Walt Whitman was born on May 31, 1819 in Long Island, New York. He was an American poet, journalist, essayist, and humanist. He was part of the changeover from transcendentalism to realism. He was often called the “Father of free verse” with his influential poems and especially the critically acclaimed “Leaves of Grass.” He worked in the Civil War as a voluntary nurse and was a teacher and journalist throughout his life. Towards the end of his life, his health began diminishing as he had a stroke and later died on March 26, 1892. He was 72 years old. His sexuality was often discussed throughout his time writing poetry. People debated either if he was a homosexual or bisexual. But disagreement overcame biographers. Whitman started getting concern with politics later in his life, like slavery and government, which is why “Leaves of Grass,” especially the chapter, “Song of Myself,” was so popular.
One of the main issues in “Song of Myself” is democracy and how democracy will fail if all individuals are not treated equally. Bo Rothstein says in his article, Creating Political Legitimacy: Electoral Democracy Versus Quality of Government, electoral democracy does not legitimize a government, even if trying to strive for an equal, people-ruled government like democracy. An electoral democracy does not give the people the right hearsay to want they want in office or laws that should be passed. Citizens feel that with the government having electoral votes, their votes do not matter (Rothstein, 311-330). This goes against the idea of what Whitman is trying to say in “Song of Myself.” Whitman thinks that if all individuals are treated equal with equal rights, then a democracy that is formed will strive to success. But that is if individuals are equal with rights. Electoral democracy is none of that. It is the total opposite. This can also be coded for the abolition of slavery, as he wants all individuals to be equal, including blacks. If this type of government keeps going forward, the citizens, feeling like minorities, will rebel against the government and then can probably result in guerrilla warfare.
Works Cited
http://www.biography.com/articles/Walt-Whitman-9530126
Rothstein, Bo "Creating Political Legitimacy: Electoral Democracy Versus Quality of Government." American Behavioral Scientist 53.3 (2009): 311-330. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 2 Dec. 2009.
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But is Equal the same thing as fair. The problem with equality is that there is no context to it. It is open to interpenetration and since everyone's interpretations is different is the same rights that are given to say African American all equal to all African Americans in different situations.
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Chris. Equality becomes circumstantial and dependent on each individual's interpretation. I also agree with "Dcor44" that an electoral democracy doesn't treat its people equally but I don't believe that the end result would be Guerrilla Warfare. We are currently this electoral democracy yet nothing has happened. If the minorities do; however, act it would instead be more like a version of the people telling the Gov't to wake up.
ReplyDeleteWhitman’s mindset that everyone deserves equality comes from the way he lived. Growing up in New York he witnessed many different cultures. His ultimate goal was to make there be no boundaries between people and cultures. He simply states that there must be a way to achieve this goal of equal opportunities.
ReplyDeleteI agree with jmcogo4 that Whitman thinks there must be a way to achieve equal opportunities. Whitmans mind set is very similar to Ralph Waldo Emerson on this point because Emerson wants to "open the doors of opportunity to talent and virtue." The egalitarian view wanted to provide everyone with social and political equality.
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