Emerson's "Self-Reliance" essay held a lot of meaning for me, not because of what he said ,but how he said it. Instead of just writing his ideas and exactly how we should be self-reliant he wrote it in a unique where we are able to remember his ideas better. Though i wasn't completely sold by Emerson's ideas I still respect his ideas enough to think about their impact on people who agree with his ideas.
We all know that this years election sparked lots of controversies because of the two presidental candidates and there ideas on how to "better" this country. Emerson would have loved this year's election because these are his ideas at work. People have there own ideas and trying to have their own say without regard of the peoples ideas around them. For example, a couple of friends and one goes for Donald Trump despite their friend or family who may be voting for Hilary Clinton. Its all a matter of deciding for yourself and nobody else. He would also love the idea of Donald Trump, and his ideas. "What pretty oracles nature yields us on this text, in the face and behaviour of children, babes, and brutes!" When Emerson writes this in his essay he says that babies and brutes are unconformed to society and listen to no one, that they're "geniuses". I consider Donald Trump a brute so Emerson might think of him as one of these geniueses because of his ideas that are causing lots commotion.
The result of this election has caused a lot of outrage and protests and I feel that though that he might not agree with why they are protesting, he likes the idea of the people having their own opinions and expressing them. Most people might have a hard time accepting the fact that Donald Trump is our new president, but Emerson would probably want us to look to Trump as an example. Donald Trump expressed his ideas without regard whether or not a majority of people agreed with him. He has no filter and says rhe wants and he still won the election. " too be great is to be be misunderstood". Emerson would consider trump and great person and probably would have voted if he could have because he agreed with lots of his own ideas.
I dont feel that Hilary Clinton would have gotten much support from Emerson as Trump because she wasnt using any ideas emerson express. Though he would have liked the idea of her trying to be the first female president in the US. Many people probably told her she couldn't or shouldn't do it but she did it anyway. And after she announced it many people started rallying behind her because ythey agreed with her ideas. All because of her one decision to run for president.
Like I said before, I dont completely agree with Emerson's ideas on self-reliance, but i agree with his methods of expressing his ideas. And he would be proud that his ideas are being used today and by someone who he would consider a "genius". though he wrote this essay over 125 years ago it is still making an impact today in our lives.
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