It's funny, I just read Ayn Rand's Anthem, which (if you haven't read it) is a philosophical novella about a futuristic/post-apocalyptic society that adheres to stricts rules and guidlines to avoid the sense of "self." In fact, the overall resolution of the story is the protagonist learning the word "I."

This concept of society vs' individuality is nothing new to philosophy, and there are many arguments for both sides. All with their good points. If you want to take an individualistic stance, I highly recomend works by Nietzsche, Camus, Sartre, Rand, and etc. I somewhat teeter on the ideas myself . . . although I often consider myself an absurdist and an existentialist, I also see the benefits of strict militant control. There are times when a society can be far too destructive or apathetic when it comes to the overall struggle . . . But when that happens, it's hard to see which is really to blame: society, or individuality?