Introduction
The reading under analysis describes what difficulties a brother and a sister experienced in the Lodz Ghetto in Poland during World War II. Holliday presents excerpts from the children’s diaries to demonstrate what they felt, thought, and did while surviving the terrible conditions of the Holocaust. Thus, the author aims to show what terrible lives children experienced under the Nazi rule while publishing the diaries of this anonymous brother and sister can allow for paying respect to all unknown victims.
Summary of Content
It is possible to divide the reading into two parts. The first of them serves as the introduction and presents the author’s thoughts on the topic. In particular, Holliday explains that numerous children wrote diaries describing their sufferings at the Nazis’ hands, but few of them have survived to modern times (395). The author then tells about the unknown sister and brother and describes that a man named Avraham Benkel found the boy’s diary in a neighboring house after the war (Holliday 396). The book contained his thoughts and included copied entries from his sister’s diary.
The second part of the reading consists of the diary itself. Holliday publishes selected entries to demonstrate how the children described their sufferings and life. In particular, the sister describes that she dreams of bygone childhood while she is only twelve years old (Holliday 396-397). In turn, the brother focuses on the terrible living conditions, including hunger, hard labor, the absence of clothes, and others. The boy also raises a religious aspect of the situation and refers to God to identify why the Nazis are allowed to conduct all these atrocities (Holliday 401). The reading ends with the boy’s obvious statement confirming his Jewish origin.
Critical Comments
It is possible to state that the purpose of the reading has been achieved. It seems that the author wanted to demonstrate that children were subject to horrible conditions and sufferings under the Nazis’ rule. That is why the boy’s words about “dehumanization,” “terrible hunger,” and “the cave of the wild beast” perfectly serve the objective (Holliday 397, 398, 400). There is no doubt that the first-person experience is the best way to reveal what the children thought and felt.
It is impossible to state that the reading brings much new information, but its contribution to the field is still enormous. In particular, the chapter is not the first and, woefully, not the last writing piece describing the Nazis’ atrocities. However, one cannot overestimate the importance of the articles, chapters, and reports on the topic. They should remind modern people of what cruelty the Nazis brought. Individuals should remember this information to ensure that similar events will not occur in the future.
The treatment of the subject matter is objective to the extent that is possible in covering the topic. On the one hand, Holliday entirely relies on the subjective comments of the boy who survived the terrible conditions. This data is the perfect source of information when it is necessary to discover personal experiences. On the other hand, the author avoids making his own commentaries about the entries. That is why it is possible to conclude that Holliday remains objective in covering this sensitive topic.
It is challenging to state whether any evidence or facts have been omitted. The boy described what he and his sister ate, did, and wore, and these were the only activities that the children were allowed to do. That is why there is nothing surprising in the fact that the boy does not provide many details about his daily routine. The children were fully obsessed with surviving and could not draw attention to unnecessary details.
As has been mentioned above, the author relies on subjective data to support his statement. In scientific literature, this instrument is known as self-reports, and they can perfectly describe people’s personal experiences. For example, the boy’s single quote, “we are so tired of life,” only allows readers to imagine what atrocities the children faced (Holliday 400). That is why it is possible to conclude that the author utilized an efficient strategy to support his thesis statement.
It seems that no one can interpret the same data to alternate ends. It is impossible to state that these and numerous other children deserved to experience those atrocities. One can also claim that no individual should be subject to this treatment irrespective of their actions, beliefs, ethnicities, and others. Moreover, even the most brutal criminal is not subject to such conditions in the civilized world because an inhumane approach to people is prohibited. That is why one can hardly imagine who would defend the Nazis’ attitude toward the children.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is worth admitting that the reading material raises an important topic for discussion. The article makes people understand what atrocities the Nazis brought to the world. Individuals should recall these events from time to time to pay respect to millions of victims. Such discussions are also necessary for humanity to understand what consequences people like Adolf Hitler can bring to the entire world.
Work Cited
Holliday, Laurel. Children in the Holocaust and World War II: Their Secret Diaries. Atria Books, 2014.
Being An Ally To Indigenous Canadians
Being an ally in Indigenous education means making a willing effort to learn about historic Indigenous issues and teaching other non-Indigenous people about them. Ward (2019) implies that it is normal for white people to remain ignorant of the lack of privileges for Indigenous people. Therefore, in order for the Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to become allies, white settlers need to recognize the historic injustices done to the First Nations and make corresponding educational amendments.
Language is important in education because it underscores significant cultural values. When Ward (2019) writes about her mistake in identifying Regalia as a costume, she provides an example of how easy it is disrespect another culture with a poor choice of words. As such, language is extremely important in showing Indigenous cultures proper respect, and it should be incorporated into educational programs of contemporary generations.
The major strengths of Indigenous families are their experience and family history of surviving discrimination. Educators can incorporate these stories in teaching the contemporary generation not to ignore, reinterpret or rewrite existing history. Another important lesson that should be taught is that families that were discriminated against have the right to reserve friendly and welcoming attitude. If there is no friendliness, the presence of white people should not be imposed, if there is no reciprocity.
The most effective way to engage and work respectfully with Indigenous communities is encouraging more white people to interact with them and treat them with respect. Ward (2019) states that she bear little tolerance for racist jokes. Similarly, allies can monitor their verbal communication for the signs of unconscious discrimination. Ultimately, allies of Indigenous communities should recognize their duty to help Indigenous communities overcome the consequences of centuries of discrimination.
Reference
Ward, R. (2019). Building trust before truth: How non-Indigenous Canadians become allies. Animikii Indigenous Technology.
Schizophrenia Treatment With Fluphenazine Decanoate
Case Description
Prescribing a medication that will be beneficial for a patient’s condition often requires significant effort from the physician. In specific cases where a severe mental disorder is present, choosing the right drug and its dosage is crucial for positively affecting the individual’s condition and alleviating the negative symptoms. On the other hand, administering incorrect medicine might have a devastating effect on the patient’s condition, harming the rehabilitation process (Chen et al., 2016). In the provided case, special attention is needed to select a drug that will diminish Pam’s manifestations of paranoia. The present paper discusses Pam’s case, suggesting Fluphenazine Decanoate as a medicine useful for decreasing the patient’s paranoid behavior, as well as highlighting the positive and negative effects of this drug in schizophrenia treatment.
Case Overview and Choice of Medication
In the described scenario, the patient Pam is suffering from a chronic schizophrenia disorder, having been prescribed the same medicine for the past 20 years. However, the woman reports that in the past two months, she started experiencing strong feelings of paranoia, which manifested in her perception of unsafety and paranoid behaviors, such as disassembling electronic devices around the house. The discussed symptoms might be connected to increasing feelings of anxiety, which often occur in chronic schizophrenia patients (Abbas et al., 2017). Thus, it would be beneficial for Pam to take an antipsychotic that could help reduce the agitation. A suitable drug could be Fluphenazine Decanoate, a first-generation antipsychotic administered to patients with schizophrenia and acute agitation related to various psychotic disorders.
Fluphenazine Decanoate
Biological Actions and Effects
Biologically, Fluphenazine Decanoate is a phenothiazine that affects the central nervous system and influences the behavioral manifestations of psychotic disorders. By blocking dopamine D1a and D2 postsynaptic receptors throughout the limbic system, cortical system, and basal ganglia, this drug diminishes the occurrence of hallucinations, delusions, and paranoid feelings (Abbas et al., 2017). Fluphenazine Decanoate has been reported to have weak sedative effects and depress the reticular activating system, which, in turn, influences extrapyramidal activity.
Behavioral and Psychological Effects
From a behavioral perspective, Fluphenazine Decanoate’s impact is antipsychotic, connected to the suppression of dopamine receptors. The medication blocks the effects of dopamine on the central nervous system, decreasing the emergence of hallucinations and delusions connected to schizophrenic and acute psychotic conditions (Abbas et al., 2017). As a result, behaviors associated with the influence of delusive thoughts are reduced, allowing for the establishment of normal activities (Ostuzzi et al., 2017). Psychologically, these effects alleviate the toll of psychosis, promoting mental stability and acting as a partial sedative. Fluphenazine Decanoate is highly effective in the long-term treatment of schizophrenia, but it can also be used for short-term administration during the acute stages of the disorder.
Treatment of Chronic Schizophrenia with Fluphenazine Decanoate
Given the information presented in the case, the patient suffers from chronic schizophrenia. This disorder is associated with frequent delusions, hallucinations, and confused thinking that affect a person’s ability to distinguish between reality and delusive thoughts. Lack of motivation, depression, and paranoia can also occur in schizophrenic patients, negatively impacting their ability to function in society and fulfill their daily needs (Movsisyan et al., 2019). Symptoms of the disorder include episodes of unreal experiences, distorted perception of reality, lack of emotional response, disorganized thinking and speech, and issues with logical thinking.
As a first-generation antipsychotic, Fluphenazine Decanoate acts to establish a balance in the release of dopamine, preventing the emergence of schizophrenic symptoms. A reduced amount of dopamine in the central nervous system leads to the reduction of primary symptoms, such as hallucinations, delusions, and paranoid ideas. In addition, the behavior of the patient is affected, improving their ability to perceive reality and act according to the surrounding conditions (Movsisyan et al., 2019).
Given the broad effects of the drug and its strong influence on the patient’s behavior, Fluphenazine Decanoate is a beneficial medication for treating schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in their acute form (Movsisyan et al., 2019). In addition, in comparison with other phenothiazine derivatives and antipsychotic agents, Fluphenazine Decanoate is more potent, less likely to have depressive effects, and can improve neurotransmission (Schellack & Matlala, 2017). As a newer phenothiazine, this medication can decrease the risk of developing hypotension.
Nevertheless, as a strong antipsychotic medication, Fluphenazine Decanoate can elicit severe biological and behavioral consequences. As Fluphenazine Decanoate is a neuroleptic drug, it often causes a decrease in the production of some white blood cells and liver damage (Chen et al., 2016). Furthermore, it has been reported that phenothiazines have the most toxic effects when compared with other neuroleptics (Schellack & Matlala, 2017). It is also essential to note that this medication’s exact mechanism of action is still unknown, and it is not clear whether its antipsychotic impact is connected to the blockage of dopamine receptors (Abbas et al., 2017). Similar to other antipsychotics, Fluphenazine Decanoate can originate a high number of health conditions, from headaches to neuroleptic malignant syndrome (PDR, n.d.). From this perspective, the administration of Fluphenazine Decanoate should be conducted with excessive caution.
References
Abbas, F., Rajab, T., Alsamarrai, O., Alhalabi, N., Zaher Addeen, S., Mheish, O., Aljojo, A., & Essali, A. (2017). Fluphenazine decanoate (timing of administration) for people with schizophrenia. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(10). Web.
Chen, M., Suzuki, A., Thakkar, S., Yu, K., Hu, C., & Tong, W. (2016). DILIrank: The largest reference drug list ranked by the risk for developing drug-induced liver injury in humans. Drug Discovery Today, 21(4), 648–653. Web.
PDR. (n.d.). Fluphenazine decanoate – Drug summary. Web.
Movsisyan, M., De Coen, L. M., Heugebaert, T. S. A., Verlee, A., Roman, B. I., & Stevens, C. V. (2019). Continuous-flow synthesis of phenothiazine antipsychotics: A feasibility study. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 2019(6), 1350–1354. Web.
Ostuzzi, G., Bighelli, I., So, R., Furukawa, T. A., & Barbui, C. (2017). Does formulation matter? A systematic review and meta-analysis of oral versus long-acting antipsychotic studies. Schizophrenia Research, 183, 10–21. Web.
Schellack, N., & Matlala, M. (2017). Providing an overview on antipsychotics: Schizophrenia a psychiatric challenge? A 2017 Update. SA Pharmaceutical Journal, 84(3), 16–23. Web.