Independence is a big and important word in American history and culture. A noble concept in and of itself, it reaches far and deep into the country's mythology and its people's collective psyche. The U.S.'s independence as a nation is rooted in the rugged individualism among its citizens, a way of life that has been boosted by an unprecedented freedom from the constraints of nature and resources. From suburban McMansions to airplane commutes, there is a reason why the U.S. is advertised to immigrants like myself as the land of unlimited possibilities.

However, this perceived independence that is reinforced by material possessions and boundless mobility, is coming at an ever-increasing cost: The dependence on fossil fuels and all the problems associated with it. From fighting wars in oil rich countries, to epic oil spills, to the devastating effects of climate change, our ostensible emancipation from the constraints of nature that enabled us to create the illusion that we could go it alone is coming back to bite us.

This (re)post is part of a mini-blogathon leading up to Independence Day, organized by James Wells and dedicated to re-purposing this holiday by declaring independence from that which is unhealthy and wrong, whether in the environment or some other aspect of our lives.

Please allow me to wander past the "dependence vs. independence" paradigm and discuss a third and perhaps middle way of how we might live in balance with the earth's ecosystem, without losing our autonomy, free spirit, and creativity:

INTERdependence