> I really wish we could have the ubiquitous "care for others" mentality alongside the "be yourself" mentality
Agreed. I'm not even sure if it's possible for those to coexist, but it's wonderful to imagine - discover yourself and your place in the world while respecting others and recognizing that your actions can negatively affect them. The US has too little of the "care for others" mentality, as evidenced by the large number of individuals who do not believe in climate change and see environmentalism in general as useless government meddling.
They can, but it's a balancing act. One that is constantly under threat by advertisement and similar that push the self above all else.
I sometimes wonder if one need to experience real hardship for the idea to set in. To really experience the need for cooperation to get something done.
Agreed. I'm not even sure if it's possible for those to coexist, but it's wonderful to imagine - discover yourself and your place in the world while respecting others and recognizing that your actions can negatively affect them. The US has too little of the "care for others" mentality, as evidenced by the large number of individuals who do not believe in climate change and see environmentalism in general as useless government meddling.