Walt Whitman is one of the greatest poets who make people take notice of all wonders of the world. In his poem “This Compost” Whitman reveals the miracle of renovation of nature which is taken for granted by most of people. Moreover, this optimistic work gives hope to all those who fail to believe in the future of humanity on the Earth.
In the first place, it is important to point out that Whitman considers issues which are ignored by many. Even the poet himself admits that he did not pay attention to one of the most startling miracles of nature: “Something startles me where I thought I was safest” (Whitman 512).
Nonetheless, his unique perception of reality draws his attention to a great puzzle – nature regeneration. Many people do not even think of the paradox – many rotten substances (like dead plants or carcasses of animals and human corpses) go into the Earth, but instead of total contamination and decay of the planet there is flourishing of newborn organisms. Only few people admit that it is a great wonder.
Perhaps, humanity is accustomed to such a phenomenon as filter. People simply think of the scientific part of the issue. Whitman who has the sixth sense notices the wonder in it and exclaims: “What chemistry!” (513). His poem which reveals the mystery and beauty of renovation of the Earth makes people cherish their planet.
Apart from this Whitman gives hope to those who think that humanity has no future. He describes terrifying things noting that millions of dead and thick organisms are “swallowed” by the earth. Whitman expresses an idea, shared by many, that the earth should be contaminated by various illnesses.
Surprisingly, it is “clean forever and forever” (Whitman 514). The poet praises mysterious ability of the earth to regenerate and give new life. He is very optimistic stating that the earth absorbs sickness and transforms it into the background for new organisms to come.
In the end of the poem the reader becomes sure that there is nothing to be afraid of – the planet will regenerate. Of course, at this point it is essential to note that Whitman does not promulgate the following idea: people can pollute the planet (with various wastes and emissions) as it will renovate anyway.
The poet only depicts the natural cycle when some organisms fade away and new ones come into existence. The earth can filter this natural “contamination”: sickness of dead organisms. This ability of the earth should be praised.
Unfortunately, people forget about that miracle and do not stop exhausting the planet. Hopefully, Whitman’s poem can make people think and stop their unreasonable actions.
On balance, “This Compost” is one of those poems which can change the world. In the first place, the poet makes people notice the miraculous nature of the process which is usually taken for granted. On the other hand, the poem gives hope to those who are afraid of the future.
Whitman states that the earth regenerates. It can turn illness into a new life. There can be no decay on the Earth, so humanity has the future. Of course, the poem still makes people think of those unreasonable actions which pollute the planet. Praising regeneration of the planet Whitman’s poem makes people understand that natural cycle will not work when it deals with pollution.
Work Cited
Whitman, Walt. Leaves of Grass: First and “Death-Bed” Editions. Ed. Karen Karbiener. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 2004.
The name of Emily Dickinson and her works are known to almost every reader, but some stereotypes concerning her anchoretic lifestyle and unusual poetry still linger. Scholars used to emphasize mystery, isolation, frustration, and negation, and only the past two decades are marked by the paradigm shift – it is demonstrated that she also used humor, irony, satire, and puns in her works (Smith and Loeffelholz 3). Moreover, Dickinson does not shy away from the topics of God, mercy, life hardships, and humility. She puts her reflections and perceptions in the abstract forms and shows her attitude towards these issues.
The poem “254, or “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” is a magnificent example of the author’s homiletic style (Dickinson par. 1). The ideas of the fervent hope and the humble acceptance of hardships are vividly depicted, and a specific “role model” is given.
On the surface, the plot of the poem is very simple: the narrator tells the story of a small bird which she calls the “thing with feathers” (1) and compares with hope. At the beginning of the poem, the first two lines introduce the bird, and the narrator describes it as the creature that continues singing “without the words” (3). For this reason, the narrator admires the bird. Further, the events unfold: the bird is pictured in different moments of its life, such as the most brilliant times when the wind carries the beautiful song and the harsh situations when the storm is likely to “abash the little Bird” (7). It is mentioned that the bird “kept so many warm” (8).
In other words, it helped many people, but its fate is quite cruel. At the end of the poem, the narrator remembers the circumstances when she met the bird: whether it was “in the most chill land” (9) or “on the strangest Sea” (10), it was the same bird which did not ask anything.
Although it is possible to interpret the poem as the story of a person who admired a small bird, its courage, and modesty, the meaning of this text is deeper. The hidden sense may be traced throughout every line of the poem. The characters, the symbols, and the set form the undivided whole using which the author manages to demonstrate the significance of hope and humbleness.
At first glance, it seems that there are two characters in this poem: the bird and the narrator. The bird is represented as a modest yet persistent creature because it continues to sing and be patient despite the external difficulties. Its song is similar to sacred texts which preach and educate (Sawyer 3). In other words, the bird’s song teaches people and translates hope as the core value. It may be stated that it is a round character because one can see it in different types of environments.
However, taken alone, the bird seems to be a static character: nothing changes in it. On the other hand, the narrator is also the character. In comparison with the bird, this person is blurred and quite reserved. Appearing only in the third stanza, this character does not give many opportunities to study it; as a result, the image seems to be nebulous. However, the flat and static character cannot be considered complete, as well as the bird. It may be assumed that both the bird and the narrator are the same character: in this regard, the idea of a role model will be helpful. Since the image of the narrator is blurred, it may be understood as a person who used to be desperate and had no God in their heart.
Later on, this person acquired hope, recognized God as the inspiration, and figuratively saying, turned into the bird which relies on hope and patiently accepts whatever life brings to it. As the narrator perceives, the bird sings the “sweetest – in the Gale” (5) song, and it proves that it is the ideal role model for the person. Thus, what seemed to be the mere admiration for the brave and enduring bird turned out to be the desire to obtain these traits of character in the future.
As Harish explains, poetry is often considered to be a form of symbolism that can reveal and communicate profound insights and sublime ideas in a few words (124). As a result, one can say that the dreams associated with hope and acceptance manifest themselves in the form of two main symbols: the song and the storm. Visible in all three stanzas, the song may be interpreted as the ultimate strength of hope: despite all ordeals, it still can be heard. The opposite symbol is the storm.
It is not only the natural phenomenon that poses a threat to the little bird – it is the symbol of obstacles and challenges which sometimes confuse and discourage a person. However, one can see that hope is more powerful since it is present throughout the whole text including the final stanza when neither the lack of help nor difficulties can ruin it.
As for the setting, the author uses quite abstract details, such as “the most chill land” (9) or “the strangest Sea” (10) to demonstrate that hope is universal. Even the darkest and gloomiest environment cannot prevent a person from hoping. Therefore, the setting serves as a means of emphasis.
The poem is notable for the usage of the figurative language and prosody elements that help create the effects mentioned above. Speaking of the meter in the accentual-syllabic verse, the iambic trimester is used, and it reminds readers about the sacred texts some of which are organized in a similar way (Obermeier et al. 4). Then, the scheme of the poem is peculiar: the first and the last stanzas are characterized by the ABCB structure that makes them more static while the second stanza is more dynamic owing to the ABAB scheme.
One can compare it to the traditional plot model that includes the exposition, the development of events, the climax, and denouement, with the latter two components about the last stanza of the poem. Finally, the whole poem is a large ontological metaphor, i.e. an abstraction (hope) is represented through something concrete (the bird and its song) (Yu 1740). Thus, this means to make a profound effect on readers’ perception.
In conclusion, Emily Dickinson vividly conveys the idea and emotions associated with hope and the struggle. The poem “Hope” is the Thing with Feathers” illustrates the author’s convictions and demonstrates the similarity between the individual views and the religious worldview. However, Dickinson goes beyond the scope of religious thoughts and presents hope as the universal human value.
Obermeier, Christian, Winfried Menninghaus, Martin von Koppenfels, Tim Raettig, Maren Schmidt-Kassow, Sascha Otterbein, and Sonja A. Kotz. “Aesthetic and Emotional Effects of Meter and Rhyme in Poetry.” Frontiers in Psychology 4.1 (2013): 1-10. Print.
Sawyer, John. Sacred Languages and Sacred Texts. New York: Routledge, 2012. Print.
Smith, Martha Nell, and Mary Loeffelholz. A Companion to Emily Dickinson. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2013. Print.
Yu, Xiu. “What are the Metaphors We Live by?.” Theory and Practice in Language Studies 3.8 (2013): 1467-1472. Print.
The Claim: The Poem as an Excellent Example of Dickinson’s Homiletic Style.
On the example of the selected poem, the author’s style will be discussed through the lens of her perception of the world. It will be argued that the combination of the sacred texts heritage, her interpretation of those pieces of writing, and her meditation becomes the fundament of the poem. Besides, it will be proven that these intertwined elements form the basis of the ontological metaphor using which the author manages to create a strong effect on a reader.
The Interpretation of the Poem After a Surface-Level Reading.
Having looked through the text of the poem for the first time and postponing the deeper analysis, a reader can understand the topic of the poem and its plot. The speaker depicts hope as a bird singing tirelessly, and this song is beautiful. As the wind blows and the storm breaks, it sounds even better. Despite the harsh conditions, the bird never asks for a crumb from the speaker.
Figurative Language and Prosody Elements Used in the Poem.
Meter.
Scheme.
Ontological Metaphor.
In the context of the figurative language and the elements of the prosody, several issues will be important. First and foremost, the meter in accentual-syllabic verse will be examined: in this particular case, the iambic trimester that expands and often includes the fourth stress at the end of the line will be seen as the instrument similar to what is used in classical sacred texts, especially in the Biblical poetry, to transfer the solemnity and spirituality. This idea will be supported by books and other academic sources. Further, the scheme of the poem will be considered. The effect of two ABCB and one ABAB stanzas will be scrutinized. It will be argued that this structure is similar to the structure of the narration: the first stanza may be associated with the exposition, the second one is close to the development of events, and the third one can be compared with the climax and denouement. In this respect, the ABCB structure gives the effect of conclusion and stability while the ABAB structure is to convey the idea of development and change. This structure will be regarded as the means of creating the effect of the homiletic poem: the author sees the bird as the role model because it humbly accepts difficulties and does not ask for anything. Finally, the ontological metaphor will be regarded as one of the instruments necessary to reach the expressiveness. The classification of metaphors and their characteristics described by G. Lakoff and M. Johnson will be applied.
Secondary Sources Necessary for the Analysis of the Poem and their Significance.
To address the implications mentioned above, the corresponding sources will be essential. The books, journal articles, or reliable websites information that shed light on the personality of the author and her contribution to the world’s culture will be important to introduce the topic and provide the opportunity to know the overall tendencies. The sources concerning the sacred texts, their effect, and their structure will be helpful. Finally, the sources including the ideas developed by Lakoff and Johnson will be examined.
In Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers” one can see the passionate, deeply feeling, masterful nature of the author. During the years of her work, there was a Civil War between the bourgeois North and the slave-owning South of America. Quiet Amherst, where Emily Dickinson lived, seemed to lie apart from these events, but even in it they mourned their dead sons. This fact undoubtedly also influenced the work of Emily Dickinson, and it is in it that the social significance of the poem “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers” is reflected.
The poem is dominated by the vowel sound [i], the sibilant deaf consonant [s], the sonorous consonants [l], [m]. The vowel sound [i] is associated with blue, green – these are the colors of light, joy and tranquility: “I’ve heard it in the chilliest land” (Dickinson 1). At the same time, the positive image of “chilliest land” is a metaphor which means the North struggling with the slave system. Voiceless consonant sounds are associated with rustling, noise and dark tones: “sore must be the storm” (Dickinson 1). Thus, in the imagination there is a picture of the struggle of two tones, the struggle of dark and light colors (Parker 22). This confrontation, which is present in the poem even at the phonetic level, reflects the struggle of the north and the south.
The text of the poem alternates ascending and descending tones. The take-off takes place in words expressing hope for the defeat of the slave-owning society (“Hope”, “And sweetest”) (Dickinson 1). The text ends with an ascending tone: the words “of Me” sound with increased emotionality (Dickinson 1). The ascending tone is intertwined in the poem with the descending one and this conveys the ups and downs, emotions and feelings of the lyrical hero. The alternation of ascending and descending tones in the poem conveys the mood of the struggle against the slave-owning society.
The key images of the poem are: hope, sou1, ga1e, storm, bird, extremity. These words characterize the relationship of the central image of the poem (“hope”) and the lyrical hero with the surrounding world (Dickinson 1). “Hope” in this poem is personal, something living in the soul of a person:
“Hope” is the thing with feathers / That perches in the soul (Dickinson 1).
A bird with feathers is a traditional symbol of freedom. By adding wings to the image of hope, the author shows the significance of the outcome of a large-scale event – the war of the North with the South – for each person, for the freedom of an individual.
Verbs that create the image of hope stand in the present tense and express the continuity of action, constancy (“perches”, “sings”, “never stops”) of struggle (Dickinson 1). Since the confrontation between a slave-owning and a free society has been going on for centuries, in combination with the adverb “never”, the verb indicates the constancy of action. The key word “hope” acquires in the text a meaning associated with constancy, thanks to which the motive of confrontation, scattered struggle is heard. The poem uses words that indicate space, natural phenomena: “ga1e”, “storm”, “strangest sea”, “extremity” (Dickinson 1). These words are associated with danger, anxiety and pain. An image of the aggressive surrounding world is created, a similar attitude is transferred to the lyrical hero, to the central image of the poem. In this way, the atmosphere of tension that exists at the moment of the split of American society into two parts is transmitted.
Thus, “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers” is a socially significant poem, since the image of hope in the form of a small timid bird conveys the worldview of thousands of Americans in a difficult historical period. Emily Dickinson managed to accurately convey the state of many citizens at a significant moment in the struggle of the North with the slave-owning South.
Works Cited
Dickinson, Emily. “Hope Is the Thing with Feathers.” Brain Injury Waikato Quarterly Newsletter, vol. 5, no. 47, 2019, pp. 1-8.
Parker, Martin. “Alternative Futures: Hope Is a Thing with Feathers.” Organizing Hope: Narratives for a Better Future, edited by Daniel Ericsson and Monika Kostera, Edward Elgar Publishing, 2019, pp. 19-29.
The Harry Potter series has entered the public consciousness and became an instant classic. It captured both children and adults due to its complex themes and nuanced characters. The author is not afraid to write about dark subjects, such as death, torture, madness, and abuse. The themes of hope, trauma, and maturation are expressed throughout the series. The main characters have to contend with the loss of loved ones and find a path forward to help each other.
Today, Harry Potter and his friends are as commonly known and beloved as Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, or Dorothy. Their struggles against the dark forces come at a hefty price that some have to pay from the very beginning. The inciting incident of the series is a giant man breaking down the door and telling Harry about his horrible legacy (Rowling 35). Lily and James Potter were murdered in cold blood by an immortal dark wizard who laughed as he killed them.
Harry, being an infant at the time, remembers very little of it, and cannot fully grasp the situation. The trauma that Harry feels is not a single instance of negative emotion. Pedersen writes, “the traumatic symptoms which manifest themselves in the present are not the re-experiencing of the past because the past event was not actually experienced to begin with” (42). That statement fits the Harry Potter series perfectly, as Harry does not merely experience the death of his parents with a delay. He recontextualizes it constantly, and it informs his present emotional reactions, such as seeing them in the Erised mirror or learning about Ron’s family life.
After the loss of his parents, he came to depend on his aunt and uncle, who treated him terribly. Only later would he find out that his aunt Petunia herself suffered from neglect because her sister was magical, and she was not. She unloaded this resentment on Harry because she could not deal with the trauma in her own childhood. She took control of her trauma by overcorrecting, where the wizard got neglected and abused, while her “normal” son was pampered and spoiled.
Hogwarts represents an integral part of Harry’s coming of age. He learns the magical arts, finds his first friends and parental figures, and develops as a person. Hogwarts is by no means a safe space: in the first days of studying, people get injured, endangered, and harassed. That school is not meant to create an ideal environment for helpless children. Instead, it helps them grow stronger and more equipped to deal with the dangerous world. Zacarian writes that humans can overcome the odds stacked against them (17). This ability to overcome is essential, as it gives people hope and faith in themselves and their allies. Through facilitating growth and friendship, Hogwarts becomes a home for Harry that the Dursleys’ house never was.
The author creates an example of an improper way to deal with trauma in Petunia Dursley, which is rejection, avoidance, and, to some extent, the demonization of the source of her unhappiness. Becoming strong and resilient helps people self-actualize, and Rowling seems to recognize that, as she casts all who rise and fight in a positive light. Harry’s closest friends choose to act in the face of the unknown.
Even Neville’s willingness to stand up to his friends to protect them is commended, which speaks volumes. The book teaches children to be strong and independent instead of relying on adults. The author seems to make the point that home is where people grow stronger together, and that this strength makes trauma bearable.
The Harry Potter series is a nuanced book with complicated characters. While it is a children’s book full of magic and adventures, it is often surprisingly dark. However, throughout the series, the author impresses the importance of self-actualization and inner strength. Many characters in the book have suffered, and their willingness to stand up for themselves and others is what helps them overcome their past. Strength and resilience create hope, and hope gives the characters strength and resilience in turn.
Works Cited
Rowling, Joanne K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Scholastic Inc, 2003.
Pedersen, Cassie. “Encountering Trauma ‘Too Soon’ and ‘Too Late’: Caruth, Laplanche, and the Freudian Nachträglichkeit.” Topography of Trauma: Fissures, Disruptions and Transfigurations, edited by Danielle Schaub, et al. Brill, 2019, pp. 25–44.
Zacarian, Debbie, et al. Teaching to Strengths: Supporting Students Living with Trauma, Violence, and Chronic Stress. ASCD, 2017.
There is an assumption that our society and culture can determine the choices of individuals. However, sometimes people’s choices are based on personal considerations and moral principles shaping character’s identity. Social status, individual characteristics, and moral assets, therefore, predetermine a personal choice.
Within this context, Lalami’s book Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits is an account about difficult choices made by the protagonist to achieve their own purposes. Faten, the main heroine and a determined girl, tries to challenge the host society. In the pursuit of options, opportunities, and dignity, she expresses her superiority over other people. While focusing on Faten’s identity, the heroine makes personal choices to get respect and attention in a new society.
Many might believe that Faten is a very eccentric and hypocritical girl who is reluctant to accept alien culture and society. However, she makes a personal choice to wear all religious and cultural attributes of Moroccan culture to get attention and respect in Spain. Hence, Faten’s first appearance in the book allows the reader to understand the extent to which Faten is committed to her goals and faith: “She wore a gray, pilled sweater and an ankle-length denim skirt, and her hair was covered in a headscarf” (Lalami 23).
While presenting Faten through the prism of Larbi’s view, the author, apparently, tries to capture the full grasp of her personality. Faten becomes a religious fanatic to resist Larbi’s position. Hence, from Amrani’s point of view, Faten is an arrogant girl who refuses to shake his hand.
Being reluctant to acknowledge Faten as full-fledged personality, Larbi is determined to consider Faten “the wrong type” of people who should not communicate with his daughter (Lalami 25). As a result, the man destroys her future and dooms the main heroine to living a dissipated life. For the first time, Faten realizes that her personal freedom is limited to the choices made by other people with power and money.
In the pursuit of dreams, some people can stat that Faten, a determined and rebellious girl, opposes the bureaucratic system of education in Spain, but in fact, the heroine just strives to gain recognition by promulgating Morrocan culture. The protagonist, thus, explores the limits of individual choices and concludes that education and perseverance are powerful means to opportunity, dignity, and choice.
After immigrating, Faten, a pious idealist, deliberates on her personal choice to wear the hijab at the university in Morocco and the circumstances that have made her take it off in a host country. The girl wonders about Noura, her rich former friend, whom Faten convinced to wear the hijab: “Noura was probably still wearing it. She was rich; she had the luxury of having faith. But then, Faten thought, Noura also had the luxury of having no faith” (Lalami 138).
While Noura’s beneficial connections protect her from wrong decisions, Faten’s socioeconomic circumstances, as well as religious learning, work against her in the world where money “give you choices” (Lalami 139). A matter of choice, therefore, was confined to the power of money, but not to the main principles of morality and faith.
Many might agree that Faten made a personal and deliberate decision to abandon her morality, personal values, and beliefs. In fact, Faten, the Muslim fanatic, understands that difficult choices must be made to survive in a cruel world. These choices, however, lead to the frustration of her dreams and faith in a better life.
With no credentials and respect, she encounters similar problems to those she encountered in Morocco. Fantasizing about what she could have achieved after graduating from university and understanding that reality is far more severe than she imagined in her dreams, Faten realizes she is the one to rely on because “ no one gives anything for free” (Lalami 43).
In the pursuit of dignity and respect, Faten encounters indifference of other people to recognize her beliefs and positions. Living in exile is the price that Faten has to pay for upholding her moral positions and remaining faithful to herself. The Eid holiday was not a veritable event to celebrate anymore, although it made the heroine nostalgic about the times when she lived in Morocco. It was just a reminder of the sufferings she had to overcome on the way to her dreams.
Despite all the adversities, however, Faten cooked a meal because it was the only means of restoring her self-image. At a glance, Faten’s decision to cook the dinner can be seen as an act of despair. However, Faten chooses to celebrate to challenge the opposition and remain faithful to herself. Though being opposed by others, this is the only thing that allows her to make choices and influence her future.
There is a false assumption that a person’s fate depends solely on the decision he/she makes. However, personal choices can make individuals witness strong opposition, particularly when those individuals face the resistant majority. Inability to accept other cultures and social conditions does not allow Faten to follow her personal choices. Her arrogance, confidence, and a strong feeling of superiority prevent her from reaching her goals.
Being a complex character, Lalami decides to depict Faten through the lenses of Larbi to better define the dimensions of her character and explain what factors made her choose the life she led. In fact, because Faten thinks of herself as a very religious and honest person, she still cheats at her exams and, later, she enters a life of degradation.
In conclusion, Hope and Other Dangerous Pursuits embraces the problem of personal choices, as well as the extent to which they influence life of individuals. Within this context, Faten is a unique character, a heroin who struggles against Western stereotypes to prove her identity and right to self-expression.
She desperately opposes indifference and ignorance of the European world in the pursuit of accomplishing her utmost dreams and gaining respect and attention. In reality, the host culture neglects Faten’s attempts to follow her principles. Thus, she has had a potent impact on Noura’s decision not to attend New York University; she has also shared her political views on the bureaucratic system of education which prevents talented and skillful children from entering a higher educational establishment.
As a result, she becomes the victim of the Western corrupt world and her personal choice to resist the host society. Faten faces a difficult decision while experiencing a life outside the campus. Lalami, thus, presents Faten as a very complex character and, therefore, she chooses to describe her intention and features through Larbi point of view to understand her veritable goals and choices in life.
Works Cited
Lalami, Laila. Hopes and Others Dangerous Pursuits. Washington, PA: Harvest Book. pp. 19-51, 127-145.
The Center A Place of Hope was founded 30 years ago, by Dr. Gregory Jantz and since then it has been a place of hope for people from all walks of life in Washington and other states around it. Washington, DC is one of the oldest states in America and it has a very diverse community residing there. The Center has changed the lives of many by focusing on the mind, body, and spirit. It has also given people a different and beautiful setting, away from the pressures of home, where one is encouraged to heal, grow and share his/her experiences in a safe, confidential, and supportive environment (The Centre, 2016). The staff has perfected the holistic methods of treatment.
This form of treatment deals with the medical, physical, psychological, emotional, nutritional, fitness, and spiritual aspects. Every individual who visits the organization for treatment receives a dedicated team that guides him or her throughout the healing program. Payment for the treatment has been made easy, affordable, and convenient for everyone wishing to get services from the facility. The organization is affordable with the help of the treatment program that aims at working with the patients to achieve the best possible plan for treatment within their budget.
The charges for seeking treatment at the facility are based on day-to-day expenses, but they include accommodation, transport, evaluation, treatment, and meal costs. The facility works with major insurance providers but also considers those without a medical insurance cover. Therefore, any person wishing to join the facility is eligible to do so. The Center is an organization that closely works with the government and therefore, illegal immigrants would have a hard time accessing its services. The location of this organization is in the State of Washington within the Edmond locality, and a few minutes drive from Seattle. Edmond is an area accessible by public means of transport and therefore anyone wishing to visit the facility can do so freely.
Preventing an illness is much easier and less expensive than managing or treating one after it has begun. Certain conditions such as mental diseases and depression are best detected early and they are easier to contain during their initial stages (NCCC, 2016). Therefore, screening and educating the patients for mental health issues is very important for the organization. Screening tests are used to identify people who are at risk of developing mental conditions as well as other diseases related to the same, to begin treatment. Depression and other related cases happen to be one of the leading reasons why patients come to The Center in search of hope and peace. Depression can degenerate into a chronic condition if it is not attended to in due time. Consequently, the organization strives to educate the community about depression and the available options for treatment. As a way of giving back to the society, the organization has periodic public service announcements, which aim at bringing the organization’s stakeholders and the community together as well as providing health services.
The organization has come up with ways to educate the community about issues to do with mental health and depression. One of the ways The Center has done this is by initiating educational and community-based programs in the society. For “a community to improve its health, its members must often change aspects of the physical, social, organizational, and even political environments to eliminate or reduce the factors that contribute to health problems or to introduce new elements that promote better health” (Vera & Speight, 2013). Also, the organization has outreach programs that target the general public and improve publicity in the process.
In the facility, counseling is one of the most important aspects of treatment because the organization has a diverse client list. Therefore, to pursue all the relevant treatment regimens, the facility has professional counselors for all patients. Professional caregivers are conversant with the need for understanding the cultural background of a client in regards to his/her race, ethnicity, gender, and religious affiliations. Therefore, the starting point of dealing with any client who enters the rehabilitation facility is to know his/her background. Clients will often approach the counselor differently and following their cultural norms and beliefs. Furthermore, it is within the counselor’s repertoire to understand that the issues of culture are sensitive. Therefore, the only establishment of trust can compensate for this initial cultural disconnect. The entire counseling staff at the facility embodies diversity in anticipation of the ever-increasing culturally diverse clientele. Dealing with individuals “from other cultures requires a delicate balance but the ultimate goal in such situations is to ensure that the cultural differences are acknowledged” (Richard, 2016).
Counseling Services at the facility are offered in various forms including group-counseling sessions and couples-sessions. The rationale behind this mode of operation is that clients’ recovery depends on a vast system of social support. The main goal throughout the counseling session is to acknowledge cultural diversity in a subtle but effective manner. Also, it would be detrimental for the counselor to undermine the beliefs of the client in the guise of offering help to the customer. At The Center, cultural competency is pursued and achieved by the staff’s expression of interest and accommodation of diverse worldviews. Furthermore, staff members are careful not to undermine other belief-systems and modes of solving problems. Practitioners are also encouraged to learn how to address a client’s unique realities in a bid to foster cultural diversity. The importance of experience also features highly within the organization as staff members recognize that they have to keep learning when it comes to cultural knowledge. The professionals who work within the field of counseling acknowledge that most of their learning occurs in the course of practicing (Vera & Speight, 2013).
For “more than 30 years, the organization has worked with psychologists, psychiatrists, primary care providers, registered dietitians, primary therapists, marriage counselors, and court officers to provide additional, intensive care for their existing clientele” (The Centre, 2016). The team of professionals at the facility also includes nurses, doctors, psychiatrists, and dieticians among others. This staffing technique is in itself a ploy to make it possible for the organization to care for a diverse clientele. The organization relies heavily on referrals that come through other professionals who have collaborated with the facility. For instance, one patient can go through a series of professionals within the facility and even in other remote areas. Currently, the organization strives to treat all possible conditions with a bid to providing complete recovery to those who visit the establishment. When this goal is achieved, there will be no need for patients to combine the services of different organizations.
The Center has continued to advocate for the inclusion policy, whereby all the diverse populations seeking mental health services are welcomed and treated in the facility. The element of recovery is closely tied with the need to re-introduce patients to society as functional human beings. The accomplishment of this goal is in line with The Center’s belief that the objective of its services is to allow individuals and their loved ones to live a free and purposeful life. Furthermore, administrators have always maintained that mental health issues should not prevent individuals from functioning independently. The organization’s policies are also aligned with those of the national government. Consequently, the organization “fights to ensure access to treatment, improve the quality of treatment, reduce incarceration, and discrimination, and ultimately a better system where people are treated with dignity and early intervention and prevention of mental health problems is prioritized” (Mental Health America, 2016).
The public policies, which the organization aims at, include improving mental health services for the diverse population. Consequently, the establishment is continuing to provide the best possible services as more and more people gain access to treatment and support. Regardless of the point at which an individual begins receiving services, the organization is working towards promoting systems that create the best possible outcomes for each person. The Center (A place of Hope) upholds the fact that recovery is possible for all people. With the right combination of support and services, people living with mental health conditions can and do live full satisfying lives whilst contributing to their communities (Mental Health America, 2016).
The basic principles of social justice are aimed at producing conditions that allow for equal access and opportunity. They also reduce or eliminate disparities in education health care employment and another area that lower the quality of life for affected populations (Constantine, Hage, & Bryant, 2007). Social justice encourages mental health professionals to consider all levels in the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of patients. The principles also broaden the role of the helping-professional to include more services other than counseling and therapy. Mental health agencies demonstrate cultural competence by encouraging multiculturalism and their understanding by mental health professionals. Cultural competence may also be used in changing organizational policies, practices procedures, and structures within institutions but it also requires a different set of knowledge and skills that are more action-oriented.
The Center has “the ability to provide care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, and behavior, including tailoring delivery to meet patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs” (Campinha-Bacote, 2012). The organization also has a comprehensive and coordinated plan that includes interventions on various levels including policymaking, infrastructure building, program administration and evaluation, the delivery of services and enabling supports, and the individual.
The organization appears to manifest cultural competence in the diverse community it is based in and therefore highly placed in the cultural competence continuum. If employed in the organization, the main goal would be to ensure harmony between policy-making, administrative, and practice to ensure that all aspects of cultural competency are reflected in the organization. Establishing more ways to reach the communities beyond the organization’s environment would be one of the main priorities, including opening up other branches in different areas of the country. These expansion efforts would increase cultural exposure and diversification. The other strategy would be to intensify training in ways that improve staff skills (NCCC, 2016). Within the counseling profession, it would be of great importance for people to understand the value of understanding, respecting, and appreciating other cultures.
References
Campinha-Bacote, J. (2012). The process of cultural competence in the delivery of healthcare services: A model of care. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 13(3), 181-184.
Constantine, M. G., Hage, S. M., Kindaichi, M. M., & Bryant, R. M. (2007). Social justice and multicultural issues: Implications for the practice and training of counselors and counseling psychologists. Journal of Counseling & Development, 85(1), 24-29.
NCCC. (2016). Definitions of cultural competence. Curricula Enhancement Module Series. Web.
Richard. K. (2016). Phone Interview.
The Centre. (2016). The Center: A place of hope in Edmonds, WA. Web.
Vera, E. M., & Speight, S. L. (2013). Multicultural competence, social justice, and counseling psychology: Expanding our roles. The Counseling Psychologist, 31(3), 253-272.
Nurses have to deal with the concept of hope in their practice quite often. Nursing professionals try to address the needs of people who are facing considerable distress. Patients’ spirituality and their religiosity should be considered when nursing practitioners deliver care. The point discussed in the videos is specifically valuable and relevant to my practice (Ragsdale & Ragsdale, 2018). I agree that it can be hard or even impossible for a nursing professional to identify the degree of religiousness of the patient or their caregiver. Therefore, it can be quite ineffective to concentrate on the religious aspect and seek some answers in the Holly Book although referring to some universal religious concepts is always appropriate. I would pay more attention to values rather than exact stories in order to actually reach my patients or their caregivers.
Another important point that I find really interesting is related to the other side of hope. I never thought of hope as something dangerous, but I have to admit that it often turns into false hope. When talking with caregivers, it is clear that they always hope that their loved ones will recover. In many cases, this hope prevents these people from seeing the real picture or even strategies that are the most appropriate in specific instances. Nurses should make sure that patients and their caregivers do not have false hope but manage to believe and find the inner strength to cope with their challenges. It is important to adopt the approach employed by David who made every possible thing he could but managed to stop, accept the reality, and move on. Nursing practitioners should try to encourage their patients and their caregivers to have this kind of attitude in the most desperate situations.
Reference
Ragsdale, J., & Ragsdale, S. (Director). (2018). RNRS 396 Week 5 Video 1-7 [Video file]. Web.
Hope is a feeling inherent in a person that stimulates him to move on, to believe in the best. It is this emotion that encourages everyone not to give up and makes them go towards their goals. Optimism gives you a chance to make your dreams come true and change for the better. Having lost optimism, a person internally fades away and cannot move on since only optimism gives a person faith in the possibility of realizing something joyful, and favorable.
It is fascinating to look into the future and see if my dreams and desires come true in a few decades. Of course, today, I have a rough vision of who I want to become, and how I want to live. But whether I can achieve all this, only time will tell.
Regarding my personal goals, then I would like to orient on my parents. They have created a strong family where, for many years, they have been accompanied by love, mutual understanding, and respect. They learned to yield to each other and taught their children a lot. I would also like to create a strong family, become a good person and do something important for the country, and our future.
It seems that our generation has a great responsibility – to develop the country and remember the values and ideals that, unfortunately, have begun to be forgotten in modern society. The main thing is to start with yourself. I always strive to help those who need help and to respect the people around me. Whatever surprises fate has prepared for me, I will remain a good person. I would like to say that hope should accompany a person in any business. Without it, it is challenging to confront problems and not despair. Hope helps a person not drive himself into a “mental hole” and find a solution to any seemingly irreparable trouble.
For decades, the environment-related discourse has attracted the attention of scholars, trying to develop the most effective communication tactics and channels. Researchers attempt to explore the content and the features of the delivered messages and methods to make them effective. Klein (2019) states that hundreds and thousands of people are eager to draw the attention of millions. It is quite expected that a large number of young people are involved in the discussion of ecological problems, but the age of activists is changing as younger individuals are entering the debate. At the same time, this heated conversation only partially translates into actual improvements or specific measures undertaken to address the issues that attract wide audiences’ attention. The persistence of various hazards and potential disasters can be regarded as some of the reasons for the exploration of the peculiarities of current communication patterns on the matter.
Melodrama as the Central Element of Environmental Debates
The nature of the discussion of environmental issues has remained unchanged for years. Melodrama is a remarkable feature of this discourse that helps communicators to attract more attention to certain problems (Schwarze, 2006). Schwarze (2006) defines melodrama in the environment-related debate as to the “polarization” of different groups and juxtaposition of ideas (p. 240). Melodrama as a rhetorical tactic is instrumental in drawing attention and involving larger groups of people. The polarization of different stakeholders and cohorts makes heated debates more visible, unveiling the most challenging aspects. Although many scholars see this trait as negative and leading to undesirable outcomes, Schwarze (2006) finds melodrama useful and even unavoidable. The polarization of groups is associated with voicing the views and needs of diverse populations, which is critical for the development of solutions that could be effective. It is also stated that the division between groups can help in identifying the exact causes of the phenomenon and possible strategies to mitigate numerous negative effects.
Another characteristic feature of melodrama in ecological discourse is its association with simplifications. This rhetorical tactic leads to the simplification of issues, which is harmful to the debate and environmental issues under discussion. Nevertheless, Schwarze (2006) finds this aspect positive as well and claims that simplicity can ironically unveil the complexity of the problem as the perspectives of different groups are articulated. Although melodrama can have some adverse effects, it still needs to be present in the discourse because this method brings more people to the discussion. It is possible to note that melodrama in the ecological debate helps people to appeal to moral values and encourages them to act while some negative effects are also apparent.
Polarization
Appealing to a specific group or several groups rather than the public, in general, is a common tool in the discussion of environmental problems. At that, polarization extends the boundaries of stakeholders and is often found in the way messages are articulated. Hart and Feldman (2014) mention that nature-related communication tends to have positive and negative approaches, but the polarization of some aspects of problems is obvious and rather harmful. It is found that “impacts are framed primarily in terms of environmental consequences, whereas actions are framed in terms of political conflict” (Hart & Feldman, 2014, p. 325). In simple terms, when speaking about the exact impact of an environmental issue, activists concentrate on particular outcomes that are relevant to different groups or communities. When examining the media coverage of ecological concerns, Hart and Feldman (2014) emphasize that the impact and undertaken measures are only sporadically discussed simultaneously (that is, appear in a single news message).
This type of factual polarization makes messages less proactive and more negative. It is noteworthy that only a third of the analyzed articulations were positive, which contributes to the development of a specific negative setting for the debate (Hart & Feldman, 2014). The most detrimental effects are created by the division between consequences and strategies used to address the problem. These messages are disconnected, which makes people see the outcomes of ecological problems but make developed solutions invisible to the public. The discussion of the accident at a factory is rarely enriched by the facts of the regulations and ecological projects that had existed in that area before the crisis and the actions undertaken after it. Public opinion based on such adverse and polarized messages is characterized by the focus on some damaging ideas evoking negative emotions. Emotions play a central role in creating melodrama and expressing views concerning the planet.
Emotions
It has been acknowledged that emotions, as opposed to concrete statistical data and facts, have a considerable impact on people’s choices associated with environmental issues. Roeser (2012) stated that the enumeration of facts and data regarding the human negative nature-related input is unlikely to force people to react. Statistics have proved to be a weak impetus that can hardly make the public change their lifestyle or even discuss the most urgent problems proactively. At the same time, emotions can be a potent instrument to evoke heated debate and actual transformations in people’s behavior. Nevertheless, Roeser (2012) adds that negative emotions can be less effective and result in failed communication. For instance, fear is a strong emotion that has a substantial paralyzing effect. People who are fearful of some problem can simply feel unable to change anything and reluctant to act. Hence, it is essential to focus on positive emotions when communicating ecological messages. Although some rational aspects have to be present in such accounts, they can be minimal.
The major focus should be on delivering a positive emotional load. It is necessary to entice people in developing strategies and plans to address the existing issues. Public discussions should be the platform for ideas exchange rather than sharing statistical data on the caused harm. Something that has already taken place will not force people to change their habits or participate in some projects. Moreover, Roeser (2012) claims that fear tends to paralyze people, making them distant and passive. The messages regarding the detrimental effects of some activities may cause hopelessness and the inability to think or act. Fearful humans choose flight rather than fight while bringing hope can make people more interested and engaged.
People whose attention is drawn to opportunities rather than a description of adverse effects may want to explore their creativity, come up with solutions, and initiate major changes. Hope makes people active, while fear often turns them into resisting agents. People are afraid of changes as they do not know exactly what can be expected. They choose to address the consequences instead of eliminating the root cause of the issue. Clearly, this approach is hardly effective and cannot help people build a better world.
Klein (2019) describes the current political and social agendas related to the environmental issues addressing the overall atmosphere as a house on fire. The author emphasizes that the radicalization of societies is unlikely to have a positive impact on the near future of the world. At the same time, the researcher praises the rise of young people’s movements who are eager to stand up to the existing wrongs and change the world for the better. Klein (2019) notes that Gretta Thunberg’s passionate calls can make people more responsible or, at least, more attentive to the problems of the planet.
However, this view is rather too optimistic as the reaction and current responses of the governments illustrate the ineffectiveness of environment-related communication, that is, mainly concerned with adversities and negative effects. The messages sent by the young activists face resistance rather than understanding, they evoke negation or fear instead of inspiring millions, and they tend to divide people while collaboration is the key to success. The words of a teenager about the failed future and the near end of the world, as well as her accusations, are questioned and sometimes ridiculed even among young people. Some say that the young girl cannot simply accuse everyone and talk about complex issues in such a manner. The passionate verbal attacks result in passionate attempts to defend their positions and the undertaken measures. The dialogue can never be launched if the stakeholders do not listen and are unwilling and even unable to hear. The negative messages sent to the public and those in power translate into negative emotions associated with fear, passiveness, and despair. People are inclined to think of wretched future generations and their own lost lives.
It is also necessary to add that the negative approach is associated with the loss of trust and overall alienation. People go deeper into their cozy shells to lament or accuse others, they do not feel empowered or motivated enough to initiate changes. The focus on negative aspects and either consequences or actions described by Hart and Feldman (2014) make the conversation ineffective. The involved groups concentrate on their needs and the concepts that seem relevant to them. They are affected by distorted messages that shape their mindsets and attitudes. Collaboration in such an environment is impossible due to the participants’ reluctance to hear each other and compromise.
It is noteworthy that a constructive approach alone has not been associated with overwhelming reactions and changes, so the shift towards the discussion of solutions only does not bring the necessary results. Corner and Randall (2011) illustrate the limited positive effect of this approach by mentioning the Act-On CO2 campaign. The UK government tried to draw the public’s attention to climate change and the increase in CO2 emissions. First, the campaign encompassed the delivery of the message through Bedtime stories told to a little girl. The public found the advertisement too frightening and asked to withdraw it.
The following attempt of the campaign developers was characterized by the use of the positive approach. The new advertisement included the messages regarding the possible input of each person who could actually contribute to the decrease in CO2 emissions by using personal cars less or engaging in certain activities (Corner & Randall, 2011). It was found that both advertisements had no or minimal effect on people’s behavior linked to ecological aspects. It is important to emphasize that the negative approach drew the public’s attention and even led to enhanced activity. People spent some time addressing the authorities asking them to withdraw the advertisement. The following advertisement did not motivate people to engage in any meaningful activity.
Possible Solutions
In order to make environment-related communication effective, it is important to concentrate on several aspects. First, it is critical to facilitate the dialogue and make the discussion less polarized. One of the first steps to implement to achieve this goal is to raise people’s awareness. Ballew et al. (2019) provide data regarding the public’s awareness of diverse aspects of climate change and environmental problems. The researchers note that individuals’ views and knowledge concerning the matter depend on such factors as age, education, socioeconomic factors, as well as political preferences (Ballew et al., 2019). It is also stated that personal communications, including the digital discourse through social media networks, should be enhanced. Each person should be more engaged in the conversation, which will eventually result in specific actions. Ballew et al. (2019) add that there is a consensus in the scientific world regarding the human’s input and the scale of the problem, but the existence of this consensus remains unknown to the larger public although it is found that scientists’ views have a considerable impact on people mindsets and attitudes towards ecological problems.
Another strategy that can bring people together to develop effective solutions to ecological problems is reaching the balance between facts and emotions. Clearly, the messages should be emotionally loaded and appeal to the public, but they should be informative as well. It is inappropriate to bombard people with images of deteriorating habitats and suffering species. People should be aware of the scale of the problem and the most recent discoveries in the field. Clearly, the outcomes of certain activities and the changes that are taking place should receive substantial attention.
The concept of melodrama can be effectively employed, but instead of comparing and juxtaposing abstract ideas, it can be beneficial to juxtapose particular behavioral patterns and perspectives. For instance, instead of arguing about the extent to which people cause or influence climate change, the messages can facilitate the discussion of measures that have proved to be effective in improving the situation. Klein (2019) states that the belief that each person alone can reduce the harmful input of humanity is ridiculous. However, this is an overestimation as the engagement of as many people as possible can be achieved through the discussion of personal contribution. Clearly, a person recycling wastes and using renewable energy sources can hardly stop climate change. Nevertheless, the discussion of the benefits of such behaviors and the involvement of more people in such patterns can have positive results. The situation in some European countries can be an illustration of the effectiveness of this approach as the focus on eco-friendly practices translates into efficient regulations that make European cities cleaner and more sustainable.
The impact and relevance of the Act on the CO2 campaign should be considered thoroughly. On the one hand, the delivery of petrifying messages often leads to an opposite reaction, and people try to protect themselves from the message itself rather than the causes of the environmental problem. On the other hand, the messages aimed at shaping people’s environment-related behaviors cannot be confined to the depiction of potential input of an individual. People’s disbelief in their personal impact is strong and evidence-based as only the major change in societal norms will make a difference. Each message should contain exact facts regarding the most recent discoveries and the ways each individual can use this knowledge to facilitate change and engage as many people as possible. Clearly, these messages cannot be an enumeration of facts but should be emotional. By adding an emotional load, these communications will be made more effective as emotions are powerful impetuses making people act. A comprehensive approach should be utilized to create messages aimed at making people environmentally responsible.
Conclusion
Making hope possible can hardly be achieved without the use of a comprehensive approach that encompasses the focus on facts, emotions, and collaboration. Each message should contain the three elements mentioned above as only a combination of these components can make people engaged and proactive. Personal discussions are the background of any environment-related campaign as individuals bring meaning to every incentive. People should be aware of the most relevant and recent facts and have common grounds to build on and develop effective solutions. Clearly, trying to make a person recycle or use public transport can have only limited positive consequences. However, showing that collaboration brings actual results and leads to the creation of viable solutions that makes a difference is a beneficial approach. Ecological communication should aim at bringing people together rather than dividing them into different camps. So, making hope visible and attainable should become the major priority of those who want to address environmental challenges. Fear constraints people from actions while hopes make individuals come together and innovate.
References
Ballew, M. T., Leiserowitz, A., Roser-Renouf, C., Rosenthal, S. A., Kotcher, J. E., Marlon, J. R., Lyon, E., Goldberg, M. H., & Maibach, E. W. (2019). Climate change in the American mind: Data, tools, and trends. Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, 61(3), 4-18. Web.