A conflict many people, especially those in my age group, face is the struggle between conforming to society’s standards or rebelling against them. There is a standard display of what a modern individual in America is. This display has been seen in films and literature over the past century. From the novel Shane written in the 1920’s to Fight Club, written in the 1990’s, the rebellious individual is well represented. Also, from Abraham Lincoln to John Lennon, individuals have been a significant part of American society. The sociological text Habits of the Heart (Bellah et al. 1996) presents a clear perspective on the pros and cons of a modern individual. This text is aided by the events of September 11th.