Way A Lot Of People example essay topic

"As Good as it Gets" Some believe that diversity in our society is enriching. Exposure to different races, cultures, religious groups, and people can enrich our lives if we let it. These same people may have a problem dealing with people with mental illnesses, different economic status, or different sexual orientation. The movie, "As Good as it Gets" deals with all three of these issues on some level, and interestingly enough, the main character, Melvin, has a mental illness, yet is prejudice against a homosexual man. Melvin Udall has Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD.

OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions or compulsions. Melvin's symptoms of fear of germs, counting, and hand washing, are some of the most common symptoms of OCD. This disease can interfere with a person's social life and relationships. Many live as recluses with little or no close contacts, much like Melvin does. During the movie, you come to realize that Melvin can control his condition with the help of medication, but has chosen not to take them. After some research into the side effects of the most popular OCD medications, I have found that there are very few side effects, ranging from the lowering of sex drives to possible insomnia.

But there are new drugs that boast of none of these side effects. This makes me wonder why anyone would go off of their medication. A lot of the time, there may be a stigma attached to taking drugs of this nature and that is a possible reason people decide to quit taking them. Why does a society that doesn't look down upon those who have to take insulin because their body doesn't make it, look down upon those who have to take antidepressants because their body does not make serotonin? It doesn't make sense, yet that is the way that it is. Taking Prozac myself, I understand the embarrassment of having to take a pill to feel better, yet taking an aspirin to feel better, I don't have a problem with.

This is the way a lot of people that take medication for mental illnesses feel. Although in the movie, Marvin Udall decides to take his medication so he can be "normal" for Carol, a lot of the time people are discriminated against either way, no matter what they choose. If he doesn't take his medication, he acts weird, outside of what people consider "normal", but if he does, then he is taking medication that messes with his mind. What is normal? Dictionary. com defines normal as conforming with, adhering to, or constituting a norm, standard, pattern, level, or type.

So, basically normal is acting like everyone else. What is interesting about this is that we spend our entire lives teaching our children to be leaders and not followers, yet make sure to be "normal". Since this is a contradiction in terms, it is actually impossible. It would be time better well spent to teach our children to accept people that are different than us. Homosexuality is another issue addressed in this movie.

Simon is a gay neighbor of Marvin's, and is beaten up halfway through the movie. This is where Marvin is forced to take care of Simon's dog, and thus becomes somewhat friends with Simon. Marvin is the one with an actual medical condition, and he is prejudiced against Simon. This is an interesting twist to a story about diversity.

Homosexuality has always been a sticky subject. Are people born gay? Is there a "gay gene"? Or are people just trying to be different?

Is it unnatural to be homosexual? Either way, discrimination will come into play. If people are just trying to be different, and it is unnatural, is it okay to discriminate? But then again, if there is a "gay gene", this gives the discriminators more ammunition, because then they really are different. This movie does show that if you get to know the person underneath the sexuality, you might find something in common. It could be said that homosexuality is good for the human race.

It may be the one thing that slows down the over-population of the earth. It may be a crazy theory, but it makes you think. On the other hand, critics of homosexuality could say the same for bestiality. My opinion has always been that everyone would be so much happier if they worried more about if they felt good about themselves, than about what other people are doing. Another factor in the move, "As Good as it Gets" is Carol, the waitress. She doesn't have the money to get adequate health care for her son, who has a lot of medical problems.

As far as diversity goes, is it a bad thing to be in a lower socio-economic class? No, it is not, but if the cost of health care is so much, what are those that can't afford it supposed to do? No one ever told me it is very important to make a lot of money in my lifetime, but I think that you learn at a young age, that while money might not be the most important thing in the world, it still has its advantages. If you don't have a lot of money, then you might have to wear hand me downs in school, and maybe this makes you less popular. This is one theory where kids get the idea that money is important. Working in the social service field, you always have to be aware of your prejudices and understand and respect diversity.

If you are unable to put your feelings aside and be the best counselor that you can be, you should probably not be in a helping profession. Diversity is important in our world. If everyone was the same, life would be a lot different than what it is now. Would we want everyone the same?

Either way, people are different, whether by their own choice, or by birth. I have green eyes, my husband has blue. He is gay, she isn't, he has to take insulin, she has to take Prozac, he has a lot of money, and she has to ride the bus. Does this make any of us more important than the next guy?

No, it doesn't.