Response to Sicko

Great, another reason why profit has been main incentive of running a society and its people. The American Health Care System doing more harm than good, less help for more money, hurting its citizens because of its capitalistic tendencies. Money has been the main incentive of Health Insurers that has resulted in corrupting the health care system. Health Care has been a major problem since Nixon’s Health care law. Millions with Health Insurance are denied being helped when there sick or need of help because they’ve failed the requirements of that insurers responsibilities, which is to medicate. Those who do not contain health insurance are constantly rejected no matter what circumstances. You will die asking for help. American Health Care system is an embarrassment when compared to the social health care systems of Britain, France and Canada.

Evidence

1. Those that have and don’t have health insurance are both dealt with paying hefty amounts of medical bill and being totally rejected by its insurers.

    This shows that American citizens are dealing with a corrupt health care system. Doctors get paid more not to help. They get a bonus to deny its patients care. So why wouldn’t they want to do so? Real life situations showed in the movie, indicate that even old men are faced with working hard labor to maintain there health insurance and medicine. A couple who both contained jobs and insurance became bankrupt due to expensive medical bills. Couple dealing with separate illnesses having no aid what’s so ever.


2. The United States would do better to adopt a socialized medical system that provides free health care to help support a longer life expectancy for its population.

    Michael Moore indicates that countries with a socialized health care have a longer life expectancy. Instead of greedy private insurers, you have a nationalized health service that is directly in the governments hands. Who have this sort of health care are, Britain, France, Canada and Cuba. Doctors are able to choose to work for the government or a private organization. Doctors treats all their patients and don’t do any denying of providing care.

    Michael Moore claims that Cubans have a higher expectancy rate than the United States. Through his point of view and citizens from other countries, Michael Moore gives the impression that there’s a major difference in life expectancy rate of Cuba and its great health care and United state' corrupt one. The article proves this claim to be wrong by saying that the both countries contains expectancy rate that is fairly equal.  Google Public Data states that the life expectancy of a Cuban in 2008 was 78.7 years old and in the United States 78.4 years. There isn’t any significant differences between the twos data of expectancy rates. Meaning Michael Moore's argument isn’t accurate or fact but more of an assumption.

Response

It’s sad to see our health care system that exploits our needs for profit. Profit being much more important the help of a bunch of people. Michael Moore did a great job targeting the affects and the cons that the United States health care system has. He shows the significant differences between the lives of the sick and unhealthy for those in the United States and in other countries. making me think more about growing old and having to deal with a corrupt system that takes my hard earned tax money and don’t provide needed help. Maybe i should move to a countrie like Canada that seemed so heavenly compared to the cruelness showed in the film. But what Michael Moore did not do though was present any solutions.i cant think of one myself and maybe that's because it would be a miracle to change the mentality of individuals in a Profit based culture that would adopt a socialized health care system.

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Tuesdays with Morrie Part 3

Precis: November 4th on a Saturday morning Morrie left the world at "ease" some would say. What Morrie was, was a mentor and most importantly an expert to the world that anticipated his point of view on death and illness.

 ”He nodded and he walked away. The horror of the room, he would later say, sucked all other functions out of him. He did not cry until days later. Still, his fathers death helped prepare Morrie for his own". - pg.139

     In a discussion in class on the third part of Tuesdays with Morrie, Arden curiously asked me the question. “Do you think Morrie is an expert when it comes to illness and death"? I responded that if he wasn’t a mentor or if people didn’t believe what he was saying than theirs no point of those who traveled thousands of miles to sit next to him and hear him talk. Not saying that everything he says is correct or true but his words possessed value for those who eager to hear them. Him experiencing death of a loved one that was his father, introduced to the harsh reality of death. He became an expert I believe when he himself experienced it first hand. What he tells people not to do or to look out for was what he realized when he picked out his fathers body after experiencing a stroke. ".. His fathers death helped prepare Morrie for his own".
 
“Morrie rolled his eyes toward the ceiling.” I’m bargaining with him up there now. I’m asking him, 'Do I get to be one of there angels?' It was the first time Morrie admitted talking to god."- pg.163

     Morrie shows a comparison to the way people respond to death, illness and life altering situations. Morrie for the first time that Mitch noticed was having a conversation with god. People are frightened by death because they don’t know of there or what after life truly is. They know of heaven and hell. But they don’t know how to get their. People dedicate their whole lives praying to god, asking him for help, forgiveness and thanks. The bible and god is their own mentor. Just like Morrie, people hope to have had a great life in god eyes and be promised a seat in heaven.
    
"I believe he died this way on purpose. I believe he wanted no chilling moments, no one to witness his last breath and be haunted by it." pg.187

    When reading this quote it came across to me as ridiculous. this is because Morrie instilled in everyone’s mind that he was giving them everything, what he sees everyone will see, but he didn’t did so with his actual death. He was open to having cameras observe his last breathes but it seems he went back on his word. The word "haunted" stand out to me because Morrie tells others not detach themselves, be face the demons and everything what comes with death. I personally wouldn’t want someone to be there when I’m taking my last breathes but I would love for someone to show me compassion and bits of love before those last moments.

    Tuesdays with Morrie I can say is one of the top books I’ve read this year. It depicted society and did so through the lens of a teacher and a student. Morrie is an astonishing individual who I hope to come across someone who is as good as a teacher as him. He put his life on television, his death was a reality check, which was a reality check to millions who viewed and talked with him. How else can you reach a "sit on the couch" culture? I noticed even more that everyone needs a mentor in there life. I have one but want to remain with one. Nothing but positive and growth comes with this. Sometimes I saw Mitch as someone I could compare to, for example I hope not to exploit others or be exploited when I set out for a career I didn’t develop this hope though just by only reading this book. But if I do it wouldn’t be a surprise, I’m a product of my society.

Tuesdays with Morrie Part 2

Precis: As Morrie's draws closer to his death as the Tuesdays of every week go by he starts to teach and uncover society’s gravity pull that manipulates. The average person cares about aspects of life that are meaningless, those who aren’t afraid of aging and dying will live a fulfilling life.

“Yet when I looked at Morrie, I wondered if I were in his shoes, about to die, and I had no family, no children, would the emptiness be unbearable?"- pg.92

   Every Tuesday it’s a ritual for Mitch to come see Morrie and with every visit Mitch learns something new. Mitch always wonders how someone can constantly be positive when there so close to dying. Morrie notices Mitch's confusion that he possesses in his life and wants him to recognize this. Mitch feels empty inside, he’s come to realize that the life that’s he’s been living will probably lead to sad and lonely death. The emptiness would be unbearable unless he begins to change.

“Yes. Detaching myself... he opened his eyes. He exhaled. “You know what the Buddhists say? Don’t cling to things, because everything is impermanent." - pg.103

   Morrie explains to Mitch that detaching yourself doesn’t mean shying away from the penetration of the experience. By letting yourself dive fully deep into the emotions and everything that comes with the agony that is being felt is apart of the experience. Morrie explains that sometimes you need to detach yourself from the horror but also confront it. Many people feel that detaching themselves and running away from their problems is an easy way out. But its not. Whatever you do won’t shake up the reality that you’re dealt with because just like Morrie, he’s very sick, hell pour out his tears but he won’t let them keep pouring. He won’t even let the ALS beat him in any sort of way. Strictly mental and physical strength, something that every individual should possess.

“It’s very simple. As you grow, you learn more. If you stayed at twenty-two, you'd always be as ignorant as you were at twenty-two. Aging is not just decay, you know. Its growth."- pg.118

   Morrie explains that he embraces aging, and so should anyone else. When you age, you become smarter stronger and better. Morrie explains to Mitch that age comes with experience and change.  At twenty-two you’re an ignorant individual, why would you want to stay that age and remain ignorant, Morrie explains. He suggests that time is actually someone’s friend; you just got to treat it well.  It’s understandable that if someone has lived a fulfilling and meaning life, theirs no need to look back, only forward.

   Detaching yourself from reality can be a sickness. Morrie throughout the book is their as guidance for those who are uncertain and confused. From old students who he taught at Brandies to random people who wrote him letters coming to visit him. They look for Morrie to provide them with answers that aren’t easy to find but through Morrie it’s like no other. He’s dealing with a point in life where many aren’t able to elaborate on because their scared too. But Morrie gives them hope. Many people in our society don’t know how to think for themselves, learn from their own lives, and Morrie is their reality television show.

Tuesdays with Morrie Part 1

Tuesdays With Morie

By: Mitch Albom

Publisher: Random House

Year Published: September1997

Precis: Morrie exceeds the typical professor or teacher. His inspiring classes, teachings, words and theories live on from being a professor at Brandies and someone who is dealing with an illness.

“Instead, he would make death his final project, the center of his days... He could be research. A human textbook.  Study me in my slow and patient demise. Watch what happens to me. Learn with me." pg.10

    At a late age, Morries was diagnosed with ALS. Morrie doesn’t let his sickness deteriorate his mind along with his body. Morrie doesn’t want to feel bitter about his life ending and his illness like many seem to do. Instead he wants to embark on teaching others like he has done all of his life. And do this through his experience with death.

“What happen to me? I once promised myself I would never work for money , that I would join the Peace Corps, that I would live in beautiful, inspirational places." pg.34

    Mitch feels his life at this moment isn’t what he wanted as a college student. He’s a successful journalist who spends his whole life devoted to accomplishments, riches and his work. Over the years labor became his companion and letting everything else seem meaningless.  He envisioned his life as someone who wouldn’t be influenced by money and success, that his listening and understanding of his mentors (Morrie) teachings of a "happy life" would come in to play after college. He now realizes that this hadn’t happen.

"The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don’t buy it." pg.42

    I agree with Morries theories about life and our culture. It’s easy to see how American society is built around influencing others to do something, act and be a certain way. Many strive to reach the expectations of the culture of America and beat themselves up mentally if they don’t do so. Many must be strong enough to reject the American culture if it isn’t beneficial to you and your state of being.


Reading the first third of Tuesdays with Morrie, Morrie has shown to be an inspirational individual who has made an impact in many lives with what he says. He took his experience with ALS and presented it to those who knew him and were nothing but strangers and used it to teach. Especially Mitch. Like Morrie I think of death and illness as something that eventually occurs in ones life. When I experience illness and death I hope and think more positively than negative about my up and coming death like Morrie had done. I want to reflect on my life and be satisfied, knowing that I had a good run at it.

HW 21 - Expert #1

1. Eric was looked at as an artist instead of someone who was sick
2. If Eric wasn’t fighting he was stoic.
3. Beth's husband couldn’t afford health up until they applied for help
4. Beth having to deal with both her own experience and her children's experience with dealing with the death of their husband/father
5. Beth found comfort in her religion, which was Buddhism and played a major role. Gave her insight on what’s to come for his last days.

Many in our society look to religion to give them hope, answers to their questions, strength and awareness. Religion you can say is one of the teachers of our society and has been for centuries. Most feel that is where you look to when your dealt with hardships just like Beth had. Beth’s husband was diagnosed with advanced metastatic kidney cancer. Beth found comfort in Buddhism to give her guidance through her husbands last days of living due to cancer.  It’s safe to say that this helped her through a ruff time and if hadn’t been for her devotion to her religion she wouldn’t have been able to deal with the situations cruel reality. Some aren’t mentally stable when dilemmas like death pass them around. I’ve seen some runaway and drive their car as fast and far away as possible to avoid the fact that death has come along in their loved ones life. Beth didn’t run, she stood strong, stood by her husband with a solid state of mind with help from religion.

Eric was the one who was diagnosed with a sickness, you can tell from his physical appearance but you couldn’t tell from his actions. He knew his time has come and made his last days what he wanted them to be. If he wasn’t fighting through his illness, something that many do not do, he was stoic. He would continue with his love for art and continued to stay expressive. That’s amazing and wonderful to hear, I think highly of him even though I didn’t know him. His actions gave a heroic story. He wasn’t the one that seemed most affected by the death that was soon to come, those who were experiencing it first hand with there eyes were the ones. Many mope around that individual who is sick, feeling pity for them and showing it through various ways. "Do you need this or that"? “Oh my god I’m so sad". “What am I going to do"? These comments are very common; I’ve heard them and probably have said one of them myself. But if you analyze the situation that’s in front of you it seems stupid. Yes you are losing a loved one but that loved one is dying. What’s worse? Exactly.

What sparked my attention about Beth's experience with death is that she dealt with it in her own unique way. She did what was most comfortable for her and her husband. By listening to others experience you can see the distinction between the way someone deals with problems and they way you yourself would. Compare and contrast the two. With something as natural as death, it’s still something that hurts. You can hide and isolate yourself from the world but Eric showed that through courage one can end their life on a good note. Sometimes death isn’t a bad thing.  like the saying goes, "somethings happen for a reason". Eric I know left the world and left each person in his family with life lessons and love that they all will treasure.

HW 19 - Family Perspectives on Illness & Dying

I was in some way nervous to ask my mother what she thought about Illness and dying as a whole. With the notion that she probably wouldn’t really be responsive to the questions I had because at the time she was pretty busy and she was dealing with a cold and a migraine. Hoping not to get close to one word answers to my questions I received more than I predicted. The first question I asked to get into the topic of sickness was, how has she been feeling for the past couple of days since she’s been sick? She told me, “I feel so tired, I’ve just wanted to hurry up and get home from work and lay down. I hate the feeling of being sick it’s the worse. I’ve gone to the doctor for the past two days and he gave me medicine, and referred me to get seen once again to see how my health is all around". I than asked her what comes to mind when she hears that other people are sick or dealing with an illness? She answered, "what do I mean?” I told her doesn’t it get scary and pretty repetitive to hear someone is sick? Especially with our cousins and all? She said every family has a history of sickness in some type of way but ours isn’t serious. My mother pointed out that theirs some things that people must worry about when it comes to a family illness and shouldn’t be avoided.

In our society it seems like doctors and medicine are always the solution to dealing with illness. Not only that but also isolating themselves. Other dominant cultural perspectives are that sickness is something that in some sort of way can be avoided. My mother noted that this shouldn’t be the case; people should pay attention to their health, especially when it’s in some people’s case where sickness is a repeated problem. But she insisted that a doctor and medicine was a good enough solution for dilemmas with sickness.  Like many others do. Self reliance and self awareness is what people in our society don’t contain when it comes to staying healthy. They wait for someone to give them a direction like a doctor to try and get better. Sleeping and isolating them because they don’t feel like their normal selves. My mother couldn’t stand not being able to go about her day because she knew their was something eating up her ability to want to do things.

The nervousness that I experienced from gathering myself to interview my mother was coming from the topic of dying. I asked her a general question which was, what her views were about dying? She answered that everyone hopes to live a long great life.  As the conversation grew she talked on about how everyone expects to do so much before they die. It’s said to see many peoples life go when it’s by accident like a car crash. Because their life wasn’t fulfilled to the extent that they wanted. Some people live longer than others. She referred to my grandmother and other ancestors who have lived past their 90s of age. That they were able to do so much late in their age like what they’ve done early on like having kids or providing for the family. I definitely saw the difference between what I noticed as kid from what she noticed.

What pierced my thoughts the most about my mothers response to death and dying was that she knew it was no way in predicting it. People die and that’s just that. She didn’t word it like that but I came to the conclusion that she sort of meant that. When she talked about my ancestors I realized that their dominant health and illness practices didn’t consist of much. They were healthy and strong minded because they came from countries where everything was worked hard for, food is grown and their minds weren’t pointed in unnecessary directions like the average American. Many people die from other causes like depression. But my grand parents were the superiors in our family because they knew tactics on how to survive and it would show in them because it was instilled from how they were brought up. They weren’t scared of death neither and knew it would eventually come. They cared about the family’s ability to stay strong rather than the typical sibling now in days caring about inheritance or something like that. Thinking about that shows the difference in mindsets of people now and back than. People now are pathetic I’m noticing.

Health & Illness & Feasting

As the first day of November hit, I was anxious for Thanksgiving Day to come. This festivity is a gathering that I always enjoyed, because the bringing together of my family was something that barely happens and this year it was severely needed. The typical social practices were my family all come together, nicely dressed with formal attire.  Getting situated at a long dinner table and feasting our hearts out on prepared food. Talking and reminiscing and giving out thanks. Anti-body social practice was stuffing our face until we weren’t able to consume anymore food, not caring about the result that food will or eventually have.

At 5am I heard the smell of food being cooked for the harvest. My mother made sure that everything on her part or the food she wanted to make was prepared.  I guess As long as theirs a large amount of good food than the day will end up being what’s expected. The enjoyment and existence of food is always incorporated in every holiday but on thanksgiving, food is much more the focus on the event. Everyone in my family came to say hello and reminisce, but they found themselves completely drawn to all that food that was placed on the dinner table. Home cooked meals mostly from my mother who usually does most of the cooking but my sister and others provided there share. “how’s the turkey", my brother asked. Gobble gobble, the turkey is the dish that symbolizes this festivity. So you know food is important because the turkey is a “must make”. Eating repeatedly occurred throughout the whole night until everyone gathered in the living room, tired and bloated from the huge supplements of their food. We never really engage in other common practices as football watching on the big screen. But we use food and recollecting memories as way to spend the day.

This holiday the remembrance of our ancestors or those who passed wasn’t didn’t occur. It was unusual to me because it’s something that always happens. Especially when it comes to my grandmother because she’s always been the heart of our family. Always bringing us closer. Not having an empty chair and not remembering that same seat that my sister in-law was situated in was the same one my grandmother always sat at. This kind of makes me feel like an asshole now that I think about it. But she would be happy that this holiday brought nothing but smiles and no fights. The consuming of food had everyone embracing each other and seated for most of the night. The lack of movement and consumption of a bunch of food all for the purpose to fill and delight someone’s taste buds. Brings about the unhealthiness of a day like thanksgiving. My family never really takes notice on the damage that we are provoking on ourselves because we still eat unhealthy everyday. But for thanksgiving no one truly cares. But one day this may bring out illness that isn’t uncommon in our family, so it wouldn’t come as a surprise.

Initial Thoughts on Illness and Dying

            Illness and death is something I’ve seen a lot of in my life. It’s sad to say but I seem to always hear something about one of my family members or somebody I know being sick, getting sick or sadly dying. The one memory I always draw back to when I think of my grandfather is one specific time of me visiting him in the hospital, and I hate that. The harsh smelly stench, the white sheets, the little TVs, the Jell-O, and the exaggerated happiness of the nurses. I remember it so clearly because his illness of parcinsin cut our memories together short. growing up I constantly use to visit my grandmother at the hospital  because she suffered from a stroke and high blood pressure which is something that’s hereditary in our family.  She lived with us as well during the time of her illness because we felt we could provide much more for her than a retirement home or hospital could. And we did. My grandmother was a wise and strong woman, passing not too long ago, she was 90 years old and she lived a long and great life. She said it herself, that she’s lived her life and bluntly stated that she was ready for the end. She was ready but me and my family definitely wasn’t. I’ve seen illness and death with my own eyes numerous times and it never seems to get old but still hurts.

            I haven’t been taught any particularly way to look at illness and dying. I’ve picked up on along the way that it’s something that just happens. You can shy away from illness if you take care of yourself and live a healthy lifestyle. Unless it’s an illness like high blood pressure that’s passed down. Learning from my experiences I’ve learned that death is something that comes across in everyone’s life sooner or later. So you must live your life to the fullest extent until you reach that day. Thiers some sort of linear life that everyone is suppose to live or will live.  Born, child years, youth years, college, career, marriage, have a family, get old and die. We live our whole lives to the same ending that isn’t a happy one, and that is death.

           

In our society we seem to always separate those who are ill from those who aren’t. People look at the elderly and those who are sick as weak individuals and look down on them. We out them in places where they suffer instead of get better. Though hospitals and retirement homes specialize in helping the sick, a place where the sick are isolated.  My mother hated the fact of putting my grand mother in a home that wasn’t ours, having her suffer miserably in a quiet room where no on actually cares but “does their job”. My mother felt putting my grandmother in a home or hospital meant sooner or later it would be time to say goodbye. She experienced that tragedy with her father and didn’t want history to repeat itself, but eventually it did. When someone dies it’s expected to give them a proper burial and a ceremony to celebrate that persons life and after life. All black attire, tissues, tears and utter silence is the usual feel of a funeral. Different cultures celebrate death and deal with it differently. Some want a casket in the ground with a stone engraved with their name, some want to be cremated and theirs some who want their ashes to be thrown away at sea.   

  It’s funny to see people shy away and hide from the truth. We put a wall up instead seeing the true meaning behind ones actions or what is actually happening. That that specific sickness, injury or death will impair you life in some type of way. Maybe you can’t play that sport that you once loved so much. Should it be hovered over and always thought about? What if the dead is forgotten? Is that bad? What do you or tell someone that is laying their sick? Maybe you should ask them how their day but your scared that you will receive a bitter answer. Maybe you should enlighten them with what’s been going on since they’ve been gone.  Sometimes nothing needs to be said; sometimes the realization of the moment is enough.

Food Project 1- Vegetarian for acouple days

The assignment that was given in social studies class was to choose a modality for your last experience in the food unit. Your options were either to choose an experimental like change your change diet, second was academic and example of that is doing research on a specific aspect that was learned that interest you. Lastly was some type of advocacy work to inform others about better food. The modality that I chose was experimental, which was to see how it feels to live a vegetarian lifestyle for a couple days. Apart from that healthy eating as well. Everything that I have taken in about the meat and the food that I’ve been consuming all my life, being a vegetarian and eating healthy seemed like the perfect project idea.

Being a vegetarian seemed so easy when the idea was brought up or on first day of trail the first day but it actually wasn’t.  Trying to find a tasteful and fulfilling meal for lunch and dinner that wasn’t repetitive was pretty difficult. I didn’t want to eat the same meals everyday because I wasn’t familiar with this eating habit. This made me realize how many times meat is a component of my meal everyday. One day coming home starving from work I found myself looking through my fridge with my new "vegetarian eyes" and saw that there was nothing for me to eat. I then went to the supermarket and came back home and cooked 2 marvelous quesadillas with a fruit salad. Cooking is an important component of eating vegetarian I saw; no matter where I walked around my neighborhood the supermarket was the only place that fit the criteria of eating no meat. Another day I ate 13 dollar meal that included a sandwich with fresh mozzarella cheese, basil, and tomato with bottled water. This was a good and healthy meal and it puzzled me how a simple sandwich could be so good. It was a combination of eating healthy and eating vegetarian which was pretty hard during my experimentation. The pricing of healthy food is much more expensive than anything else I could’ve been eating for lunch.

Eating healthy and not consuming any meat whatsoever isn’t as simple as I thought. Everything around us is meat oriented and unhealthy. Fast food takes such a huge toll on our environment and eating unhealthy is something that’s so difficult to shy away from. Many people do not always come across healthy organic places and even if they do they don’t see themselves purchasing a meal that’s more than ten dollars that isn’t of huge proportion. The amount of money spent on food is very important, and it compares to spending a lot for a lot of "crap" or spending a lot for small amount of healthy. Every individual should look to care for their body’s and purchase healthy food but most of our population wouldn’t be able to have it as an expense. i think i remember andy saying about 3 % or 13% purchase healthy. correct me if im not.Whole foods is a great place to buy food, food that isn’t too expensive and pretty healthy. Before the start of the food unit I had no clue that whole foods sold a broad selection of delicious and healthy food and I know many can compare to my situation.

My former "addiction" to fast food had me comparing what I ate with what I use to eat. I could see the comparison from eating greasy meals like McDonalds or whatever and eating a sandwich from organique, whole foods. on top and last but not least not eating meat.  My body felt lighter, I wouldn’t receive instant ides from the food I ate. Energy and your body willing to do more throughout the days was the result of eating healthy and not eating meat. My experiment showed me that being a vegetarian isn’t something I would want to follow as a lifestyle but eating healthy is. Healthy is a component of living a good life and that should always be acknowledged. to further my experiment and to further my motives on eating healthy I want to become more custom to cooking for and buying for myself and not stoop to the nearest and unhealthy fast-food place that lies on every corner.

Food, Inc. Response

Food Inc. gives us the visual perspective of what occurs behind the scenes in the fast food industry. The domination it has had and has obtained for the last 50 years. “The way we eat today changed more in the last 50 years than in the past 10,000". This quote from Food inc. shows us this transformation and the impact it has really had. From cattle being fed grass (organic) to being fed corn, anti-biotic and steroids. Processed food and its overproduction making it possible for the low prices of food. Paying for crap. Genetically modified food becoming out of control and being pushed to be highly used by other countries as well. American influence. Huge cooperation’s making millions off the subsidies. the government, the ones who are suppose to be the ones in control and "taking care" are also apart of the problem. The fight to shutdown and sue these factories, stop false labeling, false advertising and more had backfired. Everything will diminish in our society if these cooperation’s are effected.

Food inc. offers us to actually see visually the corruption of these billion dollar cooperation’s. Whereas Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser shows us this through facts and narratives. the film shows you common experiences of those who have been hurt  and have dealt with the alterations that fast food has inflicted on their farm communities .things we don’t see are put out there, the production of cattle, how their hurt, overly fed and even contaminated. The music that the film provides shows the feelings that us the audience are reacting towards what has become new and shameful to see. The film combined with the book has given me a different and powerful perspective on food.

I’m not left with many questions about the film. Its just mind boggling. To read but than be given visual shows me the true colors of our food system and the way we live. What I do want to know, is how will things change? Those "things" include everything that has been put in front of us to buy these products, what hasn’t been put in front of to stop us. Broad question because I have no clue on how a world that is totally conformed can possibly change. Over the years I hope to see slight change but even that is a stiff prediction.

Freakonomics

 What sources of evidence do the Freakonomics authors most rely on? Why is this innovative?


Freakonomics examined the problems we face around us in different lens than what we are use to. What you think, true really is not.  The authors of Freakonomics prove their theories by using surveys, statistics and conducting experiments. These sources of evidence are the most reliable and most accurate when trying to prove something. For example in the movie they conducted an experiment on how does a persons name effect them in the working world?  They did this by submitting the same resume to the company but from two different people to apply for a job. One individual with a primarily black name and another with a primarily white name. The experiment resulted in the white man getting a callback 5 weeks before the black man. Showing that someone’s name can bring about assumptions and characterizations.

How do the Freakonomics authors address the "correlation versus causation" issue? Do they pretend correlation IS causation?


The authors in Freakonomics prove that some correlation is causation. In the movie they show how something so little or something that had occurred in the past can affect the future. That is true in some cases. They proved this by bringing up the matter of the crime rate going down. Many would say that this is due to the works of the governor and the police. While the authors of Freakonomis believe it was because of the result of Roe v. Wade where abortion was made legal. They felt that the crime rate has gone down because all the unwanted kids, who are believed to be the ones who are the burdens of society, aren’t born. A point of view that is strange never looked at but than quite interesting.

Statement: Freakonomics serves as an inspiration and good example to our attempt to explore the "hidden-in-plain-sight" weirdness of dominant social practices.

Freakonomics serves as a prime example and inspiration to uncovering the wierdness and the actions of people in our society. people are acustom to others doing thinking for them. the news and the media dictate they way people think and where there point of views are directed. whereas Freakonomics brings up different possible causes of the way people act and how the world is around us that many do not know or think of.this connects to our food unit because you can say the reason why Americans are so accustom to eating "unhealthy" is because of the industrialization of Fast food in the early 1900's. another point we look at is our eating habits and social practices are reflected off of economic class and home life. correlation, causation.

Growing Your own Food

When we were given the assignment to get a cheese cloth and an open jar for HW because we will have the opportunity to grow our own food seemed like a new and interesting assignment. When giving this assignment the memory of a vacation came to mind. When I went to Boca Chica in the Dominican Republic for my first time, I was able to see a whole different approach of a whole community when it came to food. Grandfather showing me the acres right in back of his house that he owned for years and treated it like it were his baby son. He was 90 years old but he would move like were 40, cutting a bunch of food from the ground for the day with his machete showed me the advantages of growing food instead of taking a walk to the supermarket to buy something that was processed or given to you because you’re dependent on them. I knew seeing a 90 year old man who moved like he were 50 years younger having such bliss when it came to his garden that I would do something similar when I were to own my own place. Why not?

When I was first giving the seeds to grow sprouts, I didn’t think just by keeping something in a jar something could grow to be eaten. But I was wrong. First day of watering them I had no type of faith in them growing. After watering them for a couple days I saw the change in the sprouts and noticed that if they were taken care of and properly treated than the growing would be successful. The sad part I wasn’t able to successfully grow the sprouts to their potential because I didn’t provide enough to attention to the and because that they died. its like HW, a practice, something you've adapted into your daily routine.  So I wasn’t able to taste my own food that I had grown or take a picture of it but I must say I was very excited to do so. Growing your own food takes patience; it doesn’t take a couple days and is it not done by itself. This put me in the shoes of my grandfather and showed me in proportional way what it takes to grow your own food and why its practiced.

Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser

Chapter 1

Precis: During the 1940s Carl N. Karcher became one of the founding fathers of the fast food nation we see today.  The nation began rapidly changing due to the end of the World War 2, and its economic boost and the rise of industrialization. Carl took advantage of the "fabulous boom" and went from successful hot dog stands to launching fast food restaurants. Leading many to follow in his food steps.

Gems: "He was amazed by the number of hot dogs stands they were opening and by the number of buns they went through every week"- pg.15

 ”Southern California had recently giving birth to an entirely new life style- and a new way of eating. Both revolved around cars"- pg.15

Thoughts: it was interesting to see how and when the era of fast food started. Carl N. Karcher saw how much everything was changing around, the automobile industry and electronics evolving to make the lives of Americans easier and faster. Fast food served the same purpose. Question that comes to my mind is how has the "new life style" of back than show about the average American?

Chapter 2

Precis: Ray Kroc and Walt Disney developed strategic strategies in influencing the hearts and minds of the people home. Advertising, marketing, promoting, radio were all implemented when it came to beating the competition. The target was the youth of America, luring them in by using toys in kid’s meals, mascots, and pleasing images and to gain their support and interest. The cheap prices and the "good" food that was offered also manipulated the working class and low income families.

Gems: "And their success led many others to aim marketing efforts at kids, turning America’s youngest consumer into a demographic that is now avidly studied, analyzed, and targeted by the worlds largest corporations". - pg.33

"it’s the law of the universe that the strong shall survive and the weak must fall by the way, and I don’t give a damn what idealistic plan is cooked up, nothing can change that"- pg. 37

"" [our goal is to make] consumers believe McDonalds is their "trusted friend" ". - pg. 50

Thoughts: What were or are marketing strategies that have brought you to buy something? What’s the most provocative way of luring the youth now in days and is this different from back than? Is fast food a family place?

 Chapter 3

Precis: Fast food industries like McDonalds looked to gain as much profit possible but make sure their employees that included college students, minorities and immigrants were all paid low wages. McDonalds becoming an enormous success creating scores for new billionaires and franchises and chain stores all across the United States.

Gems: “ Every saturday Elisa Zamot gets up at 5:15 in the morning. its a struggle, and her head feels groggy as she steps into the shower"- pg. 67

" in the absence of good wages and secure employment, the chains try to inculcate "team spirit" in thier young crews"- 74

"i see the possibility of Unions"- pg.88

Thoughts: still till this day you see large cooperation’s and there horrible treatment of their workers while the company makes millions of profit. Millionaires and brand companies push to retrieve any sort of leverage when it comes to beating the competition. McDonalds and its success was a teacher and a vocal point for many to push start a business or something new to present to their American culture new like GAP clothing.

Chapter 4

Precis: Franchisee is someone who decides to buys a franchise from a franchiser because there able to benefit more than they would if they tried starting their own business. In chapter 4 the author Eric Schlosser focuses on Dave Feamster, a franchisee who opened up four pizza chains for the parent company “Little Ceasars" in Detroit after starting off with just a 200,000 loan. This idea of franchising cannot be successful because you must follow the franchisor (parent company) rules and guidelines, if not your business and whoever is involved with it is in jeopardy.

Gems: “the franchisor wants to expand an existing company without spending its own funds”- pg. 94

“But it was McDonalds that perfected new franchising techniques, increasing the chains size while maintaining strict control of its products”. - pg. 95 

Thoughts:  Franchising has become so popular and big cooperation’s like McDonalds have benefited from it because people have faith in the product or that business. Shows you how big cooperation’s are looked at and idolized by people. I remember hearing Mr. Wexler saying he had first came up with the idea of putting a papaya on the corner of our school because it would see nothing but gains in that location but he got beat to it. He was manipulated by vision of representing Papaya. But what if franchising was put to a limit? How will this affect our community and what we were accustom to?

Chapter 5

Precis: Potatoes became the most important food necessity when it comes to fast food industries. J.R Simplot changed the ways of many fast food industries and the eating habits of many. He did this by starting off with acres of potato farm, a potatoes sorter which was a new invention. With that brought him to introduce the world to frozen fries and frozen food when new gadgets were becoming common in households. The faults in the manufacturing of foods are pushed to be a kept as a secret as much as possible.

Gems: "After the war, Simplot invested heavily in frozen food technology, betting that it would provide the meals of the future". - pg.113

“In 1960, the typical American ate eighty-one pounds of fresh potatoes and about four pounds of frozen French fries. Today the typical American eats about forty-nine pounds of fresh potatoes every year and thirty pounds of frozen French fries.” pg. 114

“the flavor industry is highly secretive...the secrecy is deemed essential for protecting the reputation of beloved brands". - pg. 120 

Thoughts: Simplot envisioned frozen food becoming the meals of the future and he was absolutely right. Frozen food is "fast food"; fast food is all around us, its what we love. It’s crazy to see our food habits and the way look at food be manipulated by fast food industries, commercials, advertisements and more. Why it is hard for people to realize what their purchasing or eating is bad? At what point do you not buy that product and why? Not saying I don’t do myself but it would be insightful to hear the variety of answers.

Chapter 6

Precis: Chapter 6 On the Range shows the impact that fast food had on farm areas and their cattle businesses .the author introduces us to a local rancher from Colorado Springs named Hank. Who addresses the hardships that ranchers and their families faced as fast food meat packing industries took over the production of meat. Instead of meat products being traditional being produced in farms, fast machinery and unhealthy chemicals took over.

Gems: "there is one indisputable fact, however, abut American ranchers: they are rapidly disappearing... many of the nations remaining eight hundred thousand ranchers are faring poorly."- pg. 136

“The Chicken McNugget turned a bird that once had to be carved at a table into something that could be easily eaten behind the wheel of a car. It turned bulk agricultural commodity into a manufactured, value added product". - pg.139

“The threat of wealthy neighbors"- pg. 144

Thoughts: It’s a bitter feeling seeing the way fast food industries altered the lives of communities and farmers/ ranchers. Businesses and the wealthy have always had a way of stepping over whomever it is to get what they want. This makes me think about Trump and his efforts of buying and kicking out the people in my housing community in the lower east side. It just doesn’t seem right at all

Chapter 7

Precis:  Greely Colorado is a modern day factory town and from places like this is where most hamburgers that are eaten today come from. Industrialization of meat packing has fully changed how beef is processed and the towns that do so. What once use to be the United States best manufacturing jobs now is the home of low wages and brutal treatment.

Gems: "During the three months before slaughter, they eat grain dumped into long concrete troughs that resemble highway dividers. The grain fattens the cattle quickly, aided by the anabolic steroids implanted in their ear."- pg. 150

"The working conditions in these meatpacking plants were brutal....Human beings, Sinclair argued had been made "cogs in the great packing machine", easily replaced and entirely disposable". - pg.152

Thoughts: what has been brought to our attention recently in news and other sources of media is that what we eat everyday, buy at supermarkets is being produced with steroids and other harmful chemicals. But that hasn’t stopped me or others. Why? Many big businesses gain more profit by paying their workers low wages and treating them like dogs. How often is this noticed? Is it hidden from the public like Sean john sweat shops once were?

Chapter 8

Precis: Slaughterhouses is the home of the most dangerous jobs. The workplace consisted of harsh treatment, dangerous machinery and low wages. These slaughterhouses hire illegal immigrants to gain profit and to have leverage over the worker. Someone who is undocumented can’t complain. These slaughterhouse hire and abuse their workers and don’t care because theirs plenty more of them where they came from.

Gems:

They used me to the point where I had no body parts left to give,” “Then they just tossed me into the trash can.”

“During a three month period in 1985, the first log recorded 1800 injuries and illness in the plant. The OHSA log recorded 160, a discrepancy of more then 1000 percent.”

Thoughts: it’s crazy to see the true side of America. A capitalist and a greedy country and the strive to manipulate its individuals in a variety of ways. How many flaws can be found in the works of multi million dollar cooperation’s? Why aren’t they stopped? If they are stopped, how will we be affected?

Chapter 9

Precis: the truth about the production of meat becoming apparent during the breakout of various diseases in the meat and the people who’ve eaten in. E.Coli outbreak is an example. Meatpacking and slaughterhouses companies would intend to lie, some cases didn’t have their was inspection of meat for human consumption. Chapter looks deeply how these outbreaks occur and how it wasn’t and hasn’t been thoroughly stopped.

Gems: “far from their natural habitat, the cattle in feedlot become more prone to all sorts of illnesses. And what they are being fed often contributes to the spread of disease". pg. 202
"The Clinton Administrations efforts to implement a tough, science based food inspection system received an enormous setback when the Republican Party gained control of congress in November 1994". pg. 210
“Northern states beef was also link to a 1994 outbreak of E.coli 0157:H7 in Nebraska that sicken eighteen people". pg. 219

Thoughts: fast food industries and big cooperation’s contain so much power. So powerful, wealthy, popular and are additionally linked to the most powerful, government. The way our culture is now is the effect of their cause, how can we fully alter our lifestyle for the good?

Chapter 10
 
Precis: After Cold War Fast Food nations began to step foot and make their mark overseas and out of the country. Fast food chains like McDonalds became the phenomenon of western economic development. McDonalds served as the beginning of American influence and franchising and to many this seemed exciting while others saw the effect it had on its people and country. Germany changed and became one of McDonald’s most profitable overseas markets and so did over 120 countries as well.


Gems: "Global Realization"
 ”The anthropologist Yunxiang Yan has noted that in the eyes of Beijing consumers, McDonalds represents Americana and the promise of modernization". pg. 230 
“No other nation in history has gotten so fat so fast.” pg.240

Thoughts: Many ask why "Americans" are so hated but you could see the impact that American culture and franchising has on people. So you couldn’t blame them. Does majority of the world notice and try to eliminate the change that fast food brings? Or do they sit back and watch like us?

Epilogue

Precis: fast food industries false fully advertise their food and the effects it has on its consumers. Not all fast food chains seize to manipulate their consumers with "bull", their is still some successful but smaller family companies that have success by producing greater and healthy products like organic meat. The only boycott that would be victorious against this fast food lifestyle at this time would be the refusal to buy.


Gems: "There's take-out but no drive-through, and the food is only slightly more expensive than the half-empty Wendy's across the street. One day I met a customer at Conway's who has regularly been having lunch there for fifty years."pg. 258
“An economic system promising freedom has too often become a means of denying it, as the narrow dictates of the market gain precedence over more important democratic values". pg.261
“The low price of a fast food hamburger does not reflect its real cost - and should". pg. 261

Thoughts: it’s overwhelming to see the kind of power these fast food industries possess. They push to gain the eyes and minds of every single individual that is easy manipulated. By the colorful brightened pictures of their new food and to the toys they put in kid meals. Out of all the profit they make, by paying low wages and unhealthy over production why cant a little more healthiness be implemented? Not just by putting calorie counts that are barely visible. How do fast food chains truly respond to the questions of an unhappy consumer and the healthy consumer? How did they respond to the book and the author’s efforts to break their success apart??

Food Diary

“Could you guys please pick something to eat, its 12:35 SH**" Luz says this every time we are released for lunch break everyday in school. Everyday we must rush to figure out what to eat because we don’t have much time, all we have is a measly 50 minutes to eat lunch. We find ourselves sometimes eating the same food or eating at the same place because of it. Right here is a picture of a slice of pepperoni, bacon and cheese pizza for 4 dollars. Price good, Ray pizza is near, so it’s convenient. From the looks of it and from what I know this isn’t healthy. The reason I ordered this because I was rushed with time, didn’t know what to choose to eat and I had a huge appetite because I didn’t eat in the morning. Not to forget I love pizza.

 

 After leaving the Nuyorican poets cafe late night I went to a restaurant I’ve been craving to go to for the past months. I knew going there I was going to order pasta, because I had gotten great reviews about it. This plate and order was pretty expensive but the food was amazing and filling. My meal included garlic bread which wasn’t really touched and water and tea. I was glad to eat a meal like this instead of going to a fast food place. This was by far one the best meals I’ve had. This meal made me wants to go home the next day and cook up some pasta of my own. 

Overall i feel okay about my food choices. i just hate the eating habits of monday through friday during lunch break.

Dominant Discourses Regarding Contemporary Foodways in the U.S.

Food is the most important component of everyday life. We look to food as just something that is supposed to be taken in 3 times a day, and how you take it in depends on what’s surrounding you. Now in days we have a society that has now figured out the complexities of food, the negative and positive affects of what the average American seems to love and be most drawn to. For example if you put a green market poster and a fast-food poster and asked an American to go for the one they want, they would be drawn to the fast-food. A Discourse is a purposeful discussion or debate about a certain subject. In a discourse you have a Dominant discourse and a Marginal discourse. A dominant discourse is the ruling point of view on the subject, whereas the marginal discourse is a viewpoint that less follow. The dominant discourse that we face now regarding food ways in the United States is food that benefits the human body should be essential in the daily practices of every American.

The dominant discourse consist of scientists, nutritionists, the news, magazines, newspapers and radio in which have all contributed to influencing the how most of the population sees food. Were all basically puppets that are controlled by the puppeteer that is the dominant discourse that is enforced on us on a daily basis. Referring to the article from the New York Times "Told to Eat Its Vegetables, America Orders Fries
" by Kim Severson shows the efforts of the government and people pushing to better the eating way of the American people. "Despite two decades of public health initiatives, stricter government dietary guidelines, record growth of farmers’ markets and the ease of products like salad in a bag, Americans still aren’t eating enough vegetables." this shows that government officials, Michelle Obama, health centers and more have pushed to try and help the United States problem of obesity and unhealthiness. If one tactic on preventing obesity or unhealthiness doesn’t work or show results than we will be persuaded into trying another one.

In an article from the New York Times, "Fixing a World That Fosters Fat" by Natasha Singer". The name for the title speaks for itself. How could you fix the mentality of people who live in a society where unhealthy food and bad habits have been engraved in our minds in a variety of strategic ways. It states in the article," If you take a changed person and put them in the same environment, they are going to go back to the old behaviors,” says Dr. Edington, who has a doctorate in physical education. “If you change the culture and the environment first, then you can go back into a healthy environment and, when you get change, it sticks.” Dr. Edington explains that our bad habits will not change over time because we have lived in a manipulative and unhealthy environment all our lives. Now were being looked to make an effort and change. our culture is now trying to instill  healthy through numerous ways like TV shows and how to cook "green food" cook books so we could reach that point where eating healthy is the normal thing to do.

Families Foodways

When asking my mom what she was accustom to food wise when growing up it seemed to me that there was some significant differences and some similarities. The food that my mother grew up eating is similar to the food I eat today because were apart of a strong Hispanic culture. For example if I were to think of one food that is usually cooked at my household I would have to say its rice and beans. Usually in a household the mother or female figure is the one stirring up the pot in the kitchen for the family at the dinner table just like now in days. But eating at the dinner table every night and having a rich traditional family dinner isn’t something that’s instilled on us as a family today.


I remember hearing stories my grandmother use to tell me about how she grew up. She told me that back in Puerto Rico before she came to the United States the food use to taste better. Everything was made around her, that life wasn’t simple, life wasn’t great but it was good. Their was no buying from the local supermarket, their was vegetables, chickens and more in your backyard and all you had to do was take your time and prepare it. If you were to go to another country you would see that lots of money can be also seen as having a lot of crops. These crops are what many survive on because money isn’t something that can be spent on food when it can be grown. This is very different from how we are today as a family and modern day culture.


As generation passed on the amount of food, variety of food and how it’s eaten has changed due to present day culture and economic class. There’s no need to proportion the food or the meat or whatever to each member of the family because now were financially able to do so, unlike my grandmother growing up. We could just go to the supermarket and look to feed again.  we could also stoop to just buying an occasional or regular day meal outside on the sidewalk and buy Chinese food, Thai food, Wendys or any type of food were accustomed to seeing and wanting a new taste and most of all BUYING.

Fastfood VS Green market

Fast food is so successful because it’s the most convenient for many. The word "Fast" is what’s appealing to because time is precious. The amount of fast food restaurants around us make it popular and people become more and more influenced by it everyday. The visualizations and the advertisements that come from fast food attract people. you don’t tell individuals exactly what there eating which many should pay attention to more but instead just use there efforts to put good looking and tasteful food for a cheap price. Than you have the green market which will advertise and promote theirs foods in a total different way.  By having samples for the consumers and giving them a menu that’s made for people to read something that many in fast-food restaurants don’t do. It gives you every single thing about that food, like its daily supply of nutrients and all this runs by your eye before you hit the register.


Everyone knows that Fast Food is not the healthiest of foods but still so hard to say no to it. Adding bacon to a cheeseburger would result in more buyers at this isn’t surprising. The average American would be hypnotized by an image like that, not caring about where it comes from or the unhealthiness of it just the taste. McDonalds and other fast food restaurants are now forced to put the calorie totals on food menus because of the problem of obesity. Even with this I and everyone else are following the "American tradition". Green market is for the purpose of reaching out and helping out. It gives off a new fresh type of energy and McDonalds is the usual. Green market represents using the environment in a positive way and helping those who live in it.

Food

Food is one of the most important aspects of our world. People depend on food because it’s what gives you physical and mental energy to keep up with your everyday life of survival. But in our community in society our supply and demand is different from others. Every block you walk on your bound to see a fast food restaurant, that is cheap and “Fast” and that’s what’s appealing to many because theirs not a lot of businesses that endorse the natural components of food(organic) or vegetarian food. It’s appealing to many because it’s the most convenient. My priorities compare because I look to eat what’s most delightful at that time, if it’s good, not as expensive and if it’s able to be well digested. Also living in a Hispanic household where stuffing your child’s face is apart of loving my priorities in food are altered by what I see and what I’m use to and overtime I look to change this.

  

Food is very sacred. Most households in our society have social practices where everyone must have a meal in the morning time which is called breakfast, during the day (lunch) and most important out of all is dinner. Dinner time is where families look for food to bring their families closer together at the dinner table. You always hear the same saying, “I have to be home for dinner” and this is because the dinner table is where you eat good food, elaborate on your day and spend time with your family.

 The ideal meal to me is an appetizer like a salad, than comes a meat and a side, a beverage and lastly a dessert. Everywhere you go that is the course of your meal for that time and to me it should consist of what ever you want at that time. We take advantage of the food we eat on a daily basis because we don’t see that animals are killed from it, it’s manufactured poorly, causes diseases in some cases and more. But like myself I don’t look at the fault in what we eat. My typical meal fails to meet these standards because I eat what I want. Some eat their vegetables; I eat what I crave and what taste good.