Comments on: Erin for 11/17

By: cirvine1965

cirvine1965 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:44:15 +0000

Erin- I agree with your point about the idea of “The American Dream” and how lately the trend seems to sway more towards American criticism as opposed to glorifying the nation. Look at how Whitman approached the war…The Civil War was the bloodiest in American history and it ripped the nation apart. However, Whitman still came from a place of optimism and even seemed to suggest that the war was good in a way and was confident that it would bring America together in the long run. Today, the war in Iraq brings huge criticism. People see oppose to American imperialism and the whole thing got started when a small, extremist group called us out on some of our more offensive follies abroad. I wonder how Whitman would have approached the current war. A lot of what he said made America great are now the things that we are criticized for today. I still like to read Whitman’s idealistic view of our nation. In a way I think that he saw everything that we could be. Now looking back, knowing what we have become, our perspectives are different but his work is still valid.

By: bcbottle

bcbottle — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:31:41 +0000

I feel that this post and comment thread was excellent. I don’t really have anything new to add. But I wanted to express my amusement.

By: Erin Longbottom

Erin Longbottom — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:04:50 +0000

Allison, every comment you put on my blog gives me joy. Or should I say souses me with spray… o_0

By: Allison Crerie

Allison Crerie — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:19:14 +0000

I, too, am I bit “down” on America. Granted, I’d rather be here than in Burkina getting my clit chopped off, or in Afghanistan dodging bombs and bullets, but still America isn’t all it proclaims itself to be.

America certainly isn’t as “free” as it says it is. one trip to Europe will prove what true freedom is. Hell, Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium and Spain have already legalized gay marriage. There are not the same rigid age limits to “legally drink” in Europe as there is in America, and you know what? They have fewer drunk driving accidents. Even the way Americans drive is meticulously enforced with countless laws. In the entire month I spent in Italy, where speed limits and stop lights are merely suggestions, I did not witness one single traffic accident.

But still America maintains that it’s the best at everything– having “world series” that only involve American teams. Perhaps Whitman was the first to start the snowballing trend of the Arrogant American. Though Whitman was not as obnoxious as the Overly-Patriotic people are today, Whitman certainly spoke of America (and himself) with a bit of arrogance. This, I believe, is what has made America more “unattractive” than it was Whitman’s time. It’s just too America-y, too arrogant, too annoying.

By: jpike1

jpike1 — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:57:14 +0000

Erin-
While I was reading Ginsberg’s “America” I too was thinking about the changed America that we are living in as opposed to the America that Whitman knew and loved. Reading your post about the American Dream also got me thinking about Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road”. In this poem, Whitman describes an earth that is ready to be discovered and explored. However, now in the year 2008, the exploration that is taking place is in outer space. Something, I do not think Whitman ever imagined. So, I agree with you that during the time Whitman lived, there was so much opportunity left in America. Whitman, had hope and a positive outlook on the future of America because it was so young and the American people almost “tamable”. However, Ginsburg could only face the reality of what America was like in the 20th century.