*new* 20Apr11
The Obama administration wants legislation requiring training for doctors who prescribe powerful painkillers. http://nyti.ms/gY8E8k --> relevant to control of drugs and treating pain especially in end of life situations.
this is exactly why we're in this class
http://letters.mobile.salon.com/mwt/feature/2011/04/05/shark_teeth_from_a_dying_man_open2011/view/index3.html?show=all
Short essay about how things can represent a dead person.
http://mobile.salon.com/mwt/feature/2011/03/23/my_fathers_stuff_in_the_garage_open2011/index.html
I do find it very interesting how we humans attach to objects certain qualities of another. Perhaps we should look at these recalling objects as the medievals did their Momento Mori. While objects and attachments can give us a glimpse of a lost loved one, but they should also serve as a healthy reminder of death. Rather than a monument to tragedy, or a memory of eulogy, they should further stand as a reminder of our ever present mortality. This ought not to be a dark and depressing cloud but rather s unifying aspect of human nature.
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely interesting because it happens. I have a plethoria of my grandmother's clothes, they all fit me because she was so tiny but a handful I will never wear. I also wear her black crocs all the time, one of my friends made fun of me for wearing crocs and I became immediately sad because they were my grandmothers. Yet, if I had bought them on my own, I would not have cared less. It is weird how people connect with objects of the deceased. It is almost like a part of them is still with you.
ReplyDeleteI agree, with what Stacy said I find this also to be interesting and for the most part true for me and my family. I recently lost my grandmother as well and for me it’s not so much as the objects it more of her favorite things that I find myself connected to. For example, she loved to listen to gospel music in the morning and I find myself doing the same thing even if its just one song. I agree with the idea of how it should remind us of our own present death. I think that since she has passed that something that I realize that there is no escaping it and that I should live my life accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI thought the final sentences in this essay was very telling: "I put them in the truck and realized that I was ready to say goodbye to my babies as they developed into full-fledged kids.
ReplyDeleteBut not my dad. " With children growing older, it's not as though you will never see them again (God willing) it is just that they are constantly growing and changing and maturing. When someone dies its like BAM they're just not there. There is no known way to be in contact with that person ever again. The things they've left behind (be it cologne, or letters, or clothes, or in my grandmother's case, all of her collection of chinas) it is a little piece of them we can keep forever. Though the china is obviously not my actual grandmother, I never look at the pitcher with pink orchids on it without thinking of her. Just like with living people, we tie certain objects to certain memories with someone. With a dead person, it is just a little more definite. that really might be the only thing you have left of the person...plates and memories.
I believe this is true. In my house we have a plant the represents by step-brother passing away several years ago. This plant was giving to us after his death, and for some reason one day we started referring to the plant as Brian (my stepbrother). My mom at times can be seen talking to the plant, like its a real person. I think this representation that we put on objects or things, is a way we can keep a certain person with us no matter what. It gives us memories of that individual and represents that person as if they are still there. I think that doing this is good for an individual to get through a tough time such as death.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have any personal experience like Rebecca or Allen or anyone else mentioned, but I at least find it interesting as well. It seems like we can almost keep thoses people, that we love and have lost, alive through these objects. I don't know why people do this because if we didn't connect these objects with anyone (like Stacey's crocs) we don't care about the objects as much anymore. It almost seems like sometimes instead of carrying good memories of people with an object we carry pain. Even though it might not be logical it seems to be in our nature to hold on to people we have loved through objects relating to them.
ReplyDeleteI know that fishing reminds me of my deceased Grandpa. He used to fish everyday and taught me and my cousins how to fish when we were younger. Seeing people going fishing reminds me of all of the good times I had with my Grandpa. I also think that some objects can bring back bad memories and pain. This same Grandpa was also an avid smoker which lead to him dying of lung cancer. Seeing people smoke and seeing cigarettes bring back pain to me because I know that those are what caused his death.
ReplyDeletei definitely think that we attach ourselves to things that belonged to loved ones that we lost. Like many have stated about having things that belonged to a loved one who has passed on, I have a blanket that is a United States Marine Corps, my mom made me right after my friend Justin passed away and to this day i still have it, and i actually keep it in my dorm room. I know for me personally the reason that I keep this blanket around is that even thought it may not have belonged to him it reminds me of him, and when I remember him it helps me deal with the loss.
ReplyDeleteWhen reading these comments about objects that remind us of loved ones I am thinking more about pictures. These pictures are physical objects that contain images of the individuals that are no longer with us. Pictures of me and my Grandpa and pictures of me and my friend are very special to me and they remind me of the connection that I had to the individual
ReplyDeleteafter reading this article i whole heartedly agree with the author. as time passes i find it easier to grow apart from friends but the thought of losing my parental figures right now is very overwhelming. i would be completely lost without my one of my parents
ReplyDeleteI agree that objects are very important to us especially when they are from someone who has died. I have some things from relatives who have past on and it reminds me of them.
ReplyDeleteAlso I received this link today in my New Advent News – it relates to our class and how old someone is when they die.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13090291
I read the article that Joel posted and I have a few responses:
ReplyDelete1) 114 is insanely old!!
2) That man sounds adorable. I think I would have liked him
3) I love this statement "never be afraid to die. you are born to die." I understand that this statement could freak out a lot of people...most people will say that we're born to live and death is just something that happens.
4) and this is a fairly off topic 4...I asked my mother her thoughts on P.A.S. this past weekend, and we got into a little bit of an argument. She was close to tears as she told me that as a Christian she is supposed to believe that death is only in God's hands and that we as human beings shouldn't be in control of it. I made the argument that while that may be true, religion is a highly individual experience, and that our policies probably shouldn't be made on such reasons. I'm curious to hear a few other people's reactions, or to see if others here have spoken with people from another generation about the issues of P.A.S...?
I agree with you Rebecca. I think that religion is something very personal and that it should not be forced on others, therefor policy should not be based on religion. I believe that untill we are in the situation where we have to make a decision as serious as PAS we will never understand the anguish that must go into making such a decision as i must assume its not one that can be made lightly. Also in response to religion and PAS i personally believe that just because someone may choose PAS does not mean that they dont have faith of some sorts. My aunt had some of the strongest faith i have ever seen, however her cancer was not held and she passed away. Sure she got angry and upset with God but she didnt let it completely change her view on things.
ReplyDeleteI sort of want to change the subject here a little bit and talk about the new article on training doctors before they can prescribe powerful pain killers. I think this is a great idea because there are many people out there who might abuse the painkillers that are given to them. Maybe the person is a drug addict and is trying to weasel their way into more drugs. Some doctors are quick to prescribe painkillers so that the patient does not undergo any ounce of pain, but sometimes it is unnecessary. I have a mild pain reliever for headaches. When I visited my dad in Louisville one day, I did not have my medicine and I needed it. Well, my dad opened up a cabinet and pulled out the exact medicine I was on, including at least 3 other pain medicines. More than half of those, he does not use or even needed in the first place. Training would definietly be of a huge benefit.
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago I was inj a class called Substance Abuse at Thomas More were we learned about the growing problem of pain killers being the new addiction in society. I know personally I have had several surgies and everytime I had a surgery one of the first thing a doctor would tell me is I will give you pain medicine. It seems thats like a common practice with all doctors is to prescrbie pain killers. I know me personally I didn't even need the medicine. I think that it should be mandated that all doctors should be speacily trained and certified to give out these strong and addictive drugs. I saw in article a while ago that was saying that prescribtion drugs are killing people more than herion and cocaine. Something has to be done to stop the easy access of obtaining these drugs
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