To Live or Not to Live......That Is the Question

Earlier in the semester I injured my knee during step practice late in the night. I was not able to apply any pressure thus not being able to walk nor stand, so my friend drove me to the ER at SLU Hospital. While I was there I registered my name, explained my problem and had x-ray's taken within the first half-hour. As this process was taking place I was excited to know that it would be a fairly quick ER visit. But as I continued to sit and wait I realized none of the ten other patients ahead of me had been called to the back after waiting for two hours. I asked the receptionist when I would be called back and she hastily replied, "Once the other ten people ahead of you have been called then you will be called". Neither appreciating her attitude nor receiving a proper answer I further inquired how long that process might take. She explained the longest a person had been waiting was for 8 hours. Completely shocked and disturbed at the fact someone in the waiting area had been there for 8 hours was mind-boggling! So I decided to leave and handle the situation in the morning.
The next morning I called all around St. Louis City searching for a sport medicine doctor or orthopedic doctor in a close vicinity to SLU. Every receptionist gave me the same answer, I would either have to schedule for an appointment the following week or receive a referral from the ER. I was finally able to make an appointment the same day with a physician in West County. I was treated with the best care and did not have any problems.
The reason I share this story is to show the inequality of these areas. Within the city of St. Louis it is hard to find good health care. I had to call all around to find a doctor, yet I did not receive any help. Even at the ER, there were ten other patients that were in desperate need of a physician yet they could not be seen for a lack of doctors, nurses, staff, and/or available beds. Whatever the reason it was ridiculous to have a person waiting eight hours without any treatment or care. And the worse part is I was charged for an ER visit although I was not seen by a physician! I had to travel approximately thirty minutes West to see a physician. I'm sure the physicians in the city are more than capable of prescribing the proper treatment plan, but I will not be able to know that unless I can withstand my pain for weeks after. In fact, many people in lower/middle income areas do not receive good health care (besides not having health insurance) is due to the fact the doctor offices are booked for the next three months and ERs do not fix the problem, but delay the process of the problem.

This Is A Man's World

So once again, I can not wrap my thought around this idea of "discriminative pay". The articles in Grusky mostly reviewed the unequal pay between men and women; how a man and woman can have the same exact job, but get two different wages. Of course, as a woman, I do not agree with this standard but I also start to wonder how and why is this so. I start to think about history and the values America stands for. We (as Americans) have always considered the man to be the "breadwinner" and to "bring home the bacon", so with this concept in mind the man had to earn enough to support his family. Is this the reason for discriminative pay? Or is it because men have been the face and voice of America that they never considered the rights of women? America has successfully overcame many challenges with the courage, strength, and intellect from the men. So once again, what was the purpose of the woman? Or is it because we tend to think this is a man's world and women can take the back seat? Whatever the reason was and is, it's not fair. Women are just as courageous, strong, and intellectual as men and opportunities should be just as open. Although women are not always given proper recognition, they have made great strides in the American culture and continue to do so in everyday life. Men and women can do the same tasks with the same level of intensity. It does not matter the sex of the person being employed. What matters is that the job gets done and the pay is equal. In the words of James Brown, "this is a man's world, but it would be nothing without a woman to care".

Who is Welcomed?

So I struggle with the idea of immigration and the negative stigmas against it. Some people think there should be a limit to the amount of immigrants that come to America. While others believe America should build a wire fence around it's border so no immigrants can touch the land of America. I personally think America is an enormous nation of hypocrites. America was founded on immigration. European settlers fled from the rules and bondages of British rule to a land of free rights, opportunities, and happiness. Yet America rejects others looking for the same pursuits. I also think it's unstrategical to denounce hard workers. Most immigrants come to America looking for any opportunity with an open door. Mr. Zannikos is a prime example of someone looking for any type of work just to get started. With $100 in his hand, he looked for any aid possible. Some Americans are so full of pride that there are certain jobs they would never apply for, whereas some immigrants would be more than willing to accept. I feel Americans should be more than welcoming to accept immigrants so everyone can have the opportunities that America once stood for.

How Should A School Function

After reading the article about Lincoln High School (LHS), I started to wonder if I agreed with the multiple programs or not. On one hand, I enjoyed the fact the school catered to the students' needs, especially if they had learning disabilities, and gave options for career goals. But on the other hand, it's unfortunate students at a young age have to choose their life's career. I debate myself about this issue for several reasons.
1. LHS gives students an opportunity that other schools do not. If a student is not interested in the general curriculum most schools teach, they can choose to learn/do something that intrigues them and gives them a drive. I remember a classmate in high school who hated coming to class and learning about World History or Philosophy, but if someone mentioned anything about mechanics he was all about that.
2. I like how the school continues to work with the students even if they seem to fall behind or are choosing to drop-out. I look at other schools, especially public, and if the student is not excelling the faculty ignores him/her and will sometime begin to stereotype them as a slacker or unmotivated. LHS gives second chances and motivation to continue to prosper.
But here lies my issue - why must students be categorized? Shouldn't all students have the same opportunities? And why are students at the age of 14/15 making life decisions? I have changed my major two times while in college and what I wanted as a career in high school is not what I want now. I feel this is too much pressure on a student at such a young age. I also feel there is a stigma on the students that choose the alternate programs, such as they are not smart enough to be in academic house or they will never go to college anyway so they might as well start learning a trade. These concepts are not fair and are slightly mean.
Although I like the idea this school has, I do have my reservations about it...

What Defines "Formal Work"?

During the reading Jobless Poverty I found Wilson's definition of a work interesting and lacking substance. He defines work in the formal sense as "regularity and consistency in schedules and hours". Yet he does not consider housework, baby-sitting, or drug dealing (not that I condone illegal work) as formal work. I think of formal work as anything a person does, whether that's for wages or not. I think of homemakers as formal work. They are constantly taking care of the home requirements and involving themselves with their children's activities, which is a 24 hr job; this seems very much so regular and consistent. Also nannying is a form of "babysitting", but according to Wilson this is not formal work. If I recall correctly, nannies are busy from the time the parents leave for their occupations to the time they return home. The schedule and hours seem quite regular and consistent to me. If Wilson's definition was to stand true, then people having executive positions would not be considered doing "work". Some executive positions only require work when needed; not very regular or consistent to me. They can receive a salary without lifting a finger for weeks. And yet they are seen as having the ultimate form of work in a formal economy.

This particular section of the article does not give a solid definition of "formal work" to me. I, originally and currently, define formal work as anything you can pay taxes on. To be honest, this is the only reason drug dealing is illegal; if Uncle Sam is not getting his portion, than it's considered illegal and not work in the formal economy.

True Life of a Nomad

I greatly enjoyed Caroline sharing her experiences with Barbara. It was not only beneficial for Barbara but I feel it was beneficial for the reader. Throughout the experience, Barbara has tried to follow certain rules for herself to receive the full experience of living and functioning with a low-wage occupation. But she also has the option to bend a few rules, if necessary, or quit the entire project. But in Caroline’s case, this is not an option, especially with her responsibility of having two children. I enjoy Barbara’s writings, but she will never be able to fully feel the heartache and worries that people truly experience living in these situations. (Not to mention Barbara continues to remind the reader this mission is strictly for the service of journalism.)

Through Caroline, the reader is able to slightly embark on a non-experimental journey of a temporary nomad. We (the readers) gather some insight on the toll this lifestyle has on the entire family. Caroline lacks quality time with her children because she must have a source of income. The oldest daughter becomes a mother to the younger sibling – picking up the sister from daycare, and taking care of the sister (feeding, watching, etc.) – and foregoes the opportunity to live a healthy childhood lifestyle. We also seem to think people in these living situations lack resources/networking tools to help along the way, but Caroline used the church, governmental aid, people from her everyday encounters, and faith to help her day by day.

I’m really pleased Barbara included Caroline’s story in this book.

Assumptions

I am always amazed when people judge and sum-up others before knowing anything about that person. It is of course human instinct that we categorize and place people in certain groupings within the first few seconds of seeing them, but the reactions we make based on our own assumptions is mind-blowing. Generally speaking, if the CEO of a fortune 500 company, or high-figured politician, or even a SLU student was to walk into Hearthside dinner, there would be a pre-conceived notion of the type of person that would be serving them for their meal. Most likely, they would think of a lazy, slightly overweight, lower class woman as their waitress. They would think she has probably slacked off somewhere during her lifetime causing her to work for barely minimum wage, she has not received the proper education to fulfill employment elsewhere, and she has children from different fathers because of lack of responsibility. All of these thoughts have circulated in one’s mind within the first five minutes of walking through the door.

Although this might be slightly over dramatized, the fact of the matter is that we judge people without knowing their story. I think of Gail as I am writing this. Gail is a woman that has been through a physically, mentally and emotionally rough time. She has been living several months in her truck, yet in the summer is not an option due to the weather and the lack of security. She also deals with the traumatizing loss of her boyfriend due to a brawl in prison (charged of DUIs) causing a lack of sleep and drained energy. Yet she quickly and expeditiously with a pleasant spirit, sympathizes for the out-of-work mechanic buying his meal, and cares for her customers. Whatever pain, heartache, and exhaustion is felt, she continues to move-on and prosper with great vigor causing all the assumptions once made are irrelevant.