Jose+Marti+and+Brotherly+Love

I am interested is exploring the philosophy of love with emphasis on the aspect of humanitarian love. In particular, I will examine this type of love in relation to the beliefs of Cuban writer and patriot José Martí (1853-1895), as well as examine one of his iconic poems, “Poema XXXIX” from the work “Versos Sencillos.”
 * José Martí and Brotherly Love ** [[image:http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TL3Aa4WTFqw/ToJCPqs1EDI/AAAAAAAAJcM/BlfAPU_pAe8/s400/El_Apostol.jpg width="150" height="200"]]

Kristen Monroe in “The Heart of Altruism” connects altruism to an individual’s strong sense of identity. Martí’s views on duty and virtuous behavior were fundamental to his identity. Louis Pujol speaks to Martí’s visions of love saying that Martí valued love of his country and his fellow man above love for the women in his life saying, “Undoubtably, between //patria// and women, Martí always dedicated his life to the first one” (Pujol, 1989).

Martí believed that through virtuous acts of humanitarian love, one’s soul was redeemed. In his notebook in 1881, Martí wrote, “Virtue, with which all nature conspires, leaves man in peace, as if he has finished his task…and needs to no longer move on and complete the circle.” (Garcia, 2003). Thus virtuous, disinterested acts in Martí’s worldview, bring peace to the individual.

For Martí, there was no division between life and art. He wrote that “the purpose of literature was …to help mankind.” (Fountain, 2003). The poem serves as one example of Martí’s worldview toward humanity, his sense of moralistic duty, as well as an expression of the Christian Golden Rule. In this poem, Marti develops his idea of //patria// as an "idealistic-type love for the source or bond that nurtures and unites a people. In Martí’s ideal world, loving-kindness should be extended to all people regardless of differences such as race, and the fostering of this attitude would allow for a truly democratic, unified society to be born.