TSA Tit for Tat Landed Woman in the Bosom of Trouble

To add; one of the most notable and earliest perversions of Emersonian Individualism was Reebok's U.B.U. ("You be You") campaign. The commercials depict people performing all kinds of activities while quotes from Emerson's "Self-Reliance" are read aloud and ends with the slogan "Reebok let's U.B.U."

Of course this is obviously a contradiction of Emerson's philosophy. Aline Brosh wrote an article for The Harvard Crimson titled "Stomping on Individualism" in which she wrote:

"The postmodern randomness of the the quintessential American philosopher, Reebok is trying to address not only our need to buy any particular brand of ads is meant to stress individuality and uniqueness, as does Emerson's philosophy. But the ads distort that philosophy by implying that Emersonian self reliance can be found in, of all things, sneakers."

She sums it all up as a particularly successful trend in marketing and a bad omen for the American "Individual":

"What is ominous is that Reebok ads are remarkably successful at achieving what all advertising attempts to do, namely associating a product with an identity. It's the old ploy--eat Wheaties and you'll be as bouncy and healthy as Mary Lou Retton--but it has an added twist. The U.B.U. ad campaigns refers not just to appearance or to health or to product quality. It refers to how we see ourselves as Americans."

Sources:
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1988/10/11/stomping-on-individualism-pbrbeeboks-are-just/
Reebok Commercial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hslN0C8GGaA

Reminds me of Thomas Hobbes De Corpore Politico (The Body Politic). He basically argues that when entering into a body politic, such as the United States of America, you subjugate your inalienable rights to the political forces. That is to say if you are going to be a member of a country you have to abide by that countries laws and processes or GTFO. In the USA you can vote, protest and do a number of things that people in less democratic nations can do. But media mavens and public relations bandits are good at stirring up the right kind of emotions (propaganda) to advance their ideological views. Not only are they good at propaganda, the vast majority of Americans are media illiterate and self-deceived. A kind of perversion of 'American Transcendentalist' ideals - Emerson's "Individual" became an egotist and not the lofty ideal he shared with Thoreau.

Just to give an idea of how far away the American Individual is from Emerson and his compatriots:

"'individualism is a word recently coined to express a new idea. Our fathers only knew about egoism." - Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

"The history of humanity [is] the record of a grand march...at all times tending to one point--the ultimate perfection of man. The course of civilization is the progress of man from a state of savage individualism to that of an individualism more elevated, moral and refined." - "The Course of Civilization." Democratic Review (1839)

"Democracy, freedom, has its roots in the sacred truth that every man hath in him the divine Reason, or that... all men are created capable of so doing. That is the equality and the only equality of all men. To this truth we look when we say, Reverence thyself; Be true to thyself." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, Journal Entry, 1833

"Whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist. He who would gather immortal palms must not be hindered by the name of goodness, but must explore if it be goodness." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Self-Reliance" (Norton, p. 1165)

The most intimate patdown I've ever experienced was not in the USA, but at Heathrow Airport. So much for America-bashing.

I don't give a damn about "US citizens being treated like criminals". That's their government and their TSA who do that, get your courage and fight it properly.

I start complaining when those stupid methods are imposed abroad, an they are. We cannot do anything, just say "screw USA" and travel elsewhere.