The Individual

  There does seem to be a one man/ one woman versus a group think divide within in our society between those who are willing to connect one particular human beings to their singular actions or set of actions and those who believe that the best way to view people is as members of a group, cohort or a part of a segment of society.

 The people who feel that we must think in terms of categories, groups, classes and cohorts in order to deal with problems that are held in common with large number of people are inclined to think in terms of societal justice and societal reform..When people problem solve problems in this way we are asked to consider race, sex, language, national origin and sexual orientation. People who think in terms of group membership tend to see this as a past way to address the way peoples within The US society have been neglected, discriminated against, belittled or mistreated.

This way of resolving injustice , inequities and struggle is measured by statistics. It is measured by history, " Look at the advantages that Your group has enjoyed at the expense of others. We now must act to make sure that all is done so that all are treated equally and all benefit fairly. Sometimes this mindset will inspire people to declare that for justice's sake we must reduce the comforts and advantages of members of one societal segment to make sure that others are not discriminated against.Shared suffering and shared sacrifice is a popular societal paradigm. Yet, People will point to the idea that some groups must be asked to give up and accept far more in the way of limitations than others in order for the concept to be acceptably equitable.

 People who focus on individuals believe that a just society and an intelligently caring society  will seek to say how well or poorly each individual within the society is living.  No one in any group believes the same things, works as hard or lives the exact same way that everyone that they have something or many things.Values, motivations, ethics, standards, satisfaction and joy are classical values  that have long been used to measure how people live. It tells us what motivates and impels people as separate individuals endowed with thinking capacity who possess free will.

  I do staunchly believe that the best way to change the world is by strategies that motivate, strengthen and empower separate and distinct men and women and separate people who have not yet reached the age of majority.We also then are able to specifically hold people accountable for how they choose to live and not live. It also allows us to provide the specific support that individuals need to achieve conditions that are beyond their ability to PRESENTLY overcome and get beyond!

One problem is that no one knows all and can see any and every possibility. We seek darkly and in shadows, as a classical writer recorded , because not all is visible to us, our awareness, no matter how hard we study and think is obvious to any of us. Yet, The best way, I believe, to help people is to invest in lives. The best way to know that we are being appropriate, consistent and the best possible observer, listener, analyst and respondent is by working with individuals as partners to help them to build a life that allows Peter or Maria to live life to the fullest that they have the potiential to live it!

- Johnny -