GL 350 Blog #8: How has “The Rome Experience” prepared you to become a global citizen?

           On February 20^th 2015 I embarked on the greatest journey in my young adult life. I decided to study abroad in Rome, Italy. Even though I have not completed my journey just yet, I believe that I have truly learned what it means to become a global citizen. What does it mean to become a global citizen? In my head it means becoming greatly appreciative of other languages, most notably Italian. It also means to truly understand the way of life, such as the concept of siesta to Italians. Furthermore, becoming appreciative of other representations of art can be tied to becoming a global citizen. I have seen the Sistine Chapel, the Statue of David, the Coliseum, and St. Peters Basilica. How can someone be a well-rounded and educated person without being entirely informed about the world in which they live? In addition, how can an individual articulate an informed opinion if they are not exposed to differing perspectives? The answer is they cannot. It is my belief that everyone in this world needs to travel. We all require the great gift of becoming a global citizen. In the following paragraphs, I will describe in significant detail the aforementioned points and how it applies to being a global citizen.

            One of the first aspects that I learned from Italian culture was the importance and beauty of their language. The way the syllables easily convalesced into almost a soothing melody did wonders to my ears. I found that I could conveniently sit back and listen to a couple talk to each other sweetly, listen to an elderly couple argue and banter back and forth, and even listen to children yell at each other for attention. Furthermore, if the conversing situation was harsh and loud (e.x. an argument of sorts) or soft and quiet (e.x. caressing words of lovers) I easily found both of them pleasant to listen to. The Italian language can do that for a person. The experience is also enlightened by the stereotypical Italian gesticulations. Barzini states in The Italians that, “they employ them to emphasize or clarify whatever is said, to suggest words and meanings it is not prudent to express with words, sometimes simply to convey a message at great distance, where the voice could not carry” (The Italians, pg.62). When they wave their arms back and forth, and shake their heads profoundly, it illuminates the experience even more. To elucidate upon this further, in The Smiles of Rome Federico Fellini states in his conversation with Costanzo Constantini that, “one of the things I found most striking was the monumental rudeness that I encountered everywhere. A gigantic rudeness and a gigantic vulgarity…for anyone who observes the city with the aim of expressing it creatively, the vulgarity is an enrichment, an aspect of the fascination that Rome inspires” (Smiles of Rome, pg. 299). I believe that Fellini brings up an excellent point because even with the vulgarity seen in Italians (specifically their language) one cannot help but be fascinated and empowered by it. I have to admit that I did not like the language when I first arrived but I have grown to find it undeniably absorbing. I fervently believe that one of the first steps in becoming a global citizen is breaking through that language barrier and appreciating it for what it is.

            The next step in becoming a global citizen is understanding a cultures way of life. What are their work hours like? Are they productive in their work place? What is their nutrition like? To answer the first two questions one has to consider what the Italians call “siesta.” Siesta is essentially a designated time interval between the hours of 1-4 where the Italians do no work. In those off hours children come home from school, and parents go home to take care of chores. However, the most important aspect of this siesta is that the Italians spend time primarily with family during these hours. Many countries believe that is what makes the Italians inherently lazy and unproductive. I completely disagree. It seems that everyone of today gets caught up in working incessantly just to get slightly more money. The world should take a step back and look at how the Italians treasure the family above all else. However, even with this idea of family one needs also consider the idea of industrial application and how it relates to the work place. Italy, in simple terms, produces very little if any of its own electricity. They primarily import electricity from other countries such as Switzerland and France. One can argue from this standpoint that they are not very productive in this aspect. Apart from this, the Italians nutrition is a different story. Many nutritionists around the globe describe Italians as being, “incredibly healthy due to the Mediterranean diet.” The Mediterranean diet incorporates fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and limitation of unhealthy fats (primarily saturated fats”). But don’t they eat an exorbitant amount of carbs? How do they not gain weight? They primarily do not gain weight because they stress quality over quantity, and they walk everywhere. Even with the advent of cars, the typical Italian will walk at least a few miles a day. I have learned all of this information from my Roman experience by staying here in Italy for two months. It is central to being a global citizen if one can comprehend the workings of a cultures way of life.

                        

          The vast storage of art within Italy, in particular Rome, is staggering. Art is literally everywhere. From the cobblestones of where your feet lie on, to the stones of a seemingly arbitrary building, art is found. Before my trip to Rome, I didn’t particularly enjoy representations of art. But now that I am nearing the end of my Rome experience, I have gained a new appreciation. Actively seeing works by Bernini, Michelangelo, Borromini, Caravaggio, Bramante, Raphael, and numerous others has truly opened my eyes to the world of art. The plethora of churches that saturate Rome is also astonishing. Each church apart from the paintings, and sculptures made by the abovementioned artists breathes art. The sheer engineering brilliance that goes into how the windows are oriented, how the altar is situated, even the acoustics is irrefutably art. To build upon this idea of how art is the hallmark of Rome, it is prudent to discuss my experience with the Sistine Chapel. Part of being a global citizen is actively participating in something that one has not experienced before. This was the Sistine Chapel for me. As soon as I stepped into that room I knew that I had entered an almost heavenly place. The level of frescoes existed on every wall and on every crevice. The vast amount of detail, most markedly on the wall of The Last Judgment by Michelangelo left me awestruck. One can understand just what Michelangelo was thinking when he was painting all of his masterpieces through the following quote in The Smiles of Rome: “My beard points skyward, I seem a bat upon its back, I’ve breasts and splat! On my face the paint’s congealing…Like a skinned martyr I abut on air, and, wrinkled show my fate. Bow-like, I strain towards the skies” (Smiles of Rome, pg. 103-104). This quote almost depicts how Michelangelo could almost be in anguish. It’s important to point this out because oppression can exist even within the realms of something as beautiful as art. This is also vital to being a global citizen because it brings into light multiple perspectives on something that is usually taken at face value.

           
         Today it is April 12^th, 2015. On April 17^th I will be concluding my study abroad trip in Rome. I feel as though I am ready to go home, but I know that as soon as I step onto that plane I will gravely miss all of Rome and its experiences. I have learned an abundance of patience in all fashions these past two months. From braving the rain for four hours just to celebrate Easter mass with the Pope, to attempting to converse with a cantankerous 80-year-old woman who literally knew no English, I believe that I have learned how to exercise patience. I also believe quite earnestly that I know what it means to be a global citizen. With our world continually advancing all of mankind has a greater and greater opportunity to become global citizens. All they have to do is live and let go.

SOC 490 Blog #8: What can the U.S. take from Italy regarding Health Promotion?

   When a person asks me what are some negative aspects of the U.S. health care system, a number of topics surface. First off, the American diet is completely and utterly terrible. 68.5% of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese, along with 31.8% of adolescents being significantly overweight or obese. The United States also utilizes any form of transportation to get to their destination. They do not walk or exercise as much as they should. In addition, the popularity of fast food within the States is unbelievable. The U.S. has a McDonalds every other corner, a Burger King just on the next stop, a Taco Bell blaring its signs in your face. About 610,000 Americans die from Heart Disease every year, which is approximately one in every four deaths. This is a very real problem that needs to be fixed. How can the U.S. radically change the way it approaches healthy living? The answer is to look to the Italians.

   In regards to health promotion, the U.S. can look to the Mediterranean diet as a principal factor in promoting adequate health among the Italians. The Mediterranean diet consists of eating primarily plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts. It replaces butter with healthy fats, using herbs and spices to flavor foods, minimal red meat, primarily eating fish and poultry a few times a week, and drinking both red and white wine in moderation. This plan has directly been linked to reduce risk of heart disease, and encourage longevity.

   In America, drivers are driving more miles and sitting in more traffic than ever before. It’s almost a foreign concept to Americans to either bike or walk to their destinations. Granted, in the world of today it is substantially difficult to reach anywhere by walking, since technology has advanced so far. However, the Italians also live in an advanced world and even they exercise on average more than Americans. They walk everywhere to get to their objectives. They are also strongly influenced by their image. To the Italians, it is almost necessary to emphasize aesthetics. With aesthetics comes a healthy body, which obviously contributes, to the image.

   It should not be a shocker that Americans consume too much fast food. A     recent statistic came out that Americans spend 10% of their disposable income on fast food every year. Moreover, 20% of all American meals are consumed within the car. Italians do not consume near as much fast food as compared to Americans. Consequently, they reap the benefits.  The rise in consumption of fast food within the United States has led to extraordinary high obesity rates, and other health related issues. It’s a sickness that plagues our country. It should stand to reason why fast food is so toxic to the human body is because these foods are more or less unrecognizable to the genes within our cells. Our body does not really know how to process these food particles so it instead stores it as fat. Americans need to stray away from fast food and possibly become advocates for reforming how food in our country is prepared. To build from this, Italians typically after meals, principally dinner, engage in the passagiata, which is a leisurely stroll through town. This helps in further digestion of the food. Furthermore, when Italians are eating their food they are not concerned with the quantity of which they are eating. They eat with their stomachs and not their eyes, and are concerned predominantly with the quality of their food.

   The discussion of alcohol in relation to health promotion between the U.S. and Italy can also not be avoided. Within Italy wine and beer are consumed within modest boundaries. In modern day, Italy remains the largest producer of wine in the entire world. They also have a lower legal drinking age than the United States (16 in Italy vs. 21 within the United States). Some might say that this means that alcoholism is much more rampant within Italy. This is simply not so. In addition, binge drinking is not particularly actively seen in Italy. Since alcohol enters into their culture at such an early age drinking is not really seen as a novelty. It’s simply seen as part of living. In the United States, since the drinking age is so much higher many young people pursue overindulgence of alcohol as a way of rebellion. This directly affects the health of the nation. The United States should consider this argument and really contemplate the way our country approaches alcohol. We should take a lesson from the Italians.

            The United States truly has a lot to learn in the realm of health promotion. If there is one thing that I have learned in my eight weeks here in Rome, it is to be open to change. A country does not change in a week, or even several months. It is time to look to other countries and apply what works for them in a slightly altered way to ones own country. In Gaudium et Spes, it states that, “Indeed, the Lord Jesus, when He prayed to the Father, "that all may be one. . . as we are one" (John 17:21-22) opened up vistas closed to human reason, for He implied a certain likeness between the union of the divine Persons, and the unity of God's sons in truth and charity” (Gaudium et Spes,       part 1 chapter 2). This quote implies that we are all God’s sons and daughters and we all have a certain unity with each other. We all deserve to tell the truth to one another and help each other in as many ways as we can. In this instance, it applies to the United States and Italy with health promotion. The U.S. and Italy can go the distance together.

Blog #7 SOC 490: Can we cure disease through the power of prayer?

            Located in the Pyrenees Mountain of France, Lourdes is home to an incredibly important shrine of the Catholic faith. Thousands upon thousands of pilgrims travel to Lourdes either for a physical cure, for spiritual enlightenment, or to be of service to those who are in need of help. Lourdes is also incredibly significant because Bernadette Soubirous, a 14-year-old peasant girl at the time, experienced 18 separate apparitions of the Virgin Mary. On the 9^th apparition an underground spring sprung forth and has been attributed to 67 miracles. The occurrence of all of these miracles begs the following question: can we cure disease through the power of prayer? Let me extrapolate upon this question.

            Let me start from a purely biological perspective. All forms of prayer evoke a relaxation response that quells stress, calms the body, and promotes healing. In multiple religions throughout the world such as Buddhism their form of prayer is “meditation,” for Catholics it is the rosary, and for Protestants it’s centering prayer. Essentially, the mind-body connection completely dissolves. As an individual goes deeper into prayer, substantial activity is seen in the parietal lobes through the utilization of an MRI machine. The parietal lobe is responsible for controlling distinctions between oneself and the surrounding environment. Consequently, a form of “silence” seems to pervade throughout the body and mind. Other sections of the brain such as the frontal and temporal lobes simply show less activity. A spiritual component seems to enter into the brain. Furthermore, the limbic system (which is considered widely as the emotional brain) lights up and helps with the relaxation component. It seems that today people attribute all religious happenings as simply a biological phenomenon. This simply cannot be the case. While understanding the biological and physiological responses are quite important, not everything can be explained through science. Scientific exploration and thought is not the end all be all. In opposition to my assertion, President Barack Obama states in his Washington address of 2007 that, “it is not in our character to sit idly by as victims of fate or circumstance, for we are a people of action and innovation, forever pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.” While this quote does not necessarily apply to the given discussion for he is discussing Universal Healthcare, it still brings into question of how we continually further scientific exploration. Scientific discoveries might be constantly evolving, but again, not everything in this world can be certified by systematic observation. If it could how does one explain the significance of miracles? Or, say the saints and incorruptibles of the church? One cannot, it is simply because of the power of faith.

            A few weeks ago I had the great opportunity to travel to Nettuno, Italy. It is a pleasant, quiet, small town that lies along the sea. My fellow classmates and I were able to enter into the church of Santa Maria Goretti. The story of Santa Maria Goretti is a sad but loving one. She was a lovely little girl who had profound, undeniable faith in God. Her friends and family loved her. Unfortunately, being a beautiful young woman she caught the attention of a man  (Alessandro) who wished to wed her. She always politely refused and continued to dedicate her life to God. As a consequence of this, Alessandro tried to force himself upon her. She fought and did not succumb to his wishes. He eventually stabbed her due to his frustration. He was sentenced to jail, and Maria’s family was grief stricken. There were several miracles that were observed in this story. First off, Maria appeared to Alessandro when he was in jail and told him that she forgave him for his heinous act. He was immediately converted to the Catholic faith. Moreover, she also appeared to her brothers, specifically Mariano where he heard her voice telling him to not charge the Germans, when he was fighting in World War I. His whole unit died except for him. I am very fortunate to have visited such a church because it has continued to solidify for me the power of prayer.

            As I am discussing this, a particular quote from Gaudium et Spes draws my attention. It states in Chapter 1 part 15 that, “Still he has always searched for more penetrating truths, and finds them. For his intelligence is not confined to observable data alone, but can with genuine certitude attain to reality itself as knowable, though in consequence of sin that certitude is partly obscured and weakened.” This quote brings into question man’s inherent sin. For as human beings we search for the ultimate truth. The ultimate truth cannot be discovered in this world for it is fallen. It can only be discovered in the kingdom of heaven. In addition, man’s intelligence is not confined to empirical data and calculations. Our knowledge can also come from the divine word of God in the bible. Too often today does our world get wrapped up in what we can actively measure and extrapolate. It’s almost seen as heresy in the world of today to even mention the possibility that disease can be prevented through the power of prayer. Here is a suggested answer to this interesting debacle. Many will not like it due to the ambiguity. The answer is that God works in mysterious ways. We do not know everything for certain and some things have to be attributed to faith. We are fallen creatures and are on a constant journey to reach the ultimate reward, which is salvation in heaven. God might permit the healing of someone who by all standards of social acceptance might not actively deserve healing. A family might pray for the healing of their beloved child that has terminal cancer, but in the end does not receive the blessed healing. We will never know the intricacies of our world completely and indisputably. All we can do is take a step back, have a little faith, and put everything in God’s divine hands.   

Blog #6 GL 350: In what ways is the Catholic Church both Roman and Global?

            Roman Catholicism currently stands as a worldwide religious organisation consisting of roughly 1.1 billion members. The history of Catholicism owes its origin to Jesus of Nazareth, who was seen by many as the son on God. He preached the word of God in the vicinity of Jerusalem during the period of Roman occupation. In Catholicism, members congregate in multiple churches directed by bishops, whose roles are directly linked to the disciples of Jesus. After several decades, Jesus’ life, death, and subsequent resurrection led to bishops spreading the word of God, across the world in order to form a unified church. Furthermore, in the modern day Vatican City, Saint Peters Basilica rests upon the grave of Saint Peter. The Pope is considered Peters successor. Apart from this, Catholicism does not have a pleasant beginning. For many years, Catholicism was seen as a plague and was therefore considered “necessary to be wiped out.” The early Roman Empire persecuted Christians by the thousands. Until the reign of Emperor Constantine, some three hundred years later it finally became legal and was recognized as the official, designated religion of the Empire. However, relatively shortly after in the 5^th century, the Roman Empire fell. I believe that the following quote by Michelangelo Buonarroti in The Smiles of Rome  can capture how Romans felt as they were oppressed because of their faith: “And like a shadow which must imitate itself, as night advancing darker grows, so I in sin advancing grieve and mourn” (Michelangelo, pg. 104).  It summarizes the point that the Christian Romans were surrounded by darkness (oppressive rulers) and were virtually powerless to fight back. Even though this happened, the Roman Church assumed spiritual power in the West; which led to an enormous amount of influence on the development of art and culture throughout the west. Consequently, in modern day due to the powerful spread of Catholicism all regions of the world in some manner practice the religion. It has spread like a wildfire in regions such as Africa, South America and Asia. Before it spread to these regions it is important to discuss in some more detail how its roots are primarily Roman. 

            The apostles of Jesus Christ spread the word of God all throughout the known world and provided the beginning structure for the early Christian Church. After Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried, Simon Peter (an apostle of Jesus) became a prominent leader in the Jewish Christian movement.  These particular individuals considered themselves a reform movement within Judaism, but continued to follow many of the Jewish Laws. Now, it has been debated if Peter was ever in Rome to proselytise and spread the word of God. Regardless if he was or wasn’t, he greatly influenced the Catholic faith in Rome amongst other places. Emperor Constantine (the first Christian Emperor in Rome) even decided to honor Peter with a large basilica in his name. Moreover, Christ himself greatly honored Peter when he said in Mathew chapter 16 verse 18: “ and I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” In other words, this means that Peter was essentially the most prominent and influential member of the twelve apostles. To build from this, Barzini states in The Italians that, “Rome was also God’s seat on earth, the rock on which Christ had established his Church, the centre of a vast spiritual Empire of which all Christians had been subjects until a few years before” (Barzini, pg. 295). Therefore, his ultimate influence in Rome for the Catholic faith is undeniably substantial.

            Around this same time Saul, originally one of the strongest persecutors of early Christians had a profound vision of Jesus Christ that knocked him off his steed, when he was on the road to Damascus. As a consequence he became one of the most dynamic evangelists in Christ’s name. He eventually adopted the name of Paul and wrote numerous letters to various places he visited, encouraging them to follow the faith. He directed his proselytising to Gentiles and Jews alike. Many historians attribute this form of evangelism as Pauline Christianity. He is unquestionably a pillar of the Catholic faith for he preached in Rome and was successful in spreading the faith. He was eventually killed by Emperor Nero and is considered a great Saint of the Roman Catholic Church. 

         
           This past week I had the great opportunity to visit the Vatican Museums and attend a Papal Mass. The Papal Mass was absolutely incredible. Pilgrims from multiple different countries travelled to Rome just to worship and see the Holy Father. I was completely and utterly astonished. Thousands upon thousands of people congregate into Saint Peters square and worship together as brothers and sisters. While I occasionally saw a few altercations break out over seats, the spirit of Christ was nonetheless present. Furthermore, when mass actually took place it was humbling and pleasing to see Pope Francis' face on the screens. He looked so gentle and at peace. I felt so spiritually connected with the successor of Saint Peter I almost became ecstatic. To be in the place where generations upon generations have worshipped God the Father was purely exhilarating. I was literally standing upon the "rock" where Christ's church was founded. Additionally, the Vatican Museums were like nothing I have ever quite seen. The sheer size of St. Peters Basilica along with seeing the Sistine Chapel was something one cannot quite put into words. It's like seeing the most beautiful thing in the world and then asked to describe it in one sentence. It's not possible. The level of detail and the untainted spiritual influence is immeasurable. The greatest artists of all time crafted the beauty that so many travellers of today take for granted. Rome truly is the seat of the Catholic Church.  

            According to a recent statistical analysis conducted by the Vatican there are now 1.229 billion baptized people in the world. This represents a ten percent increase since 2005. In addition, the percentage of Catholics in Africa has increased by 29 percent, which shows a considerable growth. The Catholic Church even with its abrupt and ubiquitous schisms (i.e. protestant reformation) has continued to thrive over the centuries and continues to remain as one of most influential religions in the world. For centuries to come Catholicism will be prevalent, for faith is the one thing that will never be lost.