Following a particular ideology can close the mind to new ideas; however it depends on which ideology it is and how much you let it affect you. In regards to certain political or religious views (example of the Westboro Baptist Church), I feel that it definitely closes new doors and spreads hatred, especially when it is taken into such an extreme context. The KKK held the ideology of white supremacy; this ideology refuses to allow any other race to be equivalent to the white race and spreads hatred from its people to everyone of color. Some nationalistic ideologies also close doors to new ideas and lead to hatred, I feel that any ideology that shares a thinking of "we are better than them" whoever "they" may be, leads to hatred. Most individualistic ideologies can lead to hatred if taken to an extreme, however it depends on how much the person is willing to let that ideology influence them.

However, like Celina said, there are also ideologies that allow for more open views and lead to a sense of belonging. A belief in multiculturalism leads to more open ideas being shared through different people all throughout the world, and a sense of equality among those people. The most recent example I’ve seen of an ideology bringing people together is the protests that are currently happening in Nigeria. This is a form of collectivism as the Nigerian people have joined together to cause a change and cause greater equality amongst all people in Nigeria by protesting against their government. The amazing thing about this form of collectivism is that it brought the Christian Nigerians and Muslim Nigerians together. The Nigerian population was heavily segregated religion wise, with the Muslim Nigerians and Christian Nigerians constantly starting wars, fights with each other and killing each other, all because of differences in religious beliefs. However the recent protests have brought the people together to stand against their government. The newspapers show pictures of Christian Nigerians and Muslim Nigerians protecting each other against the government’s army. This to me was the most amazing thing I’d seen during these revolutions the past couple of months. I have met many Nigerians throughout my life who’ve always shed a hatred for their fellow Nigerian due to this religious segregation, and to see them joining forces to cause a change for equality amongst them all. That, to me, was the greatest form of collectivism in action.

As far as ideologies shaping my identity, I cannot say that there is one ideology that has shaped my entire identity; I am a mix of individualistic but also collective ideologies.

I am a huge pacifist and believe there are better ways to end war, however I also believe that there comes a time when actions, not only words, will solve a conflict – usually the war of a government vs. its people. I believe in vegetarianism and a plant based diet due to animal rights, however I do not believe an animal’s life is equal to a human’s in worth. I sometimes view myself in the way Norman Finkelstein views himself, where he described himself as "an old-fashioned communist," in the sense that he sees no value whatsoever in states but instead one great worldly nation where we all have the same rights and standard of living. However, I also find myself believing in capitalistic endeavors of making your own wealth and owning your own private property and competition amongst people and businesses. There are many more examples of the ideologies I believe in, but they’re also ones I find I am contradicting myself when believing in them. There are only one or two ideologies I believe in whole heartedly. Every other ideology, I look at it and select what I agree with and fit into my frame of thought. I do not think allowing an ideology to completely mold you without your own input on the matter is smart and it often leads to close-mindedness when new ideas come into light. I am changing, the ideologies I held at 14 are not the same ideologies I hold now, and I highly doubt the ideologies I hold now will be the exact same ones that I hold when I’m 30.