The Importance of Hope

 Have you ever met a hopeless happy person? Although the brain remains a mystery in the world of science, it is an enigma that we are all looking forward to resolving. This does not mean that we have not made progress in the journey of its discovery. We have in fact discovered one of the brain's defense systems: hope. We go to sleep at night every day having set an alarm for tomorrow, like if tomorrow was assumed, like if we hoped tomorrow happened. We build a life where we hope we can realize our dreams; hope motivates us and gives us a daily purpose to encourage us throughout our lifetime. Not only does the brain give us daily motivation, but it also scientifically protects us from and makes for faster healing; as long as we believe. There is also a scientific reason as to why hope protects the brain, it actually lowers anxiety, mimics the same effects as common pain killers,  and accelerates healing. 

Hope, although not the only one, is one of our brain's pain killer reactions through challenging times or times that may make us feel like we cannot overcome. Throughout these times, the anatomy of the brain changes to protect itself from how negatively these events may affect other aspects of our lives like our self-esteem and our frustration output. These reactions are usually caused by the unknown which causes us to be anxious due to negative events happening in our lives. Since hope was assumed to be a personality trait by scientists, they tested this theory of hope lowering anxiety in the brain by using MRI scans. In the study, it was found that there was a low frequency in the part of our brain related to motivation and goal orientation, the bilateral medial orbitofrontal cortex. Because of this low frequency, scientists concluded that hope serves as a "mediator" between the activities occurring in that cortex and anxiety. Thus, hope serves the protective role against anxiety that the brain uses. Scientists Find Out How Hope Protects the Brain - Big Think

Following those protective traits, we mentally use them ourselves by acknowledging that there is always a better way that events can occur and most times, believing that we can make them happen. Hope is a way of expecting or, sometimes blindly, believing that the hardship that one is going through will improve in the future. It not only has an emotional effect on how we react to situations but also physiological ones by blocking pain and releasing the brain's endorphins, mimicking the effects of morphine. This can physically accelerate the brain's version of healing itself ad buffering itself from anxiety and depression. These effects do not come only as a result of hope, though; although employees that were more hopeful were linked to better well-being, their daily habits also contributed to that state. How hope can help you heal | CNN

Hope is the ignition of protective chemicals released from the brain against anxiety and depression, but healthy habits are what keep those chemicals moving through the brain, and aid hopes to heal more effectively. Following the two previous findings, it is not only fundamental for us to remain hopeful through taxing matters in our lifetime but complement that with healthy habits to maximize our health, both mentally and physically.

Domestic Violence in the Dominican Republic

    Women in the Dominican Republic are in constant fear for their life just simply because of their gender. In 2012, Council on Hemispheric Affairs reports demonstrated that in the nation’s population of ten million, one woman is murdered every two days. The underlying machismo ideologies prevalent today, violate women’s rights in the Dominican Republic. As a result, the nation has one of the highest rates of women’s deaths at the hands of their partners or ex-partners in Latin America. 

    In 2017, according to People Magazine, Emely Peguero, a 16-year-old girl, who was five months pregnant, was found inside a suitcase on the side of the road. Days before being found, 19-year-old Marlon Martinez, Emily’s boyfriend, and his mother, held a press conference officially announcing that Emely should return home. However, after the press conference, Martinez turned himself in to the police and confessed to killing his 16-year-old girlfriend. He also told officials that his mother, who served as a government official in Santo Domingo, Marlin Altagracia Martínez Paulino, helped him dispose of the body.

Emely Peguero- Dailymail.

    Peguero was only 15 years old when she discovered she was pregnant, three years below the age of consent in the Dominican Republic. However, as a predominantly Catholic nation, abortion is illegal. Forensics reports found that Peguero had suffered internal bleeding believed to be caused by an attempt at abortion as well as a blow to her head. According to Listin Diario, Martinez was sentenced to thirty years in prison and his mother was sentenced to twenty years for serving as an accomplice, in 2017. However, in 2019, Paulino was set free after only completing two years of her twenty-year sentence. 

Photograph of Marlon Martinez in court. 

    Cases like Peguero are quite common in the Dominican Republic and continue to occur today. Domestic violence is one of the biggest threats to women’s security, and in 2020 alone, USAID reports “more than 10,000 incidents of gender-based violence” in the Dominican Republic. In the case of Peguero, the question of corruption is also prevalent, as the mother of Paulino was a government official who aided in the killing of a young woman and was freed 18 years before finishing her original sentence.

    These tragedies make me wonder what makes someone who is supposed to love you and care for you turn towards hate to kill? Where did the hatred arise in a relationship that is supposed to be based on love? What drives humans to the point of taking the lives of innocent people? Who are we trusting to prosecute the crimes against humanity?

    Rush W. Dozier, in his 2002 book Why We Hate: Understanding, Curbing, and Eliminating Hate in Ourselves and Our World, has attempted to explain the science behind hate, where he mentions that “[i]n the name of hate, humans carry out the most shocking and repulsive acts imaginable” (1). These acts are often a combination of prejudice and extreme anger. Is domestic violence, specifically against women in the Dominican Republic, a cause of the toxic culture and parenting often taught to men? In the patriarchal society that still values men more than women and commends hyper-masculinity, does hate towards women arise from their historical objectification? Or is it a result of the corruption that takes place in their justice system, which allows murderers to walk free? 

Hope and Love- A Life Changing Power

 

Afghanistan Turmoil

    Afghanistan, an Islamic Republic and U.S. backed country in the Middle East, was taken by the Taliban in August of 2021. The Taliban raided all of the non-Taliban sites with force. They raided hospitals, schools, armories, and embassies claiming and stealing everything they could. Many Americans and American aids were now trapped in Afghanistan during this hostile takeover. The Taliban then started to threaten the American citizens as the military was trying to protect all innocents and bring citizens to safety. They eventually made a deal with the Taliban to get all U.S. citizens and aids out of Afghanistan, but there are still many Americans there struggling to get out. Since the Taliban has been in control, women have lost all of their previous rights instituted by the democracy. Many institutions for women were closed. Women were also fired from their jobs that were not related to teaching or healthcare according to Human Rights Watch. The Taliban took control of the government swiftly with their newly acquired weapons and technology from the American embassy's armory. They swept through the capital building killing almost everyone inside. With this new found power, they did what they wanted. They started killing people for fun. They would go to schools, mosques, and other populated areas and start killing people in the streets. They also controlled the media and what was put out about them. They closed a large amount of the applications that allowed free speech. They now rule with an iron fist waiting to be challenged. 

The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan poses a strategic dilemma for neighboring countries

    Now, everyone knows the atrocities committed in Afghanistan. The way they took over was barbaric and cruel. They treated government officials like they were animals. They would shoot them like fish in a barrel. After they took over the government, the Taliban decided that women were no longer allowed to do the majority of tasks they could do before. They are starting to treat women like they used to in Afghanistan which was very inhumane. They are also killing people by the hundreds. They are shooting any citizens that dares to stand in their way. They are showing no regard for anyone's lives other than their own. Even then, they will sacrifice themselves for their people if it meant killing people that are not associated with them.

    I think the United States should get involved. Now that the Taliban are using our weapons and technology to kill innocent people, I believe we are obligated to step in. We handled the first incident poorly with 13 deaths of American soldiers and who knows how many citizens. This is a lot considering how many were there. The Taliban really knew what they were doing, and we were caught off guard. However, I do not think the United States should get involved the way we were previously. I do not think that a democratic nation is the best for the Afghani people. I think there should be less United States involvement within the creation of the government. They have to learn to govern and protect themselves. Helping a country start a government is good, but there is a line that the United States crosses when it comes to helping Afghanistan. This also hurts the United States' image because we could not help them in their time of need. Hopefully this turmoil will get put to rest sooner rather than later. 

Decision: Save or Do Not Save

        You are a hospital worker. Since the Novel Coronavirus outbreak, the atmosphere throughout the hospital has been like a strained string that can break at the slightest touch. Today, you met a pregnant woman in front of the hospital. She looked like she was about to give birth. But she did not have a COVID-19 report that met the hospital's requirements. Are you going to let her in the hospital?

        On the first day of the New Year in Xi 'an, an eight-month pregnant woman surnamed Sun suddenly had a stomachache and was taken to the hospital gate by her husband. She was denied admission because her covid test was four hours late. According to this news, pregnant Ms. Sun waited for two hours in front of the hospital until she was in critical condition before being taken to the hospital, but she lost her baby as she bled heavily.

        Why don't vulnerable people like pregnant women have access to hospitals? Even if the epidemic situation is complex, can pregnant women be given necessary physical examination without entering the hospital first? How could this happen in Xi 'an, a new first-tier city with a population of over 10 million?

Xi 'an has been placed under emergency lockdown, and residents cannot go out. But pregnant women some older people with hypertension and heart disease must have urgent medical treatment needs. Two years after the outbreak, the national epidemic prevention and control are routine, but some big cities like Xi 'a still deny patients medical treatment. Neither hospital officials nor the government has considered the problem in advance or even a relevant policy. 

        How do you choose between conflicting human rights that need to be upheld? In one case, Ms. Sun was allowed in for surgery, and her baby would be born and live. There have also been no novel coronavirus infections. Second, the coronavirus infection in the whole hospital. Be as responsible to Ms. Sun and her child as you are to anyone else in the hospital. In this case, you would risk infecting the entire hospital but save the baby. Or give up the baby, but prevent everyone in the hospital from contracting the virus?

Climate Change and Human Rights

The debate about climate change is one that has been going on for years. However, the UN recently has decided to frame the issue as one of global security. While many living in first-world nations tend to not see climate change as a pressing matter, those in other parts of the world are currently dealing with the effects many deem as “future.”

The problem lies in the definition of security. If one deems global security as strictly including warfare, then the labeling of climate change as a matter of global security is a controversial one. However, the UN references famine, disease, flooding, competition for food, water, and energy, and economic disruption not seen since the end of WWII as just some of the impacts of climate change. 

Perhaps the issue is more clear in the case of Somalia. A joint NUPI - SIPRI study found that Somalia is highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change which worsen Somalia’s existing vulnerabilities. These climate exacerbated insecurities have led to increased displacement and community tensions. 

Equally as concerning as the natural impacts of climate change are those who take advantage of others’ unfortunate situations. Those who are displaced by climate changes and insecurity are easy potential recruits for terrorist organizations. Those terrorist organizations, like Al Shabaab in Somalia, pose as service and relief providers following natural disasters like droughts and floods. Additionally, elites may use their advantaged situation to gain influence and favor over those going without due to climate issues. 

All of this led to the UN calling climate change an issue of national and global security. However, some believe that this is the wrong way to deal with the situation. Maryam Jamshidi from the University of Florida Law states that The Climate Crisis is a Human Security, Not a National Security, Issue. She furthers that “Human security realizes the benefits of securitization while lessening its costs. It does so by focusing on people, rather than the state, and emphasizing sustainable development policies necessary to mitigate, rather than just acclimate to, climate change.” 

It is important to note that not all countries are impacted equally by climate issues. The entire continent of Africa only contributes to about 2-3% of global greenhouse gas emissions but is at the most severe risk from climate change. This is why the UN’s decisions were so impactful. If countries deal with climate change situations on their own, it is unlikely that anything will be done for those in countries like those in Africa. “Beset by poverty, AIDS and other challenges, African countries may lack the resources to address these emerging and expected climate change impacts.” What is failed to be mentioned is that there is little that African countries could do other than simply “treating the symptoms,” when the sickness is coming from the much larger countries, dealing with much less of the cost.