To begin, I had not the slightest idea what "quintessentially" meant, so I had to find a definition. Quintessence: Noun-the most perfect embodiment of something. That is how I will define what my X will be. So here it is:

QUINTESSENTIALLY AMERICAN PASSAGES

1. "I celebrate myself, and sing myself...." (P. 2441)
-Yes. I am using the first line, because I think it screams "AMERICAN!!". This single line opens the entire poem, which is quite lengthy might I point out, with a very bold statement that I think few other cultures besides our American people would dare to say, especially back then when humility and reservedness was virtue. Whenever I speak with new immigrants just off the boat, one of the first things they notice about Americans, in addition to... "why are they always smiling...", is that they seem abnormally positive and always praise everyone for every little thing. Most Americans probobly don't realize it, but its not in all countries that your mommy goes, "GOOD JOB SWEETIE!! You are the BEST!!" I might be exxagerating it a little, but overall, Americans tend to praise themselves and eachother a whole of a lot more than most other peoples of the world. What it seems like to me, is that elsewhere, you are expected to do the right thing, so when you do something good, its not really praised all that much because thats just the way it should be. I'm not saying its a bad thing that in America we are all SO incredibly uplifting, I think its a great thing, but it seems to be limited on our American soil and one of the first things outsiders notice about us. And that first line embodies that postive, self assured, praise giving attitude we Americans tend to hold.

2. ... "And I say it is as great to be a woman as to be a man, And I say there is nothing greater than the mother of men." (P. 2456 L. 425)
-This passage, obviously, uplifts women. I think womens equality movements really has a lot to do with America, and having equality is something Americans often discuss and it is hugely important in America and to Americans. In this passage, Whitman saying that being a woman is as great as being a man can accurately apply to women in America, not necessarily in all other parts of the world, which is why I think this passage is quintessentially American. I'd have to say in America, women have a lot more respect and power than they do in many other places... just look at our presidential candidates... and its great that women in America have those kinds of opportunities.

3. " I am bringing help for the sick as they pant on their backs, And for strong upright men I bring yet more needed help." (P. 2475 L. 1021 & 1022)
-America takes care of its people. All systems and all other things have flaws, thats true, but America DOES take care of its people. That is what I get out of this passage. He's talking about how he helps the sick, but he also helps the strong men. I think this shows a balance, that you can't only help the sick or only support the strong, you need to do both, and that is what happens in America. It provides so much help to people who need it and also gives great opportunities.