What is a society?
Society - some definitions we found:
1) the aggregate of people living together in a more or less ordered community.
2) a community, nation, or broad grouping of people having common traditions, institutions, and collective activities and interests.
3) a voluntary association of individuals for common ends, especially : an organized group working together or periodically meeting because of common interests, beliefs, or profession.
4) an enduring and cooperating social group whose members have developed organized patterns of relationships through interaction with one another.
5) a part of a community that is a unit distinguishable by particular aims or standards of living or conduct.
6) a social circle or a group of social circles having a clearly marked identity.
These definitions have interesting themes; community, common interests, clear identity, particular aims, voluntary association, etc.
Does this sound like the America we live in? With which society(ies) do you align yourself? Is your American identity paramount or do you value a more local identity above that? This identity could be your state, town, race, religion, sexual orientation or some other factor? Which society is most important to you?
When a politician references “American Society” or “The American People”, I wonder what they are talking about? I don’t see a community, common interests, a clear identity or voluntary association. It seems to me that many people value their more local societies over their American society.
I make no judgment about whether this is “right or wrong”. Are we one nation or, more likely, many smaller diverse societies who can, when called upon, put aside our differences to defend our collective freedoms? If so, then I wonder why so many localized societies seem bent upon centralizing authority. Devolve power to more local levels so these local societies can govern themselves to the greatest extent possible.
For me, it’s all about figuring out how best to “get along”, while sustaining the community and liberating people to think, create and express themsilves. When we centralize power there is inevitably the sensation that someone else is trying to “shove their beliefs down our throats”. Perhaps, its time we acknowledge our reality and adjust our society accordingly. Is more power at state and local levels, or even a “looser” federation of sovereign states, in order? Would this help create a more free, less tense environment?
Thoughts…