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Leadership in society
Individualism and its effect on society
Individualism and society essays
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Power in Numbers: The Individual Versus the Community When it comes to sports, such as Football, American fanatics have a tendency to idolize a particular player rather than spreading the affinity equally amongst all of the team’s players. Although the player is individually adored, one skilled football player does not make a good team. If an individual is always focusing on making themselves better, there is no guarantee that when the team comes together, their self-centered mindset will adjust to working as a team. However, when a team practices together, not only does the team, as a whole, benefit but the individual improves as well. It does not matter if the community is a sports team, a religious group, or American society, communities give their members opportunities they would …show more content…
As well as explaining the possible risks, Brunk underlines the importance of why they must happen, by using a personal quotes from textbook contributor, Dean Barnlund (xviii). Overall, the point of Brunk’s article is to highlight the importance of solidifying and developing individual beliefs while also listening and experiencing other perspectives. Although Brunk’s piece focuses on the power behind individual’s first language, the article “Community, Commitment, and Individuality” written by Sociologist Robert Bellah, argues the necessity for the community’s second language. Bellah’s controversial viewpoints argued that an individual cannot prevail by one’s own self-making. By using Christian businessman, Les Newman’s narrative, Bellah reveals the repercussions associated with the egotistical tendencies of individualism (65). Even though this article praises communities over the individual, Bellah discloses the risks of conflict that may arise from socialization with authoritarian groups. But, when it comes to communities, Americans have the right to choose whether to join or abstain; however, life within a community offers
Warren St.John reports on the story of one woman who impacted her community in more ways than she probably realized. Luma Mufleh is a young woman originally from Jordan, who came to America for college and moved to Clarkston, Georgia. As a lover of soccer, she worked at the YMCA until she met a group of boys who showed more passion for the sport than anyone she had ever coached before. These kids were the refugees whose families had to move to America to escape wars in their homelands. They were looking for better place to live and economic opportunities. These kids and their families were caught somewhere between the cultures of their native homes and the new ways of life that was presented by America. Luma noticed the natural talent in all of these kids. She noticed the love for the game of soccer in these kids. She made a team called the Fugees. Fugees came from the refugees. Luma trained the kids with the strict discipline like mandatory practice, cardio and tough attitude. She told if someone misses more two game sessions you are off the team (St.John 109). On the field, Luma faced bigger challenges. “When Luma told kids to divide up into the groups for drills, they would instinctively divide themselves according to their ethnic backgrounds or common languages. In scrimmages, boys would overlook open teammates to pass their own kind. And each group, she learned, had its own prejudices toward others” (St.John 60).
Bishop asserts that the American people are, consciously and unconsciously, segregating themselves into like-minded communities and losing any variety of thought, along with healthy debates or challenged beliefs; by doing so, these homogenously-forming groups are driving majorly divisive wedges in between one another. The amount of polarization that we are witnessing today in both the American government and public alike can be largely attributed to this communal and lifestyle segregation and it has been for a long time, though unknown to the mass public. Bishop notes that this pattern of cultural and population sorting mostly began in the 1960s, during that volatile period of riots, unrest, and revolution. Many people were dissatisfied from the conformity of the 1950s and wanted something different ...
Individualism and conformity seem to be the exact opposites of each other, but what if being individual meant conforming to the way of everyone else, and what if conformity was the key to being apart of a community? In the essay by Andrea Fishman “Becoming Literate: A Lesson from the Amish” the author looks at the conformity in the Amish culture in regards to education. However, in the essay by Stuart Ewen “Chosen People” Ewen discusses how mainstream America prides itself on individualism. Both essays explore the complexity of being an individual in societies that thrive on conformity.
Many Americans have seen or at least heard of the movie “Remember the Titans.” The classic film focuses on a school that is blending black and whites and taking on an African American head coach. The coach knows the importance of winning, but also knows the team must work together to get those wins and have respect for every single person in the locker room. Although coach Boone was still put in a tough situation with the school board and the community, he was able to lead his team, with the help of a white assistant coach, to an undefeated season. The team coming together is exactly what America does with sports. Most everybody can come together and enjoy sporting events. By saying “everybody”, that includes all races: white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and so on. Sports are America’s past, present, and
In today’s world, we live in a society where we are subjected to follow rules, which are placed upon us by the society. Many people are faced with the dilemma of whether or not to follow the ideals of other people, or pursue their ideals and go against the prevailing conventions. In “Selections from Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer, the author talks about a man named McCandless who went into the Alaskan wilderness in order to find his true self. His journey was also to escape from the societal norms of society. A person who goes into the wilderness believes that they can live their life with brute simplicity. This gives them little to no time with the complicated problems of modern society. Likewise, in “Waiting for a Jew” by Jonathan Boyarin, the author talks about one’s aspiration to find their identity and purpose in the community. He conveys that religious places, like shul, allow an individual to develop a cross- cultural self. The desires and expectations placed upon us by the society shape our strategies of personal identity; therefore, instilling fears that cause us to identify in opposition to our prevailing conventions.
In “Habits Of The Heart” Bellah et al write that “they attempt to follow Tocqueville and call it individualism”. This they say is the first language in which Americans tend to think about their lives, values independence and self-reliance above all else (Viii). Americans separate work, family and community, when in fact, these worlds must be combined. We are hiding in such "lifestyle enclaves," our isolated existence limits our ability to relate ourselves to a broader community. The virtue of community interaction lies in its ability to provide meaning to the frustrating mechanisms of politics and combat the "inevitable loneliness of the separate self" (Bellah et. al., 190).
Within a community is a sense of unity, which for many is brought together by the young athletes of the community. In his article “High School Sports Have Turned Into Big Business,” Mark Koba of CNBC highlights that within the last thirty to forty years high school football has escalated into a highly revered tradition in which not only communities, but highly successful corporations have begun to dedicate millions of dollars towards (Koba n. pg.). This highlights the status of sports within the community and may explain part of the reason schools would favor sports over other programs. Because sports programs can often turn over big profits for schools, they tend to dedicate most of their excess funds towards sports, and rely on sports programs to create large profits for the school. When school administrators see how much sports unite, excite, and benefit the school, they develop a respect for sports and consider it a necessity to provide a good sports program for their students and community. Also in his article, Koba quotes an interviewee named Mark Conrad who is the associate professor of legal and ethical studies at Fordham University 's school of...
Participation in sports has proven to increase self-discipline and self-esteem, and can teach athletes to learn from their mistakes and move on (Issitt). Athletes playing team sports also develop the ability to work well with others and use teamwork in their everyday lives. Teammates form relationships that are strengthened over a common passion and goal. These relationships can last long after high school is over (Chen). These social skills translate into better communication used with an athlete’s family, peers, and in the community. Likewise, “A 2006 study in Maryland found that student athletes are 15 percent more likely than non athletes to be involved in their communities and to take the time for civic engagements, including participating in voting and volunteer activities” (Issitt). The same study also concluded that athletes are far more likely to be comfortable with public speaking than non-athletes. This study provides concrete evidence that high school sports can help to gain mental and social skills that will be used later in life
Lingis (1994) indicates that “One exposes oneself to the other-the stranger, the destitute one, the judge-not only with one’s insights and one’s ideas, that they may be contested, but one also exposes the nakedness of one’s eyes, one’s voice, and one’s silence, one’s empty hands” (p. 11). This “other community” comes into being when the stranger is exposed, having no common rational discourse with us. This stranger or intruder disrupts or intentions and makes us question our own cultural coding, “arresting one’s own intentions” during their encounter.
People’s lives are changed every day by their actions and experiences. This past summer, I participated in a community service project, an experience that opened my eyes in many ways. I was a volunteer at the County Memorial Hospital. In my time as a volunteer at the hospital, I was able to meet patients and staff members from all over the world and learn about their life experiences. Listening to all of their stories has made me truly appreciate everything which I have.
How would someone define the word community? A community could be anything. If one were to listen to an everyday conservation, the word community, would probably be used very little. The word community has multiple meanings, ranging from communist or socialistic society (Emerson) to the quality of appertaining to or being held by all in common (Oxford).
Commitment to community is a requirement for contemporary Americans and vital to its survival. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” is the unselfish act of sharing: from a cup of sugar to a wealth of information to the guardianship of all children involved and the protection of every individual in that said community. Whether that community consists of the “Classic Neighborhood, those with a common set of goals, or those who share a common identity” the thread that holds this matrix together is always woven into the shared identity as well as responsibility of all involved. (Redmond, 2010). A community cannot continue to exist through the will of withdrawn individuals who arms only embrace themselves and have no involvement whatsoever with neighbors one door away.
Community service has now grown to be a way of bringing a community together. There is something important about doing good for others. Every community wants the people within it to be disciplined and work for change. Community service becomes easily assessable for it is the one of the best ways to teach a sense concern and sympathy to other individuals. Participating in community service, allows children and adolescents to become aware of good values and morals. Implemented values such as humility, gratitude, trustworthiness, genuineness and respect are some of the most vital virtues that one can obtain from helping the community. The importance of community service ultimately relies on how the provider distinguishes it. The more time individuals give doing community labor, the more
According to Lorenzini and Giugni, (2010) negative consequences of unemployment, however, might be compensated or at least reduced if young people dispose of certain external resources. For example, the help of the family in supporting them financially might prove essential. Similarly, being in a relationship with a partner and having close friends with whom one can talk to might help overcoming the psychological distress caused by unemployment. “Social integration may increase the individual’s ability to cope in a way that reduces mental health symptoms and prevents social exclusion” (Hammer, 2000). Social integration is understood as having a network of family and friends, but also as having contacts with them. In
In conclusion, it is explicit that sports is a positive influence on athletes, spectators and the world as a whole as it teaches imperative life lessons as well as allows its participants to experience enjoyment, fulfilment and gratification. As mentioned previously sports enables its players to bring out the best in others and create unity amongst groups as team work is so essential. This highlights the views I have in conjunction with the views of Joe Humphrey.