Independence Day is certainly more about one country's declaration of separation than the need of an individual to assert autonomy. Yet, weren't our founding fathers inherently psychological beings? Basically they became sick and tired of being told what to do, who/what they could worship, and how much they had to pay for tea. While our dear TJ used lofty words to convey our nation's disgruntled state, maybe he just wanted someone to leave him alone so he could keep track of the daily temperature in peace. Like in this photo, he seems to be saying "hey, bossy British dude, just chill, ok?"
Not that any ideal remains perfect when taken to the extreme. The American "have it your way" approach has led to a great deal of advertising to small impressionable and increasingly blimp-ifying children, for example. Europe, and I didn't know this, Quebec, have laws prohibiting marketing aimed at children under 12/13-ish. The teenage years, apparently, being the age when individuals become able to make wise decisions for themselves. (ER...)
But I don't need to pontificate on diet and advertising: this guy does it really well. I was intending to pontificate on what occurs when an ideal is taken to its limit. In the U.S. we seem to be playing the individualism experiment out with consequences like social alienation, violence, self-control problems, etc (on a lighter note, the development of a hilarious new term, spatial empathy).
In contrast, China has its own experiment going, more along the lines of "tell the naked emperor he has beautiful clothes and don't forget that Mao is watching". When I visited China I could feel the psychological oppression. For me, its most irritating form was being followed to the restroom by my well-meaning hosts, but still. In Italy the ideal of beautiful food seems like one of the extremes - not a bad way to go, especially if another national ideal is spectacularly corrupt government. (Our driver from the airport said, in all seriousness, that as soon as Berlusconi steps down from power, he will be arrested, which might look something like this).
So as I was saying (!!), the vampire extreme is living forever and developing a nice strong sense of identity. I really like the Cullens' dedication to becoming ever more learned and also, very wealthy. If I had infinite time on this planet I would become fluent in Italian but also Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and German. I would develop my voice further and learn how to do something complicated like grow orchids. I would learn how to paint with oil.
And the best part is...that despite everything, I live in a country where I can do all those things if I want. Ultimately, freedom maybe is the most important ideal, because without it, you are stuck in whatever situation some other person or goofy governing body determines for you. Good job, founding parental units. Or as they say in vampire-land, Happy Goo Day!
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