A Review: Democratic Ideology by Walt Whitman

..was digging into my old files and found two of my essays in Creative Writing and Commentary while I was in school. (Not that I like to read...but I had to make the grade ackk!) Rate it. Trash it. LOL.

~itsduhattityood
On Whitman’s Democratic Ideology by: Carlota Fuentes

How de we equate Walt Whitman’s democratic ideology and his philosophy of identity? In its simplest structure, democracy is a blessing—a transcendent liberation from any form of constraint, and a benefit—where an individual’s selfhood serves as an instrument to accomplish a goal.
Whitman’s ideology of democracy assumes an organization in which individuals make common decisions, choose common conduct, and express common values—a unity that will uphold the laws of nature, to the end that man may live harmoniously. It is plainly the prospect of extending a sense of oneness to each other. Though there could be conflicting interests, individuals advance on the premise of equality. Whitman strongly points out that democracy’s most central attribute is its revolutionary spirit, in which combined discipline of individualism can create a distinct national culture.
Nature is the essential quality of a thing, but when he talks about nature, Whitman refers to man’s innate attributes:
…The all-free theorem of individuality… known humanity, in its deepest sense, is fair adhesion to itself, for purposes beyond—and that finally, the personality of mortal life is most important with reference to the immortal, the unknown, the spiritual permanently real, which as the ocean waits and receives the rivers, waits for us each and all… (Whitman. DV, 970)
In my opinion, Whitman’s perception of humanity is a mass of eccentricities (feelings, dispositions, sympathies, or mental cultivation that deviate form a regulated mode) that conforms to the soul. The soul, in congruence with the “universal energy”, dictates what the self does: “The indirect is always as great and real as the direct. The spirit receives from the body just as much as it gives to the body” (Whitman, AB. 29). Everything that a person des has a direct link or relationship to the soul because “whatever satisfies the soul is truth…” (Whitman, AB. 31)
Because the body harmonizes with the soul, the soul is that which gives a person his unique identity. Whitman defines identity as a universal intrinsic holding: “The quality of Being, in the object’s self, according to its own central ideal and purpose, and of growing therefrom and thereto—not criticism by other standards, and adjustments thereto—is the lesson of nature (Whitman, DV. 960). In this passage, Whitman discovers individuality in each person’s profound difference. To support the statement that each individual is unique in his own way, Whitman states that: “He is a seer, he is individual, he is complete in himself… He does not stop for any regulations, he is the president of regulations”. (Whitman, AB. 15) Every individual is the master of his own will, but he is accountable for his actions. Only he can see the goodness or wickedness in him, and it is entirely up to him to direct himself.
Individuality is eccentricity. By eccentricity, I mean, not so much of the bizarre or the abnormal, but more of the “ordinary”—that which does not adhere to any norm—no idealizing or imposing of value judgments. Whitman proclaims that by uniting the body with the soul, the self does great works. Such union, thus, leads to the conviction that man has been released from the stipulations of time and space, and has been granted a direct vision of ineffable truths. This the true freedom for Whitman: “Freedom from all laws or bonds except those of one’s own being, controlled by the universal ones. To lands, to man, to woman, what is there at last to each, but the inherent soul, nativity, idiocrasy, free, highest-poised, soaring its own flight, following out itself?” (Whitman. DV [1] , 978). By freedom, Whitman means individuality; and by individuality, he means that no man should be restricted by any influence, control, or judgment of a “ruling other.” The only authority that man should heed to is his own self, and (according to Whitman) an abstract principle of universal energy, which is the soul. When Whitman speaks of the soul, he seems to refer to God; but unlike the more common perception of God as an almighty Being, to Whitman, God is the omnipresent strength—eternal and prevailing—that rules all existence.



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[1] Democratic Vistas. DV is used when referring to it.
Autism by: Carlota Fuentes
Autism is a neurological disorder that impairs the development of a person's capacity to interact with, communicate with, and also maintain regular normal bonds with the outside world.
Leo Kanner, an American psychologist, described this disorder in 1943. Autism is considered one of the more common developmental disabilities, affecting the brain in areas of social interaction, and verbal and non-verbal communication. It appears before the age of three and is known to be four or five times more common in males than in females. Statistic shows that autism occurs in 4.5 out of 10,000 live births, where the estimate of children having autistic qualities is reported to be 15 to 20 out of 10,000. The gender statement noted before is not uncommon, since many developmental disabilities have a greater male to female ratio.
Autistic characteristics are different from birth. Two more common characteristics that may be exhibited are the arching of the back while being held, to avoid contact, and also failing to anticipate being picked up (limpness in the body). Infants with autism are described as being either very passive, or very agitated. Sometimes during infancy there will be cases of head rocking, and or banging, against the crib, but this is not always the case. Approximately one-third of children develop normally until the ages of one and a half to three years, and then the symptoms emerge, referred to as regressive autism.
During childhood, there is a commonality of the affected child insisting routine. The reasoning is that the child is not able to cope with novel situations. Wearing the same clothes, or eating the same foods during meals, are examples. Tantrums can occur when these persevering behaviors occur.
Twenty years ago, most autistic individuals were institutionalized. Now only the most severe cases live in institutions. During adulthood, autistic individuals are known to live with their parents, in residential institutions, and some do live independently. Because there are so many forms of this disorder, it has been said that there is no true adjective to describe every type of person with autistic symptoms, or autism.
My research shows that there are no physiological tests that can be performed to determine whether a person has autism. The diagnosis is given when a person exhibits the characteristics of the disorder. In the last five years, researchers have agreed that those who display autistic characteristics are commonly suffering from other related but distinct disorders, such as Asperger Syndrome, Fragile X syndrome, Landau Kleffner syndrome, Rett syndrome, and Williams syndrome. Physiological researchers have discovered abnormalities within the brain, but the reason for the abnormalities is not known, and it is not known where the relation to autism lies. These abnormalities range from underdeveloped areas in the limbic system, to Vernal lobules VI and VII, being smaller than average. Biochemical research has found elevated beta-endorphins, relating to pain tolerance in autistic action. In the cognitive realm, there is much talk of the theory of mind, or the inability to realize that other people have their own unique view of the world.
Some Cognitive theorists think that the autistic person isn't able to understand that other people have different thoughts, plans, and perspectives than their own. Cognitive theorists also examine the 10% statistic of savant skills, an ability that is considered remarkable by most standards. These savant skills are usually spatial in nature. Interventions and therapies are difficult. Family theorists try to work with the family of the patient, to try to develop appropriate behaviors.
There is no reported drug that can be considered primary for the patient, although Ritalin is dispensed in many cases. Behaviorists look at the changing of behavior through positive reinforcement, behavior recess, and in turn examine the self-stimulatory and self-injurious behaviors. Physiological work such as visual training, and auditory integration training, is used to reduce sensitivities to sounds above normal range, or to sounds the patient can consider painful.
When it comes to autism, the most important thing to remember is that parents and doctors in the medical field are now realizing that there can be treatments, and interventions, that can be effective. In addition, note that Federal Law now requires the states to provide early intervention services for autistic children between the ages of one to three. The services exist to provide tools to develop the children academically, and socially.