Individuality

At our last meeting eight of us gathered together to discuss individuality. In our culture we admire those who resist the influence of others, take risks and overcome the fear of rejection. We like to think ourselves to be individualistic but it was asserted that people are 98% alike and our personal choices can only be made within a social confine. No one is wholly autonomous.

For most of us, no other institution has a greater affect than school, the most direct link between citizen and state. Critiquing our education system some felt that we now focus too much on basic, marketable skills to the neglect of the arts. Poorly trained teachers squeeze the individuality out of the "worker bees" to be. Our failure to prioritize multi-lingualism is a telling example of the American mindset.

As we surveyed the spectrum of societies and their schools we took note of the trade off between high education rates and conformity. Looking out over regions from Asia, Europe and comparing cities such as Philadelphia to Appalachian Kentucky it seemed that education must have a dampening affect on individuality. Some in our group emerged perhaps envious of the uncouth rustic, supremely free to be himself.

Many reminisced about the '70s and expressed the modern lament that individuality is on the wane. Some fear that the academic/military/corporate complex has successfully conspired to ensure a compliant and interchangeable human pool.

Next time we plan to change the topic. As we are a political discussion group it is impossible for us to ignore the recent election and its implications. A small and pivotal shift is redirecting history's course and we'll want to examine the possibilities. So join, Sunday, November 19th, 3 PM at the City Café as review the election of 2006.