This is http://www.essayz.com/a9802111.htm         
Previous-Essay      <== This-Essay ==>     Following-Essay
Click HERE on this line to find essays via Your-Key-Words.
{Most frequent wordstarts of each essay will be put here.}
==========================================================

           %EXTREMIST INDEPENDENCE IDEAL FAIL+980211      
 %PERVERTED PERSONAL COMMUNAL ALONE ALIENATED+980211      
                     %DISINTEGRATION EVIL SIN 980211      
                                                                                                                               
     Most ideals  become perverted when they are taken  to                                         
the   extreme   of  excluding  complementary  ideals  from                       
consideration.    It  is good for people to take  care  of                                                                    
themselves --- and not to depend in a  sickening  way upon    
others --- when they are competent to take reasonably good                                                               
care of themselves.   It is not good for people to idolize    
"independence"  to the point that people become unable  to                                                                    
accept needed help,  support and assistance ---  when they         
are  in real need.   The latter is pretentious,  dishonest                 
and often associated with arrogance.                                                                                           
                                                                                                                               
     In a "mirror image" way it is good for  people  to be      
willing to help each other.   It is not good for people to                                                               
idolize  the  image of the suffering servant to  the point                                                                     
that people  are  willing to sacrifice themselves  in  the    
service of addicts and arrogant dictatorial people --- who                                                
are dishonest manipulators of truths, power and people.                                             
                                                                                                                               
     When any  ideal  is  idolized  to  the  exclusion  of               
thoughtful  consideration of complementary ideals ---  the                                         
ideal becomes perverted and disintegrative;  an idol in an                                         
idolatry.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                               
                         (c) 2005 by Paul A. Smith in      
                    (On Being Yourself, Whole and Healthy)  
                                                                                                                               
==========================================================