"Safety Net"

Especially after the video in class, this article touches on many good points. Having your life uninsured is dangerous in itself but a big reason not to be insured is ones financial situation. As the video in class on Thursday (Jan. 24) suggested the lower class, or poorer class, is at higher risk for disease and live to a shorter life expectancy. All of these things tie together, if you do not have insurance you are less likely to have as much medical attention throughout your life compared to someone who does have insurance. Not having medical attention when you know you are sick is one thing but sometimes you may not even know you are ill and without proper check ups, who knows, any day could be your last.

Symbolizing Roles

This reading had a very powerful message. I felt like the author touched on many good points, the conclusion especially was good. The western attitude towards veils, and the culture behind them, is sad and frankly embarrassing to those of us who are socially accepting. There is no reason to alienate people based on what they want to wear. I for one think cowboy hats are ridiculous and look silly on people but I do not spend my time trying to get people to stop wearing them, because it is their expression of character. As the author said, "we all have our veils". So do not patronize others for theirs.

Do Muslim Women Really Need Saving

In Lila Abu-Lughod's writing on Muslim women she confronts the idea that people worry to much about other cultures and what they are doing. She makes the argument that the world should focus on becoming a better place as a whole not just in one persons point of view. She also points out that many places have banned the rule that women are required to wear veils but they still do it because it is a part of their culture. the over all message she is trying to get across is that everyone is different but that does not mean the people who are different want to change.

Chagnon's Ethnography

The Ethnographic video we watched last class was more interesting to me. Chagnon had a different approach to the study that many did not agree with. The study he did actually showed the Yanomoma for who they actually where. The world of Anthropology gave Chagnon a bad name for exploiting those people and showing them as more savage and war prone. This depiction of the people was accurate and i do not quite understand the point of view the other Anthropologists had when apposing Chagnon’s descriptions. If I were to have a study as he had, I would exploit the people for their culture and who they were. Otherwise you are taking away from their culture and giving the world a false sense of who the people are. 

Nacerima

In "Body Ritual among the Nacerima", the author makes a good point of exaggerating the circumstances under which the Nacerima live. When the reader finds out that the article is actually about Americans the perspective adds new light to the situations these people put themselves through. Why, though, would the author make these exaggerations? The extreme changes people make to their bodies these days is just as questionable. Depending on how things are perceived by the world, ultimately defines those things. In this article I found myself slightly repulsed and thought most of these rituals were bizarre and unnecessary. Although knowing what I know now I still believe some rituals of Americans are ridiculous. People must be careful in how they perceive others because they could be completely missing the reason behind their actions and lifestyle.