Individualism and Community in America

While the generally accepted myth of American culture has been one of rugged and isolated individualism and materialistic accumulation, throughout American history there has been a clear and parallel tradition which has instead defined the concept of individualism as reflecting the dignity and empowerment of the individual within the American community and which has been anti- materialistic in its focus. The latter tradition has been reflected in the countless attempts at community building in the United States, especially the community movements of the 1960s, which were fueled by the movements for civil rights, womens rights, and the identity movements of that period. East Wind Community is a successful example of that fusion of individualism and community within the context of an intentional community.