en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3110190 Comments by LaurenMitche11 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170507380 I think the same way. I do see the similarties between nepetism and affirmative action but I think they fall on two totally different spectrums. How you said it was alot easier for you to understand a man giving his son a job rather than a boss giving a black man more of a chance than a white man. Even though affirmative action is needed,I also think it is alot mroe controversial, and has alot more to deal with race. For exhample, my roommate has a 2.3 gpa, but because she is panamanian, she gets so much more grants than I do. I am a white women, with a 3.7 gpa, but just because I am white and the majority, I do not get the special loans from penn state, no matter if I have a better gpa or not. Im nots saying I do not want her to get these loans, and I understand that white women benefit the most from A.A but I think the program itself is so scewed. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 03:00:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170507380 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506472 I believe we should be able to get ahead based on our credentials, not on our people skills. This society has so many deeper problems with inequality that programs such as affirmative action are needed. When Sam asked us to solve the inequality at the schools, I honestly could not think of a real plan. Things ran through my mind like, take the best of one school and the worst of another and switch them into the better schools, but then I thought, the majority of the lowest scoring at the better school are still higher than the best at the poorer school. Affirmative action is such a tricky topic. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 02:55:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506472 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506399 At the same time, when we get into Nepetism, I have never had any sort of nepotism. My father knows a lot of people, but in the past jobs I’ve worked, and my furture career, he has no connections. I have done all of it on my own. I think I have faced the reality of nepotism this summer while trying to get a summer job. It is so hard for me to find work, and even though I have a lot of past experience, there is not a lot of openings. I believe that the openings that there actually are, were taken up by people who have connections, and this is not fair. I found it interesting when Sam pointed out what most of us have heard, Its not what you know, its who you know. This quote is so sad to me, you can work so hard but if you don’t know someone you are less likely to get where you want to go. This is why we need affirmative action. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 02:55:25 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506399 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506301 The other day I went out with one of my friends who is black, we met another black male at a bar. I started to tell them about our lecture of blacks and whites, and the job applications and house loans. Both did not seem to be surprised by this at all. We had a long discussion on it, and as each person drank a little more, the discussion became more real. The black male said to me all of the obstacles he faces day by day and gave an example of how he was scolded by a white man at work who was above him, and thought that if the same thing would have been done by a white man, there would be no scolding. He said he thought the white man just wanted to show superiority. After this, he began to tell me that he does not want “special” treatment. I think in some way he was talking about affirmative action. He said he does not want to be hired to a job just because they need to fill the “black” criteria. He ended this thought by saying “I do not want special treatment, but I do want to have the same opportunities, but it will never happen.” Thu, 7 Jul 2011 02:55:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506301 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506232 Affirmative action is a strange topic. Just like Sam noted, how do we have some type of equality for people without it, but then at the same time it’s sort of needed because our society does have so much inequality in it. GIVING SOMEONE A BENEFIT OR AN ADVANTAGE, SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF SOME IDENTIFIED CRITERIA, THAT THEY WOULD NOT NORMALLY RECEIVE is the definition of affirmative action, and this alone seems unfair to me. I am a white woman in the United States, and I knew before this lecture that the majority of people who benefit from affirmative action are white women. This being said, I am personally a libertarian also. I believe that people should have their own opportunities to advance, and also to be content with a lower stature. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 02:54:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170506232 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169467224 I feel that same way, all of us are immigrants besides the native americans. Alot of us just dont view it that way because our families have been here for years, but AGAIN our ancestors came to this country as IMMIGRANTS. I think if the United States develops a better policy about immigration, there would not be as many illegal Immigrants coming in. I dont think having a diverse country has any negative effect, but I do think that having people in our country who are undocumented could be potentially dangerous to our well being. It is not just specifically one country ( South America) who have people coming into the country illegally. We are seeing more people from terror driven countries entering our country with purposes not to do better for themselves or their families, but to do HARM against us, and our families. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:17:10 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169467224 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466354 I think we need to reach a happy medium dealing with illegal immigration. If the United States had a better policy set up, maybe we wouldn’t have so many illegal immigrants coming in, because it could be easier to allow them to come here legally, that way we all know who is here and why. I want more diversity and understanding, but I do not want illegal immigrants coming here that can cause potential harm. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:12:17 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466354 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466339 I never really had sat and thought about the issue of immigration until this year. The most I ever thought about it was immigrants coming here, getting a green card, and becoming an American citizens eventually. In my English class, I had to read a paper, which had two sides, one being for immigration and one being against. We had to choose a side, to either strengthen our borders, or allow more immigrants. After reading more into it, I chose the side to strengthen our borders. DO NOT GET ME WRONG, I am all for making this country more diverse and allowing all groups of people, but after reading it I became aware of the illegal immigrants who are coming here illegally not to work, but for terroristic purposes.There now is such a thing called “other than Mexicans”. In 2005 the border patrol caught 165,175 “other than Mexicans”; a worry that these people are increasingly from terrorist supporting countries, and that presents a national security threat. The United States deals with enough terroristic acts without adding another possible 165,175 from illegal immigrants from the border. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:12:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466339 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466262 Towards the end of the lecture, Sam played a video which had a man doing a rant about illegal immigrants. In which he addresses Hilary Clinton, saying that they do not have the same rights, and are illegal and should not be allowed equal opportunity. The man also compares illegal immigrants to convicted felons, giving an example of how a criminal couldn’t work in his back yard for just two dollars without him getting in trouble for housing and providing work for the criminal. This man, even though he has the right to express his views, does it in the most ignorant way I heard in a long time, and the comments made after are just as sickening to me. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:11:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466262 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466152 I really was intrigued by one of the slides at the beginning of the lecture, immigration part one. The slide showed a business man saying “we need to take back America from illegal immigrants” and to his left is a family of immigrants. Then the slide showed to the right of this man, a Native American saying “I’ll help you pack”. Until I took this class, I never thought of how badly the settlers had treated the Native Americans, and the hypocrisy we show to this day about letting illegal immigrants into this country. People who “run” this country, and think they own it, also, at one point, were illegal immigrants. Another interesting fact, which has come up in a few previous lectures, is how history is written to make the specific group sound like heroes, not murderers. I especially enjoyed the example of Jackson’s battle at Horse Shoe Bend Alabama. The history book claimed that the battle was bravery, heart ship, and community, while Jackson himself writes about murder and corpses. He wrote about how they cut off the tips of the Native Americans noses to keep the body count. (Sounds nothing like community to me) Mon, 4 Jul 2011 01:11:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169466152 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168146523 I agree with you. Ive never felt indifferent about the LGBT community, but I felt like "if they want to marry, let them, it doesnt affect me". After the lecture I felt like I wanted to go out and vote for Prob 8. You're right, I think they also have faced the most hatred and racism then any other group. Even to this day, with the constant increasing openness of our civiliazation, LGBT are still ashamed to come out. If you remember back to a few lectures ago, when Richards talked about LGBT probably being the largest group to commit suicide, it makes me wonder, did they commit suicide so young for being bullied or some other reason, or did they commit suicide because they felt some sort of shame/fear about being LGBT in this world. I disagree about your bible comment, I think we are all free to believe what we believe, just like the LGBT are free to be LGBT, some people might not like it, but it is still okay. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:16:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168146523 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145397 I don’t feel any way about whites being the minority, I think ALL OF US need to be aware that we are all different, and the differences are likely to get larger and smaller all of the time. Just like the LGBT population, if you look back even into the 90’s, ellen degeneres came out as gay, and her tv show was canceled, now she gets paid more then a couple million a year, THAT’S a big change, and positive move for the LGBT community. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:11:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145397 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145351 Another thing I want to share real quick is the major discussion. About what one should major in if they want to make a shit ton of money. My brother is a recent graduate with a double degree, one in chinese and another in business. I hurried up and showed him the clip, as I watched the smile on his face become as large as the Cheshire cat. I think its really interesting that Hip hop and rap is the first global music that weve ever seen, because rap and hip hop is one of the youngest types of music our world has. I loved the example that Richards showed of the different types of people rapping, haha not just for the fact that it amused me, but because it made me realize how much of an impact we have on one another, and the ability of us to reach eachother. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:11:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145351 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168144833 As far as the current lecture goes, the first statistics really don’t surprise me. I would expect that the liberal republicans wouldn’t want to live in “diverse” communities. I’ve actually lived with a liberal republican, and I don’t think she was racist, but she MOST DEFINIETELY WASN’T interested in getting to know any other people outside her own race, or even trying to understand them. I think it is such a negative thing that happens in this world, because I believe if our communities were more diverse, race issues would decrease faster, because the opportunity to get to know eachtohers differences. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:08:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168144833 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168144768 I really loved the last lesson, may be my favorite of all them. I know this post probably should be about multiculturalism and the current lesson, but I just want to talk about how much I enjoyed the last lesson. I think mainly why I loved it so much was because of the book assigned, “making peace between our races”. I really enjoyed the way it was written, with different stories, and breaks between the short stories and ideas. The more I learn about sociology, the more I think about even changing my major from psychology to sociology. I even posted the books picture on my facebook wall, because I think every person should read that book, and become somewhat enlightened. I am NOT a reader by ANY means. I hate reading and never are able to finish a book, factors like attention span, bordem, and many things all contribute to this, but most of the time, what I am reading really just doesn’t interest me to the point of being unable to set it down. This book interested me to the point where I couldn’t put it down. Props to the author. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:08:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168144768 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165649550 - I completely agree. I think things have gotten better with showing different cultures in the media lately, but still have not been brought up to where they should be. Studying psychology, I understand a little more about advertisement and how it affects us, but it is sickening to me that it is affecting the youth. When your a child, all you want to do/play with or have what everyone else does, so with these young black children being shown these white dolls on television, thats what they believe is cool/fun to have. When i first learned about how the media affected us, I thought it was just as simple as wanting a burger from wendys after seeing the commercial, never did I think it went as far as making young colored youth think whites are better. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 03:00:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165649550 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165648618 That video was so surprising to me, I cant believe preawakening happens that young. How can you have a toddler , who hasnt even had enough experience with different cultures or colors yet, tell you that a doll is nicer because its white. Where are these ideas coming from this young. I dont think things will get better with people struggling with white culture, until the whites themself can understand and be able to talk about their culture. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:54:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165648618 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165648040 It is so insane to think about how people go through racial stages… Preawakening is deciding how white you want to be? Or how much youd like to identify with whiteness? I feel so ashamed of our country for making such huge issues about race. After listening to the video made by the younger highschool black girl, I felt sick to my stomach. I do get where they are coming from though. When I was younger, there really weren’t much black barbies to buy off the shelves at the toy stores. I don’t know if society doesn’t realize how we are alienating people, or just because it goes back to old issues, like king of the mountain, a psychological way for the white person to stay on top. If we make people believe that whites are better from the age of 3, isn’t everyone going to want to act like the whites, or if ones not going that far, atleast try to tip toe around whites? Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:51:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165648040 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165645555 He was never brought up to know that culture, even if it is a very poverty stricken country, he was never taught about anything from him backround. He is now twenty four years old, and the only information he has gotten about his life in Poland, and the cultures ways, is research he has done himself. He is still looking for his two older brothers. I completely agree with Richards, if someone is adopted, their original culture should not just be ignored just because they are in America now. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:39:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165645555 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165645511 The first idea that caught my attention during this lecture was the point Richards made about adoption. I have a few close friends that have been adopted, most of them from an area in Russia, and just like one would think, their adoptive parents ended up acting like they were just Americans and completely ignoring their culture. The closet one to me is named Pawel, he was adopted from Poland, which is right outside of Russia. I met Pawel was I was around five years old, and the first thing I remember about him is how strange he sounded, and how fast he talked. No one really told me anything about him, or why he was different so I just looked at him like he was just a strange kid. As we both got older, we became very close, and I remember him only telling me the memories he had of Poland. Nothing that his adoptive parents, or that anyone else had taught him. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 02:39:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165645511