My view is that we have veered too far away from the group and toward the individual—throwing culture out of balance in the process—more out of benign neglect than anything else. We’ve emphasized freedom of individual expression without also ensuring that the underpinnings of community are protected and strengthened. Now we need to recapture our investment in the collective elements that matter—our relationships, our community organizations, our neighborhoods, our social and cultural institutions—and we must do this while continuing to protect individual expression.
