allieinpublichealth-blog

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Malnutrition and War

German man being weighed in Berlin, 1945. Medical troops in the US and British sectors were known to oversee public health initiatives in the wake of the war. 

Gorny, H. (1945). “British Medic Weighs Man in the Street”. Retrieved March 23, 2019 from: https://www.gettyimages.ae/detail/news-photo/germany-post-war-years-medical-care-in-berlin-1945-49-a-news-photo/548207787

I chose this picture to represent malnutrition and famine for a few reasons. This first, is that this photo was taken by my great grandfather, Hein Gorny. He was a German photographer who lived in Berlin during the war with his family, my grandmother, my great uncle, and my great grandmother who was Jewish. I chose this image because while we often hear of the horrors of the Holocaust, we often don’t hear as much about what Germans who remained in their cities experienced. My grandmother doesn’t speak about the war very often but when she does she recounts being hungry, and being cold when the bombings got more intense. I think that the people of Yemen are in a similar situation. They are just regular people who are stuck in the cross fire of a war which they have no say in. 

I also like how this image shows a British medic, in a sense a government employee, weighing the man. This image represents a government’s dedication to addressing the health of the people in the reconstruction of Germany and understanding that the health of the people would play a role in how Germany would fare in the long run. I think governments do have the responsibility to ensure access to affordable food for their people. One, I think they do in a moral sense but also in the sense that in peace time it’s financially beneficial. In war time this is even more important as the access to resources may be limited and the government should try and ensure that the people do not bear the largest burden of the war. 

Healthcare providers should be aware of the current conditions in an area, and should be aware of the ways that people can access food. While they do not have the power that the government does, they can be aware of people’s options and advocate for better access to affordable food. 

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Displacement and Resettlement in the US

This image shows a Pakistani woman and her daughter in line for a buffet hosted by Catholic Charities in observance of World Refugee Day in June 2017. The woman and her daughter both came to the US, and upstate New York where this photo was taken, as refugees. 

Source: Shemitz, Gregory. (June 2017). “Catholic Charities Buffet”. Retrieved 15 March, 2019 from :https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2018/01/09/new-trump-refugee-policies-could-close-more-20-catholic-charities

I chose this photo because while it does not depict and obvious challenge that a refugee faces in the resettlement process, I believe it shows the challenge of adjusting to a new life in a foreign country where their traditions and cultures are not understood and shared with those around them. I think that although I have never been a refugee, it seems as there is a great of focus put on the obvious challenges. Leaving family, potentially never seeing your home again, potentially learning a new language, finding a new support network, and facing bigotry and discrimination. However, while this image looks happy and positive I think it represents something much more complex and equally difficult for those refugees to overcome. While the charity did something kind and inviting for these refugees in making traditional dishes and trying to make them feel welcome, I can imagine feeling uncomfortable and sad. Is the traditional dish the same as when their mother made it? Does it smell the same as the bakery down their old street? While I don’t think this image depicts a loss or gain of rights, I think it does depict a loss of familiarity and an understanding that while people are trying to make them feel at home it just is not the same. I think this is a much less tangible challenge than many refugees may have to deal with along with the others that they face. 

I think the role of the resettlement community is to be open to their new neighbors but also to be patient and understanding. Nobody in that community (except possibly other refugees) may understand what they are experiencing and going though. Therefore I think it is important that they try and invite them into the community but not force them to participate in their culture and events. I think in addition to helping with the obvious challenges associated with resettlement, I think its important that they community tries to understand the loss of familiarity that they are experiencing and support them in the ways that they need. 

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Building a Court Case

This US Courthouse, also known as the Nix Federal Building is located in Center City, Philadelphia. It was completed in 1941 and the court rooms and offices are located on the 2nd and 3rd floors, as the first is for the Post Office. As a federal courthouse there are a variety of cases that occur here.

(Wales, J). (2015). “US Courthouse and Post Office Building in Philadelphia”. Retrieved March 8, 2019 from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Court_House_Philly.JPG

I chose this image as it seems to speak to our current legal system. The building, similar to our system, seems imposing and really intimidating. Our current legal system fails to uphold human rights by repeatedly over-sentencing minorities and enforcing a system of cash-bail. While these examples are not as bad compared to other countries I think the system is not set up to protect low income and/or minorities’ rights the way it does for white and/or affluent citizens. Through this our system does not uphold human rights as it treats and sentences people differently, violating the principle and right that all people should be treated equally under the law. 

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Legacy of Slavery in Philadelphia

This is a photo of the Johnson House, along with an informational plaque in the Germantown neighborhood of Philadelphia, PA. This house was the home of abolitionists who also ran a station on the Underground Railroad. 

Dolgenos, Charlie. (2014). “The Johnson House”. Retrieved March 8, 2019 from: https://www.travelingmom.com/family-vacation-destinations/northeast-destinations/underground-railroad-in-philadelphia/

There is a legacy of slavery in Philadelphia and the rest of the United States, specifically in cities and states which were established before the Civil War. Although the legacy of slavery is not well taught regarding the founding of the country, the Civil War and the Underground Railroad are covered in many history courses throughout a childhood education. I personally have never associated Philadelphia or the founding of the US with slavery, but I come from a privileged background and that legacy is not one which is engrained in my family’s history. I do think that Philadelphia is a segregated city, although when this happened I am not sure. Walking between different neighborhoods and seeing drastic demographic shifts is a regular reminder of this. I am sure Philadelphia, like many other cities, has a history of redlining however I am not well educated on the background of this. While I cant speak from experience on the historical trauma that African Americans experience on a regular basis, I feel that signs such as the one shown above are a regular reminder. While these reminders may not all be terrible (in the sense that stations on the Underground Railroad were not terrible) they still are reminders of the historical trauma that has been passed through generations. However, I am not the person to comment on this as I have never personally experienced it. 

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Violence Against Women in Philadelphia

This image depicts the 2013 “One Billion Rising” rally in Philadelphia. This movement began on Valentine’s Day (February 14), 2012 as a call to action in addressing gender based violence and discrimination against women and girls. This rally was for women to come together to express outrage and speak up about the injustices that women in our communities and around the world face on a daily basis. 

Courtesy Metro US. (14 February, 2013). “One Billion Rising”. US National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 3 March, 2019 from: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/exhibition/confrontingviolence/exhibition5.html

While women’s rights are better protected in the United States than in other countries, there is still a great deal that can be improved in the US. There are a number of laws in place to protect victims, but the system is incredibly confusing and often times can inadvertently leave women vulnerable. Additionally, the system can make finding justice for victims an arduous process full of stigma and barriers which can deter women from coming forward. However, in the US women do have more rights than in other places. We can drive our own cars and do not need permission to go outside and do as we please. We are (mostly) protected from child marriages and FGM, and are allowed to chose our religion and whatever rules come along with that. So while there still are many barriers and stigmas to overcome, the United States is doing well and improving in protecting women’s right.

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Community Healing in Philadelphia

Mural in South Philadelphia by  Ernel Martinez of Dr. Shawn White. This mural depicts a local doctor who was a community leader and created educational and health initiatives on HIV/AIDS for young African American men and women before his sudden passing in 2013. This mural was completed November 2014.  

Weinik, Steve. (November 2014). “ASpire: No Limits by Ernel Martinez”. Retrieved February 24 2019 From: https://www.muralarts.org/artworks/aspire-no-limits/

Philadelphia is known for its close knit communities and the support and belief they have in one another. They look to community leaders to represent their ideas and values, and expect them to speak up and do their part when they feel they have been violated or mistreated. This mural represents one such community leader who stood up and worked to help and bring attention to a community who he saw to be underserved. The role of ‘outsiders’ in these communities is to listen to what they communities need and where they believe these violation have occurred. The outsiders can help in righting these wrongs and helping implement solutions but at the end of the day it is up to the community to decide what they need moving forward. 

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Map of the churches and houses of worship in Philadelphia. This map depicts the various types of churches and houses of worship within Philadelphia that were build in the 1600s and 1700s. 

Source: Old Philadelphia Churches Historical Association. “Olde Philadelphia: Cradle of Religious Freedom Map”. Retrieved February 17 2019 from: http://www.histdocs.com/home/categorypages/Maps.php

I chose this image because it speaks to the history and inclusiveness of Philadelphia even in its beginning. In the early days of the US many people came from England to escape religious policies or persecution, which is why religious freedom in Philadelphia and the many denominations available became so important. While I have never felt strongly about choosing my own religion and have chosen to be confirmed as an Episcopalian like my parents, I feel as if not having the choice or being persecuted for practicing a different religion would be extremely challenging. I think living in Philadelphia which is home to many houses of worship gives us a good base for acceptance and multicultural understanding and tolerance and contrasts sharply with other places that do not have this freedom. 

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Rights of Children

Source: Richter, Andy. (2014). Unicef Mexico. Retrieved February 8, 2019 from: https://blogs.unicef.org/blog/travels-on-jalisco/

I chose this photo because I believe it does a wonderful job of depicting a child’s right to education. I chose education because it is such a strong tool in the progression of an individual, along with the progression and development of communities and countries. I liked this photo in particular, because of the child yawning. I feel it speaks to all children in school, as I know I have been tired in class and all my classmates have too. Its a very universal experience for school children. I don’t think we do an adequate job of protecting human rights in Philadelphia, especially for undocumented children of the city. Especially after hearing about the two girls who were left at school when her mother was detained by ICE, I don’t think enough was done to protect them and their mental health. Additionally, I think their is a challenge for them to receive an education if they are not legal residents and more should be done to guarantee their right to an education even if they are not documented legal residents. 

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This image depicts the fear and hatred that some Americans have for muslims and those who come from middle eastern countries. Xenophobia is often defined as fear or prejudice of others from another country or culture, which differs from racism as a country can be home to many races. As a nation, I do not know if America has become more xenophobic or if our xenophobia is just being more exposed in the age of the internet and social media. Xenophobia has existed in the U.S. since the nation was founded, however knowledge and evidence of it was not always as obvious or accessible. Important ways to combat xenophobia include avoiding making generalizations about groups and trying to see the humanity and similarities between people of different groups and having open conversations with those who may be more prejudiced. I think the government plays a large role in addressing xenophobia in both the tone that they set and the laws which they choose to enforce. The difference between Presidents Obama and Trump is staggering when you look at how they each address issues of xenophobia and welcoming foreigners into the country. Obama often took a tone of compassion and concern for those persecuted in their home countries, while Trump denies the plight of asylum seekers and has rallied his supporters against ethnic and religious minorities. As a public health professional my role includes understanding the discrimination my minority patients might feel and being able to talk through the fear that patients who inflict the discrimination may feel as well. My role is also to promote empathy and honest (fact based) conversations to help people see each other in a empathetic way. 

Watson, Jim. (18 July, 2016). “US Republican Convention Protest”. Retrieved 1 February, 2019 from: https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/donald-trump-supporter-holds-up-an-anti-muslim-poster-as-he-news-photo/577078828