Assignment task:
1. Briefly introduce the debate over whether America should be a composite nation. Present the central thesis: America's strength lies in its diversity, aligning more closely with Whitman's vision than Plato's.
Whitman's Democratic Vision
2. Discuss Democratic Vistas and Leaves of Grass, emphasizing Whitman's celebration of inclusivity and the individual's role in democracy. Explain how Whitman's idea of "a nation of nations" aligns with a composite America.
Plato's Republic and the Challenge to Diversity
3. Outline Plato's ideal society in The Republic and its structured, hierarchical nature. Critique Plato's argument by highlighting how a rigid structure might conflict with democratic ideals.
Why Whitman's Vision is More Applicable to America
4. Demonstrate how American history and identity have been shaped by cultural, racial, and ideological diversity. Argue that an imposed unity, as Plato suggests, would contradict the fundamental principles of democracy. Need Assignment Help?
Conclusion
5. Reaffirm why America should embrace its composite nature. Briefly suggest how Whitman's ideals can be applied to contemporary discussions on national unity and identity.