en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2406782 Comments by Koda1224 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144863594 Part 3 My dad is a very hard worker, working since he was 12, and so many times I have gone to a job site or to the nursery and seen his American workers standing there as he lifted or dug out a tree alone. Bob would never allow this to happen always jumping in pushing my dad out of the way so he could do the work for him. My dad and Bob grew a tight bond, and my dad even paid out of pocket to fly Bob back to Mexico to see his family multiple times. Although Bob no longer works for us, it is proof of how hard working they are. They just want to make a living and some money for their family back home. Businesses are controlling immigration and the feelings Americans have towards them, and they need to be stopped. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:28:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144863594 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144863525 Part 2 It reminds me of a reading we did for the first exam title Economics. Rather than illegal immigrants along with American workers coming together and fighting against the companies, a situation where progress could be made, they fight against one another allowing the business owners to win. My dad is the owner of a combined nursery and landscaping business. Often times he has had Mexican immigrants coming to his business asking for a job. It is just recently (about 5 years ago) that he hired a Mexican because he could not find good work ethic in any one else. He would put adds in the paper and received few to no calls to fill positions. He was always worried about hiring a Mexican because it was never certain if they were legal or illegal, and he did not want to get into any trouble. He first hired “Bob” who had paper work (whether it was legal or forged illegally). I know my dad paid him what he would pay any other white, black, or brown American. Bob was the best help my dad had ever had. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:28:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144863525 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144863412 Part 1 Before class I did not hold a strong opinion about immigration. Often I hear about illegal immigrants taking American’s jobs and so on. As an American, that obviously upsets me because I do not want people in my own country to suffer. The thing is though; many people in American do not want the jobs that the illegal immigrants are doing. They say they can’t work because others are taking their jobs, when in reality they would never consider doing those jobs in the first place. WE must also remember that it is not the immigrants “stealing” jobs; it is the businesses who are forcing competition between immigrants and American workers. Since immigrants are willing to work for lower wages, business owners will quickly higher them over American workers who require benefits and higher wages. It seems like a smart business move for business owners but it is obviously causing harsh feelings towards immigrants. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:27:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144863412 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142543259 Part 3 He also told us children as young as 3 years of age are already addicted to alcohol and cigarettes. Children become emerged in gangs becoming violent and sometimes dangerous. And just like Sam said, suicide rates are very high. Not many people get offered the experience I was. Not many people see the pain and agony in the Native American’s lives. Not many people know about the “modern” Native Americans. I agree with everything Sam presented, having been there and seen it myself, the information he presents is 100% true. I think this is a necessary presentation for all people to see, but especially here, with people who are able to make a difference. Native Americans are a race that cannot be forgotten. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:46:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142543259 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142543191 Part 2 Homes were crawling with cockroaches, lacking necessary bedding and heating, and contained huge holes in the ceilings. (Another work crew went into the homes and fixed them). Mutliple families lived in one home, where you would find 7 people sleeping on the floor in just one room. Often homes were abusive and alcoholism is a huge problem, just as Sam said. One child I worked with told multiple different contradictory stories about how his wrist had been broken. This same child also wore the same shirt 3 days in a row, asking why we wore different clothes everyday. Talk about a slap in the face. This child taught me so much about myself and the world. The man who ran the community center told us so much about the people and the children. One child who was 2 years old, suffered from alcohol syndrome. He was also found walking down the road by himself because his mother was passed out drunk on the couch. The man also told us he once found a 5 year old passed on the jungle gym with beers surrounding him; he was obviously drunk. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:46:08 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142543191 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142543130 Part 1 Sam’s lecture today holds true to what I have seen in South Dakota. Four years ago, I traveled to South Dakota where we stayed on an Indian Reservation for two weeks. In those two weeks, I learned the information that wasn’t talked about in high school. In history class, you learn about Indians and Pilgrims and the Thanksgiving feast they share in harmony. You learn about the Trail of Tears, and how they removed the Native Americans from their homes to different places to live. Although you learn there were a large amount of deaths due to the move, you assume that the ones who survived live on and continue to prosper in their tepees and Native American dress. This is definitely not the case but a common misconception because no one learns about the modern day Native Americans. When I was in South Dakota I worked with the Lakotas on the Rosebud Reservation. There I worked at a so-called community center. It was one room with a kitchen and bathroom where kids in that neighborhood could go to get out of their homes. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:45:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142543130 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141042620 Part 3 The middle easterners see the few American soldiers who do wrong to them for no reason (as we saw in the film with the tanker running over the taxi driver’s car) and the fact that they are there for reasons unknown to them other than taking their oil. Of course Americans receive a bad name in the Middle East. Is it so wrong to believe that the feeling our people experienced after the attack on the World Trade Centers is the feeling Middle Easterners feel every single day since the War on Iraq has begun; Why has this happened to our innocent people, why would they want to harm us? How unfair to put such devastating feelings and effects on others when we know the pain and agony it can cause. Thank you Sam once again for another amazing insight. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 17:11:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141042620 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141042499 Part 2 You better be damn sure if someone was coming onto my land, killing my family and friends, and taking my oil I would be up to fight. I would hate these people with all I had for coming and ruining the peace that once existed. Every day they see troops walking around on their land, threatening them and their livelihood. To me, an American, I see pictures of my troops, holding little children, giving them candy, fighting for our country. Now to me, an informed American, who put myself in the Middle Easterners shoes, I see my troops, holding children who should not be involved in this war at all, giving kids candy as a sign of what, peace? Because they represent just the opposite in that country. How could I have been so blind after so many years? Of course they are going to hate us and judge our country. So few people were involved in the attacks yet the whole entire race gets a bad name. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 17:10:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141042499 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141042423 Part 1 I remember September 11th all too well. I remember the hurt and agony on my mother’s face, the tears my friends cried because their parents worked in New York City, and the fact that I really didn’t know what was going on; why had this happened to our innocent people. All I knew was it had to be bad, and I hated terrorists for what they did to our country. From that stemmed war in Iraq, so if we were fighting those people, then surely it was because of things they did wrong, because of the hurt they caused America. I was so brainwashed by others, and never really stopped to look at it in any other light. I never really questioned the oil aspect, but then again I never really questioned any aspect of the war. I just thought if our, strong, smart country was fighting, it must be right, and I support it. Did we ever think to look in the mirror? Fri, 8 Apr 2011 17:10:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141042423 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/what-was-more-enlightening-the-information-on-your-own-sex-or-the-opposite-sex-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment139125625 Sam and Laurie’s lecture yesterday was one that really made a lot of people including myself open our eyes to the world we are being conditioned to live in. The first time I saw this question posted above, my immediate answer was that I learned more about males (the opposite sex). But as I began to write, I realized that was not true at all. Of course I got some much needed insight into the male perspective. Men are ready to go in 5 seconds, something I have mostly figured out, and they are very unaware of women’s needs, something else I mostly have seen. Something striking though was the use of the word “needy” and how differently it was taken when used towards women versus men. Looking deeper though, I realized I may just have learned even more about the female world. Laurie’s statement about being rigid and uninterested because she wasn’t as into sex as she used to be is something I’ve heard and seen so often in the real world and on TV. It was even something I thought was wrong, not normal, and meant bad things about the woman as a person. I was So wrong. Not only are males and society brainwashing us but even the programs we watch every day. As soon as a woman doesn’t want to have sex anymore, she is either cheating or useless. What an unfair understatement. For the first time, Laurie and Sam enabled me to see the light. No we are not haggard, old, rigid, bitches; we are just normal women who have different desires than men. Just because our desires are different does NOT mean they are wrong. We have just been conditioned to believe so. Wow. Crazy. Something else from lecture that struck me was the “dress code.” Before I got to Penn State, I never saw girls wearing the kind of outfits girls here wear. I did not even own any of those clothes; and when I went and bought them, I thought I wanted to. I wanted to look like I had the confidence those girls had along with the sex appeal. Cold? No, I’m not cold, it keeps me from getting too hot on the walk there. HAH. WHAT HAVE WE BEEN TELLING OURSELVES? I do not want that kind of attention. What made me think I did? Everyone else who was receiving it who seemed happy? I realize now the joke is on us as girls. Why should guys be able to wear whatever they want, and we have to be cold, in heels, showing too much skin; for the attention because guys give attention to girls in high heels, short skirts, and low cut shirts? Well no thank you. From now on I will wear a skirt when I want to, where heels when I feel like dancing in them, and I will do my life for me. So in the end, I’d have to say the insight on my on sex, was the most influential on me. Thank you Sam and Laurie. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 14:52:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/what-was-more-enlightening-the-information-on-your-own-sex-or-the-opposite-sex-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment139125625 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment136986638 Part 3 From interracial relationships come multiracial children. To discriminate against multiracial children is just heartless. Children do not choose who they will be born as just as much as people do not “choose” who they will come to love. I think a lot of people who feel something is wrong with interracial relationships need to come to terms with themselves. If they are happy then why should they judge anyone else’s happiness? In recent decades, it was much more frowned upon due to racial tensions. Racial tensions are the main reason that interracial relationships are judged so harshly. The example Sam gave in class today was about a black man walking down the street with a white woman. If 4 black girls came walking by, there would definitely be tensions. It is slowly becoming more accepted though, but it is difficult when both races such as in the black boy and white girl race, might be maddened or offended by it. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:12:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment136986638 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment136986571 Part 2 I understand that in the world today, there are a lot of mixed feelings about interracial relationships and homosexual relationships. In both cases, those people are making decisions based on their feelings. They are able to be happy with who they are and who they are in love with, and I think that is the most important thing. Who each person “chooses” to love is no one else’s decision but their own. Whoever they feel they are meant to fall in love with, no matter what race, gender, ethnicity, they are doing what makes them happy, so why should it offend anyone else. If someone doesn’t agree with it that’s fine, they can “choose” someone of their own race, gender, or ethnicity, but they may be missing out on true happiness if they refuse to consider anything but “the norm.” To be able to step outside “the norm” and find happiness in whichever way is right to you is something I commend any person for. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:12:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment136986571 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment136986513 part 1 Personally, I have no problem at all with interracial relationships in any respect. First off I think that it is each individual’s decision as to who they are with, no matter what race, ethnicity, religion, etc. I do not believe people choose the person they are attracted to or fall in love with. Just because the person may be of a different race, does not mean anything about who the person is in general. If the person you are dating has the personality and looks that attract you and make you fall in love with them then why should skin color, eye shape, or hair texture matter. As we have learned in our class, what makes up our looks is only 0.01% of DNA. So no matter what we look like, we are all humans, who have feelings, and are knowledgeable, with the ability to love. Why should anyone be discriminated against for the natural feeling of connection, no matter who it is with. Wed, 23 Mar 2011 12:12:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment136986513 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135875698 Part 3 At this day and age though it is time to recognize and let go of the fear and treat everyone as an equal individual. I feel as if white privilege is mostly due to stereotypes that are continuously used and recognized. In order to get rid of white privilege people really need to open their eyes and judge people fairly, not off of what they “think they know.” I am so happy I am aware of white privilege so that I can consciously make better decisions and try to prevent it if at all possible. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:58:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135875698 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135875637 Part 2 The color of your skin in no way accounts for intelligence, professional expertise, or personality. So in no way should someone who is white skinned be chosen over someone of color only because of that one factor of skin color. I think white privilege is ignorant, and people really need to open their minds and be respectful of who a person is regardless of their skin color. It is not right that because someone is black they have less job opportunities and also fewer chances to be given a loan or find a place to live. White skinned people are no better than any other person. After taking soc, I have come to understand in great detail how a lot of whites became to be so advantaged; but constantly discriminating and putting other races down. The programs passed after World War II were constantly heightening the power of whites through money, housing and advantages, while constantly disadvantaging anyone of a minority group. Whites climbed up to the top of the mountain and did everything to keep it that way as I believe most any race may have done due to fear etc. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:58:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135875637 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135875565 Part 1 As Sam mentioned in class, being white, you are often oblivious to any white privilege that has occurred in your life. Up until now, I have never really even thought about or considered white privilege or the role it would play in my life. Personally, I cannot pin point a time where I ever thought that I was given different privileges than anyone else due to the color of my skin. Being in college, many of us have not experienced occupational interviews and the highly brutal selection process. Most of us have only worked at the local stores or rather lower status part time jobs. I feel that maybe as I enter a more critical work force arena, I may be more likely to see different types of privileges that certain people are given. Through the different studies Sam presented us in class, it was all too clear how discrimination is greatly shown in the work place. I hope I never get to see and discrimination or “white privilege” because I believe it is totally wrong. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 17:57:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135875565 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment133195627 Part 3 The DNA evidence is even further proof. Our looks only represent 0.01% of our genes. How much more proof needs to be given to show how similar we really are. We may have natural differences and that is okay, but just because we choose to practice a different religion or have a different skin color does not mean we should be prejudiced against in the work place. So yes I do and do not feel guilty for different aspects on the subject of disadvantages of freed slaves, but I feel that guilt will not help is change the world, equality, understanding, and communication will. Mon, 7 Mar 2011 20:56:01 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment133195627 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment133195565 Part 2 After looking at the statistics in lecture it is all too clear how unfair our world is and the latent prejudice that still lingers in our society. It is not fair at all that we receive opportunities others do not because employers or bankers choose people who are more similar to them. I remember Sam saying though, we should not feel guilty about our skin color and the advantages we as white get from them. We can do something about it in our generation because we are more aware. If anything, I do not feel guilty for what I have compared to others, but if I have ever misjudged or used preconceived stereotypes without first knowing the person. Looks can be trick and deceiving, but we are all much more similar then I ever thought. After hearing the Muslims speaking in front of class I realized how similar we all are. Mon, 7 Mar 2011 20:55:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment133195565 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment133195405 Part 1 I understand that previous slaves may be worse off today because of certain programs put into effect after World War II and I do not think that right or fair at all. But I do not believe we should feel guilty. I believe we should use our knowledge and our future opportunities to decrease the gap by being more open minded in our future workplaces and environments and by treating everyone equally. Maybe my parents and their parents were given advantages because they were white, but I do know they worked hard and suffered a lot in order to get to where they are today, and for that I do not feel guilty. I would feel guilty if I knew in some way I was discriminating against minorities and slaves to give them disadvantages but I am not personally responsible for that. When talking about certain advantages that “white privilege” gives us access to, I do sometimes feel guilty. I hate knowing that because of someone’s race, ethnicity, or the color of their skin they can be negatively affected in their search for employment, a home or mortgage, and other ways we don’t really think about. Mon, 7 Mar 2011 20:54:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment133195405 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment130211830 Part 3 After being consumed with these thoughts on different people from different countries, many people feel they “know” about those people and don’t really take the time to ACTUALLY get to know them. After just 10 minutes of talking to the different Muslim students in class on Tuesday, it is so clear how similar kids from different countries really are to us. They do the same things as us such as watch TV, go on Facebook, and study here at Penn State. I think it is about time people let go of their preconceived notions gathered from others and learn their own feelings on different cultures for themselves. I personally have let them run my life for too long and am grateful to have a class like Soc 119 that is forcing me to realize I am wrong and I need to do something about it. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:52:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-do-we-think-of-people-from-other-countries-as-so-different-from-us-119-blog/#IDComment130211830