8 January, 2008

• Considering submitting to the LGBTQ immigrant anthology that I received from UIC! #

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I received the following message from one of the listserves to which I subscribe.  And, with the question of ethics in the hospital, it it interesting to read the following:

“The Savages” is about the adult children of Lenny Savage, played by Laura Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman, whose estranged, aged father has developed dementia and must be moved from Sun City, Arizona to a nursing home in Buffalo, N.Y. where they live. The film illuminates their relationships which are fraught with confusion, conflict, denial, hope, disappointment, and healing.

There is a distressing scene about Advance Directives that explains why discussing them before you need them makes perfect sense.

Whether you identify with the Savage children as caregivers, Lenny Savage as he loses control of his life, or the healthcare professionals who serve them, this film will give you a great deal to think about.

The second film is “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly,” a true story about the Editor of Elle Magazine France who, at the age of 46, suffered a stroke which rendered him paralyzed except for his left eyelid. His mind was fully functional and with the aid of extraordinary caregivers he wrote a book about his captivity, one blink at a time. Yes, this is a true story.

I saw the films back-to-back and was struck by the contrast and comparison of the healthcare institutions, the reactions and responses of loved ones, and the ultimate issues of quality of life and inevitable death.

As art imitates life, these award-winning films explore as many ethical issues about contemporary end-of-life experiences as they raise. They also inspired me to update my advance directives.

And we’re fixing [that's Texas talk] to get the NH results. Who do the folks of NH feel “stand for change”???

Who really is the better candidate? I’m not convinced that our “democratic” process amounts to any sort of democracy; rather, we all learn how to do politics within a republic. What is the future of our democracy?

CALL FOR PAPERS: Do you have an immigrant experience to share, either as an immigrant, befriending an immigrant, or in a binational relationship?  Are you involved in the queer immigrant movement?  UIC is looking for LGBTQ perspectives on immigration.  The Jane Addams Hull-House Museum is creating Chicago: An Immigrant City, an exciting anthology of contemporary reflections on the immigrant experience written by immigrants, activists, scholars, and youth.  These poems, essays, and personal narratives will highlight critical issues in the immigration debate including labor, education, LGBTQ concerns, and the immigrant rights movement.  This anthology will feature a foreword by Elvira Arellano and will be accompanied by a comprehensive resource guide for immigrants to Chicago.  Chicago: An Immigrant City will be published in multiple languages to serve Chicago’s diverse population.

We invite you to submit a written piece on LGBTQ immigration for Chicago:  An Immigrant City.  Tentative publication is Spring 2009.  Deadline for submission is May 1, 2008.  Submit a hard copy to Dr. Patrick Finnessy in Room 1172 Behavioral Sciences Building or an electronic copy to Patrick Finnessy no later than May 1, 2008.  Submissions should be personal narratives/reflections on your queer immigration experience.  Most selected submissions will be no longer than 2 to 3 pages or roughly 1500 words.  However, poetry and longer essays will also be considered.  Compensation (to be determined) for selected items will be extended.

Submitted papers will be read by at least three referees in blind review.  If you are not interested in submitting a paper for review but would like to share your story orally with Dr. Finnessy, please contact him directly to arrange an appointment.  He will gather data for an introductory piece to be submitted with this chapter.

If you have questions, please contact Patrick Finnessy or Margot Nikitas.

Celebrating youth…see below!