Hw 27

We walked into the hospital and it felt like a complete different world. From the Loud, quick, energetic city to the quiet, slow, and awkward smelling hospital. My whole aura immediately changed, from the moment I stepped in the door i wanted to leave but I couldn’t. While in the elevator going to the 3rd floor of the Lenox hill Hospital all I could think about was; “is my grandfather alright?” After getting out the elevator on my way to room 3616 the majority of the rooms I passed there were patients with I.V’s connected to them and oxygen masks on their faces. Curiosity began to build, was my grandfather in this type of condition? 

At Last I was there, room 3616 to visit my Grandfather. It was a relief to see he was not in such a condition that the other patients were even though he seemed out of the ordinary. Laying down rapped up in the covers as if someone tucked him in like a child was my 76 year old grandfather. His face lit up with joy when he noticed my mother and I, but beforehand his face clearly showed that he was lonely and frightened. “Hey Grandpa, how are you?” I said and he slowly responded “I’m ok boy, the Doctor said i should be out of here soon.” Everything seemed like it was going to be alright now but my grandfathers expression changed from being joyful to being sad and confused again. This was the first time I had ever seen him in the hospital and the first time he spent more then one day in the hospital. It wasn't only weird for me but also weird for him. After spending a little less then an hour with him my mother and I had left, the whole time we were there he didn't shed one tear, as soon as we waved goodbye his eyes were full with them.

After leaving the hospital I felt a bit of relieved but i also felt guilty for not spending as much time with my grandfather as i could. I began to notice that it might be the time my grandfather has to go, has to pass on. He was around for 76 years and was healthy for almost every single one of those years I've been told. I was not the only one who thought this, I noticed that even my grandfather thought this. Even though my Grandfather was in the Hospital for a couple of days now all I could do was Hope for the best and convince my self he will be Ok.

The book “My brother” had a big impact on how i viewed my grandfather when going to Visit him. IN the Book my Brother Jamaica did not care much for her Brother because she wasn't around him for the majority of her life. This was not the case in my situation, I was practically raised by my Grandfather. Since the fact that i was practically raised by him I felt very worried and concerned for his well being. Relationships prior to being sick played a big role on how one cared for the patient. The Movie Sicko had a big impact on the visit between my Grandfather and I. In sicko Michael explained that many people with health care are not fully covered. My grandfather at the age of 76 was still working. He was one of those people who was worried about their health care not coming through. Shouldn't a man of his age be in retirement and not having to worry about getting better as soon as possible to return to work? Shouldn’t they be resting and worrying about their well being not about if they are going to be on time for work the next day?

hw 26

1) Health Care is extremely better in England, France. (Sicko)

2) It takes someone to be very sick or actually die for people to show they care. (My Brother)

3) People try to avoid death even though we are all promised to die(guest speaker)

4) 50 million people do not have health care (sicko)

 The Book “My brother” by Jamaica Kincaid helped me better understand our cultures social dominate practices. It helped me see that most people don't show their true intentions until someone is either dead or on the verge of dying. People act like death will never come and they can dodge the fact that everyone will die at one point.

The movie “Sicko” had a big impact on my understanding on our cultures dominate social practices. It helped me see that things are not what they seem. A lot of people try to avoid getting sick and work through their sickness because of the health care that our country has. Even though it may not be smarter or healthier not to go to the doctor it is more convenient and cheaper to avoid the doctor.

Hw 25

The United States of America is seen as one of the best countries in the world. Some of the reasons are the freedom we obtain and the opportunities that are promised to us, but does our country really live up to these standards? The 250 million people do have health care but is the health care really benefiting their health is what Michael Moore was trying to explain. Health care is supposed to be aiding people not going against their promises. Going against these agreements eventually leaving people in debt and in worst cases not being able to aid people enough to save their lives. It seemed as if insurance companies  and doctors in the united states had goals to deny citizens health care just to maximize companies profits. This was not the scenario in foreign countries such as France, canada and England. In these countries citizens were living up to 3 years longer then Americans according to statistics. The United States of America seemed to criticize people and organizations who were for free health care for everyone. We will not be superior if we as remain the only country in the western hemisphere without free health insurance.

Evidence #1 “The goal of health care companies was to deny health care. Bonuses given for denying health acre.”

This piece of evidence was significant to supporting Michael's claim.  The claim that  America has poor health care because of the negative affects of health care since the requirements for the care. Money is a key component to surviving. and the more the better. The insurance companies began to bribe their employes with bonuses if they deny people with health care. By doing so less people were able to obtain health care and ultimately decreasing Americans survival rates and life spans.

Evidence #2: “The people who seemed to have the worst care still managed to outlive the wealthy American’s life span”

In the country of England people tended to live way longer then Americans did. The most important reason was because of the health care that was provided for them. There was no pay which was very significant because not everyone could afford health care. Compared to England, united states health care was very poorly constructed because many people were put into debt because of the expenses of their health care. Since there was a good percentage of people who could not afford this health care many people avoided getting health care. This being one of the main reasons even people with the worst health care in England tended to outlive people with the best health care in America.

Michael Moors “sicko” stirred alot of controversy . A interview on CNN somewhat exposed Moore. Moore stated that the U.S spends 7,00$ on health care per person per year when really they only spend $6.714. According to a new york times article this information was accurate and correct. The article stated “The graph shows the UNites States spends $ 6,714 per person” (http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/14/why-does-us-health-care-cost-so-much-part-i/)

In The United States of America we are promised so many things but do we really receive these things? Health Care is one of the most significant things to a persons life and well being. While watching the movie i learned that Doctors take a oath to put their well being after the patients well being. After hearing that it surprised me that people were rewarded for denying people health care. Why would people take a Oath if they wouldn't keep it? Then I began to think about what our country really is, our country is a capitalist country which in my opinion is controlled by greed. As long as people are making a profit they don't care much about other people’s well being.

Hearing that America is 37th on the health care list out of 191 countries surprised and confused me. Why was our country so low on this list. After hearing this it made sense on why illness and death was so common in our country now. In the economy we are living in majority of people cant afford health care. Also while watching this movie i thought about who were the people who actually knew that the U.S was so low on this list? How many people knew that other countries actually had free health care? For the people who didn't know, would they still praise America as much if they did know?

Hw 24

My Brother by Jamaica Kincaid

Precis: In the beginning Jamaica did not show sorrow, sadness, or grief after her brothers death. After she recalled long lost memories the death of her brother began to have a impact on her in a way she would have never thought of. Jamaica finally came to the conclusion that she not only loved her brother Devon but also her immediate family. Kincaid tried to avoid the sadness and the sorrow but without trying she continued to think about her brothers death. The memories of illness and dying helped her realize her true feelings for her brother. The person she only knew for a couple of years was one of the people that even if she tried she would never forget. Even though Devon will never be forgotten, remembering Devon will have to be through the shadows of his life instead of the brightness.

“This way of behaving, this way of feeling, so hysterical, so sad, when someone has dideed, i don't like it all, i try to avoid it.” (pg. 137)

  Throughout the book Jamaica has not showed typical emotions after a loved one has passed away. She did show much love, sorrow, or sadness towards her brother. I feel as if she felt that dying was a normal thing to do. Since it is normal why do people behave in such a manner as if they are surprised about death? This is one of the key reasons why she choose to avoid these behaviors.

“I felt curious, I wanted to get a good look at the face of boy’s mother, for at the sight of her son in a coffin.” (pg 145)

I feel that Jamaica was curious about death. She was curious about how people act and how they were supposed to act. How were people affected by death? In this quote a woman had to bury her own child who was only four years of age. I feel that she was curious about how mothers feel about burying their own children who they believe are supposed to be the ones burying them.

“That when someone is ill no one mentions it, no one pays a visit; but if a person shall die, there is a big outpouring of people at the funeral.” (pg. 146)

While Devon was ill there were very few people who came to see him and supported him. This was weird to Jamaica because while Devon was healthy he had a lot of friends and female partners. Shouldn’t they have been there to support him? They were not there. After her died there were more people at his funeral then the amount of people who came to visit him. People seem surprised by the deaths of people even if they are seriously ill.

There has been a big difference from the beginning of the book from the end of the book pertaining to Jamaica. At the start she did not even care much for her brother, she was helping him through sympathy. Now Jamaica believes she not only loves her brother Devon but also her immediate family. I feel that it was because she experienced her brothers death, illness, and process of dying. Why did it take that for her to figure out she loved her brother? Why did it take her brother being diagnosed with one of the most deadly diseases for her to spend time with him and get to know him? Even though Jamaica was one of the closest people to Devon in his process of dying I still feel that Jamaica is still curious about the death of her brother. Now that the book has ended, if Jamaica had showed love and affection instead of ignoring and avoiding her brother how would have the book, Jamaica, and her family have turned out?

Hw #23 Part 2

My Brother by Jamaica Kincaid

Precis: Through the eight months of battling and trying to fight HIV, Devon, Jamaica's brother passed away.  Even though through the process Jamaica had doubts about what she was doing she grew a bond with her brother Devon. Emotions were scrambled and Jamaica didn't know if it was love that she was feeling towards the brother she hardly knew nor cared about. The death of her brother did not come as a surprise, it was as if he was already dead by the time she got to know him according to the condition he was in. The death of Devon helped replenished Jamaica back to her original state, she believed that it wasn’t love or concern she felt towards her brother, it was simply sympathy. The only love she knew was the love and warmth of her Husband and children. The Joy of her homecoming which seemed inconsequential, prevailed over the grief one is supposed to contain after the death of a brother.

“My brother would have been dead by now if this act of my mother had been all that remained in my life.” (pg 74)

If Jamaica had followed the path her mother made for her she would not be the person she is today. Her brother would not have lived as long as he did. Jamaica’s mother, a typical Antigua mother felt as if she was raising her kids the correct way. The death of Devon helped me understand why the death rate of people diagnosed with this disease is so high in this country. The morals and respectable things were leading them into a hole of illness where they were to deep into to climb out of.

“Perhaps everyone is living in death, i actually do believe that, but usually it cant be seen, in his case it was death i could see.” (pg 88)

Everyone is living to die. Not only by sickness but also by natural causes such as old age. There is a thin line between some illnesses and death, one of these illnesses are HIV. Conditions such as the condition Devon was in was horrific enough to believe that staying alive might be worst then death. There is a limit to one’s suffering and theres is only one course of action after this limit of suffering, death.

“I did not love my brother, I did not like my brother, i was only sorry that he died.” (pg 106)

It’s normal for one to care and love for their sibling and is way out of the ordinary for someone to not care or love for their sibling, especially in a time of need. Most people become closer & realize the things that are important in their lives when noticing the lost of a love one. Jamaica was not one of these people. Jamaica did not know how to love for her brother leaving her to only feel sympathy.

Jamaica Kincaid continues to state and believe that she does not love her brother. Jamaica also continues to complain about how her brothers illness is having a negative impact on her life. Why is it that she was around to care for him and treat him as if she loved him? While reading my Brother i feel as if Jamaica Kincaid is hiding her true intentions and feelings toward her brother. I feel as if she does not want to create a powerful enough bond with her brother, that it would be to hard to see her brother pass away. Jamaica is protecting herself by avoiding the feelings she has for her brother. Kincaid seems as if she has a special relationship with her children and Spouse, did the death of her brother and the process of him dying make her appreciate them more? This also leads to the question; Why does it take someone to die or to be dying for you to grateful for things you have in your life?

Hw 22

My Brother by Jamaica Kincaid

Jamaica Kincaid has just received some horrible news, her brother has been diagnosed with HIV. Jamaica now living in New York but originally from Antigua has to take a trip back to Antigua to help care for her brother Devon. Since Jamaica did not have a great or even a good relationship with her brother she was not sure how she felt about the situation. After helping care for her brother Jamaica's feelings begin to change and she became confused about how she felt about Devon. She didn’t know if it was sadness, regret, or sympathy but she felt positive that it was not love.

“Since there is no cure for aids it is useless to spend money.” (31) 

Jamaica is now experiencing how sick her brother is. The hospital he is in makes it seem as if there is no chance he will live more than a month. Being that Jamaica does not have a great relationship with her brother she doesn’t feel that she should spend alot of money on something that wont guarantee that her brother will live.

“ I said i would come again and it crossed my min and he said it out loud, yes perhaps to my funeral.” (47)

Devon has a very small chance of surviving for more than a month. He does not try to avoid the fact that he is going to die because he knows in reality there is no way he can survive the disease under these conditions. Also Jamaica believes that he wont be able to survive this deadly disease even though she is the one who is trying to avoid reality.

“ I missed the warm sun, i missed the my brother, being with him, being in the presence of his suffering.” (pg. 50)

Jamaica is starting to form a closer bond with her brother. When she first arrived back to Antigua she didn't even feel that she cared about her brother but now she feels that are feelings there. She is forming a closer bond with him because he is ill, the time she took caring for Devon was the time she noticed she actually cares alot for her brother.

While reading the first third of the “My brother” by Jamaica Kincaid i felt that my views and ideas were similar to hers. Jamaica believes that why should we pay money for medicine and treatment if the patient is guaranteed to die? This is also an idea i have, cant this money go to something just as significant but has a better chance of progressing and prospering. An interesting idea i have after reading is why does it take one to be in the verge of death for people to cherish one’s life? We don't know what we have until it is gone.

Hw #21 Comments

Matt
    I enjoyed reading your post Matt. I thought it was very creative and insightful that you included a poem relating to your ideas. In my opinion the most insightful section of your blogpost was your connection to "movies". Movies are supposed to portray our society's reality.You stated that " I think we all wish death and illness was as easy as it is in the movies." I believe that ultimately you want to come to the conclusion that they "soften" and alter reality. 

Helpful tip: Proofread to find simple mistakes

Hw #21

1. Men are reluctant to going to the doctor
2. Insurance was a significant component to why doctor visits where unprecedented
3. Stayed Alive nine months after being diagnosed
4. Avoided using the terms “death” and “dying”
5. Honeymoon from death, False hope for staying alive
6. One of the better parts of the marriage was when Erik was dying because the time spent together
7. Very good relationship with children

Death, the one thing promised to us as human beings is the one thing that majority of people try to avoid. Most people cant accept the fact that we all have our expiration date at one point. Losing a loved one is one of the most painful and depressing times of a persons life. The guest speaker explained how as a family they avoided using the words “death” & “dying” One of the reasons for this was to maybe “soften” the situation and make it less stressful. Reminiscing on the joyful times and memories to conceal the depressing and harsh reality. By avoiding the one thing that was promised to Erik this showed the denial that existed between the family and even Erik himself. When death finally arrives one of the most common emotions is denial.

Why is it that death is always the thing to bring families closer together? A usual phrase used in our society is; you don't know what you have until its gone. Most people begin to really appreciate loved ones when they are on the verge of dying. The guest speaker stated that one of the better parts of her marriage was the time she got to care for her husband while he was ill. Seeing the person you promised to spend the rest of your life with dying most be a horrific experience. The feelings became stronger after seeing the condition Erik was in. One of the typical reasons may have been because cherishing the short time left with him seemed like it was the only thing logical.

Personally, one of the hardest things for me to imagine is losing a loved one such as a brother, my father, or mother. I am fully aware that each of them will be taken at one point but i still continue to try to avoid the fact. Why do the majority of people try to avoid death even though it is promised? After experiencing the death of a loved one, what feeling is more common; hatred or sadness? For the the part of our lives where we are healthy we fear and avoid dying and death. When we become ill and it’s clear that there is a good possibility we are close to death we try to fight it. Finally when we are extremely near death we begin to accept.

Hw 19

Illness and dying, something we all try to avoid, but can we really avoid them? We try to avoid death and illness by the dominant culture perspectives of medicine and medical treatment. When it comes to illness people could say that my family doesn't take part in the typical practices. Death, one of the few things that is promised to everyone is the thing most people fear. Majority of people follow the dominant culture practices according to illness and dying but some rebel against the typical practices. 

Some people are raised to always go to the doctor or hospital when they are ill and some are raised to find other ways to deal with sickness. My family were in the second category, home remedies were the way to cope with illness. There were two main reasons why home remedies were the number one way to deal with illness. The first reason was because of the cultural background. Being that my mother and her family were from Belize where medicine was not very common they found other ways to better themselves and to fight illness. Another key reason why the typical practice of medicine and medical treatment was not followed was because the lack of income. Medicine was and still till this day isn't cheap, so what do the less fortunate people have to do when it come to feeling ill? Just like anyone else would do, they would find alternatives. The lack of money and the cultural background is not only my mothers reason to not follow the dominant social practices but many people’s reason around the world.

Dying and illness has played a huge role on my family’s life. Just like majority of people they wanted to avoid it but there was absolutely no way they could. At the age on nine my mothers brother passed away. Even after this incident they still tried to ignore and avoid dying. Dying and death was rarely talked about again. Sooner than later it was back to haunt them. Disease and illness started to affect majority of the family. Finally they felt that it could not be avoided. So if you cant avoid it why not prepare for it? Soon bundles of money were put into life insurance, Will’s were created, and funeral homes were picked out. There seemed like there was no other way but to follow the dominant cultural perspectives of preparing for dying.

Some people try to escape from he dominant cultural perspectives and the typical health, illness, and dying practices. Some people try but can’t live any other way. Dying and illness is something that everyone has to experience. My mother and family tried but couldn't avoid the fact that death comes for everyone but had no choice but to not follow the typical practices of illness. Everyone lives a different life but it’s their choice to follow or not to follow the typical and dominant health, illness, and dying practices.