...Imagine working your entire life towards something that will never be finished; fighting the losing battle—could you handle that? While many would not take on the role of endless defeat, Paul Farmer chooses to continue to help the Haitian people, whilst knowing that for every one life he saves, five others are lost. Are Farmer’s acts simply those of kindness or out of sympathy, or rather, are they Christ-like in the way he provides for and loves those he helps? Through the biography about Paul Farmer written by Tracy Kidder, Farmer’s work becomes more than just kind acts and doing his job, and seems to show Farmer’s passion for the people he helps and cares for in Haiti. In the United States, healthcare is generally a widespread thing—most can be treated fairly easily and medication is readily available and affordable. Many times, the employer provides health insurance to employees, and very few die deaths that may have been easily avoided. In Haiti, it seems to be the exact opposite; there is a small amount of available doctors, many medications are expensive or unattainable, and thousands of people falling to easily treatable or easily prevented diseases and illnesses. Farmer’s key goals in helping others was to save the lives of those that would ordinarily be saved, “If people could be kept from dying unnecessarily, then one had to act.” (Kidder 102). Willing to help everyone, no matter who they are or their condition, Farmer explains “I can't sleep. There's always somebody...
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...The Part Two section of Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder was interesting. The section described Farmer’s life when he was younger, how he sparked an interest in Haiti and his perseverance to help others. Paul was one of six children and the oldest of the three boys. It was very interesting when Farmer said “I never had a sense of hometown, this is my hometown.” (page 54) Paul was referencing his hometown to Cange in Haiti. During his childhood, Farmer moved around constantly from a farmhouse to a boat on a bayou. Cange is a place that he learned to adjust to the surroundings and the people, rather than his childhood cities. Paul excelled in school, which led him to get full scholarship to Duke. He saw how hard-working the Haitians are when he visiting a tobacco plantation, he looked more into the culture. Paul was interested in Haitian culture. He was dedicated to learn the language and culture....
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...In Mountains Beyond Mountains, Tracy Kidder describes a new sister organization that joined Partners in Health (PIH), Socios en Salud operating in Peru. PIH’s contrasting methods of maintaining Zanmi Lasante in Haiti and Socios made their expansion difficult, but greatly helped the new populations they served. Haiti and Peru have different political struggles which affect the potential of healthcare PIH can offer. Haiti’s government was overthrown by the Haitian army, resulting in a lot of violent political protest. Many were severely injured, which caused Zanmi Lasante’s focus to shift. Instead of working to cure those with tuberculosis, Zanmi Lasante had to nurse those victimized by the Haitian army. Not only did injuries delay Zanmi Lasante’s work , the Haitian army blacklisted PIH founder Paul Farmer for a few months. Likewise, a civil war in Peru caused the new government to place strict regulations regarding when Socios en Salud could care for people. Patients had to complete Peru’s custodial care before being surrendered to Socios. After the government let Socios care for their treatment failures, they laid heavy taxes on them. Each Socios patient costed PIH $15,000-$20,000 in contrast to Zanmi Lasante’s $150-$200. Socios could not help as many patients with tuberculosis because of the added cost, and focus shift to those injured. These problems demonstrate how crucial Paul Farmer’s leadership is to PIH. The most valuable qualities a leader can demonstrate is humility...
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...In Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains, Paul Farmer’s idealism is developed by his actions and words about overcoming “the long defeat”. Despite his awareness that his goal is impossible, Farmer’s determination is unfaltered throughout the text; however, certain occasions will test Farmer’s ability to make his idealism a reality. Ultimately, Paul Farmer, to overcome his “long defeat”, remains only just as much realistic so that he can continue his idealism. Essentially, Farmer continues to work toward his idealistic goal of ridding the poor of their impoverished conditions, which is fundamentally impossible, because he believes it is righteous. This righteousness is proved when he was accused of self-righteousness by Ophelia in which...
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...Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World the author talks about the doctor’s dedication to his patients. This interested me the most because the whole book is about his work ethic to change the world’s health. He exceeded standards for doctors. Paul Farmer believes that the only nation is humanity and healthcare should be a human right. He fights for his beliefs and all of his patients. The book uses prime examples of how Farmer works. Chapter three explains how he spends his day with his patients. Every person is looked on no matter what. Kidder later explains that Farmer has a rule that every patient must pay the eighty cents, except for women and children, the destitute, and anyone who us seriously ill (page 21). So nobody paid to be seen by Dr. Farmer. He does everything for free and doesn’t get a penny for any of the work he does in Haiti. Farmer honestly believes his patients are worth saving. His patients believe him to be a god....
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...In Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains, Dr. Paul Farmer appears as a selfless, heroic doctor. He is incredibly successful, both monetarily and medically, but his sole concern is helping patients. The way he interacts with patients, and this system of communication that he teaches to his colleagues, is a unique aspect of his practice. The narrator picks up on this when Dr. Farmer almost seems to “fold” around patients (Kidder, 2009, p. 12). He does not treat them like they need to be quarantine, but instead as people requiring care and attention. Dr. Farmer gains respect by being so sure of a diagnosis when he treats a patient. There is an instance where an intern? Is attempting to diagnose a thirteen-year-old girl, and Farmer stresses the importance of being correct, “Doctors, doctors, what’s going on with you? You do not administer an antibiotic to a person with meningitis until you have done a spinal tap and know the variety of meningitis and thus which drug will work.”(Kidder, 2009, p. 32). He would rather be positive about what is going on and do a little extra work, then give the patient incorrect information. This creates a sense of security for the patients. They are able to trust Dr. Farmer because he is not doubting himself....
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...Mountains Beyond Mountains- Discussion Part I While reading the first paragraph I think it became apparent that Kidder found that helping the poor and political corruption go hand in hand. Most large entities or governments don’t find it beneficial to help the poor so there isn’t much motivation from the local governments to do so unless there is some sort of incentive usually associated with corruption or bribes. The murder of the assistant mayor for example, almost everyone thinks it’s the sheriff that is corrupt and killed the assistant mayor. Unfortunately there isn’t enough evident and Captain Carroll can’t do anything about it. So it takes people like Farmer to be resourceful and work with what he’s got. I find Farmer’s demeanor impressive, it seems that he really cares about each of his patients and wants the best for them. This is shown by him going above and beyond for Joe, one of his patients. He makes sure they are getting the right care and following through later to check with them. In Farmer’s book he has a totally different demeanor which I find strange. In his book “Infections and Inequalities” Farmer is enraged about how some necessary drugs don’t always make it to the lower class people but in person Farmer is a calm, caring and an easy going physician that goes above and beyond for his patients. I though Farmer’s experiment on how his patients are motivated was really cool. 100% of the patients that received money and free medication were cured when only...
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...Just like there is two sides to every story, there is two sides to every person. Sometimes those sides work in unison sometimes however they oppose each other. It sometimes is hard to be torn from what one is driven to do and what one wants to do. Are those wants truly what a person is or can they work in unison to make a person’s life better or more fulfilling? Dr. Paul Farmer in the book Mountains Beyond Mountains, by Tracy Kidder seemed to find his niche in life. Although others with his talent would have directed their focus on more prestigious assignments in the U.S., Farmer put his talents to others he could help. Following that need or yearning to change lives. There are times, I feel that the duality in me is constantly...
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...Harvard Business School 9-600-047 March 3, 2000 A FALL BEFORE RISING: THE STORY OF JAI JAIKUMAR (A) D 434. It would seem almost as though there were a cordon drawn round the upper part of these great peaks beyond which no man may go. The truth of course lies in the fact that, at altitudes of 25,000 feet and beyond, the effects of low atmospheric pressure upon the human body are so severe that really difficult mountaineering is impossible and the consequences even of a mild storm may be deadly, that nothing but the most perfect conditions of weather and snow offers the slightest chance of success, and that on the last lap of the climb no party is in a position to choose its day . . .1 Eric Shipton, Upon that Mountain O A RAPID DESCENT He was 24,000 feet above sea level, but the light was fading, and so Jai Jaikumar knew that he had little time to admire the view. It was 4 p.m. on a summer day in 1966, and Jai, an engineering student at the Indian Institute of Technology, stood with one of his closest climbing buddies at the summit of a Himalayan mountain. The final ascent that day, beginning at high camp at 2 a.m., had been rougher and more difficult than the pair had anticipated. They had originally set 1 p.m. as their “turnaround time,” the point at which considerations of safety dictate that climbers should abandon their ascent and head back to high camp. However, the prospect of waiting a few more days to again challenge the summit held little appeal...
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...The climbers want to reach these goals badly, as they are willing to “press on beyond fatigue” (Mullen 101). In face value, “press” means to steadily apply stress or pressure against an object. In this tanka, “press” means to push forward against those obstacles in life that are keeping the climbers from their goal. The word “beyond” describes the climbers pushing above their own physical and mental limit. The obstacles described in this tanka are the climber’s “fatigue,” which can mean either physical or emotional weariness. Fatigue comes from being exposed to stress that is being pressed against the climbers, which physically tires them, weakens their emotional state, and decreases enthusiasm. The new generation becomes overworked and exhausted as they fight against the obstacles pushing against them. The word “fatigue” both describes the physical and the emotional state of the climbers due to those...
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...my life and that was in 2006, indoors on manmade snow in Dubai, an experience that both terrified and elated me all at the same time. It wasn’t until 2008 and the epic snow storm that blanketed most of the nation that I decided to give it another go. Of course I had a few friends who were goading me into trying it, as I normally made fun of snowboarding or any other snow sports for that matter. I used to think it was too expensive, dangerous, and a waste of time. Why would I go out in the cold on purpose? Why would I pay to strap a sled to my feet and do crazy things? All of these questions and more went through my head while I was driving a group of Aussie friends up to Cypress Mountain in Vancouver, BC where I was planning to go snowshoeing and take photos. When we arrived at the mountain the sky started dumping snow, something it wasn’t’ doing when we started off from the city. It would make for a good snowshoeing experience, but would limit the photo opportunities. So, with that I decided to cave into the peer pressure I was feeling and give snowboarding another try. Keep in mind that only other time I had been strapped to a snowboard was in the United Arab Emirates on fake snow in August in the middle of the desert. The gear was smelly and sweaty from hundreds of other users, but it seemed solid and didn’t cost that much. It felt like I was carrying a coffee table with some attachment points for my feet. I wasn’t the only one in the group who had to rent equipment...
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...For example, the quality of hotels in Alaska is quite good and the accommodations in Alaska vary from basic to luxury. Similarly, there is a wide range of excellent hotels and condos in Hawaii, from luxury to budget priced. Topic Sentence 2: However, there are differences between Alaska and Hawaii. Supporting Detail 1: The first difference is climate. For instance, the temperature is perfect in Alaska during the summer. It seldom rains during the summer in Alaska. Besides that, there is no humidity in Alaska. In contrary, it often rains as well as hot and humid in Hawaii in the summer. Supporting Detail 2: Another difference is neutral beauty. To illustrate, the glaciers in Alaska are awesome. It has the Chugach Mountains and Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North America. On the other hand, Hawaii has Volcano National Park and Waimea Canyon. Other than that, the beaches in Hawaii are among the most beautiful in the world. Conclusion: In conclusion, both Alaska and Hawaii have similarities and differences which offer great summer holidays for tourists. Alaska and Hawaii Here is a description about Alaska and Hawaii. Both Alaska and Hawaii have certain similarities. The similarity can be seen in term of accommodations. For example, the quality of hotels in Alaska is quite good and the accommodations in Alaska vary from basic to luxury. Similarly, there is a wide range of excellent hotels and condos in Hawaii, from luxury to budget priced. However, there are...
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...I have always loved the Smokey Mountains in Tennessee during the fall season. The brilliant, colorful leaves of red, yellow, orange and brown glisten in the sunlight. Leaves dancing from the limbs of massive tall trees as the wind blows swiftly across the ridges. The smell of pine is coming from the beautiful lush pine trees. Early morning brings a white cloud of fog from deep in the valley, making it appear as if one were sitting on top a giant cloud. Being welcome by large antler deer, fluffy rabbits, singing birds are a few emerging from the dark forest. Long narrow creeks flowing through the mountainside. The narrow, bumpy road winding around the mountainside, climbing higher and higher. On one side, there is a hill of nothing but brown dirt and luscious pines that seem to travel to the heavens. However; on the other hand, the elevation drops drastically into never land. As I look down, all I can see is colorful, vibrant tree tops swaying in the wind. I dislike thinking what could happen if my tire were to slip off the narrow road edge. Bringing my eyes back looking straight ahead I notice the image of something entirely large just ahead of me. Approaching closer, I see a baby cub who must have wandered off from its mother. It appears to have fluffy brown fur and big brown eyes. Playing in the roadway, rolling around like a small child until it spots me. It gets up and walks towards my car. Not showing an ounce of fear, it sniffs my car and looks at me. My window is cracked...
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...“There are mountains in central Alabama?” I asked. My intrigue turned into a Cheaha State Park weekend getaway. Nightfall and a pushy headwind created navigation challenges on the twisting road, with multiple S-curves and steady ascents. Ramping upwards, sparkling silver stars peeked from the skies, welcoming us to this secluded forested haven. Your weekend experience awaits, complete with hiking, history, and southern comfort food. Dominating the landscape of the Talladega National Forest, Mount Cheaha rises 2,407 feet above sea level. Cheaha State Park, opened in 1933, is Alabama’s oldest continuously operating state park and accessible in less than two hours’ drive time from either Birmingham, Alabama or Atlanta, Georgia. Upon arrival, stop at the Country Store and Gift Shop for overnight check-in. Whether you are purchasing firewood, securing hiking maps, picking up picnic supplies, munching boiled peanuts, or panning for gold, this is the hub of human...
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...The rotor wash from the helicopters plasters my skin with dry, coarse sand and the dust filled air makes breathing a torrid time. Gazing at the sun crawling over the mountain is pleasant, but the image fades with the sound of engines roaring and Marines scurrying back and forth. Mauna Kea towers over us across Saddle Road with its liveliness disappearing the further it climbs. The terrain is rough, even for myself at the base of the mountain with lava rocks shifting underneath my feet making it difficult to walk. As the dust settles, my mouth is still dry, lips chapped, and my nose like an endless waterfall from my allergies. The faces around are drained of emotion with noses pointed to the dirt and cold hands buried in pockets. J. Ramage, J Bean, and J. Johnson (2015) described a strategy that was my greatest lesson learned in this paper “Select details that support your intentions; omit or de-emphasize others.” (p. 47). I was able to look for positive details as well as negative ones that I could exploit on both sides of the argument....
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