This letter was extremely emotional and deep- it was certainly a letter that made me think and try to understand his viewpoint from his shoes. This is completely out of my comfort zone as I would never think to associate myself with lifers or even stop to listen to their feelings. It really opened my eyes and I was able to see the types of people that have the title “lifers.” Crimes are committed and are just very large mistakes. Nothing can be taken back but life must go on.

I would never think that those words and those feelings would have come from the mouth of someone convicted of murder that will be in prison for life. I feel like it’s human nature to automatically negatively perceive criminals, especially the ones who have made it into a cell. Is this the right thing to do? Yes, they have committed terrible crimes and have broken the law- but they are still people; they are people with feelings, thoughts, and emotions- just like everybody else.

This particular man’s letter was really well written and very strong in his deliverance. It goes to show how intelligent he is without ever graduating and shows how independent he is, how he’s been able to make it through. By the end of the letter, I felt as though he had just told me this story while sitting next to me in person. But then I immediately remember the crime he committed. How could a person who is so compassionate in his words also at the same time be a convicted murderer? It literally blows my mind. Time can never be turned back or erased. What happens has happened- no matter what one says.

The fact that this man has to live with the fact that he has killed another human being and still manages to be so compassionate towards others feelings in such a dark place in his life is incredible. Of course, his crime was terrible and unthinkable. But, life goes on. And you have to move on with it. It takes a lot of courage to be able to have such a strong outlook on life knowing that you’ll never finish your own life outside of jail.

It must take an unbelievable amount of courage to be able to write this type of letter to people who don’t understand you or know you at all. All they know is that you are a lifer and I’m sure that word never sits well with anyone when first being spoken. It just really goes to show that not every criminal is a nasty person and that they have to move on with their lives just as their victims and families do.

To begin with, we live in a very materialistic and appearance driven world. It’s sad and unfortunate that everyone grows under a standard of living that doesn’t need to be followed.

The play performed in class showed how difficult it can be for certain women to feel secure and comfortable within their own skin. There are constant thoughts to change in order to adhere to the opinions and views of others around us. It’s weird how some girls think it’s great to have a bigger chest, while other girls think that having a big chest brings them down. Most of the time it’s not even their own opinion- it’s based on others and how they want to be perceived by the world around them.

As a teenage girl, these thoughts literally take up your every day life and fit themselves into your daily routine and schedule. I agree with the fact that girls dress for other girls 100%. Of course, girls want guys to notice them- but it’s not the clothes that will get their attention. Clothing is a competition during the school day to see who has the cuter style, who has the nicer and more expensive jeans, who’s wearing the coolest shoes- it just really never ends. You want to be the girl with the shiniest, straightest hair, the perfect white, straight teeth, the skinniest and toned body, and the tannest, clearest skin. Sometimes these qualities of the “perfect girl” aren’t attainable. That’s when girls need to realize they are the “perfect girl” just as long as they can be secure with who they are.

I think high school can be a turning point for most girls to understand what their comfort level is. For me, being surrounded by so much “competition” made me realize who I really was, where I felt comfortable, and how I only needed to impress myself to get by. I guess this doesn’t happen easily- but it’s a lot of weight lifted off of your shoulders when you do. It’s so important to be comfortable with who you are and know that you are unique in your own ways. That’s what beauty is.

Appearance isn’t everything. I think it’s better and more attractive to have a great personality than to be the prettiest, skinniest girl in the world. Regardless of this, it could really be impossible for women overall, as a generality, to be satisfied with themselves- inside and out. And as different as a lot of women think they may be from each other, we all are extremely similar. We both look and feel the same. We can relate to each other’s problems and issues and work together to find a solution. In the end, we’re all in it together.

Change wouldn’t be the right word. I feel as though a lot of the discussions and things Sam says in class have altered or changed my view and opinions of many of the topics brought up in class. Many of the lessons are things I would have never even thought to have an opinion on because I hadn’t thought about them prior as such a large deal or even any kind of deal or issue at all.

At the beginning of the semester, Sam’s approach to the class was very interesting and intriguing to me and I definitely felt like I was gaining insight about race, ethnicity, prejudices, and other generalized topics about race relations. All of the previously mentioned topics were all ones I didn’t really notice as apart of my everyday life. From taking the class and listening to the lecture each week, I have come to realize that they surround my everyday life and I just was not aware or conscious of it.

I think there is a truth in everything Sam says and he has a lot of experience to prove it. His courage and confidence in his beliefs goes to show how much he cares about the topic and how much he really enjoys sharing them with his class. I really like being able to hear his and other’s opinions because it is a learning experience different than the majority of the lectures any student would take. He really tries to get everyone, including himself, to think and not let anybody else deter you from what you believe in. I highly doubt he wants everyone to change his opinions to what he says. In fact, it is entirely the opposite. He teaches in the way he does to get us to really go deep into our thoughts and really actually think and understand what we think, believe, perceive, and assume.

I think that everything Sam says he has overly thought of and has deeply looked into before he says it or believes it. This is why I don’t think that he is making anything up or trying to get everyone to believe him and only him. It’s interesting to hear his personal experiences and stories regarding race relations because it is an area in which I have very little experience personally. In a way, sometimes I guess I can fully agree with what Sam is saying and it could be the opposite of what I thought beforehand. However, I believe that is only because of my lack of experience and knowledge within the world of race relations. I wouldn’t consider this a change or a forced opinion, but just a redirection of thought-, which is completely harmless and could be extremely beneficial and positive.

This video was both shocking and disturbing. In seeing the reactions and responses from the children in the video, I had a look on my face I could not wipe off. It upsets me that children are almost just used to picking the white doll because of what they have learned in their surroundings among friends, family, and the world of entertainment. The fact that the children were saying they didn’t want to pick the black doll because it was “bad” was an even more emotional comment because they are technically not appreciating their own race- in doll form. It was so sad to see that even after the children said that the black doll was bad- they were asked which doll looked like them- and they picked the black doll, of course. However, they just called themselves bad. It’s crazy how the white and the black differences are already embedded into their thoughts and minds- including their decision-making.

Growing up as a white young girl who loved to play with Barbies, I was observant to the different types of Barbies that were on the market. Specifically, I guess I could say that I knew that Barbies came in different races. I thought that the black Barbie was really pretty, but I never once wanted her. I wanted the white Barbie because she went with the white Ken and the commercials showed them together in their dream house. I also think I wasn’t exposed to enough diversity when I was younger, making me less interested in expanding my horizons to the different races of Barbie dolls.

I would say that most dolls came in both a white and a black version when I was growing up. I definitely thought it was a good idea for doll companies to make different races so that girls of one race could have dolls that relate to their own skin color. In class, I found it weird that some girls said that they still wanted the white doll when they were younger because even though the doll might’ve had darker skin, it didn’t possess any of the true characteristics that an Asian or an African American truly has- it was just a different color of the skin. Those comments were extremely interesting to hear because I never would have even thought about the preciseness of detail in that way.

I think this is an issue that is very serious within society today. These kids are the next generations to be apart of our society. Will this continue? Or is there a way that we can change the outcome of their thought process to not be so narrow minded and confused? To be honest, I really and truly hope so.

The topic of the period shouldn’t really be so open. It’s a private thing between a woman and herself. I think that truly is why men don’t know that much about it. Even if they do ask, they are probably just shut down by the woman who is closed off to talking about it. As a woman myself, I don’t blame us.
I think that it’s true that men aren’t educated on the menstrual cycle and it is a key factor on why they are so opposed to hearing about the topic. I don’t think that this is in anyway abnormal and if I were of the opposite sex, I wouldn’t really want to talk about it either. Because the period really has nothing to do with men, especially experiencing it, I don’t feel like there should be any reason why a man needs to feel comfortable discussing or having extensive knowledge about the menstrual cycle.
They also create visuals in their heads that have absolutely no relation to what a period really is. This is a problem for both men and women because it creates a barrier between the two when discussing (or not discussing) it.
Not only do women not want to talk about their cycles with their partners, but also they most certainly don’t want to announce to their 600+ lecture class that they are having their period. They also don’t want to discuss it in front of men, who have the preconceived negative notion of what a period is.
My boyfriend definitely is one of those guys who get really grossed out whenever the period is brought up. Not that I want to talk about it, but I want him to realize it’s not a gross or repulsive thing and that he shouldn’t be scared to go near girls with their periods. Boys literally think that blood is going to get on them if they come within a few feet of a girl with their period. That is absolutely insane and ridiculous- so, I just have tried to make him become more comfortable with menstrual cycles. By telling him that it isn’t a waterfall of blood for a week straight, I think he realized it isn’t at all, by any means what he thinks. Which, in a way, made him more comfortable with the fact that girls do get their period…and there is nothing he can do to change that.
To conclude, I strongly believe that the menstrual cycle shouldn’t be something that is a public topic of conversation on a daily basis. However, I also don’t think that it should be banned from all conversation because of the fear men have over talking about it. There should just be a mutual understanding- which should ne neither positive nor negative…just neutral- and I think it wouldn’t be made into as big of a fuss as it is.

I find this story to be absolutely ridiculous and unfair. I’m not really sure why it was necessary for Constance McMillien to request permission to attend her own prom by any means considering heterosexual couples don’t and would never even consider doing that.
According to Webster’s dictionary online, prom is a noun with the definition: a formal dance, esp. one held by a high school or college class at the end of an academic year. There is nowhere within that definition where it is limiting or prejudice towards any type of relationship that attends the dance. Why did human nature decide they should unofficially add that in?
I still am unsure why discrimination needs to even occur in regards to someone’s personal life- as it has nothing to do with anyone but themselves.
A parent’s goal in life is to protect their children. During their teenage years, they need a lot of mentoring and advice when dealing with the pressures of adolescence. Normally parents find it stressful dealing with their 14 year olds confession to drinking alcohol at their friend’s house or their boyfriend who’s a few years older. Imagine this girl’s parents having to deal with her not being able to go to the prom and having it canceled because all she wanted to do was attend with her girlfriend.
It may be that the area where they live in Mississippi isn’t accustomed or open to lesbian/gay relationships. If so, it may even be beneficial to their community that this event has occurred. It could be an eye opener to the individual residents within their town and maybe they’ll be able to realize how inhumane and unjust the decision to cancel the prom was.
As a straight girl, I have never been discriminated against in this fashion. However, I have a gay couple within my family so these kinds of stories really hit close to home. I can’t imagine my cousins not having the same respect and privileges that all of my family does for simple, everyday things and even admission to parties- like the prom.
I think it’s great that the ACLU is thoroughly involved and truly hope that justice is brought to this poor girl’s situation. She is doing nothing wrong and just wants to attend her prom with the person of her choice- just like everybody else. It also says in the article that her high school reserved the right to ask Constance and her girlfriend to leave if any students are uncomfortable. Her friends at school must already know- and the school made this decision themselves, not through the students- or so it seems. So why are they automatically assuming people will be uncomfortable? Maybe they are the ones who are uncomfortable and need to get in check.

Yesterday’s class was very interesting. I think that the video has opened up a lot of people’s eyes and made us all wonder which part of that venn-diagram we would be apart of. It may be the initial right thing to do to stick up for the Muslim woman, but would we? Would we confront people who supported discrimination? What would we really do when faced with this issue? Everyone has so many different opinions but I think we can all say we would have tried to stick up for the Muslim woman who only wanted to make a purchase at a bakery.

I understand where the person who stated “It’s not my place” is coming from but at the same time I don’t agree with it. It’s as simple as watching someone drop a twenty dollar bill on the floor as they’re leaving a restaurant and you telling them they dropped money. It’s the right thing to do. You wouldn’t wait for them to leave and then take the twenty for yourself. Just watching someone else, a fellow citizen of your own country, be discriminated against in a truly unfair manner and just walking away without saying or doing anything isn’t right. Just as waiting until the person leaves and taking their money isn’t right.

Like some other people have said in their blogs, it does take courage to stand up for our rights…but that’s what we’re supposed to do. We live in a country where everyone is supposed to be equal and we can stand up for and support what we believe in. The word “bystanders” exists right along the word “participant”. They both stand alone as words and are words that we all know. Unfortunately, we know these words because they are all around us. Bystanders are right beside the participant, too afraid or not strong enough to stand up for what they believe in and to right someone else’s wrong.

In that case, it shocked me how many people were able to stand their ground and tell the bakery owner how they felt about his wrong doing of not serving the Muslim woman and speaking to her in a very derogatory fashion. There were people who had personal connections to the situation that was occurring in front of them and others just knew it was not right and were able to speak their minds.

When girls get into gossip and drama fueled fights, it’s usually the best to stay out of it and not get involved. If you’re not involved in the first place, why make yourself involved now? However, that is totally different in this case. I wouldn’t be involved in the first place but would make myself involved to make a difference.

Since this an extremely controversial issue within our society today, I have been able to hear and listen to many different opinions about it.

On a personal note, my family has experienced gay adoption. My dad’s first cousin is gay and is married to his partner. They have been together ever since I was little and I never really thought anything of it. When I got a little older, I obviously started to understand what their relationship was and what it stood for. I didn’t have a problem with it because I was so used to it and they were apart of my family- so what’s the big deal? They were constantly around my cousins and I and are two of the nicest, fun people I know. Within the past 5 years, they have adopted 2 daughters. Of course, it’s a little unfamiliar for me to think of how these girls can grow up having two fathers and never experience a relationship with their mother or a mother figure within their lives. Especially when they grow up- who can talk to them about puberty and about protecting themselves sexually? That is a long while away but it is something that is evident to me now. I don’t think that gay nor lesbian adoption is better than the other…but I do think that each has it’s own pros and cons. Ironically, my cousins are best friends with a lesbian couple with two kids of their own. They live close to each other and hang out all the time. I guess they also feel that it’s important for their kids to experience having a close maternal/paternal relationship with someone in their lives. I believe it’s important as well and think it’s going to be beneficial for the kids down the road. The two little girls that my cousins have adopted are so outgoing and are loved so much within our family. It is a great feeling to know how happy they are and that they were saved through the adoption process since their blood family was unable to care for the,. They are always dressed extremely well and are spoiled during the holidays and other days of the year to know they are loved and apart of our family. However, as a teenage girl myself, I wonder when the age will be when they realize that they have “gay” parents. Do they know now? Will it truly effect them? I don’t think they are at an age yet where they can be that observant to this detail. I think that I will continue to believe that although their fathers will bring them up and continue to help them grow into young women, it will still be vital for them to maintain a strong female relationship with someone in their lives.

I think that it’s absolutely great that gay and lesbian couples are able to adopt kids and give them the lives they deserve and more. I don’t think that either one is “better” but again, I think that they each have their pros and their cons- in the most positive way possible.

Language is an extremely vital aspect of life. It is why there is communication and the reason why communication continues to thrive between people through social interaction. Here, it seems like the same kind of issue. However, it seems so extreme. Like Sam said, it isn’t the earthquake in Haiti, but it’s something you have to think about. This certain tribal language will never be spoken again. It’s last speaker, the carrier of their tradition and culture, is gone. I wonder why she was the only one left of her tribe who could speak this language. Was it not as important? Was it unnecessary to pass on to younger generations? What would be the purpose of these?

The video attached to this article is so extremely interesting and moving. This is exactly what the Internet should be used for. In a way, Boa Sr’s language is being preserved through the recordings of her stories. Her language seems very unique and unlike anything I have ever heard before. It kind of makes me think that her language didn’t “fit” into what society has come to today and maybe it just had run its course. Also, after reading some of the other people’s comments, I also am confused on how Boa Sr’s words were able to be translated. Clearly there are younger people in her tribe who understood what she was saying and were able to translate it. Maybe they just can understand her and can’t actually speak it, which still doesn’t help. If there is no one who speaks the language for these people to interpret, their ability is useless at this point.

Immediately when reading this, I thought instantly of the Holocaust and it’s survivors. I’m not sure if it’s because I grew up learning about how their generation is fading and how important it was for my generation of Jewish young adults to be educated and learn from the survivors so we can pass on their experiences. Young children that were involved in the Holocaust are now in their late 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and as they pass, their incredible story of survival goes with them.

It’s kind of drastic to think of losing English as a language. SO many people within our country today speak it and years down the road, if it isn’t continuously passed on, I guess it could die off too. Our world is evolving and new cultures could develop each day. The number 7,000 is absolutely mind boggling in regards to the number of languages that exist in our world. There are so many different ways to communicate and it’s hard to believe that one of the ways to communicate has died off. It’s a weird and scary thing to think about…and I would never have even thought about it without this interesting point made about Boa Sr.

Times are most certainly changing. Along with change come many other things that can cause even more change. It’s just inevitable that change is going to occur. Maybe change isn’t even the right word to describe the effect of new stereotypes, new races, and new descriptions…it’s more like an evolution. An evolution of our country to keep up with the change and keep up with the time…if that’s even possible.
I think that the census is a very respectable and important aspect of keeping track of the diversity that our country possesses. With the 2010 census, the usage of checking more than one box may assist in not offending anyone with a multi-racial background and make sure that everyone is included. I truly think that this is a great way to explore more patterns of diversity and realize how many different combinations of racial background exist today within our country. It also begins to show how our own country WANTS to see how diverse it is and not only limit itself to the few boxes that are located on an important survey paper that comes out every decade.
However, specifically speaking, the Negro box on the census may very well just be a word that will progressively disappear with time. And if you think about it, so will the generation that associates with the title. So, when is the right time to take it off- is there a right time? As a white female, the word brings me right back to middle school social studies when we learned about the civil war and slavery and all of the movements that took place. Clearly, that was in the past…why can’t we move on? Well, maybe we have- but others have not.
Some people treat the census as just a regular, average, everyday survey and check off the boxes that apply to them and then just send it right back to where it came from without hesitation. To be honest, that’s what I would do. But it is evident that the people who have more intricate backgrounds take it more seriously because they want to be noticed and heard. That’s why all of these changes on the census seem to be occurring I guess. But on the other hand, the article states that only 2.4% of the population checked off two different races. That seems like a totally insignificant amount of people to make such a drastic change for. And in the end, if you really think about it…does it even matter? Does it make a difference? I guess we’ll have to wait another ten year for the next changes published in the next census alongside the reaction of the United States citizens.