The Lives of Those Who Have Grown up in the United States - Essay Example

One of how this differential is best noted has to do with the societal expectations that are reinforced and come to define the worldview of the individuals that live within the US. For instance, access to a hospital is something that is inherently expected in the mind of most individuals in the United States. Whereas many places throughout the world do not have a functioning hospital within many miles of a given population center, the expectation that a dedicated hospital will exist for even some of the smallest communities throughout the United States is something that has come to be represented throughout racial, historical, cultural, and the economic strata of the American society.

Firstly, one of the primary reasons why the availability and quality of hospital care have come to be taken for granted can be traced to the historical legacy of the healthcare system within the United States (Kim 107). As the US developed and a relatively high standard of living was exhibited throughout society, the expectation that came to be reinforced is that every region and every population center should have a hospital that was both well staffed and well equipped to handle a variety of different healthcare issues. Moreover, the melding of cultures that have long been a figment of the experience of new immigrants to the United States has also caused a situation in which the least common denominator among all people is the expectation that such medical facilities will exist and attend to the needs of those that require them (Cundiff et al 154).
From a religious perspective, it is without question that even though the United States has been founded as a republic that does not promote a specific religion or identify the state with any church, the core Judeo-Christian culture of society has contributed powerfully to the degree to which medical facilities are distributed throughout the countryside and the manner through which individuals identify with the need and requirement to have such facilities (Efran et al. 7). This is of course as a function of providing for the wellness of the general population and fulfilling doctrinal beliefs concerning how the physical and mental needs of stakeholders should be addressed.
Finally, from an economic perspective, it should be understood that for many decades the United States has been unique as compared to many nations throughout the world (Washington et al. 44). As a function of its economic dominance, it has been able to represent a higher quality of life that is determined by many of the institutions and care facilities that it can afford. Furthermore, as a result of decades of economic power and the transitional force that globalization has provided, society has come to expect that ever-increasing and expanding levels of hospital provision will be available to members of society (Bobko et al. 94).
Lastly, the role of the media in perpetrating this expectation should not be underestimated.

For instance, if one turns on a nighttime drama, they are likely to be greeted, at least at one point, with the case of an individual who is ill and the expectation that they can immediately be transported to the hospital for care. A further review of crime drama reveals that an ambulance is seemingly on every corner; ready and willing to pick up the pieces and rapidly seek to save the lives of those that might be injured. This cultural reinforcement causes a situation in which the viewer comes to understand that their interpretation of reality is deeply rooted in broader expectations and the means through which such services and facilities are made available to all individuals; regardless of age, race, class, or socio-economic status. Whereas this is partly true, the inherent danger is that such expectation will lead to a situation in which reality and expectation become increasingly divergent; without anyone ever noticing it. Read More