capitalism becomes a catalyst for the
prosperity of individuals that directly benefits the society, through
incentives to the individuals, where as communism restricts growth through
forced equality. As capitalists we need to think about our own safety in the
long haul caused by inequalities.
If freedom and
justice are the core values of a given society, we need not worry about
communitarianism or individualism. Both complement each other.
_ _ _
Please mark your calendar for
Tuesday 9/11/2012, it's a big event in Dallas- details at www.UnitydayUSA.com
No American has to live in
apprehension or fear of the other. There are solutions, here is a trailer of
the movie in making: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMXsTo4VYh8&feature=youtu.be
Mike Ghouse is committed to building a Cohesive America and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day. He is a professional speaker, thinker and a writer on pluralism, politics, civic affairs, Islam, India, Israel, peace and justice. Mike is a frequent guest on Sean Hannity show on Fox TV, and a commentator on national radio networks, he contributes weekly to the Texas Faith Column at Dallas Morning News and regularly at Huffington post, and several other periodicals across the world. The blog www.TheGhousediary.comis updated daily.
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