Individual responsibility and desire #2

Is it true that our society value social responsibility more than personal desire?

Cultural background imperceptibly effect personal desire. I live in China for thirteen years, under Communism and Confucianism influences. I was taught that social responsibility is more important than personal desire since I was young. Hence when it comes the two conflicted to each other. I am more likely to choose social responsibility over personal desire. Such as, I would choose to take care of my sisters instead of go out watch movie with friends. Even though I wished hang out with friends, but my moral instinct tells me that help parents out is more important than have fun by myself. Because of Confucianism taught me that filial to parents is one of my responsibilities. Although I am living in a Democracy country now, but Communism and Confucianism will still effect every decision I make.

           Even though in our society everyone should has responsibilities to his own life and others’, but people who are in lower social class are more expected to behave more responsibly, since they have less control and power to other’s life. For example in my family my parents give chores to my sister and me to take make us take responsibilities in our house. Such as clean the kitchen after dinner and feed our animals. Children listening to their parents partly because they have no power fight back, since their parents provide house, food, clothes for them. And young people doesn't have the ability to take care of themselves yet. Therefore they have to listen to adults order.

On the other hand, responsibility is also a way to show moral characteristic and respect for other people.

Social Responsibility and Individual Desire

         Everyone has social responsibilities and individual desire. Different people may have varies personal desires, but as they grow older they have more responsibility to the community as well. The relationship between social responsibilities and individual desire are like the question “Which appeared first an egg or chicken”? Some say, “An egg”; others say, “Chicken”. However we forgot about there is another possible answer “It depends on both”.

           Growing up is part of learning to take responsibilities. As we grow older parents start teaching us taking responsibilities such as giving house chores, taking care of younger siblings, and doing homework on time etc.

            At the same time, when we understand more knowledge, our desire starts to grow. For example, we think about jobs, interests in the future. And what we can do now to achieve those goals. This is when we get all tangled up sometimes, because every action we do effect our community as well.

            In school our history textbook, literature in English class, and news media all seemed to value that social responsibilities are more important than personal desire. Is that true in our society? Individual could build up social responsibility. Such as if I have the desire want to become a doctor, so now it’s my responsibility to do my homework on time, get good grade, and try my best to study in order to get in a good college. Another example would be in order to be a president you also have to take responsibility of the whole country. Therefore, the higher desire you have, the more responsibilities you have to take. They are dependent on each other.

            However, religion has big effect between responsibility and individual desire. When it comes to religion and individual desire, there is no choice for her/he to choose. Especially in a religious country, personal desire becomes so vulnerable. That’s because the whole community would go against it. It is dangerous to express individual desire. Such as in the Scarlet Letter, Hester stands up for her desire. In the result of against the religion belief she got punishment from the whole town. According to Hester’s experience she gave the message that personal desire is more important than social responsibility.