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Consider How a Certain Place Influenced Who You Are
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Consider How a Certain Place Influenced Who You Are
Introduction
Time flies really fast. It seems like it was yesterday, those days when I lived with my parents in Cape Town devoid of any worry in the world. I used to be vocal in my disapproval of apartheid. I would usually make small gestures in trying to improve the lives of my disadvantaged contemporaries. My days were enjoyable, and I vividly recall basking in the sun on the beautiful Clifton beaches gazing at the sea towards Robben Island. To my embarrassment I cannot recall if I ever contemplated very much in relation to the residents of the island-prison. Robben Island for a long time was a place of suffering and deportation for the political dissidents of South Africa. I am confident that on no account did I ever imagine that some day I would take a boat across the Table Bay to visit the island. I never thought that I would see the threatening signs and the small cells and stroll in the lime quarries where prisoners labored in the blinding pallid heat. Many years after I left this beautifully-situated metropolitan, I came back, much older, a little bit wiser and definitely pleased to discover a new South Africa. A lot has changed, yet sorrowfully I was to discover that numerous things were yet to improve. Of course, the prisoners have left Robben Island, and the whole site currently enjoys its new status as a Museum. It has been categorized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Robben Island currently hosts scores of tourists, both local and international, on a daily basis. Nevertheless, on the nearby miserable Cape Flats numerous people continue living in the squalor that they have suffered for generations. Therefore, when one visits South Africa, one should think about reflecting on the previous lives of the prisoners at Robben Island, and also the hard, daily life of the present day still-disadvantaged populace. This was not a typical tour, but it was moving and interesting. The visit provided me with an opportunity to have discussions with numerous people with reference to South Africa’s tribulations and future expectations. Ultimately, this visit granted me a far deeper perceptive of this multifaceted land. Robben Island is a low-lying island, situated at the access to Table Bay. From Cape Town, it is 14 km away, and one may reach it via a thirty minute ride on a stable, modern ferry. Visitors to the island may choose a variety of options for self-guided or guided tours. Tours to the Maximum Security Prison are carried out by former political prisoners who narrate stories as well as answer questions in relation to their individual experiences while in prison. This was an astounding experience for me as well as for the other visitors. Questions come fast and thick. All manner of questions were asked, such as; what were you given to eat? Where were you working? For how long in a day? What about religious services, visitors, clothes, hygiene and health, news from outside the prison, books? Were you able to study? Were the winters cold? Did the authorities torture you? Were you housed together with criminal prisoners? The questions were endless. My guide Mr. Derick Basson was incarcerated for five years at the age of 18. He answered the queries with dignity and devoid of bitterness or exaggeration. Several people in the tour group shed tears. I contemplated again of my carefree days when I used to take a break on the beach across the bay. In a visit to Robben Island, visitors are usually interested in viewing the reception office, the loathed censor’s office, the prison’s court, the courtyard, the cells, as well as Nelson Mandela’s cell. Mandela occupied this tiny cell for 18 of the 27 years he spent in Robben Island. There are documented archives, videos, cell stories, prison songs and an assortment of artifacts. These are nondescript objects with influential stories that relate to them. There are other sites that one may visit on Robben Island other that the Maximum Security Prison. In actual fact the entire island bears testimony to its four hundred years of legendary history. Unwilling populace in history included leprosy sufferers, slaves, religious and political leaders who resisted colonialism. African leaders who opposed to British expansion in the country, the mentally distressed as well as French prisoners of war, also inhabited the Island prison. Afterward it became the place of imprisonment for common criminals as well as political antagonist of apartheid in Namibia and South Africa. Other, more voluntary inhabitants included the keeper of the lighthouse, his family and, certainly, the prison staff. At the end of my visit to Robben Island, I studied the guest information booklet. The booklet titled “Welcome to Robben Island” wraps up with the following:
We trust that you will leave Robben Island with the feeling that you have shared a great learning experience with us. You have participated in a pilgrimage which, we hope, will inspire you to help make the world a better place (Barbara 80).
The visit to Robben Island was truly an inspiring and moving experience.
Critical Analysis of My Relation to Robben Island. Like the majority of museums world wide, Robben Island depicts a place for the perpetuation and display of objects perceived to be of eternal value. But as a place designed to encourage a hope sensibility, Robben Island exceeds that. It fits in to a class that may be regarded as governance museums. These are museums concerned with upholding sensibilities instead of simply displaying valued artifacts. In such museums the artifacts are intentionally mediums for influencing consciousness. In the event that we consider museums beyond symbolic sites, then Robben Island may be regarded as figurative governance site. This means that Robben Island would serve as an example of figurative site that is designed to form sensibilities. These would be sensibilities that are expected to promote a preferred future by encouraging specific mind sets and consequently operating across the populace. Expressed in a different way, it would mean that the Robben Island management is seeking to form the South African’s identities as part of citizenship education. Robben Island, as a prison, was designed to be a place for nurturing a hopelessness sensibility amongst people who resisted, or posed resistance against apartheid governance. It is essential to note that apartheid, in the Afrikaans dialect means separateness. It is this fundamental judiciousness of separateness among persons with perceived racial differences that fortified all the policies of governance that were endorsed by the apartheid government of South Africa. This is depicted by the following quote from Theme for English B;
Sometimes perhaps you don’t want to be a part of me.Nor do I often want to be a part of you. (Chris and Lex 2).
Seen in this perspective, the system of separating the political opponents of the apartheid system at Robben Island should be regarded as consistent with a wide-ranging dogma of governing by means of separateness. In this regard, by isolating the leadership of the resistance movements the apartheid government endeavored to defeat the spirit of the populace by devastating the struggle.
If the event that this analysis is acceptable then conceivably it is pertinent to describe the Robben Island Museum as an establishment founded in a heritage of deliberation that has worked to convert collective and private hopes into a communal hope. This may be achieved by means of extending the collective memory. The deliberative grounding is intensified by the actuality that the emergent hope through the engagement and debate that exemplified the life of the prisoners on Robben Island resonates with an intensely embedded and fundamental value of African culture.
The visit to Robben Island has made me a different person in that I am currently more conscious than before of the plight of people around me. This is expounded by the following quote from Theme for English B;
I guess being colored doesn’t make me NOT like the same things other folks like who are other races. (Chris and Lex 2).
The habitual stereotypes or generalizations I had in regard to the plight of prisoners, both criminal and political has greatly changed. I am now increasingly sensitive to events that occur globally, as well as their implications on the future. The contribution that is made by the uncelebrated individuals in regard to pursuit for good governance will always be of paramount significance to me. In the event that this conclusion is acceptable then it may provide a new significance to the phrase that is frequently utilized in regard to the tip of the African peninsula whereby Cape Town is situated, namely the “Cape of Good Hope.”
Works cited
Barbara, Hutton. Robben Island: Symbol of Resistance, Johannesburg, Mayibuye Books, 2000. Print.
Chris Anderson and Lex Runciman. Open Questions: Readings for Critical Thinking and Writing, Bedford, St. Martin’s, 2005. Print.
Dealing With Hydrotherapy
Dealing With Hydrotherapy
Contents
TOC o “1-3” h z u A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of immersion bath on labor pain PAGEREF _Toc379446329 h 1Guidelines/policy based on the findings PAGEREF _Toc379446330 h 1Evaluating the change PAGEREF _Toc379446331 h 2Effects of Immersion PAGEREF _Toc379446332 h 3The Effects of the Hydrotherapy on the Anxiety, Pain, Neuroendocrine Responses along with the Contraction of Dynamics during Labor PAGEREF _Toc379446333 h 3Guidelines/policy based on the findings PAGEREF _Toc379446334 h 4Evaluating the change PAGEREF _Toc379446335 h 4Conclusion PAGEREF _Toc379446336 h 4
Hydrotherapy is external and internal use of water in disease. It is also referred to water therapy that relieves the discomfort and promotes physical wellbeing. Some injuries that are good for hydrotherapy are knee, lower back, hip and arm. It is also used for women in contractions and labor in relaxes and decrease parturient anxiety and pain in labor. One significance of hydrotherapy is that, it allows the joints to be protected and muscular reinforcement to take place through proprioceptive mechanisms. Hydrotherapy is therefore safer than physical therapy in situations where a person cannot roll his/her ankle in water while they are walking on the treadmill. This paper will therefore appraise the two articles given while briefly suggesting ways of evaluating the change as well as giving recommendations on the policy based on the findings.
A randomized controlled trial evaluating the effects of immersion bath on labor painManaging the labor pain is one of the major goals of the intrapartum care. There are two methods of labor pain management which includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic. In Pharmacologic, the approaches are mainly directed at the elimination of the physical sensation of the labor pain, whereas the non-pharmacologic approaches are directed at the prevention of suffering. In this case, suffering can be defined in terms of psychological elements: the perceived threat to the body. However, pain as well as suffering usually occurs together, in which one may tend to suffer without any pain or a person may have pain but fails to suffer.
Guidelines/policy based on the findingsFrom the findings, it is evidenced that warm baths may cause perspiration; this is because a well hydrated uterus is able to contract more effectively along with getting the job done with less pain. It is therefore evident that, labor pains may progress at a rapid pace because the relaxing effects of water may make contractions seem milder making birth to become imminent without the mother being aware of how close she is to delivery. When a pregnant woman sits in a deep warm bath a series of physiological changes begins immediately and this alters hormone production and fluid distribution throughout the body.
Evaluating the changeIn Hydrotherapy, warm baths helped in discomforts of late pregnancy, however it must be properly timed because it can stop labor. In this case by immersing the belly in a deep tab or pool of water for better pain relief will allow the ease of movement. Women on the other hand are able to instinctively find positions that are more comfortable and of benefit to her baby. The temperature of the water should also be checked at all times to help in making the adjustments when necessary. Cold water should be removed and hot water added so as to maintain the ideal temperature however, this should be done when the mother is in the tab. It is also advisable for women to drink plenty of fluids since the urine production normally increases during labor.
Conversely, many women may start sensing the change of pain hence starts getting out of the bath. It is wise to ask the woman to get out if contractions seem to be slowing down which may take 2 hours or more; no one knows exactly how long this might take, the labor progress increases with the increases in oxytocin, without an increase in pain. The woman also enjoys feelings of calm and well-being caused by oxytocin in her brain. One obvious immediate demonstration of the increased fluid volume is that, sometimes the kidney action often speeds up, hence causing an urgent need to get out and go to the bathroom.
Effects of Immersion Immersion is the safest and the most effective forms of pain relief in labor. Hydrotherapy has been used in relaxation, healing and pain relief for centuries and it is widely used in physical therapy today. Most women plan to use water for labor pain relief and some would wish giving birth in warm water, however this practice has been restricted out in many hospital setting such as in North America, but has been supported in the European Hospitals. The warmth and buoyancy of the water bring out immediate relaxation and relieves pain as well and lowers production of stress hormones. For example, the adrenalin that is known to work against the oxytocin while causing the slowness in contractions anticipation has some of the same psychological effects as the labor progress increases with the increase in oxytocin, without an increase in pain. The long-term effects of immersion in water include; a secondary effect of the increased blood volume in the chest begins slowly, and takes a couple of hours to become obvious. The heart produces ANF (a trial natriuretic factor), which plays an important role in maintaining fluid balance. These effects may be more pronounced in pregnant than non-pregnant women because of the increase in blood volume and tissue fluid that accompanies normal pregnancy.
The Effects of the Hydrotherapy on the Anxiety, Pain, Neuroendocrine Responses along with the Contraction of Dynamics during LaborThe hydrotherapy which means immersion or bathing is today used worldwide by women to promote the relaxation as well as decreasing the parturient anxiety of labor pains. However, this tends to have great psycho-physiological effects which have remained very obscure. The effects of the hydrotherapy on the maternal anxiety and pain were collected using a pretest-posttest design which involves repeated measures. Neuroendocrine responses, the plasma volume shift (PVS), and the uterine contractions (CXs) were examined at three time points.
Guidelines/policy based on the findingsThe method used to find the Effects of the Hydrotherapy on the Anxiety, Pain, Neuroendocrine Responses as well as the Contraction of Dynamics during Labor was, at most ten term women with a mean age of 25 years with labor were immersed to warm water of about 37 °C for about one hour. In this case, the blood samples along with the measures of anxiety for the labor pain were obtained under the dry baseline conditions as well as repeated at about 30 minutes of hydrotherapy. The uterine contractions were also monitored telemetrically.
Evaluating the changeThe results of the findings were that, the hydrotherapy is associated with a decrease in the anxiety, Vasopressin, as well as Oxytocin. Although, there were no significance in the differences between the changes in pre-immersion and the immersion pain. The pain however decreased for the women who had a higher baseline than for the women who had lower baseline levels of about 30 minutes. The cortisol (C) levels also decreased about twice as much at 30 minutes of hydrotherapy for the women who had a higher baseline pain.
ConclusionIn summary, it can be said that, hydrotherapy during the labor pains can greatly affects the neuroendocrine responses that helps in modifying the psycho-physiological processes.
Consequences of Social Injustices in Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby
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Consequences of Social Injustices in Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby
Published in 1925, Scott Fitzgerald’s third novel, The Great Gatsby, follows the catastrophic story of Jay Gatsby, a self-made millionaire, and his chase of Daisy, a wealthy and young woman whom he has been in love with since his youth. The novel revolves around social, class, and the American dream. The author points out the difference between new and old money and compares wealthy characters with the less wealthy ones. The story is told from Nick Carraway’s point of view who is the narrator. Fitzgerald had strong feelings about wealthy people seeing that he was brought up in poverty, and these feelings reflect in the text. This essay explores the consequences of social injustices meted upon the characters in Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby, including Gatsby, Nick and Myrtle Wilson.
One of the social injustices that are mentioned in the Great Gatsby has to do with the poor treatment of poor people compared to wealthy individuals. Jay Gatsby is one of the individuals that encounter this mistreatment in the book. These actions have dire consequences as they contribute to this death, something that could otherwise be avoided. Wealthy people take advantage of individuals from the lower class. Although Gatsby was wealthy, he was still considered a member of the lower class as his money was not inherited. He was looked down upon as he accumulated wealth through social climbing. This is the same reason why Tom refused to accept Gatsby in his circle. Gatsby’s wealth made him vulnerable to the members of the high social classes that took advantage and benefited from the lavish parties that he threw. When he threw parties, people who were not even invited would show up, but none of them came for his burials when Gatsby died. This is a clear indication that they were taking advantage of Gatsby. Additionally, Gatsby did not have genuine friends since none of them showed up at his wedding. Gatsby’s death is uncertain as it remains unclear about who caused his death. Gatsby is entrapped in his own dream world up until his death. He is in love with Daisy and he makes it his life mission to pursue her. Gatsby is trapped in a non-existent relationship that he once had with Daisy. Daisy is only interested in the material possessions that Gatsby can give her. Every night, he dreams of Daisy and wishes he would get a chance to relive his past with her. Tom has a negative perspective towards Gatsby, too and he also contributes to Gatsby’s demise. Both Tom and Daisy are to blame for Gatsby’s death. When Gatsby shows Daisy his mansion for the first time, she stares in awe as “she admired…the gardens, the sparkling odor of jonquils… and the pale gold odor of kiss-me-at-the-gate (Fitzgerald, 97). Growing up, Daisy enjoyed the wealth of old money that she was brought up in. Daisy had grown selfish to the point that she had materialistic and expensive desires. As such, it is evident that her feelings for Gatsby were not genuine. All along she did not care about Gatsby but his expensive possessions and money. She reveals her true self during Gatsby and Tom’s argument. Daisy is not grateful for Gatsby’s act of chivalry. When Daisy kills Wilson, Gatsby takes the blame to protect her. When they are in Gatsby’s mansion, Daisy breaks down because she has killed Myrtle Wilson and meanwhile she is not grateful about Gatsby taking the blame to protect her.
Gatsby’s desire to live the perfect American dream pushes him into making up false stories about his upbringing. Scott Fitzgerald writes. “Anything can happen now that we’ve slid over this bridge,’ I thought; ‘anything at all….’ Even Gatsby could happen, without any particular wonder. The author writes this as Nick and Gatsby are driving for lunch in New York. Gatsby is just from revealing the most false story about his life. He tells Nick that he is the son of a wealthy man from the Midwest. He poses as a young and wealthy man of European descent, but Nick has a hard time believing him. In Nick’s eyes, Gatsby’s capacity to achieve his dreams is limitless, particularly in the liberated and huge city of New York. This quote suggests that New York City and America, in general, are critical for Gatsby’s success. Nick tries to pass it across that becoming successful in New York without a proper connection to wealthy people is not an option in the United States. Because of the differential treatment of people with new money, Gatsby is forced to lie about his background to be accepted. This is an example of injustice because had there not been discrimination between old money and new money, Gatsby would not see the need to lie to Nick.
Fitzgerald writes, “I married him because I thought he was a gentleman,” she said finally. ‘I thought he knew something about breeding, but he wasn’t fit to lick my shoe. These are the words of Myrtle Wilson, and she is referring to her husband. The events occur in Myrtle’s apartment in New York City. Myrtle insinuates that her husband George, tricked her into marrying him by posing as a wealthy man. George pretended to have wealthier than he actually did. Myrtle’s friends, however, believe that Myrtle was in love with George. This scene reveals Tom’s hot temper to the readers when he hits Myrtle. This is the perfect indication of the entanglement between money and love. This specific quote is both sad and satirical, seeing that Wilson and George are poorer than everybody else in the entire novel.
Fitzgerald also writes, “We drew in deep breaths, as we walked…through the cold vestibules, unutterably aware of our identity with this country for one strange hour, before we melted indistinguishably into it again.” The quote comes towards the end of the novel as Nick reminisces about his college days when he and his fellow classmates would catch a train home to Midwest. After the train starts the journey from Chicago and heading west, Nick and his friends remain aware of their true identity as Westerners. To Nick, the experience of being a Westerner is different from that of an Easterner. He says that novel is more about the West, where most primary characters including himself, hail from. He goes as far as blaming them for their lack of capacity to adapt to life in the East. This goes to show that identity played a critical role in the behaviors and the kind of life that Westerners lived. Nick remained aware of himself because they were not as wealthy as other people, and hence they had to stay alert to stay clear of class discrimination, which was rife at the time.
In closing, there are various occurrences where social injustice is perpetuated in Scotts Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. The majority of the injustices have a lot to do with the wealth classification of the characters. There is a clear divide between the rich and the poor, particularly between old and new money. Gatsby, Nick, and Myrtle Wilson go through notable encounters that indicate unjust treatment. Daisy is only interested in Gatsby because of the wealth that he has. Gatsby is also forced to tell Nick that he comes from a wealthy family in Europe. Myrtle Wilson feels that her husband George tricked her into marrying him. Nick and his friends have to remain aware of themselves when traveling via train from Chicago to the West because they are aware they are different. These are all circumstances that could have been avoided had there been a culture of treating every person justly irrespective of whether they have wealth.
Works Cited
Fitzgerald, Francis Scott. The Great Gatsby (1925). na, 1991.