Over the course of our illness and dying unit I've realized something. Our dominant social practices suck. The U.S. government doesn't fund the right programs. Our health system is too money-based. Dying is kept separate from the outside world. We, for the most part, have no connection with our doctors. We have a system to try to cure diseases that could have been prevented. There's a lot of healthy alternatives to pathological medicine that are overlooked. The list goes on and on. Because our system is so flawed people fear death more then they should. The most nightmarish thing about this? That it won't change because have learned to follow the system we already have. That there is so much opposition to whatever anybody proposes that any small victories to reform (The heathcare bill that was just passed) the system are surprising.
Personally this unit has made me view illness and dying a little differently. Before I thought, I get sick, I go to the doctor, they fix me, yeah all better. Now I view it as I get sick, I think "Is there anything I can do to fix this without going to the doctor?", then I'll decide what to do. Oh it also inspired me to move to Canada (Not definite, looking at some colleges there.) From watching Near Death I now have a slight fear of hospitals. It turns out that they're just death factories. But it made me think that it may be better to just die naturally at home. That in-home care is less costly and can lead to a better quality of life.
While there are nightmarish dominant social practices, there's no law requiring us to follow them. I think that the most important thing I learned in this unit is that there usually are alternatives to the dominant social practices most of us follow. And sometimes the alternatives are better then what everybody else thinks is the best option. It's up to us to act on it.
Hey Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI agreed with what you had to say. You were able to sum up to the reader about all the insights you have about illness and dying in our culture. I liked the last part the most; you are right, we are not required to follow the dominant social practices that much of our society tends to follow. There are a number of alternatives out there, but society has raised us in a way so that we are accustomed to the general social norms. I feel the same way after taking a part of this unit; the next time I get sick I won't have the same thoughts as I did in the past. I was able to connect myself with much of what you had to say throught this post. Keep this up, because it really got me thinking. For next time though, I would advise you to proof read; you made a couple of grammar mistakes.
Amber
Kevin,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and wonderful thoughts! It's most certain that we are offered plenty of alternatives but, unfortunately most decide to ignore such opportunities. Moving to Canada wouldn't be a bad idea either. I don't have any major criticisms about your post. Of course, these are your culminated thoughts on this unit. Maybe one thing would be to be more aware of the first, second, and third person uses/perspectives.
Bianca
Hey Kevin,
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post! It covered essentially everything we talked about over the past unit. I liked your blatant distate for our medical system, but I wonder what you meant by "It's up to us to act on it"? How do you propose that the issues you discussed be changed by us? It's worth thinking about...Also, how do you think that your perspective of your medical system might change after traveling ot somewhere like Haiti, where there is almost no money to spend on health (in an effective or ineffective way)?