I am Michael Moore and anything I say is correct and should not be doubted for even one second. American health care system is messed up. Every middle class and lower citizen in the US seems to think that just because they have health care that means they are fine but it is not until they have a medical emergency, do they realize how utterly screwed they really are. The health care system started to become messed up (if it was ever not messed up) during President Nixon’s time in office. We should just move to Canada or somewhere in Europe where they have universal health care which actually works to benefit the people rather than the elites.
Two senior citizens who always paid their taxes and were “model citizens” their whole life had to sell their home and move in with their children because they could not afford the cost of the husband’s cardio treatment and the wife’s cancer treatment. Another example was that one woman had health insurance and when she had an emergency medical problem, her insurance company bailed out because she had a harmless yeast infection a few years back that she thought wasn’t important enough to mention in her insurance “signup sheet”.
People think that if you pay your taxes and follow the rules like you should, your government will take care of you. Your government will not let you get screwed over by a money hungry medical system.
Insurance companies that want to make a profit (all of them) do not want to bear the cost of an expensive treatment so they just cut the patient off. I do not even need to explain how ridiculous and unfair that is.
The drug act of 2003 which was created to help senior citizens in the US more extensively than standard health care would. What they did not mention while the elitist of that time passed the law, was that the medicine companies would be free to name their price for all the medicine that they provided. If the demand for one medicine increased, the price for it would skyrocket. Price gauging and preying on the needy should be made illegal, but why would it be? Why would the US government help the people that put them in power instead of making more money? Sources: https://www.cms.gov/mmaupdate/
I thought Sicko was an incredibly insightful movie. It was silly and a bit too obvious at some parts but at others, it provided some crucial information that most Americans are blind to. Everyone in America, yes I said everyone, thinks that if you do not have health insurance, you are in big trouble. They are right but after watching Sicko, I realized that having health insurance or being able to afford it isn’t that much better.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
HW 22
Kincaid, Jamaica. My Brother. USA Edition. San Val, 1997
In this book I tell the story of my experience before, during, and after my brother, Devon, is admitted in a hospital in Antigua after contracting HIV. In the beginning of the book, I delve into my childhood by exploring my life complications when I used to live in Antigua. Devon was the only one among my mother's four children that was not born in a hospital. The hospital was appalling. It is not just the hospital. It is the general health care in Antigua. I had to bring a special medication made for AIDS patients called AZT from the states since they did not have it in Antigua. The hospital is extremely dirty and mismanaged. Devon was isolated because of his condition, this is the same for every other AIDS patient. One good thing that came from my brother's illness is the fact that I realized I loved him. I guess I always knew that I loved him but it was not until I saw him in the state he was, that I truly openly said it to him. Devon was surprised when I told him I loved him but he was happy in the end and replied kindly. With the help of AZT and other western medication, Devon was starting to feel better and was discharged from the hospital.
"I felt myself being swallowed up in a large vapor of sadness...I became afraid that he would die before I saw him again...It surprised me that I loved him; I could see that was what I was feeling, love for him, and it surprised me because I did not know him at all."
- Kincaid never liked her brother's morals nor his daily practices. She was distant from him her entire life and when she finally faced him again, she realizes that she really does love him.
“I had said to him that nothing good ever could come of his being so ill, but all the same I wanted to thank him for making me realize that I loved him” (21)
- People don't really miss the things they have until they don't have it anymore. Its a good thing Kincaid realized that she loved her brother before it was too late.
“I missed him. I missed seeing him suffer. I missed felling sorry that in the midst of some large thing and hoping he would emerge from it changed for the better. I did not love him.” (57-58)
- As Devon's condition improved, Kincaid grew less and less fond of him. She was starting to take him for granted again.
To be honest, I was not surprised at all when the author said she really did love her brother. Even though Devon has been nothing short of a disappointment to her and their family, he is still her brother which makes her forced by nature to love him. In my opinion, I believe this to be true for every family. No matter how screwed up it is. I personally can't say anything about this matter because thankfully, I never had a family member that I hated. But if there was, I am certain that I would be able to forgive them. No matter what they did.
In this book I tell the story of my experience before, during, and after my brother, Devon, is admitted in a hospital in Antigua after contracting HIV. In the beginning of the book, I delve into my childhood by exploring my life complications when I used to live in Antigua. Devon was the only one among my mother's four children that was not born in a hospital. The hospital was appalling. It is not just the hospital. It is the general health care in Antigua. I had to bring a special medication made for AIDS patients called AZT from the states since they did not have it in Antigua. The hospital is extremely dirty and mismanaged. Devon was isolated because of his condition, this is the same for every other AIDS patient. One good thing that came from my brother's illness is the fact that I realized I loved him. I guess I always knew that I loved him but it was not until I saw him in the state he was, that I truly openly said it to him. Devon was surprised when I told him I loved him but he was happy in the end and replied kindly. With the help of AZT and other western medication, Devon was starting to feel better and was discharged from the hospital.
"I felt myself being swallowed up in a large vapor of sadness...I became afraid that he would die before I saw him again...It surprised me that I loved him; I could see that was what I was feeling, love for him, and it surprised me because I did not know him at all."
- Kincaid never liked her brother's morals nor his daily practices. She was distant from him her entire life and when she finally faced him again, she realizes that she really does love him.
“I had said to him that nothing good ever could come of his being so ill, but all the same I wanted to thank him for making me realize that I loved him” (21)
- People don't really miss the things they have until they don't have it anymore. Its a good thing Kincaid realized that she loved her brother before it was too late.
“I missed him. I missed seeing him suffer. I missed felling sorry that in the midst of some large thing and hoping he would emerge from it changed for the better. I did not love him.” (57-58)
- As Devon's condition improved, Kincaid grew less and less fond of him. She was starting to take him for granted again.
To be honest, I was not surprised at all when the author said she really did love her brother. Even though Devon has been nothing short of a disappointment to her and their family, he is still her brother which makes her forced by nature to love him. In my opinion, I believe this to be true for every family. No matter how screwed up it is. I personally can't say anything about this matter because thankfully, I never had a family member that I hated. But if there was, I am certain that I would be able to forgive them. No matter what they did.
Friday, December 10, 2010
HW #21 b- T/W Comments
To Amanda:
I liked how you connection with what Beth had done for Erik and what you would want if you were ever admitted in a hospital. Like you, I also found it interesting how Erik was protected and discouraged from thinking about death. I also liked your thoughts on why Beth feels upset every time she sees anyone injured/sick.
I also liked how you ended your blog by pondering whether Beth was relieved/grateful that her husband died the way he died instead of something less painful such as a coma.
One thing i think you should include in your next blog is how you would have reacted if someone is your family was diagnosed with cancer (God forbid). Just try to make it more personal.
Overall, a really good blog. Keep it up. :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amanda Pagano (classmate)
Hey Abdullah,
I think it is interesting that you felt/feel that "Erik’s fight with cancer truly motivated me to do something with my life instead of just wasting time in front of the almighty computer monitor." I find this to be interesting because I myself had a moment when I felt this way, but it swiftly passed, I don’t know if lifestyles can be changed that quickly but it would be fascinating to find out if they could and for how long the lifestyle can be altered. I am curious to know why/how hearing Beth speak about how she and Evan helped Erik motivated you.
-Amanda
Spencer Elliot (Friend)
I like what you said about illness as "a cold or a broken arm" rather than a fatal condition. It really makes me think about people's expectations of disease and how they change upon themselves or loved ones being diagnosed with a fatal illness.
Sarwar Sarker (Father)
Us human being should be there for each other, I am glad that you have same feelings as Ms. Bernett has for her husband. However, it is not clear to me as you said "made me feel a sudden appreciation for how valuable my health really is", in fact cancer may affect anyone and how we all should fight to keep patients such as Erik alive is important. You should focus on how we can contribute for similar victims.
I liked how you connection with what Beth had done for Erik and what you would want if you were ever admitted in a hospital. Like you, I also found it interesting how Erik was protected and discouraged from thinking about death. I also liked your thoughts on why Beth feels upset every time she sees anyone injured/sick.
I also liked how you ended your blog by pondering whether Beth was relieved/grateful that her husband died the way he died instead of something less painful such as a coma.
One thing i think you should include in your next blog is how you would have reacted if someone is your family was diagnosed with cancer (God forbid). Just try to make it more personal.
Overall, a really good blog. Keep it up. :)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amanda Pagano (classmate)
Hey Abdullah,
I think it is interesting that you felt/feel that "Erik’s fight with cancer truly motivated me to do something with my life instead of just wasting time in front of the almighty computer monitor." I find this to be interesting because I myself had a moment when I felt this way, but it swiftly passed, I don’t know if lifestyles can be changed that quickly but it would be fascinating to find out if they could and for how long the lifestyle can be altered. I am curious to know why/how hearing Beth speak about how she and Evan helped Erik motivated you.
-Amanda
Spencer Elliot (Friend)
I like what you said about illness as "a cold or a broken arm" rather than a fatal condition. It really makes me think about people's expectations of disease and how they change upon themselves or loved ones being diagnosed with a fatal illness.
Sarwar Sarker (Father)
Us human being should be there for each other, I am glad that you have same feelings as Ms. Bernett has for her husband. However, it is not clear to me as you said "made me feel a sudden appreciation for how valuable my health really is", in fact cancer may affect anyone and how we all should fight to keep patients such as Erik alive is important. You should focus on how we can contribute for similar victims.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
HW #21 - Expert #1
• Together 24/7
• Asymptomatic
• Clinical Trials
• Wanted to be treated as a person instead of a disease
• Did not want to be just another number
• Palliative care
• Hallucinations
It is never easy to talk about a loved one that has passed away, I speak from experience, and therefore, I applaud Beth Bernett for her courage and valiancy. Beth shared with the class the stories of how her husband, Erik Wood, met at a blind date and fell in love at first sight. After decades of living happily together and having two kids, Erik was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Erik was asymptomatic for a substantial period of time before he was diagnosed so he never directly expressed any discomfort which did not give his family members to be truly prepared for what was coming. Erik was placed under clinical trials and he was responding fairly well until things started to look bad. Beth mentioned how they never talked about death or dying. This struck me as really interesting since people normally want to settle their affairs, write/dictate their wills, discuss burial rituals, etc. “I didn’t even know if he wanted to be buried. He wasn’t for the record.”
Beth talked about how she tried to make her husband’s room in the hospital as homely as possible by making art with her children. She did not want people to look at Erik as a disease and pity him, she wanted visitors to look at him as the same person they knew and loved before he was diagnosed. Beth mentioned treating everyone from the doctors to the x-ray technician compassionately and respectfully. I thought that was an incredibly important life lesson. Don’t just treat people as someone who can do something for you. Treat them as someone who has a life, family, feelings and emotions. She also mentioned how when her younger son, Evan, was sick last week, the people at the hospital were more helpful and friendly to them then they would have been if they weren’t known in the hospital as a kind and caring family.
At the point at which Erik could only have been subsidized by palliative care, Beth took it upon herself and Evan to take care of him on his last days instead of having a stranger come in and look after their husband and father. Her older son, Josh, was very close to Erik and Josh was depicted as a “gentle soul” and therefore he was forced to stay at his dormitories instead of taking care of his father. Beth believed that it was best for him because the grief would be too much and Josh might have ended up in a hospital himself. I completely agree with Beth’s decision. The fact that she was able look after her dying husband still take care of her boys seemed astonishing and remarkable to me.
Listening to Beth talk about how she helped her husband do tasks like going to the bathroom every day, made me feel a sudden appreciation for how valuable my health really is. When I think of illness, it is always something such as a cold or a broken arm but I never think of anything fatal. Erik’s fight with cancer truly motivated me to do something with my life instead of just wasting time in front of the almighty computer monitor. Some people say illness is a gift. I both agree and disagree with that statement. Learning about Erik’s life was sort of a gift to me, especially since the story was somewhat connected to me since I’d like to consider myself as one of Evan’s closest friends. On the other hand, the millions of people (and their families) that died of cancer probably disagree. Yes, they did learn to cherish their lives, but at what price? I think Beth Bernett did a noble job by sharing her story with us. I think it is a much better way of remembering someone instead of the traditional way; lamenting and mourning over the deceased’s old possessions.
• Asymptomatic
• Clinical Trials
• Wanted to be treated as a person instead of a disease
• Did not want to be just another number
• Palliative care
• Hallucinations
It is never easy to talk about a loved one that has passed away, I speak from experience, and therefore, I applaud Beth Bernett for her courage and valiancy. Beth shared with the class the stories of how her husband, Erik Wood, met at a blind date and fell in love at first sight. After decades of living happily together and having two kids, Erik was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Erik was asymptomatic for a substantial period of time before he was diagnosed so he never directly expressed any discomfort which did not give his family members to be truly prepared for what was coming. Erik was placed under clinical trials and he was responding fairly well until things started to look bad. Beth mentioned how they never talked about death or dying. This struck me as really interesting since people normally want to settle their affairs, write/dictate their wills, discuss burial rituals, etc. “I didn’t even know if he wanted to be buried. He wasn’t for the record.”
Beth talked about how she tried to make her husband’s room in the hospital as homely as possible by making art with her children. She did not want people to look at Erik as a disease and pity him, she wanted visitors to look at him as the same person they knew and loved before he was diagnosed. Beth mentioned treating everyone from the doctors to the x-ray technician compassionately and respectfully. I thought that was an incredibly important life lesson. Don’t just treat people as someone who can do something for you. Treat them as someone who has a life, family, feelings and emotions. She also mentioned how when her younger son, Evan, was sick last week, the people at the hospital were more helpful and friendly to them then they would have been if they weren’t known in the hospital as a kind and caring family.
At the point at which Erik could only have been subsidized by palliative care, Beth took it upon herself and Evan to take care of him on his last days instead of having a stranger come in and look after their husband and father. Her older son, Josh, was very close to Erik and Josh was depicted as a “gentle soul” and therefore he was forced to stay at his dormitories instead of taking care of his father. Beth believed that it was best for him because the grief would be too much and Josh might have ended up in a hospital himself. I completely agree with Beth’s decision. The fact that she was able look after her dying husband still take care of her boys seemed astonishing and remarkable to me.
Listening to Beth talk about how she helped her husband do tasks like going to the bathroom every day, made me feel a sudden appreciation for how valuable my health really is. When I think of illness, it is always something such as a cold or a broken arm but I never think of anything fatal. Erik’s fight with cancer truly motivated me to do something with my life instead of just wasting time in front of the almighty computer monitor. Some people say illness is a gift. I both agree and disagree with that statement. Learning about Erik’s life was sort of a gift to me, especially since the story was somewhat connected to me since I’d like to consider myself as one of Evan’s closest friends. On the other hand, the millions of people (and their families) that died of cancer probably disagree. Yes, they did learn to cherish their lives, but at what price? I think Beth Bernett did a noble job by sharing her story with us. I think it is a much better way of remembering someone instead of the traditional way; lamenting and mourning over the deceased’s old possessions.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
HW 19
Although having been raised in a family that has a very deep faith in religion but now living in a society that tries to segregate religion, my opinions on illness and dying are quite similar to that of my parents’ and my grandparents’. There are many differences but there are far more similarities than I expected. Having thoroughly discussed illness and dying with my father, I have come to the conclusion that no matter where you were educated or how well you were educated, you will always have a similar idea to how things work and how they should work. Like every religious person, my parents have a strong faith in the power of prayer. Besides prayer, my parents don’t have any respect for any other holistic treatments. Unlike most religious people however; they have a lot of confidence in allopathic treatments.
Treatments such as therapists and psychologists are some of the holistic examples that my dad absolutely despises. He believes that people spend too much time determined on letting other people fix their lives that they forget that they are the ones in control. They are “Brain washing and mind controlling schemes” according to my dad. He also says therapists and psychologists just leech money from people who are desperate and give them answers that the patients want to hear. I completely agree with my dad but I also think that just because therapists and psychologists play mind trick, doesn’t mean they aren’t helpful. If a person is having suicidal thoughts and a shrink is able to help him by using mind tricks, then why not? I see nothing wrong with that.
My family has had complete faith in allopathic medicine for generations. My grandfather was a surgeon and his father was also a doctor. My sister is also studying medicine in college and she aspires to be either a surgeon or just a hospitalist. Even though I’ve never been admitted to the hospital for more than a day, I have full confidence in the work they do. This may sound hypocritical, but my family and I also try to keep away from powerful medicine. Not because we don’t trust it but because of the possible side effects and also because you should always try and have as less chemicals as you can in your body.
When I asked my dad about what he thought about dying and how he would like to die, he closed his eyes and was quiet for a while. I thought he fell asleep or something but after I nudged him a little he simply said, “I am trying to remember something”. He could not recall where the quote he was trying to remember was from but it was, “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.” I later looked up the quote and it is by Isaac Asimov. He confessed to me that he didn’t want a painful death. I didn’t question him about this since he is older and a lot more experienced with death than me. He suffered through the deaths of both of his parents and he knew how it would feel when I went through the same thing.
Treatments such as therapists and psychologists are some of the holistic examples that my dad absolutely despises. He believes that people spend too much time determined on letting other people fix their lives that they forget that they are the ones in control. They are “Brain washing and mind controlling schemes” according to my dad. He also says therapists and psychologists just leech money from people who are desperate and give them answers that the patients want to hear. I completely agree with my dad but I also think that just because therapists and psychologists play mind trick, doesn’t mean they aren’t helpful. If a person is having suicidal thoughts and a shrink is able to help him by using mind tricks, then why not? I see nothing wrong with that.
My family has had complete faith in allopathic medicine for generations. My grandfather was a surgeon and his father was also a doctor. My sister is also studying medicine in college and she aspires to be either a surgeon or just a hospitalist. Even though I’ve never been admitted to the hospital for more than a day, I have full confidence in the work they do. This may sound hypocritical, but my family and I also try to keep away from powerful medicine. Not because we don’t trust it but because of the possible side effects and also because you should always try and have as less chemicals as you can in your body.
When I asked my dad about what he thought about dying and how he would like to die, he closed his eyes and was quiet for a while. I thought he fell asleep or something but after I nudged him a little he simply said, “I am trying to remember something”. He could not recall where the quote he was trying to remember was from but it was, “Life is pleasant. Death is peaceful. It's the transition that's troublesome.” I later looked up the quote and it is by Isaac Asimov. He confessed to me that he didn’t want a painful death. I didn’t question him about this since he is older and a lot more experienced with death than me. He suffered through the deaths of both of his parents and he knew how it would feel when I went through the same thing.
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