Epidemics in America Since the proclamation by John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, that America should view herself as a "city upon a hill", Americans have strived to create a utopian society (Brinkley, 40). Winthrop viewed America as God's country, a place where the troubles of Europe and the rest of the world would not be repeated. This ideal is still valued by American society, yet it has prevented Americans from accepting the notion that an epidemic could strike their own country. Epidemics in the Modern World by Joann P. Krieg examines American society's reaction to the outbreak of epidemics in this country. Krieg threads the theme of American Romanticism throughout her work, as she explores the reactions of politicians, literary figures, and society in general to the outbreak of disease. Krieg also gives some biological information on the diseases that have haunted the American utopia. While this potpourri of information creates a valuable source for one studying the social effects of disease, its extensive discussion on literary topics becomes long-winded and irrelevant. Krieg explores the outbreak of five American epidemics: smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, TB, and AIDS. While reactions to each were different, Krieg shows that American Romanticism, the notion that "it couldn't happen to us", was prevalent in each of society's reactions to these epidemics. American Romanticism limited the swiftness to which the government, as well as the people, reacted to the outbreak of epidemics. Government often did not acknowledge the outbreak of an epidemic in America because it would blemish the image of the "city upon a hill". Even if they did acknowledge an epidemic, the government often quar... ... middle of paper ... ...historical perspective and analysis. Combining history, biology, and literary research, this work becomes a hodge-podge of information for many audiences. The work is able to provide a fair amount of information on each subject, and is not too heavy on any of the approaches. However, the literary information is of little to no use for our purposes in studying disease and discrimination, except to further show that society largely ignored devastating epidemics. Krieg's book studies disease and also explores the American character. Combined, these two subjects generate an interesting discussion on the causes of discrimination against the sick in America. Bibliographic Information: Krieg, Joann P. Epidemics in the Modern World. New York: Twayne Publishers, 1992. Works Cited: Brinkley, Alan. American History, A Survey. New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1995.
In closing, the variola virus affected a great amount in that era including, military strategy, trade, and native populations. Elizabeth A. Fenn’s book Pox Americana: The Great Smallpox Epidemic of 1775-82 sheds light on a significant aspect of that era that had not been given proper credence beforehand. She also illuminated the effect of smallpox when it came to race and social status. With regard to race, smallpox decimated much of the non European populations partly because of their lack of an innate immunity to that virus and Europeans lack of regard for those of a different race. Fenn’s argument on social status showed how the poorer strata’s of society suffered more severely from the variola virus because of their lack of finances to get inoculated; thus, the poor often suffered a worse strain of the virus which often lead to death.
Blackbird's book, like many similar autoethnographic texts, is a combination of autobiography, history, ethnography, and polemic. He opens with a conventional reference to inaccuracy in current histories. In the course of correcting the record he relates the story, preserved by elders of his nation, of a smallpox epidemic during the height of the French and Indian War, about 1757. Blackbird's story is unique because of the unusual disease vector.
Chatters, James C. "Kennewick Man." Newsletter of the American Anthropological Association. 2004: n. page. Web. 9 Nov. 2011.
William H. McNeill makes a monumental contribution to the knowledge of humanity in his book Plagues and Peoples. He looks at the history of the world from an ecological point of view. From this viewpoint the history of human civilization is greatly impacted by changing patterns of epidemic infection. Plagues and Peoples suggests that "the time scale of world history...should [be] viewed [through] the "domestication" of epidemic disease that occurred between 1300 and 1700" (page 232). "Domestication" is perceived "as a fundamental breakthrough, directly resulting from the two great transportation revolutions of that age - one by land, initiated by the Mongols, and one by sea, initiated by Europeans" (page 232). This book illustrates how man's environment and its resident diseases have controlled human migration, as well as societal successes and failures. McNeill discusses the political, demographical, and psychological effects of disease on the human race. He informs his audience that epidemics are still a viable threat to society, and warns of potential future consequences.
The Web. The Web. 24 Mar. 2011. The. http://liboc.tctc.edu:2058/ps/i.do?&id=GALE%7CH1420001374&v=2.1&u=tricotec_main&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w> The "Plague".
Brandt, Allan. No Magic Bullet: a social history of venereal disease in the United States since
Multiculturalism" is the existence of a culturally diversified society where people from different backgrounds and races come and live together. However an insight of this integrated society reveals that everyone seems to have a different opinion on the issue of how this diverse community should operate. One of the countries of North America called "the mosaic" is Canada. It has earned this distinct name because of the mix of races, cultures and ethnicities residing in it. Canada's geographical features and its harsh climate became a disadvantage to its population growth many years ago. Compared to its size, the population of Canada was not sufficient a few decades ago. However, when immigrants wandered about searching for a better lifestyle, Canada's population naturally increased and became more diverse when large groups of people from different parts of the world began to settle in the region. Since than the great debate of multiculturism has been going on. Some of the vital issues are states’ political policies, attitudes of canadian’s towards these policies, immigration, global ...
Multiculturalism has become a controversial topic in the US and Canada as a result of increasing the number of immigrants from various backgrounds. Multiculturalism is a government policy such as the Canadian Multiculturalism Act. This policy has been established to manage cultural diversity which helps people to have deeper understanding of different cultures, races and religions in order to generate better interaction among different races in Canada and the US. This essay will discuss the advantages of North-American multiculturalism in terms of general tolerance and integration and economic development. Moreover, it will explore the disadvantages including socioeconomic discrimination and inequality, and less social and commercial engagement among different races.
This diversity is already assumed as a constant of Canadian culture, and it is considered as a core of the practice. In fact, the Canadian population has increased since immigration growth, and globalization also has played a significant role for immigration levels (Razack and Badwall, 2010). In other words, the Canadian government nurtures the term diversity, and the conception of multiculturalism is truly adopted. Indeed, Canada has been identified as the longest international "peaceful border" (Razack and Badwall, 2010, p.53), receiving refugees and migrants from around the world, without exceptions. Even though the population of Canada has been expanded and multiculturalism is an official policy, Canada is "white settler society" founded on the elimination of aboriginal people (Razack and Badwall, 2010, p.56). This eradication of aboriginals is due to the fact that these people are distinct, and then they are not accepted and assimilated into the Canadian cultural system. Likewise, with immigrants, they must adopt the dominant culture to subsist, and must follow the Canadian culture to be
Although populations in ancient societies suffered attacks, invasions, starvation, and persecution, there was a more efficient killer that exterminated countless people. The most dreaded killers in the ancient world were disease, infections and epidemics. In many major wars the main peril was not gunfire, nor assault, but the easily communicable diseases that rapidly wiped out whole divisions of closely quartered soldiers. Until the time of Hippocrates, in the struggle between life and death, it was, more often than not, death that prevailed when a malady was involved. In the modern world, although illness is still a concern, advances in thought and technique have led to the highest birth rates in recorded history. No longer is a fever a cause for distress; a quick trip to the store and a few days of rest is the current cure. An infection considered easily treatable today could have meant disablement, even death to an ancient Greek citizen.
Multiculturalism builds diversity and helps shape Canadian wellbeing. In Canada, multiculturalism builds character and diversity. A successful community thrives with a large diverse population that consists of several different religious, and cultural viewpoints. The quote, “Multiculturalism exists when people accept and encourage many cultures to thrive in a society”(A Multicultural Canada 5), demonstrates how multiculturalism is a necessity to a thriving civilization. In addition, Canadian’s are open to learn about other cultures and beliefs to better ones relations with other ethnicities. The meaning of being canadian is to be accepting and encouraging as portrayed in the quote, “Part of being Canadian is to recognize the value and dignity
Ageism is the discrimination, stereotyping and can be a form of oppression to groups of people based on their age. Ageism has additionally been utilized to depict prejudice against children and teenagers such disregarding their beliefs, ideas and thoughts just because of their age. An example of ageism that I have heard multiple times particularly from teens and Millennials is that adults over 60 years of age need to retire because they have had their turn and that the young and new generation can have more opportunities such as jobs. Another example that I have experienced around me and seen on TV is not letting elders to drive, shop or exercise on their own. I have seen elders that are independent, but they would be questioned and put down. For example, if they like to take walks they would always be advised not leave by themselves because they were scared something bad would happen to him. They would say that it is not safe to walk alone outside because they would be the perfect victim to get robbed.
In addition, multiculturalism has a powerful repercussion on national identity. The term “melting pot” which the United States is often referred to as was coined by St. John Crevecoeur’s. This as due to the mix of Scotch, Irish, Dutch, Germans and Swedes that were in the United States in 1782. However, not everyone agreed with Crevecoeur’s ideas such as Horace Kallen who advocated against Creveceour’s idea. Many individuals such as Allan Bloom and Arthur Schlesinger followed in Kalle’s footsteps. Until the 1960’s, Canada restricted minorities that were deemed as “unassimilable.” These individuals included Chinese, Japanese, South Asians and Blacks. Canadian authors such as Bissoondath and Gwyn stated multiculturalism prevents society from advancing saying things such as “multiculturalism does not encourage immigrants to think of themselves as Canadians” (443). However, the article does discuss authors who believe multiculturalism is a positive thing such as Canadian author, Will Kymlicka who finds multiculturalism as a “defensible, and successful approach
In many instances, many deferent types of culture and identity had been merged into Canada like a big boiling pot being filled with many different ingredients whether they work together or don’t. But, whether the different ingredients work together or not is not what matter, because the end result is what Canada’s identity will stay as and will forever be remembering as. Going back to whether Canada becoming multicultural in 1971, the facts would prove that this statement is untrue because Canada had already been inhabited by so many different types of people whether it be religion, culture or identity. Canadian identity is the topic of today and where a few of the different types of identities had come from to form into one to create a singular identity for Canadians and more importantly, Canada. The greatest contributor to Canada’s identity is it’s multiculturalism throughout its history since its creation. This essay will explore different historical events and quirky cultures that help to show how much Canadian multiculturalism is intertwined in its
To future enrich the understanding of the problem, laws that are established in the U.S and Canada should be looked at to see the legal limits both Archaeologist and Native tribes are bound to. Expanding upon that,