It is important to exercise the application of sociology when attempting to find the cause of characteristics a group has acquired. The more someone is able to look beyond the immediate facades of a society, the more levels of reality will become apparent. When analyzing Native Americans, we see that Native Americans as an ethnic group have very high rates of unemployment, alcoholism, and poor health. Sociological analysis through Charles Wright Mills’ sociological imagination, helps explain why these defining traits are characteristics of Native American life today.
In the book, Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D Houston, Jeanne struggles with finding her place in society after being interned at Manzanar. She tries to be unlike herself and more like the crowd, and because of that something goes wrong. The author uses Jeanne’s and her father’s internal conflicts to portray the theme that not being one's normal self can lead to future consequences.
“In the middle of a crazy drunk life, you have to hang on to the good and sober moments tightly.” (from The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, page 216)
When I arrived at the party it was only seven. I didn't want to be there but Marlee and Skyler had shoved me in the car and told me to shut up, that I would thank them later for this. I couldn't believe what I saw. Students Much younger than me were passing out red solo cups full of alcohol. I assumed it was beer. I doubt teenage drinkers this young knew how to get their hands on the good stuff. I was surprised to see my friends from stoner wall in the corner of the room I walked into smoking weed. Skyler had promised to have me home by eleven but as she took a hit of Allie's dope I knew that wasn't going to happen. I could feel myself getting high off of their second hand smoke. Marlee shoved a cup into my hand. It was half full of a liquid the color of dehydrated urine and smelled of piss. I took as sip anyways so I wouldn't seem like a bitch. It burned going down my throat, soon my body felt warm and tingly. Marlee started of her third beer. Everyone was excited the school year was finally over and wanted to make a night of it. though this is not what I had in mind. I was thinking more along the lines of movies and pizza. Not this, not this at all.
Alcoholism is a chronic brain disease that affects all walks of life and does not have any bounders (Gossop, Stewart, & Marsden, 2008). I choose to attend an Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) meeting since this disease is prevalent among adolescents and adults. The meeting was held in the first-floor forum at Pilgrim Congressional Church in Queens New York. The goals of the AA meeting were stated explicitly by the leader conducting the meeting. The mission of the organization is to maintain sobriety by helping alcoholics achieve recovery. The organization provides clients with relevant materials such as pamphlets and flyers and states that all information shared in the meeting will remain confidential and will not be shared with anyone. The statement of anonymity was read to the members at the beginning of the session to ensure confidentiality.
“Under the Influence” by Scott Russell Sanders is a poignant essay relaying Sander’s struggles with his father’s alcoholism. Sanders’ essay is revealing in ways that statistics and studies on alcoholism cannot possibly contain. Sanders’ essay is like a catalog of the devastating emotional effects of his father’s alcoholism. In his essay, Sanders convincingly counteracts misconceptions about alcoholism and supports the argument that alcoholism is more like a disease rather than the common misconceptions of alcoholism.
In my experience of observing Alcoholics Anonymous group, it was a great experience. In my experience, I notice a lot of things in the Alcoholic Anonymous group. The first thing I notice while observing the group session is they have Alcoholics Anonymous bible that read a section every session. They read the same passage that discuss that how important it is to keep all information that is said in the group confidential. They were vey clear with that information. In my first session, the group started with a silent prayer, and read Alcoholic announcement. Next, the reader introduced the group leader. The group leader stated that goals that needs to be accomplish in this group which is stay sober day by day. The group leader also discuss in the group session about alcoholism. The group leader stated that alcoholism is a disease, and alcoholism progress and a chronic disorder. It affects the individual physical and mentally. Alcoholism is incurable and fatal. The group leader was very humorous and stated that many people who are nonalcoholic called alcoholics weak, crazy, and a sinner.
College is a place for higher learning. It is a time when young adults are exploring themselves as individuals, expanding not only their academic horizons but for many, it’s their first time being on their own socially. Young adults find themselves making many decisions. These choices involve attending class, completing assignments and possibly engaging in behaviors that could impact their own personal health and safety. Sometimes they are faced with decisions that involve the use of various substances including alcohol. Some might say that the use of alcohol is common place and nothing more than a stepping stone in the ritual of being a college student. The problem is the consequences of binge drinking and excessive drinking should not be accepted as “ritual” or common place. Some consequences are extremely problematic and not only impact the individual but have lasting consequences for the college environment in a global sense.
American author and political activist Helen Keller once said, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” In Laura Hillenbrand’s nonfiction book Unbroken, the motivated Louie Zamperini exemplifies Keller’s words through his shocking journey unlike any other. Zamperini’s childhood delinquency, distance Olympic running career, and survival World War II story intrigued Hillenbrand to share this compelling story and determination with the world.
When you feel like you don’t belong, everything can feel foreign to you. A place that you’ve spent your whole life can feel just as unfamiliar as one visited for the first time. In the short story “The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven” by Sherman Alexie, we meet a character that feels out of place everywhere he goes. Due to his Native American heritage in a white American culture, he feels like there is no true place for him to call home. The narrator expresses this by saying “Sometimes, though, I would forget where I was and get lost. I’d drive for hours, searching for something familiar. Seems like I’d spent my whole life that way, looking for anything I recognized” (402).
In the commercial “Bud Light: Between Friends” created for the 2017 Super Bowl, two best friends go through everyday life occurrences together. From moving furniture to watching hockey games, their friendship grew with the help of Bud Light.
Benjamin Brewer in the movie, “Beneath Contempt” (2011), suggests that suppressing emotions as a result of a tragedy can eventually lead to an eruption of feelings that can end up hurting or even killing someone. Brewer supports his suggestion by portraying Matthew, the brother of one of the people killed in a drunk driving accident, as losing all rational feelings and gaining a murderous rage when he sees Sean, the man who was drunk driving. The author’s purpose is to inform teenages of the dangers of drunk driving and the effect it can have on the people involved so that teenagers learn from the mistakes of these characters. The author writes in a serious tone for an audience of young and impressionable teenagers who may find themselves
Often times one does not realize the value of a person, until they are in need or suffering. That may seem to be a very pessimistic outlook on life but, people tend to run to each other when they are in need. I have grown up in a large family with over thirty cousins whom live near me and I see very often. My family has always being there to support me through good times and bad and it is always fun to see. In my family I have a cousin named
Alcohol contributes significantly to the morbidity and mortality of trauma patients, despite the consequences of the type of injury suffered.4 Alcohol is the most abused drug in the world. Any drink containing from 0.5 to 95% alcohol is considered an alcoholic beverage.5 When the drinking begins, it has a invigorating effect leading to loss of inhibition and increased sociability. With higher levels, it causes an increase in reaction time and decreases the reflex response and can lead to aggressive states, frustration and depression.6 When blood alcohol concentration reaches more than 30 mg% there is loss of driving ability and when it reaches around 150 to 300 mg % the person is prone for vomiting and stupor.7 In our victim the blood alcohol
Alcohol has many negative health effects and can trigger erratic behavior that can tarnish interpersonal relationships. For instance, confirmed conditions include “alcoholic psychosis, alcohol dependence syndrome, alcohol abuse, alcoholic polyneuropathy, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, alcoholic gastritis, alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and ethanol toxicity and methanol toxicity” (Health Effects 1). Alcohol usage comes with many progressive health consequences, some of which can be fatal, however there are more than just medical repercussions. According to “Health effects”, “For most alcohol problems, drinking is not the single cause, but [...] one of the factors that increases risk of harm occurring, either to the drinker or to those around him or her” (2). Basically, alcohol heightens the probability of out of character or violent behavior and thinking and the chance that something bad could happen. Evidence indicates that “Wives and girlfriends of alcoholics are often subjected to many types of alcohol-related abuse” and “that 12-70% of adults who abuse children are alcoholics” (Social Effects of Alcohol). Moreover, alcohol can lead to many bad tendencies and situations that are hazardous for everyone involved. Hence, prolonged alcohol usage has many detriments to an alcoholic’s physical and mental condition, as well as those around