The main argument of “Paradoxes of American Individualism” by Claude S. Fischer , is that the author is trying to contradict the ideas of American Individualism by other sources; more commonly from “American Society” by Robin M Williams. Jr. The reason Fischer is contradicting these sources is because American Individualism has more to do in society, that what sources tell you. Fischer says that American Individualism is about how people have their own traits of living and that they do it because it is what they told from another, because the want to distinguish themselves from others, or because of their beliefs. Fischer does this by taking a quote from a source and debunk it to what it really is about from his perspective. For example he takes quote from William in which he suggests that ” the ultimate source of action, meaning and responsibility, is the individual rather than the group”. Fischer counters this argument by explaining throughout his source that people from the US comes with different ways of living and most of the time it is because of “not individualism, but voluntarism”. Overall, Fischer thinks that anyone who is living or comes to the US are living with different traits is because of how they were told be like, whether it be parents, teachers, government, or laws from other countries.
The “Let America Be America Again” poem by Langston Hughes explains that people of different kinds in the US are not being treated the same, and despite what others say, it creates the sense that American Individualism isn’t accomplished yet. This is especially true when Hughes is saying ” I am the farmer, bondsman to the soil. I am the worker sold to the machine. I am the Negro, servant to you all. I am the people, humble, hungry, mean— Hungry yet today despite the dream.” explaining that people get treated unfairly and it provides the sense that people of these types deserve more of a voice and should have the freedom like they should have because the US was meant to be about that.
In the poem titled “America” by Walt Whitman, Whitman speaking for all individuals that be treated as human beings. This speaks from everyone who is being treated unfairly because people look at them at not accomplishing just because how they are, like being poor, or being of a different race. No matter of who anyone is like, people should be treated the same because every human being is born in this world to act like human beings, which especially is shown in the poem when Hughes says that “All, all alike endear’d, grown, ungrown, young or old,”. This poem leaves out people of higher authority, like the government or rich people because they should be seeing that just like themselves, all humans are humans , and should be treated fairly.
Your last analysis of how Whitman approached his audience is interesting. Perhaps it’s true that his language was purposely done so to speak to the peoples of America, not specific elitist groups.
I like your interpretation of Whitman’s poem. I saw it as something totally different, so it’s interesting to see how we can form different perspectives from a poem so brief.
I noticed you mentioned voluntarism and individualism but those two ideas are contradicting when looking at the situation in America. people are free to choose what they want to be but once they choose it they have to a hundred percent commit which is completely opposite from choosing whatever you want to do and how you want to do it.