How Racial Statistics Lie

Even though Tukufu Zuberi poses solutions which emphasize the shortcomings of academia, the existence of his body of work itself symbolizes a positive stride towards addressing racial bias.

The book, Thicker than Blood: How Racial Statistics Lie, can be used to highlight the weaknesses of academia as Zuberi, like various other academics, seek a clear cut solution to a socially embedded problem. Therefore, Zuberi’s own solutions are not only naïve but also lack viability and practicality. His solutions to “de-racialize” statistics only weakly address the inherent racial bias from the potentially narrow perspective of the researcher. Therefore, he is quick to note that the researchers should go beyond their own social constructions in order to collect data; however, he fails to address how they would manage thinking independently from their own preconceived thoughts and beliefs about race. Zuberi also suggests that we must “demystify” the notion of racial statistics, yet one cannot help but wonder how this demystification will ever occur.

It is even more astonishing that Zuberi simply makes claims to assess partial solutions to problems in racial statistics after pointing out the complex relationship of race in the context of society. Hence, not only are his claims somewhat short sighted, they also signify a greater problem within the disciplines of academia. Academic rhetoric attempts to critically analyze and assess various matters in order to pose viable solutions to potential problems. However, because these solutions are derived largely from a theoretical perspective, they remain quite distant and inapplicable in the real world. Hence, academia falls into the trap of critical analysis in the sense that in the process of analysis it fails to intrinsically address the problems in a systematic and conducive manner. Furthermore, Zuberi’s work treats race as a factor of choice in statistics when the concept of race itself is not only dependent upon other social constructs but it is also a factor which is intrinsically present in societies. Furthermore, race also plays a factor in research regardless of whether it is indicated in explicit ways when it is reported or in implicit ways when it is not.

Zuberi’s attempts to seek a viable solution also indicate the innate nature of academia in the context of societal factors. Various academics seek a universal truth which can be highly problematic and erroneous. Firstly, because race is socially constructed with respect to which unique society it inhabits, there is no universal truth in regards to race. Secondly, societal problems cannot be solved with the proposition of a single idea. Because societal problems are deeply embedded within a larger cultural construct, potential solutions also need to be embedded in respect to this construct and should take in consideration the complexities rather than making attempts to oversimplify societal matters. Zuberi ignores the fact that even though race is a social construction, it has now become a part of our world. It is embedded in the way we view ourselves as well as those around us. This overriding social factor cannot be overcome. It would be naïve to assume that such a utopian like existence would be present where race could completely be eliminated both in the discipline of statistics as well as otherwise.

Zuberi thoroughly supports the extent to which race is a social construction, yet it is important to note that this realization exists among a very small subset of the population. Most individuals cannot escape the everlasting implications of race in their lives and consequently have internalized race. This inescapability creates a cyclic pattern of dependence and creates further inequalities and misconceptions to spread. For this reason, using race as an independent and removable entity in statistics denies its true construct. In elaboration, race basically legitimizes a system of classification where people are deemed unequal based on a factor as fickle as skin color. Many people live their daily lives in these constructs, so much so that it becomes a glaring reality rather than a socially constructed concept. Even though the concept of “race” has had a fairly short history, it has been able to create a psychological and socio-emotional havoc among various subsets of populations and manifests itself through the beliefs and assumptions about ourselves as well as others who surround us.

While clear cut solutions to such complex matters do not exist, the act of critical thinking, analyzing and questioning these statistics is what makes Zuberi’s work promising. Zuberi himself can be perceived as a positive symbol as he poses questions and dissents from blindly believing in racial statistics. Furthermore, the body of work symbolizes an optimistic step towards the future which may not ever escape the problematic nature of race relations, but may encourage a fertile ground for dialogue, discourse and dissent where individuals are able to pose questions about their social surroundings and bodies of agency instead of blindly accepting normative arguments. Even though this dissent may be in a very small sector of the population, it still indicates a sliver of hope for individuals who continue to question and reconstruct the ideas of race and how it impacts us in our daily lives.

A Critical Analysis of Biomedicine in the Context of HIV

Both Impure Science and When AIDS Began: San Francisco and the Making of an Epidemic address that HIV, not only, challenges the constructs of biomedicine in terms of its manifestation but it also serves to highlight the intrinsic weakness within the systems of biomedicine.

Biomedicine often seeks a “magic bullet” when it comes to addressing a particular disease. Because there is no universal solution to HIV, as it socio-culturally manifests itself in diverse ways within various societies, such a “magic bullet” is not a viable solution in relation to this epidemic. Even if a “magic” vaccine were discovered, this would not address the social, cultural and economic ramifications of the disease.

This particular epidemic can illustrate the inadequacies within the constructs of biomedicine in various ways. Firstly, when HIV initially manifested itself among male homosexuals, homosexuality, itself, became a concept which was largely medicalized and pathologized. Furthermore, biomedicine over accounted for the role of sexual transmission in the spread of HIV. Hence, even when the data set enlisted that a number of homosexuals were also intravenous drug users, research scientists chose to assign sexual behavior as the primary risk factor. Secondly, the dangers of arrogance in research can be felt time and time again in regards to HIV. Biomedicine desperately tries to separate itself from society in order to invest in research with a scientific base, yet it is not able to protect itself from the shortcomings of the researcher himself. This downfall is especially illustrated by Gallo’s fixation with attempting to prove the relation of HIV with a specific type of cancer. Additionally, biomedicine is largely governed by systems of power and legitimacy which are more concerned with the competition within the biomedical research arena rather than a larger altruistic good. Therefore, the cults of credibility formed by an elitist group of scientists not only dictate knowledge as they see fit, but also serve to mostly hinder any other alternative hypothesis in regards to the disease. Lastly, HIV research mainly still ignores socio-cultural and economic factors. In the process of being “scientific,” biomedical research fails to capture the essence of who HIV impacts and why it impacts them. It is scary to believe that researchers sincerely did not and still do not see relations between the prevalence of HIV and its relations to socio-cultural and economic factors.

Moreover, much of HIV research which was conducted principally excluded marginalized populations such as women and intravenous drug users. Therefore, one cannot help but wonder who this research is helping. This curiosity is highly relevant as one considers how biomedicine prefers to be rather fixated with attempting to find an unlikely vaccine to magically cure HIV rather than invest in alternative treatments which show more promise as noted by Michelle Cochrane.

HIV primarily impacts marginalized populations internationally; however, much of HIV research is being done in the western world. This poses three primary concerns. Firstly, it leads to questioning the intentions of the western world in regards to addressing HIV. Because most individuals affected are marginalized populations around the world, why is the western world so thoroughly invested in this disease? Secondly, because the prevention and intervention measures are often being planned in the western world, this further hinders cultural sensitivity and adaptability. For instance, prevention and intervention methods which may have been successful in Ghana may produce drastically different results in Delhi. Thus, the predominant research being done in the western world is of concern as it may undermine cultural factors. Lastly, western researchers may have preconceived notions about countries in which HIV is prevalent. The erroneous beliefs of the manifestation of HIV in Africa being a result of “culture” and Africa’s perceived “incompetence” to implement change both largely hinders biomedicine as highlighted by Cochrane.

Even though HIV is a fairly young virus, it has certainly led to the questioning of biomedical systems of legitimacy and power which reign havoc on disease prevention and intervention measures. Furthermore, its handicap lies in its vested interest in power and money, rather than on genuinely attempting to seek solutions which promise results. HIV especially challenges the notion of “one size fits all” solution yet this does not prevent researchers to attempt to seek this solution. These two books therefore go beyond HIV in the sense that they illustrate how systems of biomedicine which claim to be largely “scientific” are actually laden with political and personal agendas which have more to do with power and funding relations and less to do with addressing the disease. Furthermore, one cannot help but wonder why the field of biomedicine itself is so afraid of looking at larger context which keeps in mind socio-cultural and economic factors. In essence, is biomedicine afraid to do this because this may actually force them into reflecting on their own shortcomings in regards to disease?

Social Capital

Bowling Alone written by Robert Putnam can be deconstructed through the means of four distinct categories which primarily serve to highlight the shortcomings of Putnam’s research. Firstly, the specific use of economic language and terminology itself constricts Putnam’s work. Secondly, the paradoxical relationship which exists between capitalism and communitarianism potentially serves as a means to debunk his entire piece. Thirdly, Putnam’s overall research study can be illustrative of the large discrepancy which can unfortunately exist between one’s intentions as opposed to the manifestation of one’s actions. Finally, the link between social capital and health as presented by Putnam serves to accentuate the weaknesses of his piece as he is quick to make numerous generalizations about the implication of social relations on health.

The potency of language is clearly reflective in Putnam’s work as he fixates on using the language of economics as a means of describing the importance of social relations. This has numerous negative consequences as Putnam objectifies social relations as a means to an end, instead of a means in itself. For instance, the word “capital” implies the desire for more of a particular “good.” In essence, relationships are identified as a quantifiable “good” undermining human interaction in a broader socio-cultural context. Hence, more social interaction is preferred as a means to more social capital instead of the desire to establish these interactions outside the context of gaining “capital.”

Furthermore, Carles Muntaner and John Lynch point out the other problematic aspect of the term “social capital” itself as it identifies social relations as independent of other forms of capital. Hence, the use of “social capital” outside the context of physical and financial capital unfortunately implies that social relationships are considered outside of financial and physical factors, a concept that is largely contradictory to the processes of the real world.

The notion of the “survival of the fittest” is intertwined very intimately with the concept of “capitalism.” Because competition is the central component of capitalism, individuals are encouraged to compete independently with each other in order to gain the most “capital.” However, the concept of communitarianism is based more on the social interactions within a group of individuals in which social relations are dependent on both parties involved and these relations are encouraged in order for the greater good of the community. Therefore, the concept of capitalism and communitarianism present a starkly different and contrasting picture of what is valued and seen as favorable in respect to each scenario. Putnam is utterly entrapped by the “power of capitalist ideology” as pointed out by Vicente Navarro as the researcher fails to address the contradictory nature of the idea of social capital itself.

The discrepancy between Putnam’s intentions and the consequences of his piece of work serves to be both unfortunate as well as puzzling. Putnam’s intends on encouraging the trend towards rekindling social ties within the context of the family and the community in North America. In order to do this, he mostly illustrates the importance of social interactions in relation to the overall wellbeing of individuals. Even though his intentions are grounded in a sincere desire to encourage social interactions, his methods of articulation and presentation of data sets are largely flawed and erroneous. Primarily, the lack of contextualization is unfathomable as Putnam does not take race, gender or ethnic relations into consideration. Secondly, Putnam has an overriding tendency to oversimplify contexts in order to suit his own assumptions. This is clearly illustrated as pointed out by Navarro in the case of laborers during the Progressive Era. Putnam urgently labels young laborers as apathetic towards the labor movement when in actuality large oppositions enforced by the US government and employers severely hindered laborers from joining unions even if they so desired. Hence, Putnam’s “depoliticization” of numerous matters is shocking as he is highly respected as a political scientist yet his work lacks knowledge based on his own personal expertise.

In addition, Putnam is quick to make “naïve epidemiological assumptions” linking health to social relations. His main flaw lies in the fact that he uses individual manifestations of disease and attempts to make implications in regards to a larger social context. Additionally, the quantitative analysis of happiness as attained by particular salary in relation to the happiness attained by marriage or education seems largely oversimplified and questionable. Even though, Putnam himself points out that the data is ambiguous he still inherently assumes that comparisons between happiness attained by marriage vs. happiness attained by a certain increase in salary can actually be related and quantifiable.

In essence, Putnam presents an intriguing concept of “social capital,” yet as the deconstruction of this term occurs, one cannot help but question its viability and sustainability in the real world. Furthermore, the construction of social capital in the backdrop of the psychosocial model hinders such a concept even more so as it fails to contextualize both race and gender which play an integral factor in social relations. Thus, the language of economics has infiltrated the way in which social relations are perceived, so much so that Putnam cannot see beyond his own quantity driven capitalistic perception.

Development as Freedom

In reading Development as Freedom written by Amartya Sen, I could not help but feel quite titillated and enthralled by his work. The importance of embedding economics in the larger context of other socio-cultural and political factors in order to address developmental concerns serves as the central argument of Sen’s work. Hence, Sen presents a beautiful piece which challenges economic growth as the primary mode of addressing development, nevertheless, the lack of the mention of power as noted by Vincente Navarro does prove to be quite fatalistic in Sen’s sincere attempts to deconstruct the functional nature of development.

I thoroughly enjoyed Sen’s critical analysis of economic theory which largely functions on individual agency and free market competition. In his chapter on justice, Sen analyzes how the “utility” derived from a individual gaining a particular good lacks contextualization indicating that all individuals in all circumstances, whether ill, poor, rich and/or disabled will gain the same amount of “utility” from a particular good. I recently noticed this same pattern in my modest attempts to analyze economic models which indicated that all individuals with “agency” will have the same desires and will act in the same exact way. This concept seemed quite baffling to me for various reasons. Primarily, economic models assume that individuals have the “agency” to act in their own free will and therefore will choose strictly for their own profit. The overarching expectation of this type of behavior in all possible circumstances is actually a suffocation of this “agency” that an individual possesses. Secondly, Sen’s concern of the ambiguity of individual “agency” also serves as an important point of discussion as “agency” is constructed by an array of complex interrelated factors such as income, gender, and social standing among other factors which are often undermined by economic theories.

Sen strongly establishes the inherent relationship which exists between different forms of social, physical, economic, political freedoms and their respective relations to the process of development. Vincente Navarro’s critique of Sen’s work notes the lack of a scale between these different forms of freedoms as an indication of weakness. In contrast, I propose to think that Sen may have intentionally left out a distinct scale deliberately in order to emphasize that these freedoms tend to heavily bleed into each other. Hence, establishing a clear cut scale would not only have been highly presumptuous but also restricting in the light of his argument which seeks to present development as a mosaic of larger economic, political and social factors which contributes to its overall functioning. Navarro is right to point out that Sen’s weakness in further elaborating on these relationships is a point of limitation, nonetheless; his lack of a decisive ranking order should not be used as sign of failing but should be seen as intentional.

It is fascinating to note that Sen’s work is not the first piece of work which lacks the emphasis of power relations and power structures in the context of society. We were faced with this fatalistic problem only last week in reading Robert Putnam’s Bowling Alone. Hence, this trend leads me to one primary conclusion. The discussion of power and power relations in a body of work can make the arguments more substantial but they can also make them murky and can consequently create hindrance of presenting clear and coherent arguments. Nevertheless, this leads to various harmful consequences in the context of Sen’s work. The lack of the contextualization of power relations weakens his fundamental argument that development can only take place with the culmination of an array of factors that go beyond economic growth. By largely ignoring the omnipotent presence of power and power structures, he falls into similar traps of oversimplification of social, economic and political relations as the various institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund he is quick to criticize. Because the discussions of power and power relations are often times implicit and difficult to assess from a strictly objective perspective, Sen’s arguments about development are more neatly aligned because of the absence of these very factors.

The deconstruction of development which goes beyond the economic growth model to include the contextualization of social, cultural and political factors is Sen’s most thought provoking argument. Hence, Sen’s strengths lie less in his actual work but what his work symbolizes in the larger context of development. Sen’s emphasis of freedom with its relation to development proves to be a fundamental strength in his work as it serves as the driving force for the majority of his arguments. Even though Sen’s overall body of work does challenge the current development discourse, one cannot help but notice some of the larger inconsistencies and drawbacks of his arguments.

The Importance of Location

Location has various negative physiological, social, and psychological implications on a particular society. Root Shock written by Mindy Fullilove, explores these psychosocial implications associated with urban renewal projects which displace numerous individuals from their homes leading to both a loss of a social support system as well as feelings of isolation and confusion. In the article, “Racial Residential Segregation: A Fundamental Cause of Racial Disparities in Health” presented by David Williams and Chiquita Collins, we can clearly see the physiological manifestations of location driven racial segregation which has proven to cause an overwhelming account of health disparities. Hence, the importance of race and power relations are brought to attention as these factors play an integral role in establishing reasons for why the displacement of individuals occurred, reasons for why a cycle of inequality exists and finally, why this cycle is constantly and repeatedly propagated.

Fullilove’s explains root shock and its potential impact by creating an equal parallel to burn wounds. This leads to two primary implications. Firstly, root shock is further understood as a phenomenon which impacts different individuals not only by different methods but also in different degrees. This contextualizes the psychological manifestations as one is required to approach different “victims” of root shock through different levels of care and support. Secondly, this example aids in illustrating the very impact of root shock itself. By using burning, a highly painful and sometimes permanent wound, the author helps us understand the potency of root shock and its manifestation on the mind. Therefore, by equating a physiological condition to a psychological one, Fullilove presents an argument which allows an individual to appreciate the extent to which the experience of root shock can be utterly devastating and life altering.

Fullilove’s work also deconstructs race and power relations by analyzing why such an incessant need for urban renewal projects initially took place. She distinctly notes that such projects were executed more so for economic advantage and for hiding poverty for the visual convenience of the rich rather than addressing it through effective means. Hence, the process of such “hiding” also has unfortunate physiological consequences as discussed by the Williams and Collins article.

Diseases often times thrive in conditions of structural inequalities making such inequalities even more pronounced and incapacitating. Hence, racial segregation by location as a product of institutionalized racism can be perceived as a fundamental social cause of disease. Disease and health, in this context, can be used in some regards as a scale of social inequality. Certain conditions such as tuberculosis flourish among vulnerable populations where individuals are living in poor and crowded housing conditions. Other health conditions like asthma have also been linked directly to the exposure to pollutants and other airborne toxins. Recently, even the occurrence of heart disease has been higher among populations with compromised living conditions as noted by Williams and Collins. Therefore, in analyzing the relationship between health, race and location, we must not only look at the social conditions for disease but also how certain diseases only occur in specific social conditions. Hence, we have to begin to perceive the presence of many diseases as a manifestation of a fundamental problem within the social and structural system itself.

Therefore, racial segregation by location leads to the lack of access of proper housing, nutrition, education and work opportunities all contributing to poor health conditions. Such limitations foster more inequality as individuals are not able to escape the cycles of disparity which have been set in place by systems of institutionalized racism. On the other hand, such conditions also have other connotations for marginalized populations. The social and economic inequalities in such societies provide a fertile ground for crime, violence as well as other grave occurrences. Furthermore, these occurrences are then in turn used to crucify individuals and justify both explicit and implicit expressions of racism by portraying marginalized populations in a largely negative light. The conditions caused by institutionalized racism are also the very conditions used to validate such injustices. This catastrophic relationship of consequence is one which is both cyclic and inescapable.

In the light of such injustices, strong social relationships play a crucial role in fostering a community which supports positive growth and development. Hence, when urban renewal projects took place, they fragmented and disintegrated the community unit making individuals feel largely disconnected. This only served to add to the many other inequalities that the communities were already facing. In addition, the projects socially crippled individuals who found comfort in social ties and relations. By disregarding such ties and relations, the urban renewal projects not only displaced numerous individuals but also created one more obstacle in the lives of individuals.

Urban Decay, Contagion and the Environment

Deborah and Rodrick Wallace present a fascinating piece of work, A Plague on Your Houses, which analyzes the consequences of urban decay and disintegration using the metaphor of disease contagion. The manner in which urban decay is presented as a state of disease draws light on two primary factors. Firstly, to contextualize a problem as “diseased” in itself implies that the conditions are detrimentally impacting the “body” of the community. In elaboration, the “benign neglect” as discussed by Wallace & Wallace along with “planned shrinkage” only further serves to propagate the disease process, so much so that, these methods develop into the main modes of “disease transmission.” Hence, overcrowding, unhygienic living and working conditions all contribute to this “diseased” state. Secondly, we need to place the “physiological”[1] diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis among others within the contexts of the “diseased” socio-cultural and economic states. Therefore, in truly appreciating the discussion of space, one must keep in mind both physiological and ideological disease contexts which are intimately bound together at various structural and functional levels of the individual, community, as well the world.

Even though to some of us the diseased state of socioeconomic and structural inequalities stand out as glaring problems which clearly relate to health disparities and therefore need to be acutely addressed, this concept is unfortunately far removed from many of our academic and medical colleagues. Thus, the arguments presented by Wallace & Wallace sincerely serve to present a more complete picture of not only how the role of class and socioeconomic conditions propagate diseases like HIV and TB but also how these diseases symbolize a manifestation of greater inequalities and injustices which are deeply embedded within our societies.

As discussed by Wallace & Wallace, biomedicine, unfortunately suffers from the symptoms of resorting to superficial measures which temporarily relieve “diseased” states, but do not fundamentally address the problem. Hence, much funding is allocated to X drug for Y disease, even when underlying social conditions are clearly perpetuating conditions of disease. There are several potential reasons why such omissions are made. Firstly, identifying a physiological diseased condition as contributed by factors outside of biomedicine would indicate that the expertise of knowledge and a viable “solution” through that knowledge may not be inherently rooted in biomedicine. This rather humbling experience may be quite discomforting to those medical professionals that pride themselves so intimately to the successes and strides of biomedicine. Secondly, it is a less daunting task to find a “magic bullet” for a disease: a method of treatment which would ideally involve the consumptions of an array of pharmaceutical drugs which would serve to cure X disease. HIV has proved to be the most challenging from this perspective, as the mutative nature of the diseases makes vaccination an impractical solution. Hence, if a disease does not have a “magic bullet,” this may consequentially imply that unfortunately biomedicine does not have a “cure” and therefore may need to look out of their laboratories in order to assess socio-cultural and economic factors which may play a large role in propagating disease.

Deborah Cohen’s article, “Broken Windows and the Risk of Gonorrhea,” presents a substantially weak argument. Cohen suffers from a lack of proper contextualization as we have seen before in authors like Robert Putnam. The “broken window” theory assumes that individuals who live in poor and mismanaged neighborhoods intentionally neglect their environment consequently leading to their own suffering and downfall: such a hypothesis is both ignorant and largely naïve. The structural inequalities and conditions created by those in power victimize certain communities to live in a dire manner. Furthermore, the marginalized populations are in turn being blamed for their own “environment” as if the environment is some all encompassing concept which controls the lives of whole populations. In addition, Cohen implies that repainting of walls and fixing broken windows could mend our cities as well as our world, which is largely erroneous and presets a rather skewed perception of reality. Quickly into the article, one realizes that Cohen’s arguments are also superficial in that they do not assess class relations and socioeconomic conditions which all play a large factor in propagating certain disease conditions. Furthermore, her use of the word “environment” in order to encompass an umbrella of possible definitions severely weakens her rather awkward and presumptuous overgeneralizations.

The Cohen article presents a stark contrast to the Wallace & Wallace book as the Wallace’s quite beautifully contextualize urban decay and its manifestations, where as Cohen utterly fails to even see the larger context of disease. Some academics like Cohen blame dire health conditions solely on the environment where as Amartya Sen discusses the importance of socio-cultural conditions but leaves out the discussions about power, the Wallace’s in contrast cover urban decay in a manner which successfully contextualizes the larger picture to the greatest extent in comparison to the other readings we have had the opportunity to read thus far.

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[1] The term physiological is in quotation marks because HIV stays dormant for many number of years before outward symptoms appear, however, it devastates the body when it manifests and hence, becomes quite heavily symptomatic in its active state.

Medical Apartheid

Medical Apartheid

Medical Apartheid, written by Harriet A. Washington presents a horrific history of experimentation and exploitation of the African American population starting as early as the nineteenth centaury. Although much of the novel is rather graphic in describing physical measures of torture and exploitation, this form of vivid imagery actually serves to establish the poignancy and importance of the matter. In the much revered and respected discipline of medicine, Washington sheds light upon the ugly brutalities committed against African Americans through out the course of history. Hence, Washington’s work serves to illustrate three primary concepts. Firstly, it addresses how black bodies were largely dehumanized and exploited. Secondly, it discusses the dark history of medicine in which African Americans were repeatedly used for human experimentation for the prestige and success of medical professionals. Finally, Washington’s work allows us to deconstruct the field of medicine in a manner which opens our eyes to the entrepreneurial and predatory nature of the profession and how such traits are paradoxical to how we perceive physicians and their roles in our societies.

Human experimentation existed to satiate the sick curiosities of the medical academia as well as occurred with the intentions of discovering the secrets about how the body was physiologically structured and how it functioned. Such curiosities largely led to the dehumanizing of the bodies of the individuals studied as academics perceived the body more as objects of study and observation rather than subjects who held value and meaning. Unfortunately, this dehumanization occurred mostly in the context of African Americans bodies. The omnipotent belief of black inferiority and curious assumptions about how African Americans reacted to pain and disease only further served as a justification for black exploitation in the minds of white physicians. Such dehumanization is horrific to note from the painting by W. Gibson from Dr. Henry Clay’s collection, which illustrates how a white doctor drops a dead black baby from his coat. The picture is quite heartrending as baby is not only shown with his face down but in an awkward position which clearly serves to symbolize a mass of flesh devoid of all human characteristics. Considering that children in the context of society are much loved and revered, the dehumanization of a child because of his race is quite a scary reality.

Various doctors like Marion Sims gained great respect and success at the cost of numerous botched up surgeries on African American female slaves. It is heartbreaking to see that doctors like Marion Sims are granted marble memorials in Central Park in New York City for having made “brilliant achievements,” but the stories of the women he tortured and exploited at the cost of this prestige lie hidden in the covers of Washington’s books. It makes me well up in tears to think about the numbers of lives lost at the cost and vanity of medicine. The very discipline which is built on the foundation of saving lives not only takes lives but does so in a horrendous and humiliating manner.

Being that I myself want to pursue a career in medicine, Washington’s work raises serious doubts in my mind about my future. As a naïve student, I have always assumed the nobility which is attached to the field of medicine and have perceived the power of “healing” as a gift that a few members of society are fortunate to practice. However, in the more recent years, it has become more apparent that the discipline of medicine is largely run for entrepreneurial gain and success and often times has little to do with the wellbeing of patients. This phenomenon is seen through out Washington’s work where even though a physician has the responsibility of treating the wounds and pains of African Americans, their bodies are often used for experimentation. Furthermore, medicine is presented more as a privilege as it is enjoyed by the wealthy white community. Unfortunately, the privileged and wealthy members of society still enjoy extensive health benefits in comparison to those members of society who may be in most need of health care but cannot afford such benefits.

I am left here wondering about the stories behind the bodies. I do not want to know of Marion Sims. I want to know of the women whose lives and bodies he so deeply invaded. Why have they been forgotten? And if anyone, should not they be remembered? Why are these stories untold? Perhaps I will never know the answers to my curiosities. However, I am gratified that I was fortunate to have seen a glimpse of realities under the large cloak of credibility, nobility and perceived altruism even though in some way these realities scare me and shatter my very existence.

Random Thoughts

Sometimes I am afraid of all that goes on in the world. I feel at times I am very naive about what the world is really like and what the people in it are really like. I also find myself to be exceedingly odd in comparison to my peers. What is this greed for money? As if it is the end of be all, and i agree that it is certainly important in order make a living, is it not given way too much importance in this world. I guess I am not being realistic about it at all. and I go grow older i will probably realize the value and importance of money and why i need it so much. but so many poeple are me suffocate themselves with the concept of money where they want to live breathe and die in money. and i guess i just dont see the point of it all. what if one gets all the money they want, then what. does money sincerely solve all our problems. another thing that has been bothering me lately is the fact that we are so quick to fixate on our own lives..our own problems. when the rest of the world has grimmer problems then we can ever imagine. what makes us so selfish? what makes me so selfish? sometimes, i just find myself dwelling on my own problems and not recognizing that they are to a large extent petty and irrelevant. i am so confused. all i want to do is help the world become a better place. how does one begin? now that i delayed medical school for one year, i have all year next yr to do something productive. but i just dont know. a part of me wants to pursue the mph degree only one yr programs though since im tryin to matriculate med school fall 2009. another part of me just wants to go to nepal and do extensive volunteering health world. i just want to do something..anything. something that goes beyond me..im taking my mcats in jan. hope i do well. i hope this semester is all i want it to be. sometiems i just feel so alone in the context of wanting to do something that is genuinely good for the world or for someone. i find that most people want to get a job..earn money. take care of their OWN family. OWN friends. and so forth. but why isnt the whole world considered our family? why is it that someone else dying..suffering in pain does not make affect most people? I just dont know. i want to beleive that the world is my family. and in that context i want to care for everyone. here or internationally. i just think many people are quick to draw lines amongst people they know..but honestly i think we are the only species which intentionally kill each other in vain. what is this money and power bussiness. why do we live in such an unequal world? why was i fortunate enough to be born in a family that gave me opportunities of education? what makes me so special? nothing, luck. thats all. we cannot control which family we are born into. but if we are fortunate enoufh to be born into families which have taken care of us and propelled us to higher education and so forth, do we not hold some sense of responsibiltiy? when did the people across the world become strangers? are we not made of the same bones..same blood..are not our bodies the same. then why do we treat others like strangers. why do we dehumanize? therefore, sometiems im just afraid of what lies ahead of me. perhaps i am naive to feel this way. to want to do soemthing about it. but there is fear in me that ceutnaries of racism, colonial rule, hatred, betryal. what can be done. how do we change gender relaitons? how do we change whole societies? education serves to both liberate and suffocate me.
i am liberated with the power of knowledge. with the art of knowing. realzing so much about the world.
yet i feel suffocated for not being able to do anyhting about it. or perhaps i can and i am not seeking the ways?

Partnerships in Health

Health Care is definitely one of those fields where partnership is integral for growth and sustainabiltiy. Mutually beneficial partnerships allows for individauls to share ideas and learn from each others strengths and weaknesses. Partnerships which exists between two organizaitons is much like relaitonships which exist between two poeple. The relationship requires time, effort communciation and patience. Often times if expectations are not clarified, it causes problems later in the partnership. Partnerships are also key for non profit organizations. Often times non profits face large concerns as many small nonprofits exist which stand for similar goals and obejectivec yet are competing against each other for allocation of funds and resources instead of working together for the greater good of the poeple. This hinders various organizaitons as they get caught up with the challenging funding aspects, and the exponential rise of new nonprofits certainly does not help the cause.
Another challenge faced in parthernship is the allocation of power. If one party controls a greater portion of resoruces this may be a potential cause for a strained relaitonship. Other unfavorable conditions include a partnership where one party is clearly beign taken advantange of, the orgnaizations within the partnership are not clear and upfront of their goals and ideals and so forth.
But with more partnership in the non profit health sector great strides could be reached.

Culture and Global Health

Health is a universal concept. It is something which binds us all and connects us and makes us whole. Yet one cannot forget that health has various interdisciplinary aspects inherent within its context, and until these disciplines are addressed, one cannot truely address health matters. One such matter which comes into mind is the concept and importance of culture. Culture binds a group of individauls together who have been brought together by family, religion, ethnicity or particular location. A particular culture can arise from a group of individuals who chose to spend a considerable amount together in a specific type of activity or behavioral pattern. Perhaps this too is a very limited definition of culture symbolizes in society, especially to certain individauls. Therfore, when dealing with disease culture is important. integral even. in order to maintain cultural relevance and sensitivity is perhaps one of hte hardest tasks of propogating care yet this sensitivity and relatedness is essential in order to build relationships of trust and respect not only among a patient and a health care provider but in the health care bussiness and industry as a whole.
I think that my thesis will potentially focus on this very topics. The importance and relevance of culture in the medical practice especially in regards to specific diseases. I think I will study case studies from various countries and research on thier practices. Their percpetion of medicine and how the western perception of medicine compares and contrasts with that of other cultures. Furthermore with a disease like HIV, it will be fasicating to study the implications of cultural practices among individauls who are affected by the disease. Are there poeple who are cured with concoctions proposed by local medicine men, and if not, what does one trained in western medical practices do in order to respect cultural practices while attempting to respect the rights of individauls to receive medication which exist outside of cultural norms.

The Wives of International Graduate Students: Session 3

Each week I await for this day. I wait to meet new women and listen to them talk about thier lives and thier children. I am particularly curious about what their experiences have been like in a new country. I have the feeling that when one comes to the US at a younger age, he or she is able to adapt to the new culture. Whereas if one come here after thier teenage years they are still very much grounded in thier own cultures and traditions. All of these women have husbands that work for the unversity. However becasue most of the women are on a depended visa tehy are not able to work nor go to school. When quesitoned about thier choice of actvities, many women showed a vast interest in reading. Some saif they enjoyed reading romance novels and I agreed with them. A women confessed she loved romantic tragedies because they were quite touching and some even made her cry. Sometime I wonder what it is that makes these women happy. Whenever asked about thier happiness, they usaully talk about thier husband and their families. They do not seem to identify themselves indivuadually but are more concerened with the greater good of everyone. Some mothers are not completely able to participate in the class due to the fact that they are paying a lot of attention to thier chidlrne. A women expressed her desire to travel, but later mentioned that she couldnt due to the fact that seh had a little boy. Sylvia, the instructor, repleid by saying that despite the fact that young children can be hard to handle in trips one should not travel becasue of it. She reflected on her own experiences of taking trips with her chidlren even when they were very little. She explained that children learn in these journies, and ,many places are geared towwards chidlrends activities.

The Wives of International Graduate Students: Session 2

Each meeting provides its own meaning. And with each meaning, I feel like I know a little bit more not only about the women in the group but also about myself. Today I would like to take the time to describe some of the women I work with. Each one is so charming in thier own way that when it comes time to leave I find myself not wanting to leave thhis group of women that I feel very much close to. Although I know the names of most of the women, I would like to keep it annoymous in order to protect thier thoughts and thier own privacy.The lady that sits beside me is from Iran. She has been here with her husband for three months and is very much delighted to come to English classes. She speaks very well english but sometimes has trouble with idioms and slangs. She intently listens to Sylvia, the instructor, and writes in a bright red pen. I have gotten very fond of this particular lady. Every time I explain somehting to her, she is overjoyed and thanks me with all her might and heart. I was delighted when I got a chance to meet both her and her husband at the street fair. It was nice interacting with her outside the classroom and getting to know the wonderful person that she is. The lady that sits across from me is from Germany. She has really curly blond hair and is always on or before time for the class. She is very proficient in English but she too has trouble with the numerous idioms that Americans use. She rides along on her bike every morning and talks of Germany frequently. SHe expresses that she likes it here, but she wishes the air were cleaner. There is a Mexican woman that has come two times during my whole service learning experience. She usually sits on the floor behind the tables and takes care of her little son. When asked about her likes or dislikes, she talks about her husband's likes and dislikes, and does not ever refer to herself individually. When asked about her opinion about living here. She soft spokenly responds that her husband has a good position here and a place like this would provde a good education for her children. Never have I once heard or seen this lady refer to her individual needs. WHen i first met her, I was rather shocked that there were still women that dedicated their whole lives to thier families. It made me wonder if I was ultimately the antithesis of this woman, and was that a good or a bad thing. As I listened to her talk of her devotion to her family, I thought of my devotion to a career in medicine. I began to ponder whether I was selfish not to want a family until I was 30, or perhaps it was her expreinces that made her want a certian way of life, and my experiences that shaped my way of thinking.

The Wives of International Graduate Students: Session 1

Today was a very special day for me. I got the oppurtunity to listen to the women intently as they answered some of my questions. I told Sylvia it was my second last day doing service learning, so she game me the wonderful oppurtunity to question the women in the meeting. I asked them about how they felt regarding accepting a new culture and traditions, coming from a very different background. I further went to tell them that I myself still have a hard time trying to assimilare myself into the American culture, and what thier experinces have been. I was very eager to see that many women wanted to answer my quediotns. A lady from Taiwan disccused that her seven year old daughter knew very good english having been to the elementary school in Montegommery county for the past few months. She went to describe how difficult it was for her to teach her duaghter about the Taiwaneese culture and tradition, when her dauther was constantly being influenced by American pop culture. SHe stressed that her daughter was forgetting taiwanense slowly, making it harder for the mother to communicate with her own child. Another woman described her own loneliness in a foreign country. SHe talked about her fear in bieng in a new country in which she was not very familiar with the language and was of different ethinicity. SHe was afraid that people were ignoring her becasue of the lack of her ability to speak proper english, and perhpads for being Korean. SHe admitted that she at times still feels alienated in this society beucase of her supposed lack of english proficiency. It was very ironic that the Arabic women expressed that she was very happy and found a good communtiy to live and she her troubles with. She went to describe the fact that she had a storng community of friends and that she felt very welcome in this country. Although I would have percienved that perhaps people woul quesiotn her about her hijab and the conservatism in thier culture, but she seemed quite well adapted to a culture that was quite opposite of her own more conservative society.

Kolkotta

the cotton sticking to my skin
the half melted ice cream
the crinkled skin of the old man in the corner
the smiles of the children in the streets
the non lane lanes
the optionary red lights
the bigness of it all
the smallness of life
puppies and kittens
dirt hunger and fear
lack of emotion
abundnce of emotion
tired hands
worn out feet
old chappals
rocky rikshws
the beauty parlors
the slums of the city
school buses
school uniforms
tiffin lunches
undried clothes
warm breeze
humidity
comfort
suffocation
isolation
sadness
lost and confused
stuck
helpless
used and abused
late night indian movies
glorified indian channels
gucci armani, the "beggers" stop
lack of food
hunger
anorexic
malnutrition
pain death and disgust
disease
the smell of phenol

Why pursue public health?

I want to change the world. I find that it is so easy to become caught in a world which often times seems unfair, judgmental and untrustworthy. We live in world where people are dying for numerous reasons, many of which, they shouldn’t be dying for. I, therefore, feel a strong affiliation to all individuals in our global community and think that we all have a vested responsibility in making this world a better place. It is perhaps lofty to believe that one can change the world, yet if everybody felt that they could, the world in which we live today would be different

Why choose public health of all disciplines? Public health, itself, implies the health of a population. I strongly feel that the health of a population is often times linked very intimately to the health of an individual and that public health officials are specifically needed in order to establish partnerships and relationships among specific health care provider groups which facilitate care. It is with the collaboration of population and individual based care that the need of the greatest amount of people can be met. Public health also proves to be an exciting field which is rapidly expanding. A public health degree essentially is able to supply students with tools in order to plan, evaluate and implement health projects on a larger population scale. Hence, my undergraduate major, faculty within the University of Virginia, the important relationship which exists between service and health, the essential tools which this program is able to provide, the novelty of the program itself as well as the importance of a broad culturally conscious foundation all serve as reasons why the BA-MPH degree is of great importance to me.

Majoring in Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries allows me to see the world of health from a completely different, context driven, perspective. My desires for creating my own major are very much in line for my desire to have the opportunity to participate in this graduate program. My major essentially looks at disease from a broader context and allows the combination of a science background fused with a liberal arts enriched program. My aspirations for the major have been focused on looking at disease from a socioeconomic, cultural and economic perspective, and highlights the fact that often times health is governed by various other factors which may not directly be linked to health care per say. To elaborate, my major establishes the importance of interdisciplinary and creative solutions which are necessary for health care problems. I strongly believe that this education process has been integral to the growth of me as an individual as well as a student. As an individual, I feel that my course of study has clarified my future purpose. As a student, I feel a great inclination to go to my classes and finish my coursework because I thoroughly enjoy the process. I feel that this graduate degree will reward me with similar feelings of happiness and academic fulfillment.

I have always deeply desired to invest in an education and career path which keeps this particular goal in mind. Before one can ponder why service itself is so important, it is important to question why health itself is integral to the quality of life. Firstly, one’s health is deeply associated with one’s overall wellbeing. An individual who is not healthy may not be able to work, pursue their aspirations, or complete simple tasks independently. The positive state of the health of an individual allows him or her to function not only in daily simple activities but to engage in a more complex role that the individual plays in society, at work, as well as in the home. Health, therefore, is so deeply connected with an individuals overall ability to function and conduct their lives independently and securely, that I strongly feel that it is a field which desperately needs more individuals from all sectors and aspects. Health and service are also deeply associated together in various ways. Because health is so deeply connected with the individual’s ability to complete simple as well as complex tasks, the service aspect allows a health care worker to facilitate the lives of the individuals who are not able to independently live their lives due to some health conflict. Therefore, this line of service is particularly intriguing and fascinating as it addresses a basic need, and facilitates the lives of various individuals at a very integral level. It is the connection between service and health which deeply draws me to this line of work. Public health therefore facilitates this relationship by extending the health care services from an individual to a population. The extent and impact of this form of service holds various promises for the future of health care. Furthermore, public health initiatives often times focus on preventative medicine vs. the more traditional treatment based medicine, making this aspect of this field particularly fascinating. This approach deeply appeals to me as it not only is often times more cost efficient to invest in preventative initiatives, but these programs often help save and facilitate the lives of various individual nationally as well as globally.

On my journey as an undergraduate, I have discovered that my goal in life is to facilitate the lives of individuals who face dire conditions due to socioeconomic and/or cultural reasons from a health conscious standpoint. Although I have been having many challenges in sorting out how exactly this facilitation should take place, I strongly believe that this degree will provide me with the strong foundation which will be the building blocks both for my educational as well as career initiatives in the future. Because the foundation will be based on a fairly interdisciplinary curriculum, this degree will prepare me for various fields explicitly and implicitly related to health for future opportunities. A public health degree also encourages an individual to see the bigger picture. One is encouraged to put any health situation in a larger context which allows one to appreciate and analyze the intricate relationships which exist between health and various other aspects of the lives of individuals. This degree also holds promise as it has wide applications and can be sufficiently utilized in any future academic endeavor as well as career path.

Additionally, my interest in this field of study is also deeply vested in my deep belief that public health scholars are able to facilitate the much needed communication and collaboration between the disciplines of law, medicine, and business. The novelty of the program itself further encourages me to be involved in it as I feel that it is able to change the most at this stage. A new program would potentially be more open to various options and initiatives potentially suggested by students. Recognizing that this program is very new, I feel that I would also provide a valuable contribution to the program in various ways. I hope to transform and/or hone my passions towards initiating partnerships with international as well as national organizations which deal specifically with public health. I find that my undergraduate degree in Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries, will allow me to further hone my education towards a path which not only deeply fascinates me but towards a path which will allow me to contribute in some fashion to the overall program. My undergraduate educational experiences thus far indicate my drive for taking leadership and initiative

Hence, a public health degree, therefore, offers individuals the toolkits for evaluation and research, a broad foundation of health in a larger context, as well as the ability to collaborate, initiate, and maintain partnerships not only locally but also internationally. Furthermore, it allows one to put any health situation in a socio-cultural and political context, which is often times integral to truly understanding and appreciating a health care situation. The degree also provides a strong foundation for any career path as it focuses on honing skills rather than investing only on specific results. Additionally, the opportunity to collaborate and work with various individuals who are passionate in the same field allows one to establish mutually enriching strong relationships and partnerships with other individuals within the masters program.

Major Proposal: Infectious Diseases in Developing Countries

Abstract: The objective of this interdisciplinary major is to look at infectious diseases from a microscopic to macroscopic scale in developing countries. In order to attain this goal, one must initially become familiar with the diseases, which are currently prevalent in the world. These diseases and infections should be well researched and understood before further work can be done. Not only is it important for one to learn the details and manifestations of these diseases, but one must also keep in mind the preventative measures or the potential preventative measures for these conditions. Macroscopically, it would be fascinating to study the spread of disease in various populations through behavioral and/or cultural signals. It is also important to consider cultural and behavioral conditioning within a society that is affected. Finally, one must also keep in mind the global health care system when dealing with infectious diseases. These global concerns range from ethical issues to political ones, as a nation’s political state can often times be a deciding factor for the amount of allocations and resources which are available for a particular health care problem.

Proposal

In analyzing any health concern one must consider all aspects of the problems at hand. This includes a series of logistics, policy, as well as the society that is in question. In order to assess the context of which the problem lies, one must have a thorough knowledge of the problem and the steps that one should take in order to eradicate this problem. The potential courses for this interdisciplinary major provide a strong foundation by which an individual is able to take courses in politics, ethics, biology and philosophy. These courses compiled together from a diverse array of disciplines provide a backbone for a future that holds the promise of much involvement in the current global health care system. This major also exposes an individual to a series of disciplines which are very much intertwined, yet no other present major offers these array of courses in this particular fashion. The importance of this major’s creation lies in the fact that infectious diseases are becoming a growing problem in the global health care arena. However, individuals who wish to be part of the aid for this problem, must not only have the proper scientific knowledge about the conditions involved, but they must also be capable of considering other issues of societal constraints, politics, and resources which are available.

The fusion of a liberal arts education with a science-based education provides a comfortable balance that is ideal for any individual planning to have a career in the professional world. The science courses the individual will be taking through this major will allow him or her to learn of the various diseases affecting the developing nations along with preventative measures, which can be taken. The information provided from this part of the curriculum will provide a vast background by which one is able to make judgments and take actions pertaining to the current problem in question. The politics courses allow one to understand the political climate of these third world nations and the environment and societies, which are effected by a particular disease. Having a political backdrop will definitely enrich an individual’s education, as it will provide a certain context in which one is able to consider other factors, which also play a part when attempting to aid a health care crisis. Courses from the discipline of religion and philosophy have been chosen as they both serve to provide further knowledge of the cultural influences, which may play a factor in a particular society as well. The ethics courses chosen serve as a link between the different disciplines as it deals directly with the diseases involved yet at a level that is more concerned about the society’s welfare.

Because this interdisciplinary major is composed of a diverse array of courses, one must not look upon this diversity as a loss of purpose or pathway. This major actually serves to provide adequate background knowledge and education for an individual who plans to pursue a more specific endeavor in the future. For example, an individual planning to pursue this major would have the ultimate goal of focusing on a particular disease which effects a specific society in its own unique cultural context. Furthermore, this individual having taken the array of courses will be able to focus on a particular disease and evaluate the impacts of this disease both from a scientific as well as anthropological perspective. Although an observer may still perceive this major as broad or general, one must comprehend that this type of background is essential for any individual considering a profession in the global health care system.

Why pursue global health?

Many diseases which affect many developing nations are conditions which can be prevented and controlled with the proper allocation of resources and implementation of proper medical programs. It deeply concerns me that despite the fact that some cures and solutions do exist to these problems, the world is still faced with disease which arise from poverty and unsanitary conditions. It is this disparity between the “haves” and the “have nots” that is most heart rendering and I feel that something needs to urgently be done about this situation. Because I am interested in the field of international medicine, I think that this project is critical for me as it will allow me to get first hand experience in a field which I hope to invest my life in.

I also genuinely feel that the there is a dire need for individuals to investment their time in international projects and any sort of time commitment and project can prove to be helpful to international organizations who are working in preserving the health and well being of individuals around the world. Therefore, I feel that this experience would beautifully fit into my academic and career goals. A project of this caliber will allow me to use the knowledge base which I have gained from my classes in ethics, development and politics and apply them in a real world setting. I also think that a project which allows me to experience some of the situations which were dissected in my various lectures will allow me to appreciate the hidden complexities within each of these various disciplines.

A global health experience would also complement my study of infectious diseases in developing countries which is currently my major. The initial purpose of deriving my major was to analyze the constructs of politics, ethics and society in the context of disease. A global health project will combine all of these disciplines in a format which will be conducive not only to my academic goals but also as a human being. In a world which is driven by so many materialistic incentives and ambitions it sometimes becomes difficult to see beyond oneself and put situations in perspective. A project of this caliber will allow me to put various issues which I have faced in my academic as well as my personal life in perspective so I can learn from even the challenging experiences instead of simply being hindered by them. I sincerely believe that there is also a dire need to be aware of the circumstances which affect us all. It is so easy to get caught in the daily life of school work that one often forgets the deeper importance of why it is so integral to get an education and the value of that education which goes beyond the prospects of a new job. A project of this type will allow me to be further aware of my academic goals and aspirations and will allow me to appreciate the value of my education and real work experience.

Lastly, the disparities in the world are so devastating to the point where it seems like it would be a crime to not attempt any humanitarian effort. I feel like the world we live in and its wellbeing is just as important as the local community which affects us on a day to day basis. A simple matter of distance does not make a location’s problems insignificant and therefore I always want to involve myself in projects which will allow me to do humanitarian work on a global scale as I feel like it is essential to our world community.

Calling

Show me the way and I will follow you

Take me to the path which I am suppose to follow

I know there is a calling I know there is need

I sense it tonight more deeply than anything

Show me the path show me the way

I sense a calling which is waiting for me

I am glad

I am glad I have the power to feel

The power to show emotion

The power to cry

I am glad that I feel for the world

For its pains and agonies

I am glad that I am aware

I have begun to see what many do not see

I am glad that now that I can

I can move further

And be of some use

I am glad that I have the power of words

I am glad that I have the power of my mind

I am glad that I have the power of my destiny

I am glad that the world is the best teacher of all

And I am only a young student at the face of a tough but good teacher

The Girl

I still remember her smile

The way she grinned at me shyly

She loved to smile I think

I never asked her so I don’t know for sure

She would tell me of her dreams

Of her wishes to get away and get out

And I wished so badly I could do something but I could not

She worked so hard

Washed so many dishes

I felt so bad when people were mean

I saw cry and her tears ached me

She had such small hands and feet

I still remember her big smile

I didn’t get to talk to her much

Her work overtook her life

Yet I felt bad

I watched her work so hard

Yet they did not stop yelling

Continued to yell

At times I would lock myself up and cry

Cry because I couldn’t do anything

Why did she have to be here in this way

Why did she have to be in so much pain and agony

She talked about her mom and said she missed her

She talked fondly of her village at home

I saw the sparkles in her eyes

The aspirations dreams the desires

How was she any different from me?

I hope the world will care

The world today

Oh mother earth

I am sorry for the destruction and the pain we have caused

I am sorry for the lost lives

And I am sorry for it all

Where has humanity been lost?

What and who have we turned into

Sometimes I look in the mirror I do not recognize myself

I see the mirror and I see the vanity

When did it all become about being skinny and fashion magazines

When did the rich begin to care more about their pets than the dieing children around the world?

Why don’t more people care?

Why aren’t more people concerned?

I am sorry to all those who stay hungry

To those who don’t have a place to live

I am sorry to those who have lost their loved ones

To those who are ill and cannot speak

What makes me entitled to the life I live?

What makes me entitled to this vanity?

Sometimes I wish I could escape and do something

Although I try I cannot help but feel locked in

Sometimes I feel like the doors of materialism and selfishness are closing in on me

I too flip through the magazines of vogue and wish

But why has this world become so vain

When did we begin to care about fashion more than people?

When did people from another ethnicity become strangers?

I am sorry to those whose dreams never come true

I am sorry to those who are exploited

I am sorry to those who have felt loss and pain

Sometimes it disgusts me to be here and live in this way

Knowing the type of things which are going on

Consuming as much as we are consuming

What gives me the entitlement?

What gives me the right to live this way?

This is the type of thing that keeps me awake at night

I sit here 2 am writing this poetry

But is this also not in vain?

What use it is to write these words with nothing being done

I want to do something

I need to do something

I’m sorry for those who do not have

I am sorry to those who cry

I do not know why but I feel your pain

I can feel your heart aches and your desires

I want to be there

I want to hold you

Console you

And tell you it will be ok

But perhaps it won’t

And often times I know it won’t

Yet I want to sit here and cry for you

Cry for the world

Oh mother earth

I am sorry for the pain

I am sorry for the destruction and the tragedy

I am sorry for the ones who have died in vain

I am sorry for those all in pain

Each day I watch and see

And each day pains me more

How much pain and suffering lies in this earth this very day

How can I continue living in this bubble and not care

How can anyone not care about what goes on today

What have we become?

Are we still humans

Do we still feel and do we have compassion

What happened to the kindness what happened to the love?

What happened to the generosity which lived in all of us?

When did it all become about money and capital

When did we make the transition to the beast world?

I am sorry for the ones whose dreams do not come true

I am sorry for those who die of hunger and malnutrition

I wish there was a way I could make everyone feel

Sense the pain and the tragedy

How not one could be devastated and affected

How can one move on and keep on pretending

I am tired of my bubble I want to escape

I want to do something

I want to change the world today

I don’t know how and I don’t know when

But something needs to be done soon...

I am sorry for those who have lost and loved

I am sorry for those who do not have anyone

I am sorry for those who sleep bare in the cold night

I am sorry for those who have been inflicted by pain and sorrow

I hope that one day things will change

I hope one day that people will care again

I hope one day for the sake of the world that people will care again...

From AIDS to Imperialism: A Critical Analysis of the History of Sexuality from Diverse Perspectives

The concept of sex, sexuality and sexual relations all still remain a matter of controversy. Therefore in order to deconstruct such concepts and truly understand its different meanings and implications for our society today, one must thoroughly analyze the history of sexuality from an objective and an insightful perspective. The six articles chosen specifically address the complicated and intricate nature of not only sexuality but also the method by which it is and was studied. There are certain themes which run parallel in all articles. These themes ground the notion that sexuality in fact cannot be confined solely to one realm or another realm of academic scholarship. Therefore, the study of sexuality demands the attention and scholarly efforts of various different academic disciplines. It is this collaborative approach which leads to the most comprehensive understanding of the history of sexuality. Other themes range from the gender constructions which so deeply define the role of sex in any private or public arrangement to the ignorance, hypocrisy, and ambivalence in certain cases surrounding sex itself. These factors and various others make it very difficult to objectively analyze sex and its deconstruction in various different contexts. Hence, the history of sexuality can only be analyzed and understood only if certain conditions are met. Firstly, sex and sexual history needs to be put a socio-cultural and economic context which is unique to the environment in question. Secondly, only an interdisciplinary approach to the study of sexual nature and relations will be able to suffice this course of academic endeavor. Thirdly, because medicalization of sex is done in a very culture conscious manner it is very difficult but also important to reason if a sexual medical diagnosis is based on physical manifestations or social constructions. Fourthly, sex should be looked upon as a vesicle through which different societies and individuals express themselves, however, it is integral to understand that sex does not hold absolutely direct correlations with any other social phenomenon. Lastly, because the history of sexuality is still very young in the academic context, it is important to consider academic work with some form of skepticism as they often tend to be narrowed perspectives of issues which may affect a much more diverse and extended society. Hence, keeping these objectives in mind, the six articles in questions will therefore be evaluated and analyzed based on how clear and concisely they present their argument; the importance, originality and the interdisciplinary nature of their topic of their topic; along with the overall flow and harmony of the piece which strengthens the integrity of the piece.

One of the first pieces from The Reader: History of Sexuality, the ‘Game Girls of VNS Matrix,’ is utterly fascinating because it completely debunks the notions of gender constructions and identities which are preordained by the constructs of society. This article is especially thought provoking because it probes one to question the specific gender constructions and perspectives in regards to sex and sexuality which are largely governed and strictly controlled by societal rules and regulations of how sex is perceived and practiced. The VNS system is chiefly captivating as it takes a hyper-feminist approach of taking charge and control of a fantasy world which is empowered largely by females. This too is an intriguing idea as the players who hope to succeed only win the game if they identify themselves as gender less. This loss of gender itself empowers being female as it does not constrict or confine females to one particular prototype which is assigned by society. The article presents gender in a fluid scheme where males and females are both not only, sexual objects of pleasure but are also functional objects of power in their own respective realms. The originality of this article and the way the article presents the material is unconventional yet entrancing. Because the content itself is quite alluring and far from ordinary, it is easy to distinguish this article among the others. The incorporation of various scripts from within the game into the article also serves as one of the key tools to making this article particularly engaging and enthralling. By incorporating the actual script into the article, it serves to hold the readers attention to the very end without losing purpose or motive within the article itself.

The other two articles from ‘The Reader’ which are ‘AIDS and the Discursive Construction of Homosexuality’ along with ‘Regulated Passions’ both address the societal implications of the medicalization of sex itself. Even though medicine is often considered to be a hard science, the study of sexuality and sex itself challenges the previous paradigms of medicine. Specifically two articles directly address this matter from two different perspectives. Primarily, the AIDS article brings to attention how HIV was initially classified as a ‘gay’ disease. The article extensively discusses the seriousness by which even the medical practitioners clearly associated AIDS with being homosexual. Furthermore, the article also constructs the notion of how homosexuality itself was considered a “disorder.” This claim clearly illustrates the impact of socio-cultural influences on medicine. These socio-cultural implications can also be seen in the ‘Regulated Passions’ article which addresses the fixation of classifying every behavior outside of the social norm as “abnormal.” It addresses how any behavior which deviates from the heterosexual norm is considered a disorder.

The content in both of these articles present fascinating intertwined relationships between medicine, sex and society. However, the presentation of the content itself suffered for various reasons. For instance, the ‘Regulated Passions’ article tended to be both redundant as well as unclear in certain parts of the article. The argument which was initially clear became cloudy and distorted due to the discussion of the career differences of sexologists and addiction specialists. Although one can see the importance of this distinction, it also leads one to wonder if it is more important to talk about the individuals who are being “regulated” or those who are doing the regulating. The article is unclear in identifying a clear relationship between those who are seeking help and those who attempted to appease the situation. The AIDS article, in contrast, is perhaps one of the strongest among the six as it presents issues in a manner which is very perceptive and insightful. The interdisciplinary nature of the article itself is also quite impressive. The writing style is clear and orderly as the arguments are in harmony with each other.

In summary, the three articles from A Reader: History of Sexuality are chosen for various reasons. Firstly, all of the three articles possess originality. For instance, the ‘AIDS and the Discursive Construction of Homosexuality’ article sheds light on how homosexuality was isolated in the late 1970s not only because of its own nature, but more so because of the political and socio-cultural factors such Watergate, a recession, and a rising of divorce rates. Hence, homosexuality was isolated and identified as the antithesis of heterosexuality and was as a result associated with promiscuity along with other lose moral standards as well as with the utter loss of family values. Even though much hostility still exists in relation to homosexuality, this article sincerely sheds light on why and how these stereotypes were and are constructed in a society. The ‘Regulated Passions, ’the weakest of all six articles, is chosen because of the nature of its topic. It draws light on the fascinating notion that sex must be regulated to the heterosexual norm. Furthermore, if sex is not regulated to this norm, it is therefore classified as a disorder and help should be immediately consulted. The weakness in this article particularly stems from the presentation of this article which is somewhat disorganized and tends to drift off topic. The third and final piece which discusses the VNS matrix is by far the most shocking of the three. Because of the provocative nature of the article, the article illustrates the keen sense of intelligence and creativity of an individual who is able to come up with such an idea in the first place. It also generates an appreciation for the actual author of the article who presents the piece in such an engaging and impressive manner. The originality of discussion as well the authors agency within the context of the arguments both serve as functioning units of sound analysis of a body of work.

This authorial agency and control can also be felt very strongly in the first article from the online journal which discusses sexuality under the Nazi regime. Before beginning the discussion of the functionality of sex in the Nazi regime, it is important to put sex in particular socio-cultural context. Because often times it is not realized that a specific socio-cultural, political and economic construct is integral for the analysis of any social phenomenon, one may risk making assumptions and drawing grossly inaccurate conclusions. The author of the Nazi article successfully paints a picture of the Nazi regime which views sex for only its functional purposes of producing “superior” children as well as a means for the soldiers to gain “vigor” in the battlefield. This established social construct is critical in the article as it provides a backdrop on which sexuality within the Nazi regime is further understood.

The Nazi article is also very keen in pointing out the gender roles which are respectively played by men and women, as well as how these roles relate to sex. For example, the author cleverly presents a situation where both male and female sexualities are de-individualized and sex, as a result, serves as more of a communal means to an end rather than a pleasure source. Although the author does not explicitly state these nuances in the article, the manner in which the author presents the information alludes to this phenomenon.

Another nuance is seen in the second article from the online journal which discusses the impact of imperialism in the regulation of sex in Sierra Leone, West Africa. This article too, clearly and successfully addresses the sociopolitical climate of the British colonizers. The article very succinctly addresses disparities within the British colonial system from one area of the world to another. However, it also addresses that these very disparities are done intentionally in order to allow for the growth and flexibility of the empire. The author of the imperialism article addresses the lack of perspective in the presented piece, and discusses the limitation of information which allows one to understand that the article is based on British perspectives only. This limited the scope and effect of the article as the main subjects within the article itself, who were the prostitutes and the individuals who actually resided in Sierra Leone, were all ignored. Nevertheless, it is respectable for the author to acknowledge the lack of perspective and present the article in a manner which is objective to the extent it can afford to be.

Both of these articles are similar in that they use sex for a very specific purpose. For instance, Nazi Germany uses sex as a means of producing “superior” offspring and increasing the “strength” in soldiers. On the other hand, the British colonizers present West Africans as over sexual beings that were savages and therefore justified their imperialistic entrapment and their refusal to implement communicable diseases laws. These two articles are different in that Nazi Germany completely internalizes the sexual system in order to suit its needs where as the British system does not. The British imperial system, in contrast, decided not to pass communicable disease laws because of certain external reasons such as financial limitations for example. To elaborate, the British regime did not invest a great extent in a health care system, which makes it understandable why they would be unlikely to explicitly support and implement communicable disease prevention initiatives. The Nazi regime completely internalizes the sexual system as both males and females are expected to have sex for its very functional uses. This external and internal nature of the functionality of sex allows one to notice the distinct nuances between the two circumstances.

In terms of scholarship, the Nazi regime article proved to be a stronger candidate than the Imperialism article for one main reason. The Nazi regime article was presented in a clear manner through out the article as it presented ideas in a systematic and controlled approach. Although the thesis for the Imperialism article was strong, the article tended to be superfluous and therefore lost its initial affect.

The last article from the online journal discusses sexual education directly. This article was specifically chosen in order to enforce that fact that one cannot discuss sex in terms of medicine without stressing the importance of sexual education above all other public health parameters. The article brought to attention the duality of sexual knowledge itself by identifying the potency of its knowledge as well as its devious roots. The article stresses the fact that although some adults felt sexual education was integral, others saw it as a means of corrupting the youth. This delicate relationship which exists between sexual knowledge and sexual activity is integral to understanding how a particular society feels about sex. The manner in which this article is organized and presented proves to be very affective. The article addresses a very integral point which sheds light on sex education and its opposition. This very topic serves to draw a reader in as it directly relates sex to not only society but also to education and medicine. The interdisciplinary approach once again proves to be one which brings much thought provoking insight and enlightenment to the piece.

The online pieces differed from the ones in the book as they seemed to lack as much agency and control which the authors of most of the articles from ‘The Reader’ possessed. Although the articles online were thoroughly interesting, the presentation of ideas was done much better in ‘The Reader.’ For instance, the article about the imperialism in West Africa from the online journal suffered similar symptoms of lack of control and agency as the “Regulated Passions” article. Both articles begin with very strong and concise beginnings however both indicate an inclination for various minute details which takes away from the whole piece of the work. Although, the Imperialism article does address the lack of perspective with which the author is writing, this then draws attention to the fact that perhaps the author is drawing many conclusions which may or may not be true especially because the article was written purely from British sources which were available. Since much of her position is rather critical of the role of the British in the Sierra Leone case, it is curious that the author assumes so much decisive knowledge which the British may not have expressed explicitly.

The imperialism article in the online journal also strongly contrasts to the AIDS article and VNS matrix article in ‘The Reader’. Both the articles from ‘The Reader’ possessed an elegant style of writing and presented their argument in a delightful and cleverly constructed manner. Because all the articles were compared one to another, it quickly becomes clear that the two articles from the reader are far more organized and succinct than the Imperialism article. In addition, The ‘Regulated Passions’ being the weakest of the articles in ‘The Reader,’ is fairly weak compared to the Nazi article. These two articles also present a strong contrast as the Nazi article commands the reader’s attention and stays on point where as the ‘regulated passions’ seems less focused and more off point in discussing sexual relations.

In comparing and contrasting various different articles, it becomes clear that originality, clarity of argument, the overall harmony of the work, along with the functional importance of the body of work all serve as imperative assets in any piece of academic work. Hence, it is not only important to draw insight and value upon the different ways the arguments within the articles have been presented, but it is also important to draw certain parallels within the articles themselves.

Because of the nature of sexuality itself, the academic environment of this discipline demands that the author draw certain conclusions even if those conclusions are not clearly seen in action as demonstrated specifically in the West Africa article. Sexuality therefore poses to be an extremely challenging course of study as it is hard to find many sources of hard facts. Furthermore, so much of the realm of sexuality occurs in the private sphere, which makes it harder to deconstruct this phenomenon in hindsight. Hence, even though scholars do their best in finding sources to support their work, the limited number of sources, in many cases, represents a very narrow range of scope and perspective when a large populous still remains silent and unrepresented. Therefore, all the articles successfully deconstruct sexuality from a socio-cultural and political context. The articles allow individuals to partially understand the intricacies of sexual nature itself which constantly continue to change and affect the sexual paradigm. However, it is integral to keep in mind that these perspectives represent a very small percentage of the populous that have been directly affected by the social phenomenon known as sex.