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.