together we can.

"Collectivism requires self-sacrifice, the subordination of one's interests to those of others." -- Ayn Rand

"Collectivism ... treats society as if it were a super-organism existing over and above its individual members, and which takes the collective in some form (e.g., tribe, race, or state) to be the primary unit of reality and standard of value." -- Prof. Fred D. Miller

i've realized that on a scale of 0 - 10, i rate myself as an 8.5 in favor of collectivism vs. individualism. i was just raised that way.... my family is so utterly collectivist that my brother once explained that we have a communal parenting style where if an aunt knows you're going somewhere it can be assumed the message will be relayed to your mother... haha. and when they advertise a chinese cabbage sale at H-Mart in the morning paper, you best believe that my momma gonna run over within the hour; smells of kimchi will be wafting from our kitchen within the day; and jars full of fermented goodness will be dispersed to the various households existing within the 5 mile radius that is the boundary of my extended family.

living with people has made me notice and evaluate the disparity that exists between others perspectives and mine. for me, if you can gain anything from some sort of sacrifice that i can make, then i am more than willing to make it. i care about the harmony of the whole more so than the efforts i have to keep in order to maintain that harmony. for instance, if i'm going to buy something at the market, i'm going to buy it to supply everyone. and if you need me to do something for you that will lose 10 minutes of my time but win you 5... then i will do it for you.

some would say that i am a "people pleaser"... in my defense, it makes me happy to see you happy, as long as it doesn't make me too sad. then we can all be somewhat happy together! as a collective! ....and it has nothing to do with being kind, or gracious, or a good person. because, i must admit i can be something of a crazed bratalicious monster when i'm feeling selfish. oh truuust that i know how to put myself first sometimes. but collectivism.. it just has to do with efficiency, mindfulness, and really, the golden rule.

[of course, this is not to say that i am placing any kind of value judgment on people who lean more towards the individualistic side of the rainbow. i am merely stating that everyone is different and am suggesting that we all have to be sensitive and tolerant (better yet, forgiving) about each person's point of view and learn to live, love, and work with each's differing value systems]