en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2444963 Comments by Clandestine321 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343703810 If I was either a lesbian, or in an interracial relationship, I believe that my parents would be shocked, but would accept it. Regardless of my parents points of views, I would continue to date a person of a different race or a person of the same sex if I was in love with them, because love trumps hate. Our parents come from an era where both homosexual relationships and interracial ones were not the norm, and were shunned. However, our generation of youth is much more accepting to both these types of relationships, and we are breaching the traditional boundaries of conservative relationships. For these reasons, I believe that my parents would accept me if I chose to date or marry someone of the same sex, or of a different race. Our parents generation is becoming much more accustom to these non traditional ways of life that our generation lives by. I believe that my mother would accept me and my partner fully if I was in a lesbian relationship, OR if I was with someone of another race. My mother is very loving, and non judgmental, she’d be happy for me as long as she believed I was being treated right by my partner. For instance, in High School I date a boy who was half Japanese and half Filipino. Since I am white, we looked distinctively different when we were together, but clearly I did not care that he was a different race, and I enjoyed him for the person that he was. My mother was completely fine that he was a different race, and she was happy that I was happy. I firmly believe that if I brought home anyone of a different race, whether black, Asian, Indian, Hispanic, my mother would be completely fine, and judge them only on their personalities. I believe that my father would equally accept the man I brought home, I was in an interracial relationship, but it would take a little more time for him to get used to it. He is very traditional, and I think he would fear that we would experience a difficult time in life if we were interracial. However, he is not a racist man, and I think he would be happy if I was happy. If I were to bring home a girl, I think my parents would be shocked. They would never have expected me to be a lesbian, and I think it would take a lot of time to getting used to. As a gay rights activist, I know all the struggles that homosexual couples endure. Gay couples not only endure emotional and mental abuse, but often they struggle financially because they are not granted social security rights for their partners, and they aren’t allowed to visit one another in the hospital. My mother is also a Gay Right’s activist and I believe her main concern would be that my and my partner would have a tough life. I believe she’d accept the girl I loved, however she’d fear that we would have to struggle far more than other couples to have a happy life. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:29:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343703810 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-144/#IDComment338491816 I really don’t know how people can feel nothing when something so horrible occurs. When I saw this “what would you do” video, I was instantly disgusted. I felt personally insulted, and if I had been in that bakery, I genuinely feel like I would have stood up for the Muslim woman. This woman is an American, and she is more than entitled to her own religious views. We live in the land of the free, and we are entitled to our own beliefs and our own views, so I can’t believe how people can judge somewhere and say that their views are wrong. There is something about being silent, because often people feel scared to speak their minds, worried that their opinions are wrong. It is often that people are not evil, but rather they don’t believe in themselves enough to stand up for the “right” thing so they don’t say anything. I found this video extremely angering, I almost felt tears forming in my eyes, burning. I wanted desperately to be in the bakery, to hug that woman and to yell at the man prosecuting her. It was as if I forgot about the fact that they were actors, and instead I just felt saddened, as if they were real people. I wanted to yell out during the video, and as I looked around, I saw many other horrified expressions too. When I think about this video, and certain other instances of racism, I think of Ghandi’s quote, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.” I thought of this, because if you do not take charge, and say what you feel, then you are not being true to yourself, and you are doing no positive in the world. Another quote I thought of was, “A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave,” also by Mahatma Gandhi. I think this is relevant because many of the people who said nothing in the video, or merely said “F*** you,” and then left, were cowardly and scared. These people were not necessarily “bad,” instead just scared, unable to share good. However, the woman and girl at the end of the video, who stood up for the Muslim woman, were truly brave. These women showed their love for a fellow human being, and stood up for her rights, spreading love. I think it’s very important that people stand up for fellow human beings. We all have feelings, we all get hurt, and we are all damaged in one way or another. It’s time that we all realize that in the game of life, we are all equal. No one is more special or less special than anyone else. We all deserve love, and equality. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 23:50:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-144/#IDComment338491816 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-140/#IDComment332736223 I think a lot of people feel that they need their beliefs justified by a priest or pastor. I think these people have faith, however they feel they can’t personally talk to God themselves, so they need to go through a preacher. I grew up catholic, and still identify with one, however I have explored different religions such as Hinduism and Vishnu. I deeply believe in God, and spirituality is a big part of my life, however I have recently found that I can talk with God more easily in privacy. I don’t feel that I need too reassurance of a priest to help me speak with God, or to remind me that God is there. To me, God is everywhere, and he is always listening. I’ve found that delving into my own path of spirituality has been more meaningful to me, and has benefited me in ways that going to Church didn’t. However, I still go to Church, and I still enjoy confession, and I think that organized religion is wonderful. However, I think that having your own set of spirituality beliefs is ideal too, and is a better option for many people. I’ve read that a lot of people embark on their own personal spiritual journey, and whether they stay with the religion they were raised in or not, the personal journey is necessary for them. Many people hold spiritual beliefs that do not fit within the confines of organized religion. Likewise, many religions semi-overlap, and have similar principles and beliefs, making it easier to experiment with other religions. However, though you can learn about a religion by yourself, it is often easier to be enlightened by a teacher of the religion, someone like a priest, rabbi, preacher, monk or what have you. I think that people often feel more comfortable if they are having their beliefs backed up by a spiritual guide, such as a priest, because the priest can offer new insight to the religion that they had not previously realized. Likewise, people often feel validated in their beliefs if they can speak to a priest, or a professional person who practices the religion, because it legitimizes the organized religion. However, practicing organized religion is not necessary to be spiritual. Likewise, practicing an organized religion is not necessary to speak with God, because this can be done by oneself. I do not believe that anyone has the right to critique another’s religious or spiritual views. Surely there are many other cultures we do not understand, or perhaps agree with, but in terms of God and religion, no human has a say in what is “right” and what is “wrong.” Religious views and spirituality are very sacred, and no human can claim they are ever wrong. ps- LOVE the boy dancing in the back. lol. Fri, 6 Apr 2012 02:08:25 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-140/#IDComment332736223 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-136/#IDComment328029824 I think this is very interesting, because I was wondering exactly the same thing, why was the white guy called out? Why not call out the Asian guy too? After all, if laughing at the video is promoting racism, then they were both equal offenders right? Actually, just as I was wondering this, I heard two girls in front of me say, “You can’t make fun of another race, only your own, because you don’t know how it feels otherwise.” I found this extremely interesting, is this true? At first I found myself agreeing with them, I figure that we don’t know how it feels to be of a different race, and certainly we all have different experiences in our world being different races. However, if we’re allowed to make fun of our own race, and no one else is, what’s the point? When we laugh at racial slurs about our own race, or we make jokes about our own race, do we believe that no one of any other race can laugh at these jokes? Are we only entertaining people of our own race? Do we believe that we are totally entitled to make fun of our own race, but we expect no one else to think it’s funny? Personally, I have a hard time understanding this. If we are going to be sensitive about race jokes, then whether it be our own or another race, it’s all promoting racism. I feel like many jokes about race are not meant to derogatory, but rather humorous. Humorous in the sense that we as humans can laugh at ourselves, and each other, because life in many ways is funny. I personally think that neither the white guy or Asian guy should have been called out for thinking the video was “funny.” I personally didn’t think the video was funny, but I didn’t think it was offensive to Asian people. In my opinion, the Asian men in the video didn’t know what the reporter was talking about because they’re not familiar with American culture, the same thing would have happened if they have been white immigrant students from Russia! On the contrary, if people believe that all jokes about race are wrong and insulting, then I think they should refrain from joking about their own race as well. It doesn’t make sense to make fun of your own race, and then tell everyone else they can’t, that’s contradicting. If people want to end all racist jokes, then they should stop making them at all, because if you joke about your own race, other races might think it’s ok to join in. I am white, and if I make a joke about white people around black people, I would expect them to join in and make fun of white people too. Making jokes is an open invitation, so if people feel that race jokes are insulting ,then they need to stop joking about their own races too, or else they’re just fueling the fire. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 20:14:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-136/#IDComment328029824 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/21/voices-from-the-classroom-126/#IDComment322889588 I grew up in a predominantly white town, 95% white to be precise. However, when I was in 3rd grade my very best friend was black. Her name Nadia, and she remained my best friend until the end of 4th grade, when she moved away. We used to spend snow days at each other’s houses, we’d build forts and share secrets. I really cherished her as a friend, and I was devastated when she moved. I don’t remember many details from 3rd grade, but I do know that her skin color was the very last thing that mattered to me. She was kind, and we both liked playing with beanie babies, and that was all that really mattered to me. At that age, I was color blind, and race didn’t matter, and frankly it was beautiful. Now, as a 20 year old, at a predominantly white college, I can see that racism exists, but for me, I don’t choose my friends based off of skin pigment. I wish we could all see the world through the eyes of a 3rd grader, because then “World Peace” might genuinely exist. Whether black or white, we are too quick to judge on another. Too often in our society, we assume the worst about races that are different from our own. We assume that we are only “safe” with people who look like us, but WHY do we think like this? Frankly, would you feel safer with a serial killer or a kindhearted schoolteacher? Clearly, everyone would pick the schoolteacher. However, what if you didn’t know who was who, who would you feel safer with? What if one person was your race, and the other was of a different race? What if the serial killer was the one of the same race as you? My mother used to tell me that our world is full of good people, and bad people. She used to tell me that you will never know who is who unless you get to know them, literally never judge a book by it’s cover. I chose to live by these words through grade school, and in High school, and now in College, I do the same. I have many friends in my classes of all different races, and I enjoy their company because of their personalities, and their interests, rather than their race. Of course I will say that the majority of my friends are of my own race, and I often see a pattern of other people socializing with only people of their own races, and although it may be disheartening, it doesn’t always mean racism. I think in general, we all need to be more open minded and more accepting of others, regardless of race. We should not divide ourselves by color, instead by the goodness in our hearts. Our world is full of good and evil, and this has nothing to do with a person’s skin color. If you want to be surrounded by good, you must choose to find good, and you must look beyond a person’s physical characteristics to find it. Fri, 23 Mar 2012 19:44:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/21/voices-from-the-classroom-126/#IDComment322889588 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-123/#IDComment317924492 have always supported our troops, and I will continues to always do so. I do this, because I know many men who are currently in the armed forces, or who are veterans, including both of my grandfathers, and my long term boyfriend. I support our troops, because I support our country, and I believe that when we send our troops to war, it is because we are trying to do the right thing, for not only our country, but for the world. Granted, I do not like war, and I wish we never had to go to war with any country again, but given the current turmoil of our country, war is inevitable. However, after the lecture on War, hearing the veterans talk, and seeing the videos of the our troops and Iraqi civilians, I immediately had a bunch of questions. I began to wonder, what is the ratio of good to evil that our troops are doing in the middle east? I’ve read countless articles of American men and women marines helping Middle Eastern families, offering them food, playing with children, even rescuing animals. However, after watching the video of the marines running over a civilian who stole wood’s car, I was disturbed. I understand that the Iraqi men had stolen wood from the troops, however maliciously destroying their car with a tank and then laughing about it, seems utterly evil. These civilians were obviously poor, maybe even destitute, and it looked as though they might have even been malnourished. Clearly these men were not trying to attack or harm the marines, instead they were trying to steal to raise money to feed their families. I think that this situation could have been handled extremely different, perhaps if the marines had just offered to make a deal with the civilians, a trade of some sort. Likewise , the marines who are clearly not destitute, should have realized these civilians were in need of any source of income, and should have let them take a few planks. If not that, then they should have merely lectured them instead of entirely destroying their c ar. On a completely different note, I genuinely admire the two men and woman veterans who sat in front of our class and spoke. These were good people, who only wanted to help in the Middle East, and I pray that the majority of our troops are people like them. Also, when the one man told us his story of how he suffered a severe brain injury in the war, it broke my heart. I couldn’t be more grateful for all the men and women who risk their lives overseas daily for our country, however it breaks my heart when I hear about the people who lose their lives. War is not a good thing. There are going to be good people whose lives are taken by it, and it is going to cause major sadness and destruction. However, sometimes it is our last option, and we must support the men and women who selflessly fight to defend the pleasure of freedom that we enjoy here in America Fri, 16 Mar 2012 23:42:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-123/#IDComment317924492 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/02/the-kiss-seen-round-the-web/#IDComment312546496 When I first saw this photograph I was not initially disturbed at all, in fact I didn’t see the fact that they were “gay” instead I first saw the fact that they were marines, and I respect them so much for that. I think the fact that gay people are finally allowed to be “open” in the military is wonderful! I think anyone should be able to have the right to defend their country, regardless of color, gender or sexual preference. If you want to do a good deed, why should you be stopped for such a frivolous reason? I don’t think people should get all “hyped” up over the fact that these two people are gay, so what? If we’re ever going to achieve World Peace, then we are going to need to accept everyone without making a spectacle of them. We as a public should not ogle over these two men in love, as if they are a circus display. These two men are displaying their love after a marine’s long deployment, after months of being apart. Imagine if this was a picture of a man and a woman, what do you think people would respond to it with? People would probably exclaim that it was wonderful, and sweet, that it was a proper display of affection by two lovers who have been separated for months. I think people should stop treating gay people like they’re “different” from straight people. Despite sexual orientation, there’s no differenced to pinpoint. In the long run, we’re all human, and we’re all given only ONE life to live. Imagine if you had to live in constant denial of yourself, if you were afraid to be gay. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, in the most truthful way, people shouldn’t have to hide in fear of who they really are. However, the truth is if you wish to be completely accepted in society, then you should not make a spectacle of yourself. There are many people who are uncomfortable with public displays of affection, regardless of sexual orientation, and flaunting PDA to an audience is definitely guaranteed to warrant a response, positive or negative. If these two men were purposely trying to stir up a crowd over their picture, then they succeeded, however if they were trying to promote gay acceptance, they may not have succeeded. Many people feel as though gay people are trying to shove their sexuality in the public’s face, and shoving your sexuality in anyone’s face is generally going to be uncomfortable. Likewise, after the recent passing of “Don’t ask, Don’t Tell,” there are probably going to be some people who are made extremely uncomfortable by this “extreme” display of PDA, just because these people are gay. Personally, I admire this marine, because of his bravery and patriotism for our country. I could care less about his sexual orientation, I’m just happy that he has someone to love, and love him in return, because a soldier deserves that. I have several close friends from my hometown who are gay, and they are the nearest and dearest people to me. I love them for who they are, and I accept whomever they choose to love as long as they’re happy. However, it is unfortunate that many people are not as tolerant as I am. Sat, 10 Mar 2012 00:04:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/02/the-kiss-seen-round-the-web/#IDComment312546496 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/23/voices-from-the-classroom-115/#IDComment300841450 During class when Sam was using the white girl with the stereotypically “white-girl” name, and the black girl with the stereotypically “black-girl” name, to describe how much our skin colors affects our acceptance into jobs- I was shocked. I really can’t believe that the white girl, with the “white” name, has a 50% higher chance of obtaining the job, even if the black girl had the exact same credentials and resume. To say it’s ridiculous is an understatement, it is pure insanity that we humans are judged solely on the amounts of Melatonin in our skin. I’m a white woman in a business major, and although I have never firsthand experienced the hatred of racism towards people of color, because I am not a person of color, I know there is prejudice against women as well. Who the hell cares what color you are, who the hell cares what sex you are, if we’re qualified for the job, WHY don’t we receive equal consideration? Likewise, I believe Affirmative Action, and benefits for women, are only fueling racism and sexism in America. With Affirmative Action, and benefits solely for women, we are only separating people by color and gender, and making it seem important. There should be no separation, and no reason to even distinguish two people as “different” because of color. One time a white ignorant peer of mine told me that all white people have something called “white guilt.” He told me that the only reason I, and other white people, believe in equality is because we feel guilty. I should have punched him in the face. Nothing makes my blood boil like discrimination, I’m generally a mild mannered girl, but if our society is going to judge a person off of their skin color, and decide that their color determines the quality of a person they are, then our society is screwed. It’s not “white guilt” that makes me believe in equality, it’s human empathy. It’s a bond you feel with other people, with all people, regardless of color. We should judge people off of their characteristics, off of if they “do good” for society, or for others. I firmly believe there is no honest point in judging someone off of their ancestry. We treat people of other races like aliens, but we’re all from the same earth. We’re all born on the same planet, who cares if we originated from different continents? Our Earth may seem huge, but in the scheme of the universe, we are but a speck of dust in a gigantic city. I think we, as people, need to realize we are not as high and mighty as we deem ourselves to be. All the racists need to realize that they DO NOT have the power to judge who is “good” and who is “bad” based off of skin color, because that is plain ignorant. It makes no sense, and we should not stand for it. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:57:10 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/23/voices-from-the-classroom-115/#IDComment300841450 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/10/voices-from-the-classroom-101/#IDComment294454630 I think the Shaman’s way of collecting the right plants and natural items to make drugs and medicine is amazing. Our Earth is so full of magic, and there are so many mysterious things about this planet that we will never understand. In fact, there are so many aspects to ourselves, and to humankind, that we will never understand. I think it’s beautiful these Shaman’s are still in touch with the natural world, to the extent that they can actually communicate with it. After all, we were put on this Earth, and we were given everything that comes with it for a reason. The natural things on this Earth, are the only things that we truly need. We can survive, and thrive off of natural food, natural mand made shelters and natural medicine. Regardless of race, that’s what all of our ancestors did. None of us would be here, if it weren’t for our ancestors understanding Mother Earth, and communicating with her in ways that we all have long forgotten. We have polluted our Earth with metal skyscrapers, and dumps full of plastic. Most of us have long forgotten the ways of our ancestors, so I think it’s wonderful that there are still Shaman’s who understand and use the ways of our ancestors. The story Sam told in class, about how the Shaman fixed his broken ankle, was amazing. The Shaman cured him in a way, so efficient and quick, that no other doctor could have ever managed it. The Shaman was able to connect with the natural world, and create a remedy that was able to heal Sam’s shattered bone, and impede his pain. I think it’s really amazing what he did, and I wish it were easier to connect with Shaman’s just like him. I think our culture has drifted so far from everything natural, that we need a wakeup call. I think people need to reconnect with their inner souls, and with nature. It’s understandable that some people are so skeptical about natural medicine, and about Shamans, but I really think they’re amazing. I think we need more people like this in modern culture, and especially in our country. After trying to research about Shaman’s I realize that there is not a ton of information available to us. We do not know a lot about Shaman practice in America, and in fact many people do not even know anything about Shamans, or Shamanism. Many people are also cynical about Shamanism, because they don’t understand. These people don’t believe in magic, and they don’t understand that our world is so much more than meets the eye, and what we understand. All in all, I think Shamanism is beautiful, and mystical. I’m glad Sam told us of his Shaman experience in class because, although I had heard of Shamans, I had never heard a first hand experience with one, and it really opened my eyes. I think, that all people in our modern world, regardless of race, regardless of age, regardless of sex or of culture, need to stop and take a look at the magic of nature around us, there is so much more to be experience naturally, as Sam has shared with us. Fri, 17 Feb 2012 03:07:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/10/voices-from-the-classroom-101/#IDComment294454630 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment282279802 When a person dies, whether famous or not, whether deemed good or evil, once they leave the earth, we must let them go in peace. They should be granted respect, and they should be wished serenity. We can keep them alive in our minds, and we can tell stories, but the family and loved ones of this person should always be taken into consideration. These are the things that are often forgotten when a death is in the midst of scandal, and these are the things that many forgot at Penn State. Here at Penn State, we must remember the late and great Joe Paterno’s family first, Sue Paterno, Jay Paterno, his 4 other children, and his 17 grandchildren. This is something I’ve wanted to shout at all the media rolling into Penn State the last week. Likewise, we students, who may not be blood related, feel as though Joe Paterno was family to us. He was our figurehead, he was a grandpa like figure, and we all felt personally attached to him. We students respect and love Joe Pa so much, because we owe him everything. This man made our University great, he truly made it what it is today. So, who would expect less from the student body, than to riot his firing? Or send him thousands of letters? Or cry when we heard he was taken off of his respirator? Or bedeck his statue with gifts? Or line the streets for his procession? This man was more than a College Football Coach, he and his wife poured 10 million dollars into our library, he started Paterno fellows, and his most common advice to students is, “to get back to the books.” He funded Penn State, and he brought it fame, he made it the great University it is today. He is the reason that the Penn State Alumni is the largest in the world, and frankly he is the reason that you and I were able to come here. So, who are the media critics to say that WE as students, are WRONG to support him? What I have learned from living in the midst of one of the biggest scandals, is that the media, critics, and people who are not directly related to the situation, are the ones who are most infatuated with it. The media has been a terror throughout this entire time, and frankly, so have my peers at different Colleges. What I have gathered is that people feed off of other’s sadness, likewise, people skew the truth to get a better story. I’ve never believed that people are inherently evil, however I believe that people have always been infatuated with “evil,” because people have always been infatuated with power. Did everyone forget who is the real evil person in this scandal? It’s as though Sandusky’s name is hardly mentioned anymore. Joe Paterno became his scapegoat, because the media found it more interesting to sacrifice a legendary hero. Frankly, it’s just sad to me that an entire nation will gather together to gossip and persecute an innocent man, just to be “involved.” Fri, 3 Feb 2012 00:02:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment282279802 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/25/ill-eat-a-taco-thanks-pal/#IDComment276390567 Wow, after reading “Connecticut mayor apologizes for taco comment,” I was truly flabbergasted. How could a man be so repugnant and crude when discussing other humans? Who gave this man any reason to believe that he is more important, or more worthy, than a Latin person? Even after his apology, "Unfortunately, I let the stress of the situation get the best of me and inflamed what is already a serious and unfortunate situation,” I find no right in his wrongs. He should be taken down from his leadership position, because a person so small minded is not worthy of being in a position of power. This mayor most certainly owes a huge apology to the community, and needs to reprioritize his thoughts. It’s scary that one person, who technically is in control, is so racist. The Latino population is often targeted by police, for committing crimes they did not do. They are often victims of unfair employment, either not hired because of their race, or hired and paid the very bare minimum wages. I think that this mayor needs to realize that these people need help, and they need someone who is good, and fair. Latin people need a savior who is going to see them not for color, but for their goodness, and for their drive of their minds. Many Latin people in America are legal, and even if not, they came here because they desired to do well. These people desired to make a difference, to help their families, to improve their lives. If they have committed no crime, then they deserve utmost respect. After all, we are all just people in the end, right? We can’t dictate when we’re born, and we can never stop death, so we’re all equal in the world. During extreme circumstances, sometimes it is necessary for people to act as they do, despite if it’s within the law or not. Our World has created a stigma for everyone to be perfect, so when those pressures overtake a person, they will do anything to meet those standards. Frankly, the world is NOT a fair place for Latin people. With the unfairness in this world, comes unrest. People resort to whatever is necessary to make some aspects of the world fair for their family despite the repercussions that may come to them. Why not allow immigrants the equal right to life, freedom and the pursuit of happiness? These people just want to work, and they do labor that legal Americans will refuse to do, so they are technically stimulating the economy. People need to be more open minded, and we need to take of the glasses of racism provided by society. Our world needs to join hands, not raise their guns. Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:02:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/25/ill-eat-a-taco-thanks-pal/#IDComment276390567 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/20/questions-from-class/#IDComment270076391 I don’t think that Americans are taking the “American Dream” for granted. I believe that the mindset to work hard and do well, is still instilled in the minds of many Americans. I do however agree that the American Dream is changing, as we as a people’s nation evolve. We are so much more technologically and otherwise advanced in our country. The answers to most every question, and all our needs of survival, are at our fingertips. Immigrants, who were poor and unsure of what was in store for them, initially founded America, and it was these people, our ancestors, whp made our country great. These people persevered, and took little for granted because they had nothing, and being that we have so much nowadays, it’s definitely understandable to assume that we have lost a lot of our perseverance as Americans. However I think it’s wrong to say that we’ve lost it “all.” As a white individual, I personally believe that it’s extraordinarily wonderful that our country is becoming so diverse. Why is it so scary that whites will be the minority? In the end, why does color even matter? What we need are people who want to do well, who want to succeed and take little for granted. Honestly, the most perseverance that I have seen recently has been in Mexican and Hispanic people. These people, whether legally here or not, have risked everything to better the lives of their families. They work grueling jobs for very low wages, and they take little to nothing for granted. I think that these people, as well as other immigrants, will bring perseverance back to America. Our country wasn’t founded by color; it was founded by the desire to do well. I believe that Americans have not lost their ambition, but rather have become lazy with it. We have begun to think that everything will be given to us, rather than we have to work for it. I don’t think that the American Dream is essentially lost, however it’s been dimmed. People come to America because it is the land of dreams, and people who wanted to succeed founded it. It does not matter what color you are, what age you are, or what sexuality you consider yourself. If you come to America with the mindset that you want to succeed, then the American Dream will never die. Sat, 21 Jan 2012 01:47:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/20/questions-from-class/#IDComment270076391 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/21/if-prison-has-taken-anything-away-from-me/#IDComment145435325 This entry was much more dismal than the other entries, mostly because it focused on such sadness and negativity. It was difficult to read because it was so heartbreaking, but it was interesting because it was so raw. It’s interesting because it is so real, and that made it compelling to read. It’s very sad that this man will never truly feel the love he craves, or be able to love another back the way he wants to. Love is arguably the most important thing in the world, and the thing every human being seeks out. Is the only act that is entirely selfless and selfish, and it is all consuming. A life without love seems not worth living, but if this man is going to live, then he must live it that way. It’s mostly heartbreaking that this man does not have the choice to love, or the chance to be loved. Living behind bars will make it impossible for him to branch out and meet many others, and the fact that he has no choice any other way is very sad. However, in a sense I believe this man should reevaluate his situation, and take into account the other souls around him. There are other men and women in his situation that he can reach out to, and love. Likewise, he should learn to love himself. You should love yourself entirely, or you will never be fulfilled. This man could definitely look inwards, and find more meaning within himself to fill the void that he fills by missing a woman’s love. If you can love yourself fully, then you will have achieved something beautiful. The other component that I kept thinking about while reading this entry was the reason “M” went to prison. Did he murder someone, or was he an accomplice? Maybe this man took away the love of someone else’s life, a husband, a son…. Maybe he should focus on his relationship with God, or his own spirituality, to find happiness and meaning. If he could truly look inside, and reach deep within then perhaps he will feel fulfilled. I would love to talk to “M,” to help him understand that the only love is not the one you share with a “lover,” but there is a love you can have with yourself. Sat, 23 Apr 2011 17:32:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/21/if-prison-has-taken-anything-away-from-me/#IDComment145435325 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/transgendered-complications/#IDComment143211191 This article was very interesting. It really put gender in perspective for me. Gender is merely a physical distinction between humans, something distinguished for reproduction, but what else? Yes, there are certain chemicals and hormones that certain genders have, but otherwise why are we confined to one gender? The question is a matter of deep philosophical discussion, and it reminds me a lot of the Intersections chapter on the 5 sexes. Recently in American society, prejudice against sexual orientation and racial diversity have been heavily combated. Young society is fighting against intolerant people, and as a nation we are becoming more open minded. However, we have not targeted the issue of transgender and hermaphrodite people. These individuals face grave lives, full of injustice and mistreatment. If our country preaches freedom and equality to all, then why is our freedom so skewed? This man was denied a job because of his sexual identity. Truly, who cares? If he is fit for the job, and he is a responsible and trustworthy man, why can he not work? Have we lost our morals? Although it makes me sad to think that not every human has a fair chance in America, and we may never see the day where everyone is treated equally… I can also understand the side of people who are uncomfortable with transgender and hermaphrodites. A lot of people do not trust what they do not understand, and transgender and hermaphrodite people are both very rare. The more rare something is, the more mistrust people feel towards that particular subject, and it was only just recently that hermaphrodite and transgender people felt comfortable to openly proclaim their sexuality. Therefore a lot of older generations have not ever experienced these kinds of people and they do not understand them, therefore making them mistrustful. It would not be right to judge the employers who didn’t understand Mr. Devoureau’s way of life. He lives a rare life, and because they don’t understand they are socially constructed to not trust him. However, if they are good people, they should honestly look past his gender differences and judge his type of person. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:29:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/transgendered-complications/#IDComment143211191 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment141084890 This was beautifully written, and it’ very true. This is truly what every woman wants in a man, and what most women are eternally searching for. In college, I’ve definitely run into my fair share of the “second” type of man. The men who either don’t understand women, or choose not to care about them. I’ve met men who can’t even hold a conversation, because they’re focused on their own pleasure, and don’t care about what you have to say. In fact, there is one in particular I can recall. A man, who is informally described as a “player,” or perhaps a “scumbag.” This particular man that I knew pretended to be quite chivalrous, when in fact he had cruel intentions. However, I’ve also been so fortunate as to meet the “first” type of man, the chivalrous man. The chivalous man is the one who truly cares about a woman’s feelings, and her dreams. He is everything that “C” described in this entry. However, as a female, I feel that this should go both ways. I believe a woman should be equally aware, and caring about a man’s feelings, and to help him realize he can be expressive without feeling “less of a man.” There are wonderful people in the world, and there are the not so wonderful ones. The characteristics of both have wide ranges, and everyone has run into each kind. However, it takes positive people, to make others positive. Happiness is contagious, and it shouldn’t always be the man who has to make the woman happy. Men have feelings, and can be sensitive just as well as women, and a lot of women disregard this. A man should be every bit as chivalrous as “C” described. He should be loving, accepting and protective, but the woman needs to be equally as caring. A woman may expect a white knight to come and sweep her off her feet, but she must love and support him back or else it wouldn’t be an equal relationship. Many women may feel that it is impossible to find the “first” type of man in college, but it’s entirely possible. The problem is that many women don’t reciprocate what they desire, and they forget the golden rule that you must treat others how you wish to be treated yourself. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 20:44:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment141084890 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139417690 This entry was very powerful. The quote, “So in my opinion, as long as you are able to love there will always be someone willing to receive the love that you have,” was especially moving to me. It’s difficult to not assume that these people in prison are all “ass holes,” because that’s what I see in the media. However, this letter made me realize that in the end we are all human, we all have emotions, and a lot of the people put in prison in the first place are not evil at all. Perhaps no one is inherently evil, and perhaps it truly is the strings that Sam talks about, that push us to do certain actions. Seeing that this man’s 9th and 12th grade High School teachers still write him letters, makes me believe there is no possible way that he can be evil. Personally, I don’t keep in contact with my High School teachers, and nor does anyone I know, and no one I know is in jail. Likewise, teachers wouldn’t waste their time keeping in contact with someone who they thought was “bad,” so this man simply cannot be such. It’s bittersweet thinking that this man, and most men in prison, refer to others in prison as family. At first I would think that their family would never abandon them, if they truly loved them. However, as years pass it’s not that the family is “abandoning” them, it’s most likely just nearly impossible to keep up strong communication with someone you can hardly ever physically see or hold, no matter how much you love them. It’s completely possible to overcome the distance, but I’m sure few people are willing to put in full effort in this situation. The line, “It’s our relationships that we as inmates have and continue to build that will determine who we become in the future,” sincerely makes you realize that the future is not over at all for people in prison. In fact, their life has just restarted in a sense. Just because they’re living in a way much different than the rest of society, doesn’t mean they still have a moral system and set community. It’s just as important to be “good,” in prison and help the ones who surround you, as it is in the “real world.” Sat, 2 Apr 2011 18:19:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/27/family/#IDComment139417690 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/fear-2/#IDComment137517897 R.’s story was absolutely horrific. As I read it, I found it increasingly difficult to finish. How could his family have been such monsters? I don’t understand how his parents singled him from the other children, and why they decided they wanted to inflict so much pain on him. His story was terribly heartbreaking, and I can’t help but wonder how common this situation is. Are there unseen horror stories like these happening all around us? Truthfully when I began reading R.’s letter, I began to think it was about a poor family, living in a ghetto. When R. said, “My parents were really good liars and, outwardly, very normal middle-class decent people,” I was completely stunned. Honestly, I couldn’t believe that this kind of “scary movie” story would happen by a middle class family. The reason I can’t believe this would happen in a middle class family, is that middle class society is normally fairly “politically correct” and people tend to be very nosey. If he as a child was attending a middle class school, and trying to talk to teachers, I find it difficult to believe that no one would contact a higher authority, like the police. Tales of abuse are common, but they are never dragged out to the extent of R’s experience, because they are normally found out about and stopped. No human being should ever have to endure abuse at all, especially to this extreme. From what I have read, R. is not an evil person; he was socially constructed to murder his parents. Honestly, if his story is true, how could he not feel vengeance? It is clear to see the “strings” that Sam speaks of in class in this story. The strings attached to R. are strings of child abuse, and are ones that lead people to become psychologically damaged, and/or murderers. It would be interesting to see the police report of this murder, I wonder if any of the authorities truthfully believed his story. It seems unimaginable that no one could figure out that this child was being so badly abuse. It’s absolutely terrible that R. had to endure alone this without any savior, and my heart reaches out to him. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:20:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/23/fear-2/#IDComment137517897 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135917214 This man was an extremely wonderful speaker. I really enjoyed watching this video, and it offered me a new perspective on LGBTA families. I can hardly believe that he is only nineteen years old, because he seems extremely wise. I’ve always been very accepting and completely in favor of gay marriage, however I always semi assumed a child raised in a LGBTA family might have a difficult childhood. After watching this video, I realize the power of love really trumps any “differences” that families might face, and any two humans in love should be legally allowed to wed and start a family. There are straight couples out there who are allowed to reproduce when they really can’t offer their children as happy a life as a gay or lesbian couple could. After all the most important thing in life is to love, and be loved, and I believe our nation needs to be more accepting of this. Two of my closest friends are gay, and these two boys are two of the most compassionate people I know. These two boys are so extremely deserving of love and happiness, and I can’t imagine how heartbreaking it would be if they weren’t allowed to marry the one they love. I’m completely confident that they will each grow into men who would be excellent fathers, if they so choose to be, and I believe they should have every right to do just that. I used to think that perhaps children raised by gay couples might grow up confused, and find it difficult to merge into society. However, even if this is true, if the couple loves that child, and they can offer him or her a stable life full of happiness, they should have every single right to raise that child. I believe this video should be shown to every human who disagrees with gay marriage, or the rights for a gay couple to raise a child. This boy is successful and compassionate, and he single handedly provides a million reasons why gay and lesbian couples are completely able to love and raise a child as well or better as a straight couple. It’s not about sexual orientation, it’s about love and support. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 21:49:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135917214 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment132232684 The affects of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) on individuals is extremely interesting topic to me. This video was especially intriguing, considering that it featured a city in Finland that receives a mere 5 hours of sunlight a day. That kind of darkness is unimaginable, and I’m sure there are many people suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder. This disorder is especially personal to me, because I have a friend, who is coincidentally my roommate, who badly suffers from it. She is a generally very happy person, however I’ve noticed that her mood is only consistently light in the summer and spring, and she tends to be gloomy as soon as the darker months come. I definitely can’t imagine how she might survive in an environment such as Helsinki, but I imagine she could go to one of those café’s with the “bright lights” that cure the gloom. Aside from the effects of seasons on a person’s mood, I strongly believe that temperature has a way of shaping one’s life too. Down south, where it is consistently warm and muggy, the stigma is that people tend to move both physically and mentally slower. Not to say that southern people are less intelligent, but they definitely walk, talk and generally move slower. Likewise they have less mental worry, and seem to exert less energy. I believe this is because it is so unbearably hot, and it’s just more difficult to move faster. The lifestyle of southerners is extremely different when compared to northerners, considering northerners are much faster paced. In the north temperatures are much lower, and the cold weather promotes fast movements and more mental stress. People in the north generally speak, move and act much faster than their neighbors in the south. This is a specific example of how the environment can entirely change the strings attached to a person, and the way they personally live life. I’m a firm believer in the fact that a person’s environment can change the way a person lives their life. The strings attached to a person are what motivates to act in a certain manner, partake in certain activities, and think certain thoughts. Sometimes we can’t blame the way we “do things” on ourselves, or even our parent’s genes, we must look at the bigger picture and realize we really aren’t in that much control of our own lives. Fri, 4 Mar 2011 00:12:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment132232684 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-much-government-do-we-need/#IDComment131094535 Personally I believe that “big government” is the root of many problems in modern day America. Government has become a “big brother” force that is single-handedly trying to control the majority of our actions. Recently, the government has even begun to start controlling our personal choices, such as the food we eat, and the decisions we make for our own families. I am thoroughly baffled by any human who accepts this kind of “big brother” treatment from the government, and I believe our freedom is being taken right from us. It’s bizarre to think that so many individuals are ok, and even in support of “big government.” I do not agree with nor understand how one would willingly choose to be controlled by an all-encompassing force. I believe that humans should be encourage to make their own decisions. I once heard a quote, “you can give a man a fish, and feed him for a day, or you can teach a man to fish, and feed him for life.” This quote summarizes my beliefs of “big government,” specifically welfare. Catering to individuals will only keep them weak. In order to build a stronger and smarter population of Americans, we must encourage and teach our civilians how to fend for themselves. Therefore I believe that civilians should have to face life’s decisions through a trial and error type of lifestyle. I’m a very firm supporter of “small government,” and I believe it is the closest thing to freedom that Americans can have. “Big government,” has been the source of American weakness, and has kept our people in the dark. This article about Michelle Obama trying to dictate what mother’s feed their babies is completely ridiculous. It is so strange to think that the government might become so controlling that we won’t be able to make a single decision without it being documented. I am wholeheartedly against this type of control, and I think our freedom is becoming so limited. I do not agree with dictatorship, and this is exactly where our country is heading. We need to fight for our freedoms, and we can’t let the government take over our lives. Sun, 27 Feb 2011 17:28:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-much-government-do-we-need/#IDComment131094535