Specimen Days: Gifts -- Money -- Discrimination

Gifts -- Money -- Discrimination

That good ol' Whitman. Being kind and friendly to his fellow (great) man and following the democratic ideal of being a good Samaritan. He provides for the weak and wounded soldier and felt as if he had some kinship with them -- either parental or sharing the exact same blood. This is echoed in the passage in "Song of Myself" about the runaway slave whom is nursed back to health (given bed, bath, food, etc.) by the speaker until the slave is ready to continue his escape to the North. While the soldiers may not be bounded by masters and are deprived of their freedom due to their status, due to the conditions of their battle (though perhaps not as brutal in the case of Confederate soldiers), they are almost just as tarnished, exhausted, and broke from serving their Union.

Money so happens to be a coveted luxury wanted by all, though only a few out of the many people in the world can and have acquired vast amounts to spend. From there comes the idea that many of the rich are greedy, only spending on themselves or hoarding their wealth so that the money does not get used at all. Thus, as Whitman says, it is really heart-warming to know that there are those benevolent, philanthropic people who are willing to offer large sums of money (and with free reign at times) to Whitman to be used to help those in need. I wonder why these benefactors choose to be confidential. Is it not deemed fitting for them to do so? Nevertheless, I suppose it's the deed itself that matters -- that there is a sense of willingness to share and be happy to help others prosper. This fits and is admired and aspired by Whitman to be perhaps that close sense of kinship (as he felt when tending to the soldiers) and care which he hopes for all to attain -- to look out for each other to bring the best out so that all can recognize themselves as being great beings.