SOC 490-2 Week 1

The question of healthcare being a right or a privilege is a very tough question to answer. Yes, all human beings deserve the right to healthcare. If a person is sick, it should not matter whether they are filthy rich, or dirt poor, they should get the treatment needed. No one deserves to suffer because of an illness, it does not matter who they are or what they have done with their lives.

But at the same time, does someone that lives on the street deserve the exact same healthcare as someone that works and can afford the best treatments out there? That is where the privileged part comes in. Healthcare, in a sense, should be a privilege because it really is not fair for people in two complete different social classes to receive the exact same health care.

As the United States is debating going to universal healthcare, with the idea of healthcare being a right in mind, John C. Goodman reminds us in Healthcare Opposing Viewpoints that "no country with national health insurance has established a right to health care." Goodman goes on to explain that citizens in these countries have no rights to any health care service, and when they need a treatment, they have to wait months, sometimes about a year, to get that treatment. Goodman states that "during one 12-month period in Ontario, Canada, 71 patients died waiting for coronary bypass surgery while 121 patients were removed from the list because they had become too sick to undergo surgery with a reasonable chance of survival."

It is hard to say whether healthcare should be a right or a privilege. As everyone deserves treatment if they are sick, should the people that can afford the best healthcare have to wait a year for treatment? Therefore, in my opinion, healthcare is neither a right or a privilege, but a combination of the two.

HUM 225 Week 1

One of the best preserved monuments in the Forum Romanum is the Arch of Septimius Severus. The arch is 23 meters high and 25 meters wide. The arch has 3 archways with the middle one being 12 meters high and the two outside ones being 7 meters 80 centimeters high. The outside of the arch was originally made with a beautiful white marble.

The arch was built in 203 A.D. to celebrate the victory of emperor Septimius Severus in Parthia which is now part of Iran and Iraq. While the arch is beautiful, what most people do not know while enjoying it is the story behind the arch. The panels of the arch show stages of the war between the Parthians and the Romans, as well as show Romans capturing barbarians. The top of the arch originally had bronze inscriptions dedicated to Septimius Severus, for his victory, as well as to his two sons, Caracella and Geta. After Septimius died, Caracella killed his brother Geta, and removed his name from the arch.

22/02/2010

Before today, I have never really been interested in history. To me, history is history and I just did not care for it. But even just one day of being in the city, I have changed in the sense that I am interested in how everything came to be. I am interested in who built things, and the stories behind sculptures. Even though I before did realize the significance of history, I think seeing what you are learning about helps me to understand it more, and appreciate it more.

The Colosseum was incredible. The Colosseum, along with the Forum, was what helped me to realize that if you do not know the history, you cannot truly appreciate the importance of what has happened in the past. I went to the Colosseum knowing what is was, and what happened there, but the small details I did not. Small details such as all the holes in the walls are where gold lamps where, that have fell off, and were recycled, or people took them and reused them. Professor Mustafaga asked us this morning how we wanted this experience to change us, and the history was not something that I said. But after today, and seeing the history that Rome has to offer us, I want the history of this astonishing place to change the way I view history, not only of Rome, but that the world has to offer me.

When I think about how this Rome experience is going to change me, I think about routines that I have formed throughout my life, and the difference between my habits and the habits of the Italians. I do not want to say that I hope Rome, and Europe, changes my habits, but I am interested in finding the customs that are unconsciously changed from being in a different environment. I have already noticed traditions of the Italians that I find odd. Such as having to wear slippers or shoes insides, no bare feet or even socks. As well as meals being 2 or 3 courses buffet style, and bread is only allowed to be consumed during the second course. Small traditions such as these make you realize that there are huge differences in the way people do things.

Not only habits, but also culture. I like to observe people, how they dress, walk, talk, act. Even though there are numerous tourists in the city, you can still tell the Italians apart. I liked watching them, and how the interacted not only with each other, but with the tourists as well. I want to change in the sense that I can increase the value of differences in cultures.