An Unbroken Agony by Randal Robinson

“What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger” (p. 28). In the scientific novel Survival of the Sickest by Sharon Moalem with Jonathan Prince, self-acclaimed “Medical Maverick” Dr. Moalem makes in-depth analyses of current human diseases that, ironically, may have led to the survival of mankind in the past. He presents a novel concept that greatly contradicts what have been universally accepted beliefs surrounding biology and the process of human evolution for a long time. With the use of myriad scientific studies and research, he formulates surprising theories about a positive correlation between disease and humanity. Moalem narrates the scientific world’s findings that strongly exemplify his assertions, however arbitrary they may seem at first. Three of the diseases that he examines, hemochromatosis, Type 1 diabetes, and favism, could have been particularly useful for resistance against other illnesses and survival in a historically harsh environment.

The Republic of Haiti has a unique and vibrant culture. It was once hailed as the "Pearl of the Antilles" for being the wealthiest colony in the world. This small Latin American island tells a story of slaves enduring resistance to the some of the most dominant forces abroad. In 1804, Haiti became the first free black republic and the second post-colonial country in the Americas. However, the days of being the wealthiest colony have since passed. Haiti is now considered to be the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. The proud history of this country is overshadowed by alarming rates of poverty, violence, and inequality. This island nation’s government has been plagued with numerous military staged coups and misfortunes. I

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizens in 1789 was a key incentive for the Haitian Revolution of 1789-1803. This declaration was pivotal in defining the rights that all men were entitled to. For instance, the framers of the declaration proclaimed that “men are born…free and equal in respect of their civil rights…” and that all men were entitled to liberty, rights to own property, security, resistance of oppression, freedom of speech, and protection under the law. The declaration was perceived by members of society very differently. For example, the people of color view the declaration as a tool for demanding their rights. For the slaves, the declaration was a motivation to fight for their freedom. In 1789, the Haitian Revolution officially started with uprising commanded by people of color and slaves. This revolution proved to be one of the most successful slave rebellion in the Western Hemisphere, and in 1803, Haiti became the first country to gains its independence and be governed in the Americas by people of African ancestry. The Haitian Revolution completely transformed Saint Domingue, one of the most prosperous colony in the Caribbean. Considering the importance of the Haitian Revolution, it is unfortunate that there are few accounts of what was happening during the time. Yet, three very important documents that teach us about the society during the revolution are “The Ogé Insurrection”, “The Battle in the Harbor: The Testimony of a Man of Color”, and

In the document titled “Rulers of Haiti, a list of each ruler from Emperor Jacques I to President Joseph Louis Borno, Haiti underwent frequent regime change. In a 30-year period (1858-1888), six out of eight Haitian presidents left office under the note “deposed by revolution.” Americans deemed political instability and violence consistent with uncivilized cultures. Consequently, Americans thought that Haitians lacked the capability of self-government, which permitted and justified a US invasion and occupation. Occupation became necessary as what Plummer referred to a “logical consequence” to Haiti’s turbulent political climate. Even Blacks welcomed the occupation for they could not longer abide and watch Haiti become an “embarrassment, and irritation” on the historical nature of Haiti’s existence: the only Black governed republic. However, this sentiment amongst Blacks did not last. Once they became excluded from political actions regarding Haiti, they began setting the foundations for opposition to the

Loneliness is a complex and usually an unpleasant emotional response to isolation as well as separation; it is a product of the lack of contact experienced with another individual. Moreover, it includes anxious feelings due to the absence of connection or communication with other beings, both in the present and extending into the future. Some describe it as emptiness or hollowness inside of one’s being. In the narrative The Bloody Chamber (1979), Angela Carter’s characters deal with the emotion of loneliness by taking action and intervening through any circumstances. In contrast, in Zadie Smith’s Hanwell in Hell (2004) the main characters Clive and Hanwell deal with loneliness simply through hope. While over twenty years apart, these two narratives explore how an individual deals with the notion of loneliness through the use of the colour red, the symbolism in animals, and the condition of blindness. However, Carter illustrates the refusal of the protagonist to simply accept any circumstances; but the interference in any situation. On the other hand, Smith demonstrates the acceptance and balance of the existing situation at hand through hope.

Christophe, Marc A. "Haiti." World Book Student. World Book, 2016. Web. 8 Mar. 2016. Summary: In the encyclopedia article, “Haiti,” Marc Christophe informs the audience about the country of Haiti. Christophe presents geographic information including location, population, land, history, and the national language of the country. The government is also briefly discussed, where he explains the former bloody dictatorships that have ruled the area since colonial times and left the country with serious economical and social issues that still exist today. The Parsley Massacre is mentioned as well, and described as a culprit for the racial problems between Dominicans and Haitians that are still a relevant problem now. Evaluation:

In America, we are privileged to have freedom. We can say what we want, and we have a voice in our government. We are extremely blessed to have access to that freedom, but it comes at a cost. In the Revolutionary War alone 650,000 US soldiers were killed, and that was just the beginning of our nation. Because of these sacrifices, we now have the freedom that is available to us today. Sadly, not all countries are as fortunate. Edwidge Danticat describes in horrific detail the struggles that Haitians face on a daily basis to obtain freedom for themselves and their children in her book, Krik? Krak! Her book contains several short stories, giving us perspectives from Haitians from past and present generations, and how they

Haiti was once the first black independent republic in the world and the richest island in the Caribbean. Today Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and one of the poorest countries in the world. What could have happened to Haiti in almost two hundred years of history? The country experienced repeated civil war and foreign intervention. Haiti is not isolated from the international world. Thus, it was not out of concern for ordinary Haitians that the United States intervened in Haiti. It was out of concern for profit and stability within the United States' own backyard. The purpose of this paper is to show the negative aspect that the United States had played in the government of Haiti.

The feeling of pain has often been referred to as a controversial one, as one of the sensations that is felt by the body. Recently, discussions about the subject of pain have been focused on the difficulty encountered in trying to establish a definition for it. Because pain has no one definition, expressing it becomes quite elusive for the sufferer, which then leads to the difficulty in the understanding of pain by an outsider. Elaine Scarry makes a strong argument that “to have pain is to have certainty” whereas, “to hear about pain is to have doubt,” (Scarry, 13) and with this she emphasizes that pain is almost impossible to deduce by an outsider because all they experience is “doubt.” Although Scarry’s argument is valid, Joanna Bourke makes a contrasting argument that, “indeed, hearing about or witnessing another person’s pain could actually destroy the onlooker,” (Bourke, 46) which could be interpreted to mean that one’s pain could in fact be shared by others as opposed to Scarry’s argument. Therefore, the transferability of pain in American Sniper and Schindler’s List stems from the acknowledgement of the pain of the sufferer through the use of framing and close up shots of the onlooker, and it is that acknowledgement that makes for the possibility of the sharing of pain in regards to the situations of war in the movies.

Of the many motifs and themes of Bending Adversity by David Pilling is the effect of culture and perception on individuals, and in his focus of this theme, he places the lens on Japan. There are numerous eccentricities that he focuses on and catalogs in the book itself, and the way that he highlights these specific aspects breathes life into representations of the culture of Japan. As an outsider, Pilling’s interpretation of the culture and viewpoints of the country are compelling in the sense that he has an intimate knowledge of the country, and he details this extensively in this book. He wrote this book to illustrate the incredible ability of the people of the Japan to overcome adversity time and time again.

“Kingdom of this World” is a story of succession, freedom, imprisonment, and despair. It is the stories of the different slaves and owners of the Haitian revolution. Ti Noell, one of the main slaves talked about in this book, is shown going through a constant struggle throughout his entire life. It also tells the story of M. Lenormand de Mézy, a slave owner who relies on riches and sins to fuel his life. This book shows the revolution through actual stories from these people. It makes it easier to understand what the revolution was actually like. Throughout this paper I will tell how this book supports, and devalues the Haitian revolution.

According to The Caribbean: History of the Region and its People “the Haitian revolution transformed the very meaning of freedom, not just in the Caribbean but far

In the name of love Pain. Read the word and wait. Pain. There is a heaviness laid upon every heart at the sound of it.

No details are spared in the gory account of the violence. It begins with rumors, and when these statements prove to be true, everything becomes twisted. Haitian citizens try to run, but most are forced into trucks to head to prison, and ultimately, death. Those who survive are permanently affected, both mentally and physically. When it comes to the tolerance of the violence, the rules are modified to fit the actions that need to be done. This is especially so when the person in charge is of high rank or power. The Generalissimo tries to rationalize his actions by saying, “How can a country be ours if we are in smaller numbers than the outsiders? Those of us who love out country are taking measures to keep it our own (Danticat, 192)”. Today, this is still true. It seems that no one is ever punished for a wrongful act when they hold a place of power, though they should be treated just as everyone else

In this article the author claims that the fact that the European and the USA refused to recognized Haitian governments after the declaration of its independence, strengthened the political regime of President Jean-Pierre Boyer, which provoked the rise of a whole nation. During the Haitian Revolution, Haiti became a place of destination for many West Indian slaves that were trying to escape. By guaranteeing to these fugitive a certain protection President Boyer was indirectly punishing the British for not formally recognizing the Republic’s