en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1136421 Comments by Jevit335 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-8-lesson-14-affirmative-action__trashed/#IDComment85378760 7/7/10 Before this lesson, I did not know how closely related nepotism and affirmative action are. I was surprised to learn that most of the people who are affected by affirmative action are white females. Furthermore, I found it interesting that people of color who benefit from this are actually from the middle class. I agree with the point that Dr. Richards made, that there will never be complete equality in the world. I think that every step one makes towards equality helps but I do not think that it will be eliminated completely. It is unfortunate that the world will not be equal. There have been many attempts to gain equality in the past. They have made immense strides towards equal opportunity but still so much discrimination and hate remains. It seems that everyone I talk to agrees with the fact that they wish people were equal in the world. In reality, it is very hard to make the world equal, and I do not think that (at least in my lifetime) everyone will be equal and have equal opportunities. The Oprah video was very upsetting. As an aspiring teacher, it was very sad to see how different schools can be, even when they are in close vicinities. It is a shame that some students have excess resources that they do not even take advantage of, whereas some students do not even have the bare minimum. As the one girl from the urban school said, she and her fellow peers would be able to succeed and get their test scores up if they had the opportunities that the other students at the other school had. I agree with the one student at the end of the lecture about school funding. I thought his idea of putting tax dollars all together and dividing it up upon schools was a good start towards equality. It would enable all schools to have the same amount of money to provide for their students so that every student has the opportunity to succeed in school. Unfortunately, it sounds good but it will probably not take affect. People all over the world have their own opinions regarding equality. Some people do not even care or take notice to the different opportunities that students are presented with. There are also some people who do not think that students from urban and suburban areas even deserve the same resources and chances. Personally, I think that for the future we need well-educated citizens. What happens when those students who did not have the chance to show their skills and abilities do not even graduate high school? The few that do graduate high school, do they even have the opportunity to go to college and further their education? What are the consequences of this inequality on the future of society? Wed, 7 Jul 2010 21:02:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-8-lesson-14-affirmative-action__trashed/#IDComment85378760 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-8-lesson-14-affirmative-action__trashed/#IDComment85374080 7/7/10 Much like you, I always thought that affirmative action mainly affected people of color. I found it very interesting that it actually affects whites more. I thought that your point about why men have more jobs and are making more money than women was very fascinating. I have never thought of reasoning such as that before but I also think that you have a very valid point. I do think that women will be making the same amount of money as men one day. It is somewhat unfortunate that in the world succeeding depends on who you know, not necessarily what you know. Wed, 7 Jul 2010 20:35:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-8-lesson-14-affirmative-action__trashed/#IDComment85374080 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-13-immigration__trashed/#IDComment84780070 7/4/10 I agree with the fact that the past cannot be changed. However, I do think that we can learn from the past, when faced with similar situations. I also think that regulations and laws are obviously necessary to handle immigration and the number of immigrants coming into this country illegally. I think that they should be allowed citizenship if they go through the process of becoming one. If they are so intent on coming here and bettering their lives, why won’t they take the extra effort? Regarding Congo, the dog, I agree that any dog that attacks a human being should be put down. This sort of situation should never become a racial issue. Sun, 4 Jul 2010 20:57:24 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-13-immigration__trashed/#IDComment84780070 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-13-immigration__trashed/#IDComment84779529 7/4/10 Immigration has been an issue that I have not given much thought to in my life before this lesson. Learning about it was a fairly new topic to me and I found it interesting and somewhat surprising. From what I had learned about immigration, I always thought it was more of a political issue than it really is. In reality, everyone has to deal with it and face the issue. I did not understand the extent to which immigration is, in a way, a positive asset to manufacturers and businesses. They are able to hire workers for a lower cost, which is especially important during the current recession. On the negative side, they are taking jobs away from citizens, which is one of the main reasons some are so against immigration. Obviously, some people are in favor of immigration, whereas some have strong feelings against it. Personally, I’ve remained against it because I do not feel that others should be able to come to this country, and remain in this country illegally, and be able to benefit from it. However, I do feel that some reside here in a more positive way and contribute more than some others do. Immigrants are always looked down upon in our society. When they come here, they are often times poor, and Dr. Richards was right, poor people are sometimes treated worse than others in the world. In a way, it is wrong that they are treated poorly and can be disrespected from others in our society. Dr. Richard’s example of which roommate you would like better, the rich one or the poor one, was unfortunately very true. I have had to deal with both ends of the spectrum, and things were a lot more pleasant around my one roommate who was always on time with bills etc. Dr. Richards really opened my eyes to the fact that immigration is going to continue. Given globalization, people all over the world will keep traveling and transferring to other locations. Another point that Dr. Richards made that I had not given thought to before was the fact that the current immigration rates are the same as they have been in past history. For some reason, I have always thought that the current immigration rates are much higher than they ever have been before. Regarding immigrants themselves, I think that they have a lot of courage, motivation, and determination. It is very hard for one to completely move their life to another country, in hopes to have a better future. In some cases, it does not lead to an improved life and ends up having the opposite effect than some think. Overall, I think this lesson opened my eyes to a more positive side of immigration and a better understanding of the entire process. Sun, 4 Jul 2010 20:51:11 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-13-immigration__trashed/#IDComment84779529 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt__trashed/#IDComment83531307 6/30/10 The first few slides of the lecture caught me by surprise. When Dr. Richards was discussing the questions that were asked along with their statistics, the numbers were very real to me. It was concrete evidence of a lot of unfortunate stereotypes that some face. Regarding living with many immigrants, it did not surprise me that Hispanics were the largest percentage and whites were the lowest. I think that whites are the most against living with many immigrants because of their opinions towards immigrants taking jobs away from Americans, among other things. It was interesting to me that Dr. Richards pointed out the difference between Republicans and Democrats regarding living in a community made up mainly of people of their same racial ancestry. If Dr. Richards did not point it out, I would not have made the connection that the percentage of Republicans is much higher than Democrats, showing that Republicans are more racist. The difference between whites and blacks who would prefer to live in a community made up mainly of people of their same racial ancestry was shocking to me. 23% versus 9%? It just shows how close-minded whites are towards blacks, and other races too. Blacks’ having a lower percentage, in a way shows that they are actually more open to other cultures and multiculturalism, unlike whites. White people would not say they would rather live in a community of their same ancestry if they did not have an issue or something against other races and ethnicities. Regarding LGBT relations, I have absolutely no problems. I do not understand why anyone would be against gays. Personally, I feel that everyone should have an equal opportunity to be with the person they choose to be with for the rest of their lives. It is a shame that young people who are gay have such a hard time coming out and are forced to deal with so many issues against them. But why should they have to be scrutinized for their sexual identity? As Dr. Richards said, it is not really a choice. I think that is a cause for trouble in young people. It is not a choice, and they have trouble realizing and coming to terms with the fact that they may be gay. I think it is fear of the unknown. They have to face going against the “norm” of society and having to deal with the consequences. Also, while watching the lecture I thought about how little society knows about the LGBT community. I also think that it is hard for people to come to terms with a “label” that those around them do not know much about, thus they will most likely be against it initially. If the world became more educated and more open minded toward these issues, then I think the scrutiny against them will eventually disappear. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:25:59 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt__trashed/#IDComment83531307 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt__trashed/#IDComment83524806 6/30/10 I agree with you about the fact that people are homophobic possibly because they are actually scared of realizing they could be gay. Personally, I do not understand why one would be scared. I also do not sympathize with those who are against gays and gay marriages. Shouldn’t everyone be able to be happy and be with the one they love? No matter their sex? While watching the lecture, I also thought about how little society really knows about the LGBT community and how much we still need to learn. I do not think it is fair to judge people about their sexual partner when you do not even understand. Wed, 30 Jun 2010 20:02:17 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-7-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt__trashed/#IDComment83524806 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81788040 6/23/10 The information in this particular lesson was completely new to me. Since I had never been exposed to nor thought about the racial identity stages whites go through, I had obviously never really learned about the racial identity stages people of color go through. Regarding the pre-awakening stage, it was interesting to me that they sometimes just naturally assume that they are white. After the story Dr. Richards told about the black girl who was told she was “dirty” made me realize that any person who is not white is faced with the “consequences” of that. It is obviously not their fault, and it is a shame that society has gone on in such a way where people of color are forced to tolerate being teased for that. I could not imagine being a young person of color and have an experience such as being told I was dirty. Before they are even old enough to understand race and its issues, they have no choice but to deal with it in a negative way. That particular girl will grow up and never forget that story, as it will continue to affect her life and her attitudes. The third stage, immersion, interested me too. It is fascinating to me that they can reach a stage where they view white people as irrelevant and become engulfed in their own culture. Furthermore, the fact that this stage also has a notable positive and negative side to it reveals, to me, that it is a difficult stage to be in. Personally, from what I have learned, I would imagine that this is a difficult place for them to reach and even be in. Before taking this class, I would have thought that it would be very simple to reach this stage and even higher ones. I had never really been exposed to anything that gave me any insight about what they are going through and what they face on a daily basis. Now, I imagine that it is very difficult for them to be at a point where whites do not matter in their lives and will no longer continue to have such a large impact on them. One fact that really surprised me was that Penn State is roughly 83% white. Just the other day my roommate told me that one reason why she does not like Oprah is because Oprah thinks that Penn State is not diverse enough, which is why she chose not to donate to THON. After my roommate told me that, I began having negative thoughts about Oprah too. I did not realize the statistics. Once Dr. Richards mentioned the percentages in the lecture, I immediately thought about Oprah. To my surprise, I started to think she might have a point that Penn State might not be diverse enough. But what does “diverse enough” even mean? Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:18:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81788040 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81778992 6/23/10 I was uncertain since the beginning of the lesson because I had a similar feeling regarding how unfamiliar this lesson was going to be to me. After watching the lesson I also thought about how difficult it must be for people of color at a young age. They are faced with being discriminated for their color when they do not even understand why. Regarding the fact that the better grades you receive, the less popular you are, I drew a similar conclusion. I pondered that fact for a while before realizing that to them it must show more “characteristics” of whites which is why people of color look down upon them. Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:11:18 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-6-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-people-of-color-stages-1-4__trashed/#IDComment81778992 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81146699 6/20/10 While watching this lecture, I was mostly impacted by the video of the twin girls and the discussion about guilt. Watching the video clip about the girls, I was shocked. It almost amazed me in the fact that girls like that really exist. They do not know better than to listen to their parents and abide by the same ideas that they have. The girls were so passionate about their beliefs and ideas at such a young age when in reality they probably do not even fully know what they are promoting. As the girls grow up and enter the real world, they will most likely face many obstacles. When the one twin said that there were probably not even that many Jews during the Holocaust, I was surprised at how serious she was. She truly did believe that which made me think, what else do these girls have a hindered view about? When Dr. Richards began speaking about guilt, I was one of those students thinking about how much guilt I feel on a daily basis. I thought about what it has been in the past week or so that I have made myself feel so guilty about. Do I really even know what true guilt is? I thought I did until Dr. Richards revealed its definition and started investigating the topic a little bit more. I know that guilt is obviously feeling bad to an extent, but I did not have an idea about its further implications. When Dr. Richards asked students in the class if they ever feel guilty for being white or feel guilt for another race, I thought back to what I brainstormed caused me guilt in the past week. I would not necessarily say that I feel bad for being white. It is true to say that through this class I have gained a better understanding of what it means to be white which has lead me to become more thankful that I am. Just because I am white and gain from the benefits of being white, does not mean that I feel bad for someone who is not. It is unfair that other races are discriminated against but I do not take that any further and begin to feel bad for them, thus I do not feel guilty for being white. I think that one can see unfairness and understand that it is in the world without having to feel guilty for other races. Moving onto white guilt, I did not even know that it had an underlying meaning. I do think that there are many people in the world who have white guilt or experience white guilt. Personally, at this point in my life I do not feel that I have truly experienced white guilt. Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:55:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81146699 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81144869 6/20/10 Looking back on the lecture, the video clip about the twin girls was the main portion that really stuck out in my mind. I had the same thoughts that you did. I was dumfounded by the fact that the one twin said she did not even think there were that amount of Jews during the Holocaust. It is surprising to see how their mother did not even think anything was wrong with this, as if it was totally normal. To her, it might be, but I thought it was a little extreme as well. I also agree with you in the fact that it seems that whites cannot do anything right, one way or the other, and whites can never win. Sun, 20 Jun 2010 22:37:29 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-white-people-stages-3-4__trashed/#IDComment81144869 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80438692 6/16/10 “Who am I?” is such a simple question but it has such a complex answer. Everyone’s answer to that question varies. It is interesting because these different answers shape who we are. Many of us would characterize ourselves as being tall or short whereas some would not even think about that when describing themselves. It depends on how important these characteristics are to you as a person and how often you notice them throughout your lives. The videos that Dr. Richards played during the lecture revealed comics mentioning things that I laughed at and agreed with, but would not think of on my own. They were things that I would not necessarily use to describe myself but they were definitely true about the white race. I did not know the extent of the affect of ancestry on race until hearing Dr. Richards emphasize it in the lecture. I also did not know the stages that each goes through. It is interesting that there are six stages, yet one barely passes the second stage. What does that say about race, and race relations? I feel that we should all get to the final stage, or almost. I feel that it means that we do not fully understand other race(s). However, I also think back to how Dr. Richards said that you could not fully understand another until you walk in their shoes, or see what it is like to be that other person (or race). At first, I thought it was somewhat demeaning that whites are caricatured as all being in the first stage. After hearing Dr. Richards explanation of the pre-awakening stage and why people feel this way, it somewhat makes sense. I definitely feel that many whites, in a way, are uneducated about race and rarely even think about it. Even though this is true, I still feel everyone should get through more stages, in order to better understand each other and the world. One image that caught my attention while watching the lecture was the California road sign. At first glance, I kind of laughed, thinking it was simply just a family crossing the street. I thought the video was going to be short, with no real explanation. After the video progressed and revealed the underlying message behind the sign, I was taken aback. I do not understand why that sign is really even necessary and who allowed it because I feel that it is rather degrading. “Political Correctness” is a term that I have heard many times but used in many different contexts. I think in order to avoid racist acts everyone complies with political correctness in one way or another. Sometimes we may engage in political correctness and not even know it. In a way, it can become part of ones subconscious self. Thu, 17 Jun 2010 01:11:08 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80438692 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80482163 6/16/10 “Who am I?” is such a simple question but it has such a complex answer. Everyone’s answer to that question varies. It is interesting because these different answers shape who we are. Many of us would characterize ourselves as being tall or short whereas some would not even think about that when describing themselves. It depends on how important these characteristics are to you as a person and how often you notice them throughout your lives. The videos that Dr. Richards played during the lecture revealed comics mentioning things that I laughed at and agreed with, but would not think of on my own. They were things that I would not necessarily use to describe myself but they were definitely true about the white race. I did not know the extent of the affect of ancestry on race until hearing Dr. Richards emphasize it in the lecture. I also did not know the stages that each goes through. It is interesting that there are six stages, yet one barely passes the second stage. What does that say about race, and race relations? I feel that we should all get to the final stage, or almost. I feel that it means that we do not fully understand other race(s). However, I also think back to how Dr. Richards said that you could not fully understand another until you walk in their shoes, or see what it is like to be that other person (or race). At first, I thought it was somewhat demeaning that whites are caricatured as all being in the first stage. After hearing Dr. Richards explanation of the pre-awakening stage and why people feel this way, it somewhat makes sense. I definitely feel that many whites, in a way, are uneducated about race and rarely even think about it. Even though this is true, I still feel everyone should get through more stages, in order to better understand each other and the world. One image that caught my attention while watching the lecture was the California road sign. At first glance, I kind of laughed, thinking it was simply just a family crossing the street. I thought the video was going to be short, with no real explanation. After the video progressed and revealed the underlying message behind the sign, I was taken aback. I do not understand why that sign is really even necessary and who allowed it because I feel that it is rather degrading. “Political Correctness” is a term that I have heard many times but used in many different contexts. I think in order to avoid racist acts everyone complies with political correctness in one way or another. Sometimes we may engage in political correctness and not even know it. In a way, it can become part of ones subconscious self. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:11:08 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80482163 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80421583 6/16/10 This lesson also made me think about myself and which characteristics I am aware of and think about often. For example, I am the opposite as you in height, I am tall and always wished I were shorter. I agree that being white does affect our lives, whether we have ever really thought about it before or not. This lesson definitely made me think about it and how it does positively affect my life. Also, the road sign also caught my attention when watching the lesson. At first, I did not realize what it truly meant, nor would ever think twice about it. After watching the video and seeing its underlying meaning definitely showed how demeaning it is. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 14:46:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-5-lesson-7-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment80421583 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79359422 6/9/10 Dissecting certain groups’ rise to power was very fascinating to me. Although it is obvious that some succeed more than others, I have never really found myself in a situation where I would discuss it and think about it thoroughly. After the Civil War, who knew what the world would be like today? Who knew that the decisions made would have such an impact on later society? In a way it is unfair that when slavery ended, blacks were stuck on the bottom and whites were on top. They were never given the opportunity to show their abilities but at the same time why would whites set everyone at the same level just to compete against them? “King of the Mountain” provided a visual aid in helping further understand whites rise to the top. Being king of the mountain allowed the dominant race to place rules and regulations, ultimately sending them further to the top. This also makes it harder for those below them to get on their level. When Dr. Richards posed the question of why Haitians stay in Haiti, I could not think of any reason that was easily fixable. They reside where they are due to their past experiences and decisions that they have made. If they were to choose to try and move, it would be very difficult, even for those who are wealthy. Part 2 of lesson 6 was more interesting to me than part 1 simply for the fact that I have always had a large interest in the criminal justice system. Hearing about the different statistics that Dr. Richard showed during the lecture made me think about what I have seen and experienced regarding the criminal justice system and how the statistics correlate. I think that basically everyone can agree that there is racism within the system. It may not be visible to the eye or easily detected, but unfortunately it exists. The girl in the class who mentioned the fact that a smaller amount of crack is the same sentence as a larger amount of cocaine is a perfect example of this. Some may argue that it is stereotypical to associate cocaine with white people and crack with blacks. However, that still does not change the fact that it is an example of racism and is wrong. How could you change this? Is it even possible to change the system so issues such as racism are eliminated? Dr. Richard mentioned a few facts, in particular, that caught my attention. The fact that the majority of crack users are actually white lead me to believe that it is false to stereotype crack with blacks. It also changed my views because I did not know that the majority of crack users are actually white. One more statement that had me thinking at the end of the lecture was that whites are the ones who actually benefit from the drug war. I would have thought that in a way no one technically benefitted from it but it also reinforced the fact that it is good to be on top and have power. Wed, 9 Jun 2010 21:25:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79359422 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79355932 6/9/10 When Dr. Richards asked why Haitian people are poor, it got my mind thinking too. It caught my attention in that I could not really think of an answer either. I do not think that just working hard will enable one to succeed. I agree with you on the fact that there is a lot of luck in life. Some get ahead from just being at the right place at the right time or accidentally running into an important person. In those instances, I agree that luck has to be taken into account. When luck is brought into the equation though, does it essentially mean that one race is “luckier” than another? Wed, 9 Jun 2010 20:52:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/06/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality__trashed/#IDComment79355932 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78844583 6/6/10 I found it very interesting to learn about the explanations of whether biology can explain the inequality of ancestral groups. Looking at the statistics regarding the various racial groups solidified and in a way “painted a picture” in my head the extent of these differences and which factors influence them. I was surprised to learn that African American immigrants are wealthy who come to the United States. I found the section about sports being predominately one race or another very fascinating. I am not a sports fanatic so I was very interested to know that hockey is perhaps dominated by people of European ancestry. Also, that basketball is dominated mainly by African Americans because of their body type. Dr. Richards choosing the two students to compare their body structures put this into context for me. Watching part 2 of lesson 5, I caught myself having to repeat many segments of the lecture. Many things that Dr. Richard mentioned caught my attention and in order to make sure I thoroughly understood the concepts, I had to rewind it many times. It was interesting to, in a way, “dissect” certain situations and look at potential explanations for them. The fact that they work together is important. Learning about two very opposite perspectives, freedom vs determinism, provided me with a better understanding of both views. It allowed me apply these understandings to real life events that has made me view them in a different and new way. Oprah’s video segment “trading schools” was very real. We find ourselves discussing all of these potential differences and the difference that having money makes. The video was raw footage of that exact reality and I found it very upsetting. Comparing the different charts with test scores and races provided me with another visual that really helped me “visual” the concept. I always knew that race, in a way, had a correlation with test scores etc. but I did not know the extent to which they did. As Dr. Richards said, “What does it mean that black and brown people score lower?” It is a true reality that some groups are flourishing whereas others are struggling. Personally, I feel that all children should have the same opportunities for education. Even if one in poverty decided to break out of the family norm and continue his education. Unfortunately, he would face many restrictions, as it is almost impossible it seems for one to do that. Even though I have strong feelings about equal education for all, funding would be the number one issue that would arise. I would hope that eventually, no matter how long it takes; funding would be shifted in such a way that would provide more resources for those who are clearly struggling. Sun, 6 Jun 2010 23:50:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78844583 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78841182 6/6/10 I agree with almost all of your points. I also found the correlation between sports and race to be fascinating also. As far resources, it is true that some schools have excessive resources whereas some schools have below the basics. This variation of opportunities is definitely part to blame for the racial differences in some sports. I believe that children make correlations with different sports. However, I disagree with the fact that this restricts some children in which sport they may choose. As an aspiring elementary education teacher I feel, and I have also witnessed, that incorporating all races into sports is very important so students choose to follow their interests. Sun, 6 Jun 2010 23:02:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality__trashed/#IDComment78841182 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78247381 6/2/10 I have actually seen the Kat Williams skit that you are talking about. I would have never thought to correlate the lecture with the skit, but after reading your blog it makes sense that you would do so. I agree that as your watching the skit you find yourself laughing because it is funny but in reality it is not funny and this lecture proved that. I agree that it is wrong to fight the Iraqi people because they do not have any of the proper materials to even protect themselves. I also think that the first attempt to end the war would be a better understanding on both ends, the United States and Iraq. Wed, 2 Jun 2010 19:13:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78247381 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78227720 6/2/10 Going into lesson 4, I had heard the term “ethnocentrism” many times before but did not have a great understanding of the word. I found it interesting to learn this word in the context of this class. Also, I had thought that ethnocentrism was very similar to xenophobia, but I found out through this lesson that it was not. When referring to these terms, it is hard for me to completely understand how an individual could view other cultures in such a negative way. Obviously, I have my own unnecessary skepticisms about other cultures but I will always view other parts of the world and other cultures with an open mind. As Dr. Richards mentioned, you cannot fully understand a culture until you live inside of that culture. I had never really thought about the fact that no Anglos name their children Jesus. I found it interesting when Dr. Richards spoke to his student whose name is Jesus, but he nor his father or grandfather actually go by that name. Part 2 of lesson 4 left me with somewhat of an uneasy feeling. Watching the terrorism awareness video truly scared me and left my mind wondering. Some of the pictures shown in the lecture caught my attention, especially the one of the children carrying guns. It just goes to show how different of a society it is. When Dr. Richards told his class that from this point on they needed to view themselves as Aram Muslims in the Middle East, I thought that was a good technique to thoroughly engage his students. Viewing the lecture with this different outlook allowed a better understanding of where the Muslims are coming from in this situation with the war. As Dr. Richards mentioned, if those in Iraq only see such videos that he showed us and experience what they do on a daily basis, it is obvious that they would get angry and mad. Also, it is apparent that they would not focus on the kindness of the US military soldiers, even though their kindness is evident to some residents. One video in particular that amazed me was the video where the US tank completely crushed the civilian’s car because he stole wood. Honestly, what was the big deal? Was that necessary to go to such extremes? I was also shocked by the video of young kids who are training to be warriors to Jesus. I personally do not feel that children at such a young age should be preaching to the extent that they were in that video. In reality, most of them are probably too young to even understand what is really the issue. It also disturbed me that such a highly ranked official would say that “My God is a real God” and that the Muslim God is not real. Wed, 2 Jun 2010 16:43:57 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism__trashed/#IDComment78227720 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race__trashed/#IDComment77201698 I found your connection between Carolus Linneaus’s “definition” of blacks and Chris Rock’s stand up very interesting. Choosing not to really be offended by the definitions is very mature. Many people cannot consider humor in many situations like this, which does lead to those getting offended and maybe not taking the time to even consider what they may be trying to say. Adding in your own personal experiences made your points more clear and helped me gain a better understanding of the material and what you were specifically trying to convey. I also disagree with the way in which the government classifies people and how they handle prisoners. Wed, 26 May 2010 15:15:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/05/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race__trashed/#IDComment77201698