Preview

Review Of Dr. Nandi Karabi's 'An Empty Room'

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1856 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Review Of Dr. Nandi Karabi's 'An Empty Room'
James Seckelman
May 29th, 2013
English 1A
Instructor Tera Martin
Contents of An Empty Room Life, in the desire for possessing an unbent will for achievement and material prosperity has crippled us of our own emotions. To think like a machine is to feel like one. A slaving regiment, dictating peoples lives, telling you what to do, what to think or what to feel, creates inauthentic and plastic humans . It is a reflection of someone who 's been crafted by the dogma of society and the result of a diminishing voice. The most important facet of life is in the vitality of human emotion and the connections we create with others. The common illusion of today which sells us a defective figure in how to attain bliss is misadvertised by thought …show more content…
The stories of neglected individuals with troubling pasts, ending in a life of sorrow and misery are far too abundant. A life wasted, with potential unachieved and dreams unfulfilled, many blame their former upbringing as a scapegoat to issues faced. During a study conducted in 2012 by Dr. Nandi Karabi as part of a research survey with her UCLA affiliate, it was found that among the total of 350 homeless students between ages 18 to 25, 44 percent had a history of foster care placement (Karabi 7). During the personal interviews conducted on homeless students attending Cabrillo College, it was found that six of the nine, credited their current condition to unfortunate circumstances that were latent in their past. Though I 've never heard of a whistling slave, it can be argued that success is by design and happiness in some effect, by choice. We live in a vulnerable world, one that weighs your worth by the substance of personal achievement. With this comes intense pressures from the surrounding community to maintain a high standing in performance, to preserve ones own security in the future. As part of a “TED” talk titled “The power of vulnerability”, Brene Brown shares insight from her academic research, characterizing the ability to empathize, love and belong. In it, she states that “We form a coping mechanism and selectively numb our emotions suitable to desired …show more content…
The fear of disconnect is prevalent in all of us, unfortunately it is a very common theme within the homeless community as is indicated by the high levels of isolation. (Karabi 13) The negative effects that leech our lives and act as agents of poison stack as the catalyst to a domino effect of self destruction and the birth of a defeatist
Seckelman
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The Stewart B Mckinney Homeless Assistance Act: a Policy Analysis
    • 4169 Words
    • 17 Pages

    The Stewart B Mckinney Homeless Assistance Act: a Policy Analysis

    Homelessness has always been a problem for the United States. Since its birth as a nation, there have consistently been individuals who find themselves without a place to live, looking for shelter with family, friends, or simply anywhere they can find it. These individuals have been targeted as candidates for social aid, but this was primarily provided by churches and other care organizations. However, in the past thirty years the homeless population has increased almost exponentially in numbers. While the cause of this is undetermined, it is quite certain that while the homeless did present a social problem previously, there is no doubt that homelessness had reached a point that something had to be done about it on a national level. To begin to alleviate this problem, the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act was put into effect by the federal government. Many different economy issues were considered in the development of this bill, along with the conflict of politics and ideology. The history of homelessness also had to be considered before a bill could be implemented that would effectively stop the increase of homelessness by instating preventative forces and alleviating the situation as it remained. All these came together and resulted in what is known as the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987.…

    • 4169 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    1006HSV Human Services Structures Assessment 2 Written Assignment
    • 1254 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1006HSV Human Services Structures Assessment 2 Written Assignment

    This assignment will identify key points then critically compare and contrast different articles (Farrell, 2012) and (Parsell, 2013) on homelessness. It will ascertain the topic and focal points that surround homelessness. Furthermore it will discuss and link together the similarities and differences of their main argument and policy message within the articles.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hulchanski Homelessness Report
    • 83 Words
    • 1 Page

    Hulchanski Homelessness Report

    Within the introduction, Hulchanski disassembles the word “homelessness”, and how homelessness is used by researchers, media, politicians, and services providers. He illustrates the invention of homelessness, who is highly susceptible to homelessness, and the detrimental impacts of homelessness. At the end of the introduction, Hulchanski plans for the the e-book to “take apart the word ‘homelessness’, and revealing the many social issues it conceals..and to develop appropriate responses”. Furthermore, working towards a goal that in “20 years, the term ‘homelessness’ will be obsolete”.…

    • 83 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Watership Down-College Level Reading Material?
    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Watership Down-College Level Reading Material?

    Why does the book Watership Down by Richard Adams, appear on a college level reading list? The book has expansive imagery and thorough details ranging from the light-hearted to the absolutely brutal. Watership Down allows imaginations to take many twists and turns, sometimes for the better and sometimes for worse. The characters in this book face challenges of extreme circumstance and their loyalty is tested when their situation is tainted by the knowledge that they could be shown an early grave.…

    • 661 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Behind The Look: The Look By Michael Sullivan
    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Behind The Look: The Look By Michael Sullivan

    You may not have perceived that this life, the way we have been brought up has condition us to be unseeing to some obvious situations in this world. Visibly picture in your head what it means to be homeless at that same time think why are those people homeless? During this recent article, Michael Sullivan wrote, I was homeless; ‘the look’ judged me worthless, to share with all readers in different communities. Sullivan has an overwhelming sense of personal experiences shared which gives a great insight to draw his readers to an emotional side as well as a connection of trust with him. While using examples of pathos and ethos his readers are likely to feel a connection to his article and see things differently as he did during his own life experience.…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Righteous Dopefiend Analysis
    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Righteous Dopefiend Analysis

    Bourgois and Schonberg followed the daily routines of a community of people referred to as the Edgewater homeless for over 10 years. The community consists of individuals from different ethnic backgrounds and different histories, but built their community on their shared lifestyle and addiction to drugs. Everything revolves around their main objective of getting a “fix” before the withdrawal symptoms come in. In the first three chapters, ethnic, gender, and hierarchal relationships within the community are discussed. Chapter one establishes the racial divisions that exist in their community, as well as their mutual dependence that connects them. Chapter two analyzes gender relations and the difference between sex, work, and love. Chapter three establishes the hierarchal relationship between the homeless.…

    • 1097 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homeless Girls: A Sociocultural Group Analysis
    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Homeless Girls: A Sociocultural Group Analysis

    Homeless girls are a sociocultural group that includes those who have abandoned their home and those at risk of homelessness. They have to cope with hazardous situations that negatively impact their well-being because they grow up in dysfunctional family environments, in communities immersed in social problems, and in precarious economic areas, leading to few or null opportunities of obtaining a better quality of life (Castaños, 2014). Also, they suffer from sexual and labor exploitation, abuse, and discrimination at a higher rate than the rest of the population (Misganaw & Worku, 2013). As such, they have a low self-concept and self-esteem, they lack self-efficacy and emotion regulation skills, and they exhibit internalizing and externalizing…

    • 253 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Homeless Ethnography
    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Homeless Ethnography

    This article looks at different sociologic study to gain insight into the homeless culture to try to better understand what was going on.…

    • 1251 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Best Essays

    Deinstitutionalization Of Homelessness In Canada
    • 1685 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Deinstitutionalization Of Homelessness In Canada

    Homelessness is not an error of people, caused by their characteristics or mistakes, but instead, by society 's and governments ' actions or failures to act in the areas of poverty, deinstitutionalization, and the shrinking supply of affordable housing. At the root of homelessness is poverty, and the growing number of poor is leaving many without shelter, or a roof over their heads. Deinstitutionalization was originally seen as an appropriate way to maximize resources, but insufficient reinforcement has led to vagrancy. The rising cost of rent and housing has made it difficult to pay for other basic necessities such as food, leading to homelessness as the only option. However, if prevention and reduction strategies are…

    • 1685 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Misconceptions About Homelessness
    • 1325 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Misconceptions About Homelessness

    My friends and I left the restaurant, laughing. It was getting dark and the city was beautifully lit. We smiled and chatted as we walked through downtown. Suddenly my eyes fell on a young woman arranging her sleeping quarters in the middle of the sidewalk. She looked barely older than me - she could have easily been a college student. The girl sat down and pulled a few dirty blankets over her body, preparing for the night’s sleep. I was staggered by the similarities between the two of us. Her face stuck in my memory as I got home and climbed into my comfortable bunk bed. People my age weren’t supposed to be homeless, were they? Where was her family, her connections? Why would she be on the streets? Were there more people like her or was she an anomaly? I realized I knew nothing about homelessness and had instead been subconsciously analyzing it with my own preconceptions as a basis. But I wasn’t the only one allowing myself to remain so misinformed. Research shows there are almost ubiquitous misconceptions concerning homelessness and the stigma against it, especially when it comes to the demographics of the homeless population, the amount of crimes…

    • 1325 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Belonging: A Brief Film Analysis
    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Belonging: A Brief Film Analysis

    Thus fundamentally, this short film takes on a different approach compared to the other two texts, as it exemplifies the notion of how one’s sense of belonging can essentially be hindered upon by barriers in life and a lack of acknowledgement by the wider community. Factors such as poverty, hunger and homelessness can ultimately become catalysts that results in one being excluded and seen by others as incoherent ‘outcasts’. As a result of a lack of connection to a home or with people, homeless individuals in society ultimately have limited or no sense of belonging. This idea is effectively expressed in the short film when the director captures the scene of a homeless man kneeling on a footpath, whilst many by passers stream past him, quite…

    • 358 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Are Homeless People More Likely to Become Involved or Be Victims of Crime?
    • 2855 Words
    • 12 Pages

    Are Homeless People More Likely to Become Involved or Be Victims of Crime?

    Homelessness is on the rise, the number of people within the country who are homeless has ‘risen to 17%’. (BBC News homelessness 08/09/11). This affecting not only the people who live in communities where homelessness is popular but the uniformed public services is being affected by the actions of homeless people and the actions of the public towards these people. On average homeless’ people die at just 47 years old’. The homeless people are in danger to themselves as they are vulnerable and easily targeted to the public; they are also ‘socially excluded from society’ (crisis 2012). Meaning that the public don’t include them and socialize with these people, as they are lonely and may come across to people as worthless. The amount of people who slept rough in 2009 on London streets was ‘5678’. This is a huge amount of people; who have put themselves in danger and damaging themselves by living in poor conditions as it ruins health and can ruin ‘someone’s capability through loss of skills’ (crisis 2012). Homeless people turn to sex work to afford shelter for the night to keep off the streets. ‘Unwanted sex has become a way out of homelessness for many. One in seven men and 28% of women had spent a night – or longer – with an unwanted sexual partner to "accommodate themselves"’ (the guardian homeless commit crime 23/12/2010). People become homeless by a variety of things the most popular is relationship breakdown, also people may have suffered childhood abuse and people can’t cope any more from the lack of help from the counselling services, or even the social services. And ‘substance misuse and leaving an institution like a prison, or a care home or hospital’ (crisis 2012). ‘According to the government 19% of young people were accepted as homeless by local authorities aged around 16 to 18 years old and 50% of the people…

    • 2855 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Social Injustices of Homelessness
    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Social Injustices of Homelessness

    Homelessness is a growing social injustice in the United States. The degradation that these people face every day is terrifying. It is a crisis that we too often ignore, hoping it will restore itself. That assumption delivers a widespread lack of understanding about the facts that lead to homelessness. Homelessness exists as a problem that we should acknowledge and treat.…

    • 809 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Homeless Waves
    • 2606 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Homeless Waves

    For many homeless people, it is some strange turn of events causes them to lose everything. Then after months of rejection, they begin drinking and doing drugs. Eventually, the emptiness sets in so they begin talking to themselves. They don’t have anywhere to shower or get the mail. Eventually, they lose touch with society.…

    • 2606 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Groups in Context
    • 6363 Words
    • 26 Pages

    Groups in Context

    Homelessness is not just a lack of shelter – it is also the lack of a safe and nurturing home environment; a private place where people feel comfortable and settled and where they feel they belong. A person may become homeless during a single short episode in their life, or homelessness may be a condition into which individuals enter and exit repeatedly over the course of their lives. People may become homeless due to changes in their income, mental or physical health, or in their ability to maintain social networks. The number of Australians experiencing long-term homelessness is unknown. The ‘real’ statistics may be unavailable simply because of the transient nature of a homeless person’s circumstances. Issues relating to the homeless are discussed in detail below. See chapter 5 (Researching community groups, pages 161 162) for an explanation of the headings used in this section.…

    • 6363 Words
    • 26 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More