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   thirdgraderocks Teacher
   Elementary / Primary

   Diversity is profoundly valued by Whitman and that can be noticed in several lines used to appraise it: “I resist any thing better than my own diversity, Breathe the air but leave plenty after me, And am not stuck up, and am in my place” (16th section); “I will not have a single person slighted or left away” (19th section);
   In addition, there is an ethical principle in Whitman’s poem that seems to lead all the ideas presented above that are related to equality x difference, universality x individualism, respect x self-respect, brotherhood, freedom, and appreciation of the diversity: that “whoever degrades another degrades me … and whatever is done or said returns at last to me, And whatever I do or say I also return” (24th section). This principle demonstrates the importance of responsibility, which is related to the idea of being present – in the presence of others, assuming a position in the world and acting; for this, it is necessary to accept others as constituent of the self and of a life in community (Arendt, 2005). This responsible posture in life requires another (ethical) attitude that is pointed by Whitman: “Now I will do nothing but hear (…) I hear bravuras of birds (…) the sound of love, the sound of human voice, I hear all sounds running together, combined, fused or following (…)” (26th section). It is the capacity of listening to the other.

   Sources:

   http://journal.ilovephilosophy.com

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   Posted by thirdgraderocks on Monday November 24, 2008 at 2:37 PM