HumaneMedicine

Growing Up Fast

Growing Up Fast tells the life stories of six teen mothers from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, a post-industrial city in Berkshire County that was until the late 1980's, a manufacturing base for the General Electric Company. It documents the lives of these teenagers, their families and members of the community, as they witness factory closings and the transformation of their hometown under the strain of economic and social upheaval and the influx of drugs. Often masked by statistics, demonized by the media, and stereotyped by people of all political persuasions, the voices, stories and photographs of these teen parents reveal the complex, disturbing, and often painful reality behind a vast array of social issues including welfare reform, low wages, drugs, domestic and dating violence and the prevalence of child abuse.

This is a brilliant book and a moving documentary.

The photo-gallery is haunting.  If you want to see these teen mothers, take a trip any day to the Berkshire Mall in Pittsfield. .

Precious,

the movie is at  Images Cinema.

I am inviting all class members to the Tuesday, January 12th showing.  I will pay for everyone's ticket and give all who attend the showing a copy of the book, Push, by Sapphire on which the movie is based. 

This extraordinary film  addresses the topic of child abuse (sexual, physical and verbal), and while the movie is disturbing to watch it is an area we need to acknowledge and think about.  It is estimated that one-third of girls and one-fifth of boys have been the victims of a sexual assault, usually by a close relative.  Yet, the subject is rarely considered.  Precious courageously speaks to this issue.

Trailer.

If there is interest, Id like to make this a class function so that we can discuss the film together.  This will be an elective session; you are not required to attend.  Please let me know if you want to do this so that I can plan accordingly.

The Soul of Healing (2004)

Deepak Chopra hosts this illuminating foray into the art of healing from the Best Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School and The Chopra Center in Carlsbad, California. Dr. Chopra offers suggestions for the healing process, as well as helpful hints regarding meditation, stress relief and releasing the body's "inner medicines." Divided into three segments, Chopra's program demonstrates the body's amazing ability to heal itself.  108 minutes

The fisrst hour or so is especially worth watching as it is a talk given to attending and resident physicians in Boston. This is available from Netflix and many other sources.