Helen Keller and Authenticity

Of course I learned about Helen Keller at a young age; the trials she faced being both blind and deaf, and they way she overcame them through her teacher, Anne Sullivan Macy. I must honestly report that I never knew she was such a left-wing political advocate or a writer. Last class, when discussing how much of our histories are visual rituals and/or habits, the question was raised of whether authenticity is outside of the technical. On Tuesday, I believed that it was possible for something to be authentic without all of the specifics included. Now, after reading George's article on Keller and Burke and pairing that with "Rome Reborn", I have to say no, it is not possible. The technical must be included to see the authenticity of a subject.
My view of Helen Keller has been limited until this exact day. I have not seen her as a whole being, even though I thought I had before. I was given partial, less than technical, information which resulted in a false perspective of her. From learning that Helen Keller wrote things in her work "Blind Leaders" such as, "We cannot be free until we know the nature of our bondage and examine the chains that bind us," (George 341) I gain new knowledge and respect for her. I now see Rome Reborn as an unauthentic view of ancient Rome. Both the commonly taught view of Helen Keller and Rome Reborn are the idealized versions of these two subjects. But why are these idealized versions created? Why does Favro and our textbooks think people need an idealized view as an option? Is the real thing not good enough? Though I feel I may sound ignorant to some people, this newly learned information of Helen Keller constantly makes me ask this question. It seems that people need an option. We need the option to view reality when we want, but we also seem to need the option to ignore reality and view an idealized, structured subject as well. Is this due to our own human nature or is it due to society's creation of what they want us to know and see? I am wrestling with these ideas and questions while writing and would very much appreciate some responses and feedback to my ideas to further this conversation!

-Valerie Gardner