,Le’Vitria Burnett
ENG 1301
Crystal Guillory
October 09, 2012
Behind the Mountains
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracey Kidder describes Dr. Farmer, an accomplished anthropologist, as hardworking, dedicated and ambitious. He tries to conquer an illness plaguing a village located in Haiti. After the success of curing the catchment area of Cange and the villages surrounding it, he spreads his treatment in other underprivileged places around the world. There is no book with the exception of perhaps Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson, the story of an American author who decides to build schools in Pakistan, that has as an influential an effect on the American contribution to cater to impoverished societies internationally. While Mortenson wrote about his intense need to reach out to the community of Korphe, Kidder gives an accurate account of Dr. Farmer’s relentless efforts to cure an entire village as well as those around it by following him through his struggles and annotating for the world to see. This book interprets and gives a great illustration on the determination and its processes of purpose and action, as well as incorporates information on things outside of Western ideology.
Generally, determination is described as “to settle or decide (a dispute, question, etc.) by an authoritative or conclusive decision” (http://dictionary.reference.com). It is also consistent with the fortitude to be compelled to establish what drives an individual. It introduces an individual’s purpose and actions needed to accomplish a solution. No doubt, Kidder confesses that Dr. Farmer is a person of great knowledge and no regards for those who oppose his authority. Farmer’s purpose is to prosper at transforming the medicinal traditions of many disadvantaged communities. He is willing to sacrifice his life to ensure the safety and well-being of the people of Haiti by literally taking a stand against the merciless dictator and his barbarian soldiers. Pursuing this further, he builds hospitals, visits patients and makes himself available to those in need. He makes an outstanding realization that it is impossible to attain his goals if the people he serve cannot afford the treatment; his idea -no charge.
Assuredly, this book presents different degrees of poverty and shows us the result of a Non Western way of thinking. In America, majority of residents know any illness warrants a visit to the nearest hospital. However, a place like Haiti is more religion base of Voodoo. Consequently, Americans view the practice of voodoo in a negative connotation. This book explains the reason the use of Haitian voodoo is acceptable to the people of Cange and the cause of their illness. Delusions about voodoo have given Haiti a status for witchcraft. Due to the location of most hospitals, if they will be accepted at all for treatment, and the lack of income in most households most Haitians turn to sorcery which is the inexpensive thing to do.
All things considered, the insight in this book shows the determination and the things that plague others around the world. Farmer and Kidder exemplify one man’s determination to cure the world and another’s to inform it. If finding out about the mind set of another’s half way across the world is intriguing or just wanting to know if all that is desired can be acquired through actions then this book is an ideal read.