Our energy policy will change. The policy will have to change and adapt because we have finite resources on this planet and we cannot continue to live this way and sustain our way of life. Because it seems to me that our planet cannot sustain what we humans consume at the level we consume and maintain our existence. It will come down to change and adapt or die. I’m talking about the human species in the long run. Yes, our government will continually change our energy policies weekly, monthly, annually, locally, globally. But more importantly we’re going to change how we see the world and how we use the resources around us. The question might have been directed at oil, but at the rate we’re going we’ve already cut down 80 percent of the rainforests of the world. We are jeopardizing our own existence with our current policies toward the environment. We see the environment and us with such separation. But the truth is we are part of the environment and dependent upon it with our lives. If we trace back each commodity we own, where our food came from it is all based on transportation and transportation equals utilizing the Earth’s resources to get it here, on our plates, in our homes. What happens when there aren’t any more of the beautiful trees around us and any more drinkable water because we have contaminated it with drilling? The question is will our changing policies come soon enough that we save ourselves from the magnitude of the damage we are causing to the planet and inevitably ourselves. Until we find another resource to take the place of oil and other finite resources we will have to change our way of life to one of sustainability and slowing down the pace of our lives. People are opening their eyes to what the government’s interests are versus what is best for the people of Earth. As we come to understand that the government’s policies, based around money, do not care for the Earth, they focus on continuous growth. But the people of Earth will take back our Earth and reclaim the life we want to live. A life not central to money, a life we are meant to live which does not jeopardize the planets resources. If our fruit and veggies stopped coming from 4000 miles away, and our pillows from over sees we could live happier, slower lives. I hope and believe the government, or whatever be the ruling belief of the planet, will come to a point of stopping how we live today. The stories about other ways of life are everywhere. So, yes I think our policies will change. Yes, I think it possible for us to live drastically different lives and live blissfully without the oil we believe we depend on. I can’t wait.

It is, of course, a very complicated personal experience to speak out. Also, for each individual it could be very different what they need to feel they can speak about their experience. Like others said, support. Defining support, for me, means unconditionally accepting the victim’s words are true without question. It is knowing that that person is loved no matter the emotions or actions which were involved. Supporting a victim, to me means listening, caring, and helping to come up with a solution which could leave that person at peace with their perpetrator and the situation. That could mean directing them to someone else. But I’m talking about support once the person as ended their time of silence.
To end that time of silence, like I said, is such a person journey. They need to understand that what happened was not their fault, and that awareness means prevention in the future. It can also be very healing in that it gives a sense of peace, leaving the situation in the past. I think people having trouble because, like Sam said, often times the person who committed the acts is very close to the family. This means revealing something about a loved one which can be shocking. I think that it scares victims because it leaves this huge place for doubt. Because the perpetrator is a trusted individual the victim might not be taken as wholly truthful. This can lead to immense shame and regret, maybe even recanting their statement. I think a way to counter act this is to, as individuals, try and understand a victim wouldn’t say such a momentous thing without truth behind it. Also, if the law were harsher on those who commit crimes like this is would comfort victims to know that. With big cases like Sandusky there will be huge legal repercussions. Sadly, in most situations which have less publicity, it is usually his/her word verse the victims. The government’s innocent until proven guilty, in cases like this, I think is a huge hindrance to openness. Often times rapists, molesters, and pedophiles get away with things like this because there is simply not enough evidence. Ruthless lawyers will treat victims with no respect in the world we live in. I think, a solution to many other problems, would be to reconstruct the system and the way we live our lives. Often times these incidents happen to children who think to themselves that they have no power to expose and show the truth of an older figure. I think there would be less silencing if there were more information, and a reality in which, victims knew that their perpetrator didn’t have power over them. This could mean in a legal sense or an emotional sense. This can only be done by confirming real repercussions to those individuals’ actions. Unfortunately, that isn’t the reality. Victims do not have that comfort right now.
Lastly, I think when something like this happens to someone it changes the image they have of themselves. Instead of shedding that image, saying this is not who I am, this does not define me, most sit with what happened for so long it becomes a part of who they are. The longer it is with them the harder it is to speak out. In this sense it is a personal journey. How can we help those with that personal journey? I think the best thing is just talking about the fact that it happens. Letting that person know you are comfortable with these topics.

People speaking other languages around me don’t make me feel uncomfortable at all. I think at one point in my life it may have, but where I'm at now I feel completely open to it. Sometimes I forgot I might have been like that in the past and get frustrated with those who don't like when people speak other languages. My immediate reaction when I hear another language is; Can I identify what language they are speaking? Which country are they from? What is it like there? What are they doing here? Languages insight curiosity in me. I'm thankful I'm one of those people who does not automatically think what are these people doing here not speaking English?
I think it has a lot to do with the environment you’re used to. Although I was around many languages all throughout high school, I associated a certain stigma with that. The stigma was brought about by the feeling of the people in my environment. It didn't occur much to me that my dad fell into that category of non-English-speakers. He speaks English fluently but with a heavy accent and feels most comfortable speaking in Hebrew. I’m sure many people pass judgment on him when he’s speaking on the telephone our out with Israeli friends in public. That makes me thankful again that because of my past environments I can have an open mind to whomever and whatever language they are speaking.
I especially notice is with Central and South American Spanish speaking people. In the past, living in New York, I felt they were these immigrants refusing to learn the language and taking up rightfully American jobs. Not only taking Soc with Sam, but making many Latin friends here at Penn State I have shaped an entirely new view of my amigos and now want to learn Spanish myself. In fact, when I spent a couple months in Israel I got completely used to not understanding any one everywhere I went. Instead, I enjoyed a world of fewer words for just two months. Less talking and more taking learning and living in the present. Now when I’m around primarily non-English speakers I feel completely content in my own world.
I think a lot of the frustration with Spanish speakers here comes from ignorance to some of the points Sam made in class today. Also, this feeling of what it means to be America, and white as the Supreme Being. I think if we were able to shed some of these false beliefs we could and would be more accepting of all nationalities and languages. Also taking into consideration that when most Americans travel they don’t expect of themselves to be speaking the language of the foreign land. On the contrary, they expect that people abroad will be able to speak English. This is the product of an egotistical society in which American laziness is promoted.

I think what race you does have an effect on how you see the world. With each race comes another culture and religion, the fundamental building blocks of perception of how the world works. Some aspects transcend race, but most are altered by how you grow up based on your race. For each individual this could mean something else. Each individual could have a different view of the world within the same race, still it is affected by how they were raised within a certain racial category. I don’t know enough about each culture or religion to make generalizations. I do know that for myself as a Jewish person from a Middle Eastern background that I go through life differently than a white Christian. For example, many Jewish people have immigrated to New York. So, my family as a result of our race/ethnicity have lived within the Jewish Persian community of New York. This has had a huge effect on my view of other races. Once I moved out of Great Neck and into Huntington, a highly diversified town, I became exposed to many religions, races, and cultures. I might never have been here and seen these things had I not identified as Jewish or Middle Eastern. In Huntington, where I have lived since age 8, I have noticed that being Jewish is a minority. Within the former education about Christianity once I was thrown into a predominantly Christian community I began to gain that new races perspective from exposure. This is a way of transcending your own race, by being absorbed into another. Still, I am not part of that community; I am only someone who now can fully understand what it means to be a White Christian on the east coast of the United States. Once you begin to travel long distances within another country or crossing international borders with less diversity of race it becomes more obvious how your race does in fact have its own culture to some degree. Since race is a somewhat ambiguous term it could be simpler to understand this in terms of regions of the world, different countries, regions, or cultures. Also, I haven’t touched upon many things which Sam brought up. How white people, although preferred, could feel guilt. That is a product of race and a way in which your world view is shaped. Also, blacks often exhibit purposeful malicious acts towards whites. Within the realm of a race there are many “stages” as Sam calles them. This doesn’t mean that a certain race is certain to be a certain way. It means that face is shaping the “stage” or way that you are. This is something we can’t help, we can only try and transcend.

Men don’t have a standard to meet. Sure, some women value what a man wears and it affects their changes with the women. Still the same guy can get by much easier and find a mate if he chooses to disregard this minority of women who value what a guy is wearing. He doesn’t have to feel uncomfortable in short skirts or high heels. The most he’s got to do is wear a button up instead of a T shirt, and its COOL. It is socially accepting, and even encouraged for men to care less and do less then women. It surely would not be this way if opinion of women was valued more than men in our society.

media, fashion industry but mostly from the porn industry. A place where men really learn what is expected to “be a man.” Also, what is expected and attractive and valuable in females. I don’t think any girl who truly believes they dress up for themselves has a good understand of what Sam calls the “invisible strings.” Men controlling all aspects of the world, especially gender related issues in society. Description against women is improving with out a doubt, still on a much more subconscious level its playing a huge role in the continually more scantily clad women we see all over. I’m continually shocked by girls attire here at school on Friday nights mid January. But it isn’t just our age group affected by the male run world, girls at age 10 wearing makeup and doing there hair is also a reflection of this idea. Being beautiful isn’t about being comfortable in your own skin, here its about dolling up to meet the needy penis world we live in.

I agree with Sam that we have a male centered world and women’s style is a complete reflection of needing to meet the acceptable norms even if it is done subconsciously. I took the a Philosophy of love and sex class where we spent time on this issue. It was an amazing eye opening class which went way more in depth with this topic then Laurie and Sam did. Girls go out in heels and short dresses sacrificing their comfort without thinking about it. I believe some girls event think its because it makes them feel good about themselves. Let’s really examine that statement. I feel pretty when I elongate my legs with heels, when I show off my curve and expose my body it makes me feel pretty. A statement like that, most girls, don’t even realize, is really based off what men value in girls and their esthetic beauty. Girl perception of beauty is based on what men think is beautiful in women. This comes mostly from the

This vacation I am sure would prove to be a lot more gratifying anyways. The government does what if best for our nation rather then what is best for the people of the Earth, a policy I disagree with. Countries are lines drawn in the sand, and are a way fo I understand in the world we live that that wouldn’t work. It would mean giving up a lot of the power that the United States has. An event which could inevitably makes some of these problems worse. Still, I believe a part of me will one day be patriot; this nation will not always be this way. This world won’t always be this way. One day we will see that acting will only the interests of our own nation in mind will not bring success, but failure on a global scale. r people to see each other as different instead of similar. The billions of dollars spent on defense, arms, nuclear power ext would be better spent on education, foreign aid, the homeless, reconstructing our judicial system, social security, universal health care and many other personal people concerns.

When people say that we have enough of our own problems that we do not have enough to give to other nations in need, I think that is just wrong. How is an American life more valuable than another citizens life? The standard of living out does, I would say, every other country. The poorest American comes nowhere close to the poverty levels in third world countries. We can all afford to give up some of the things we have to give to those who are needier. Or choosing our priority differently and maybe traveling to another country to help the poor rather than laying out on the beach in Aruba.

I was disappointed, although I don’t consider myself an idealist; I still expected those numbers to be higher in the case of aid and lower regarding weaponry. Also, much of our aid seems to be ultimately beneficial to our economy resulting in dependency on our nation.
I am currently taking an international relations political science class which has helped me to understand why countries act the way they do. Seeing the Netherlands up at the top of the list kind of confirmed that I think I’ll move there. The country embodies many of the same values I have and appears very high on the list for foreign aid.