Walt Whitman (1819-92) is almost universally recognized as America’s greatest poet–not least because of his ability to formulate and convey a profound and inspiring view of what it means to be a citizen of a democracy. For Whitman, being a democratic citizen meant being both an individual and sharing in a larger whole, now and into the future. In the poem “Leaves of Grass” the central symbol emphasizes not so much the interdependence of individual citizens but rather something deeper–their larger spiritual unity; similarly, the “self” that figures in “Song of Myself” represents a soul that extends literally into every corner of society. Both poems also challenge the reader not simply to think about the whole, but to experience it through lived encounters with other citizens. Thoreau had his cabin on the pond; Whitman spent the Civil War caring for wounded soldiers from both sides, of all races and backgrounds.
Whitman may or may not have gotten democratic citizenship right. But think how different his vision is from the images that terms like “the masses”, “the hoi polloi”, “the herd”, or “the crowd”–much less “the mob” evoke. Certainly Whitman sets the bar high. But in challenging us to engage with one another, he gives us some guidance too: engage. He even points out that we can’t follow it unless we assume the best–not the worst–from our fellow and sister citizens. With apologies to Whitman, faith in each other is democracy’s fertilizer.
