Transcendentalist or Anti-Transcendentalist? Ay or Ney?

The philosophical idea of Transcendentalism is one that encompasses many broad ideas of independence, self-worth, individuality, and civil protest against common societal and cultural ideals. Through reading works from both perspectives I have realized that my views consist of a mixture of both sides! The pieces by Ralph Waldo Emerson as well as Henry David Thoreau express the ideas of public institutions corrupting people and their views/values and that one is better as an individual, shown in the quote “I think we should be men first, and subjects afterward”, to which I both agree and disagree.

 Overall I somewhat agree with these ideas because of course people’s views and values will be affected by the leaders of the world (the government) as well as common ideals (religion) but that doesn't mean that someone still cannot be happy and at peace with these institutions.

As Thoreau expresses in Civil Disobedience, “That government is best which governs not at all.” He was against what the government was doing with his taxes because he wasn’t using some of the services, so he decided to not pay and understood that he was to complete whatever consequence followed. He knew this and was perfectly fine with it, for he knew that even if it may not cause a huge movement against the government right away he was expressing his views and maybe that would give someone courage to do the same. Some citizens on the other hand are perfectly happy with the actions of the government and their religion, which I believe is also very probable occurrence. I also however believe that if someone is unsatisfied with the ways of the world and their lives, they hold the right to express their feelings and speak out against the acts being done (given to us in the Bill of Rights) so long as it doesn’t harm the public and the protest is considerate of others whom are innocent.

As also seen in Emerson’s Self Reliance piece, the idea of the individual is quite prevalent. “Society never advances…For everything that is given, something is taken.” I agree that typically when something good happens, it can be commonly followed by a bad thing in our society. As materialists, we often struggle to see the picture for what it truly is. That being said, I like having the institutions we do today because it requires people to abide by the same common rule and have consequences for when that doesn’t happen.

Though I greatly believe that some people conjure up great ways of life and ideas when independent, it's hard to think that however great someone is, that they wouldn't need anyone else or need to rely on anything. Reviewing the different beliefs I have and the ideas expressed throughout the Transcendentalist papers, it’s easy for me to say I’m a mixture between an anti-Transcendentalist and Transcendentalist.

Declaration of Personal Independence from Chcolate

In Lab 210, February 7, 2013

THE UNANIMOUS DECLARATION OF ME, MYSELF, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I

During one’s life there are bound to be obstacles and hardships, struggles and sacrifice. Sometimes these are minimal and can be easily overcome with aid from others and one’s own strong willpower, however, some things are just too insurmountable. It can be a fight each day solely to wake up and know its rigorous effect on one’s life. If it ever comes to this unbearable suffocation, all that’s left to do is act and eliminate the problem at once.

I hold these truths to be self evident, that all sweets shall be treated equal, control with candy to always be important and maintained, and although chocolate can provide me happiness, indulgence, and satiation, in too much enjoyment it can morph into an enemy. The following are all problems with which I have encountered through my lingering susceptibility to the world of chocolate.

Chocolate has plundered my taste buds into only craving it and only it.

Chocolate has reconstructed my stomach’s wants and needs.

Chocolate has robbed me of substantial amounts of money, making my wallet empty and cold.

Chocolate has snatched up a lot of my free time by its required amount of daily eating.

Chocolate has introduced multiple health risks to my life (and I’d like to live to see at least 30 years of age).

Chocolate has been known to leave a very unpleasant dry sensation in my mouth when eaten in large amounts.

Chocolate has boosted my energy to soaring amounts by providing high doses of caffeine to my system and greatly increasing my amounts of restless nights.

Chocolate has ingrained its soul into my brain and has made it unacceptably hard to forget.

Chocolate has refused all efforts of my denial and continues to dwell in the back of my every thought.

Chocolate has completely and utterly dominated my brain and allows no other direction of ideas.

In each of the issues stated above I have worked to change and lessen the hold that chocolate has had on me for some time. I’ve worked on keeping chocolate in the back of my pantry and out of sight, buying more fruits and vegetables, and immersing myself in other snacks, but each time I seek resolution, it results in little to no betterment of the situation at hand.

At times I have gotten discouraged for I feel the tight grip it holds, but in order to change my life’s course, drastic times call for drastic measures and working to counteract the definition of Insanity- doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results- new ways of thinking are in order.

I, therefore, as the representative and director of my own life, appealing to my own common welfare, DO, in the Name, and by Authority of me, myself, and I, solemnly PUBLISH and DECLARE, that I am, and of Right, ought to be free and independent from the wrath of chocolate from here unto forever. All connection between us is and ought to be totally dissolved and that as a FREE and INDEPENDENT individual have full power to deny the lethal power chocolate obtains and to do all and any other things which an independent mind may. And for the support of this Declaration, I mutually pledge to myself my Life, my Discipline, and my Dedication.

ALLISON BLASER, President

The Mississippi by Franquelin 1682

1.     There are many things that initially caught my attention. The bordered writings are interesting in they explain the language (French), how there is no longitude, and to whom the map is sketched for, and that this may be the first French map of Mississippi ever. Another thing is the dispersed drawings of the animals across the map that dictates what animal can be found in that area. In the south are moose/elk and as one moves north buffalos and camels become evident. The small depictions of the trees also illustrate where forestland and wilderness areas are. A few of the smaller but more important details I noticed were the many houses drawn to symbolize villages, along with a few smaller houses around what appears to be a cross. This set-up demonstrates a religious area that practices the way of the Lord. On the far left of the screen towards the south there is a man standing with what seems to be a bayonet, protecting or hunting that place. The map also contains the names of the many Indian Nations on the eastern side of the Mississippi River.

2.     This map tells the story of an area with a lot of different animal presences accompanied by many Indian nations that lived off of the land and the surrounding wildlife. From reading the borders there is an assumption some Indians live there that actually do not and an interesting discovery is that this map and the placement of all of the pictures dictates that the map actually drawn before the year of 1682. Value is placed on animals providing service and food along with some stress on religion. I’ve always been taught about the Indians being people that made well off of what the land had to offer, as those things appear plentiful in the picture of the map.

3.     Reading Babb’s article again, I found a quote that is perfect and fits this map in an amazing way. The quote says, “What this map displays is a land that is not yet English, one still the domain of its native peoples”.  There is no better way to describe this map. It shows Indians still dominate this area at this time and that they are still living in peace and serenity while making the most of the land and its resources.

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