(commons.wikimedia.org)
I have taught Walt Whitman in several classes both at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA and at the Wescoe School of Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, in traditional and adult classes.
This excerpt is from his introduction to the 1855 First Edition of Leaves of Grass.
(http://www.whitmanarchive.org)
Whitman was one of the greatest American poets and has been called the Bard of Democracy. He challenged the existing views of normalcy in the United States across a wide range of topics. We live in a time, perhaps even more than in the 1800s, when great pressure exists to conform to what society defines normalcy to be. I believe it is crucial for individuals to find out who they are, for what they have passions, and what they believe. With this thought in mind, I want to share this small excerpt:
“re-examine all you have been told at church or school or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul, and your very flesh shall be a great poem”
Whitman shattered the conventions of his time, and his admonition to us to question everything is as important today as it was in the mid-1800s.
Please, keep Whitman’s idea in mind, and question everything.
Yes, so important!
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Yes, it is.
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yes-
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I’m always asking questions and why. It’s really annoyed a lot of people!
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Keep annoying them!
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Thank you!
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Shared. Walt Whitman’s words are both profound and prophetic.
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Thank you!
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When we question everything, we do need to be prepared to accept the consequences of doing so.
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You are correct–it can be a difficult process.
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He seemed to have an answer for everything.
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Or at least, a question!
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haha, yes, you have a point there.
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My dad’s way of saying it was to ‘take everything with a grain of salt’. I’m not sure where that came from but in essence, it said don’t believe everything you read or hear. I thought it was interesting coming from a man who was in the military and could question nothing. 😉 Maybe that is the reason for his thinking.
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It does sound that your father had wisdom.
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Whitman is my favorite American poet, and possibly my favorite poet of all; I gained a lot of respect for him during my undergrad poetry class.
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And I just taught Whitman today!
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Awesome! There aren’t many college courses I’d like to do over again, but poetry is one of them.
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I think poetry is wonderful.
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I do too – now. Before I took my poetry class I didn’t appreciate it much, probably because I didn’t understand it.
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I certainly understand that.
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Whitman never fails! That one quote will someday be inked onto my very skin (as will “Yossarian lives!” but I digress).
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Wonderful!
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Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Thank you!
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Thank you, Mr. French.
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You are very welcome.
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Whitman’s warning, is probably one of the greatest gifts he gave to his readers, and to society at large. Thank you for sharing!
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Karen, you are very welcome!
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Powerful, and so important. Thank you, Charles.
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Jennie, you are welcome!
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