en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2398395 Comments by SJWilliams92 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/04/18/voices-from-the-classroom-304/#IDComment624835424 As ridiculous as it might sound, despite being black myself I actually feel more comfortable at predominantly white parties than at parties made up of mostly blacks. I have always lived in predominantly white neighborhoods and have gone to predominantly white schools, so growing up from an early age nearly all of my closest friends (except a small few) have been white. My social upbringing plays a large factor into my interests, hobbies, and likes/dislikes in terms of movies/music/etc, so I always gravitate toward people who have very similar tastes as I do. These people usually happen to be white. It is not that I purposefully avoid trying to make friends with other black people. It’s just that I am an incredibly shy person and I usually tend to keep to myself and not talk to anyone because of anxiety. I make friends by having other people approaching me first, discovering that we have the same interests, becoming close, and then being introduced to more of their friends. And once again, these people are usually white. So when discussions come up in lecture about being uncomfortable around large groups of people of another race, I always find myself laughing because it’s not true for me at all. In terms of parties, it is not as easy for me to say that being at predominantly black parties makes me feel uncomfortable. Because it really depends on the music being played, and whether I know at least a couple other people there. My favorite music genres are indie rock and folk, and those aren’t genres that are popular among blacks. Of course, there are other blacks that do share that interest. Just like there are whites that don’t like those genres, and prefer rap. Music crosses all boundaries. But I am still much more likely to find whites that like that music, than blacks that do. And of all predominantly black parties that I’ve ever been to, that kind of music has never been played. It’s always been rap and hip hop, and because those aren’t genres that I enjoy I end up not having as much fun as others there who do enjoy the music. And this isn’t just black parties, I have also been to a couple predominantly white parties where they’ve only played rap and hip hop and I have still felt out of place. The reason I feel more comfortable attending predominantly white parties is because I know there’s a much greater chance of me finding a lot of people who share many of my interests, which allows me to feel more at ease and sociable. When at parties, it’s not the color of the people’s skin that’s important to me. It’s whether or not I’m actually enjoying myself that matters. Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:02:01 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/04/18/voices-from-the-classroom-304/#IDComment624835424 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/04/09/voices-from-the-classroom-296/#IDComment619361224 The biggest and most general parallel between the white standard and the male standard is that they both pretty much run the way our society is, and the views and beliefs held by much of our society. This is due largely in part to white males holding a majority of leadership positions across the country; whether they be government positions, positions in big companies, and at institutions of learning. These positions are mostly held by men, and more specifically: men who are white. So it is their values, views, beliefs, etc. that shape our society. This is nothing new, as white men have held leadership positions in this country since before it was even an actual organized nation. That’s not to say that all white men have the same views, or that all white men have the same beliefs as all white men hundreds of years ago, but when there are not many minorities or women helping to make important decisions then you get a lot of people who are being hurt more than they are being helped. Whites and males are both largely represented in the leadership positions of our country, and the way our society is greatly exemplifies that. Another main parallel between the white standard and the male standard has to do with beauty. In class, we watched a video on an experiment in which black children were given a white doll and a black doll, and then told to pick which one they thought looked better. Most of the children chose the white doll, instead of the black doll which looked more like them. This represents how the ideal of beauty is taught in our society. In media, time after time we see the white standard being a portrayal of ideal beauty: pale skin, long straight hair, light eyes, etc. This is a view that is thrown at us constantly from the time we can barely even begin to talk. And though it’s not entirely purposeful, it still leaves a mark on society and how those who don’t fit into that standard of beauty might see themselves. This is a parallel to the male standard and how men portray beauty, more specifically the beauty of a woman: long hair, thin but with curves, perfect skin/teeth/fashion style, etc. Of course this is a broad generalization, but it is still what we see often in the media as a portrayal of what the ideal female beauty is. And this is a standard set by men, of course women are involved as well but not as much. And like the white standard of beauty, this is another view that leaves a big mark on society and how women view themselves in regards to their beauty. Sun, 14 Apr 2013 22:19:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/04/09/voices-from-the-classroom-296/#IDComment619361224 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/04/05/voices-from-the-classroom-294/#IDComment614003564 I think the reason white guys who are interested in dating minority girls don’t approach women of color when sober is mostly because they are probably unsure if the interest of dating outside one’s race is mutual. The society we live in, while very heavily integrated, is still socially segregated on some levels. Looking around campus, I very often see people hanging out with others of the same race as them. So when people grow up mostly just associating with others who are like them, it might be slightly intimidating to step outside that box and interact with others from a different background. White guys who have grown up with little interaction with minority women, probably only feel comfortable approaching these women when drinking at a party because the alcohol helps to ease their nerves. I think this also has a lot to do with the portrayal of interracial relationships in the media. With the exception of white men with Asian women, very rarely do you see on television or in movies white guys with black/Latina women. It gives off the impression that maybe black and Latina women aren’t interested in dating white guys, so the guys do not try to approach them in real life. The same goes for black and Latina women who do not think white guys are interested in dating them. This lack of representation in the media, as well as a lack of representation in society, seems to make it harder for white guys to approach minority women on the streets, in school, etc. At a party, the high energy atmosphere and large mix of people makes it easier to approach and talk to people one normally wouldn’t. Also, if a white guy doesn’t have many minority friends, then it might make him a bit nervous to approach a minority female on the streets who he thinks, or knows, doesn’t have many white friends. Then he might be faced with rejection because for all he knows, if she doesn’t have any white friends then that might mean she’s not interested in dating white guys. For example: I’m black and currently dating a white guy who I met through a mutual friend, and he asked me out outside the elements of a party. But I’m pretty much the only minority in my group of friends, and even in my larger social circles there are only three or four other minorities besides me. I think that knowing that a very large majority of my friends are white made it easier for him to approach me because it was more obvious that I had no problems with dating outside of my race. Of course, that’s not to say that minority girls who only have friends the same race as them aren’t interested in interracial dating because most of them probably are, but their interest is probably seen as less clear. Sun, 7 Apr 2013 21:38:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/04/05/voices-from-the-classroom-294/#IDComment614003564 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/03/28/voices-from-the-classroom-283/#IDComment608386950 This is a hard topic to come to an absolute conclusion on, because while it is important to try and help others around the world, it is also very important to help out fellow citizens right at home. In my opinion, I think more money should be spent helping the homeless and impoverished right here in America. Because it doesn’t look good if we are giving a lot of our money to others, but our own people are suffering and struggling to survive. It is almost like a mother ignoring her own children’s needs to help and provide for the children of the family net door. Though, it is also important to take into account a point Sam brought up from a lecture a few weeks ago: The poorest people in our country are still better off than the poor of third world countries. With that in mind, it makes things a bit more difficult. But I still believe those in need here should at least get the best help that we can give them before we spend millions of dollars elsewhere. An exception to this, however, is sending aid in times of emergency. The earthquake in Haiti and the tsunami in Japan were devastating occurrences that no one expected, and they caused so much death and damage that it only seemed right that countries around the world helped to support the two nations in their times of need. In these times of urgency, it is important that all nations that are able to send the money and supplies that can be used to help the safety and survival of the survivors of these tragedies. Otherwise, if there is no state of emergency that needs to be taken care of with our assistance, then an equal number of money should be spent on aid here in the United States and abroad. And in the case of Native Americans, I think they certainly deserve to receive a sufficient amount of money and support from our government. It was the development of this country that left them in the horrible state they are in now, and I do not think it is fair at all. This was originally their land that we now live on, so I think it is disgusting how it seems they have been left to die off with almost no care at all from our government. It certainly sends off a bad message about our country if we cannot take care of our own people, and especially if we do nothing to help the descendants of those we stole this land from. There are many issues in the United State that need a lot more attention and money spent on developing ways to fix them. Sun, 31 Mar 2013 20:18:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/03/28/voices-from-the-classroom-283/#IDComment608386950 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/03/21/voices-from-the-classroom-275/#IDComment603261761 The way I see it, inequality has to do more with how one group of people is treated differently from another; unfairness is when an individual is treated differently from another individual. So, I think inequality is unfairness on a larger scale. Not letting black and brown people do the same high paying jobs as whites is inequality, because the groups are getting experiences that are not on an equal level with the other. On the other hand: if Person A and Person B are both equally qualified for the same job they’re applying for, and Person B does not get the job only because Person A happens to have the same dog as the interviewer, then that’s unfair. Because that decision was based on something specific to that one person. When I think of unfair, I think of children bickering over who gets the last popsicle in the freezer before a parent gives it to one child and the other goes off to throw a tantrum shouting about how unfair it is. When I think of inequality, I think of the Civil Rights Movement and all those people who fought to have the same equal rights as whites in this country. In response to the end of the question, with the example of the different heights, I once saw a newspaper cartoon that illustrated the differences of equality for a conservative and a liberal but the same concept can be used here. Say you have three people of three different heights, and like in the video: Tall is white, medium is Asian, and short is blacks/Native Americans. Take these three people and take them to a baseball game, but the thing is that they have to watch from behind a wall; only the tallest person can see the game from over the wall. This is inequality represented in a simple way. To make things equal, you give the other two who can’t see enough boxes for them to stand on (according to their height) so that they are also able to see the game. This way, all three have an equal advantage of watching the game. But only like this. If you were to give everyone one box, then the tallest person would be even higher above the wall, the medium height person would just be barely able to see over the wall, and the shortest would still be blocked from the view. In order to make things equal, each person must receive just enough to help them catch up to the others based on their situation. Some may say this is unfair, but I don’t see how one can look around them, see how much struggling others have to go through to have even a chance at the same opportunity, and complain. Sun, 24 Mar 2013 20:09:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/03/21/voices-from-the-classroom-275/#IDComment603261761 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/03/12/voices-from-the-classroom-269/#IDComment597405815 I think it is kind of sad that we live in a society where women feel embarrassed, or told to feel embarrassed, to openly state that they are menstruating. It is a completely natural thing, and nearly all women experience it or have experienced it. And as Sam mentioned in class, none of us would be here if our mothers did not menstruate. But that just goes to show that we live in a world dominated by men. Because of how our society caters more to men, “girl problems” become taboo subjects that women are told not to talk about openly. And it is not only the topic of periods that are treated this way, it is also the subject of female masturbation. To me, it seems as though guys masturbating is an okay thing to do and perfectly normal. But for some reason female masturbation is some kind of big deal that girls are shamed into not admitting. So there is definitely a difference in how open guys are allowed to be about their bodies versus how open women can be. However, Sam also mentioned how things would probably be different in society if we lived in a society dominated by women. A society where women on their periods are treated with the same tenderness and care as a pregnant woman is treated in society today. Though I can’t say for sure that I would want everyone to go out of their way to accommodate me just because I am menstruating, but it would be nice for their to be some changes toward how the subject is treated. For example, guys joking about how girls are probably being “bitchy” or “overemotional” because they’re on their period. I have never found that to be funny, just annoying. And I think that in a society led by women, men would not use menstruation as a means to make women feel weak. Much of how women and women’s issues are treated has to do with the fact that our society is dominated by the male perspective. Because of this, women have less freedom to openly discuss the things that trouble us. No matter how natural and common they may be. Hopefully we will be able to change how our society approaches such issues, but I don’t expect that to happen anytime soon. Especially since we are still facing the problem of people not wanting to give women the choice of what to do with their own bodies, in cases such as abortion and pregnancy. And many of those who try to mandate such issues are men, which is ridiculous considering they don’t have any idea what women have to deal with regarding their bodies. Sun, 17 Mar 2013 03:29:11 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/03/12/voices-from-the-classroom-269/#IDComment597405815 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/28/voices-from-the-classroom-261/#IDComment583248376 I definitely think that the light skin vs. dark skin debate in the black community definitely goes back to the days of slavery. If a slave was of a lighter complexion, they were usually made a house slave as they were seen as being more acceptable to serve the master’s guests in the house. The slaves of darker complexion worked out in the fields and did more of the dirty work. A lighter complexion meant the slave looked a bit more like white people, and that made them fit to be housemaids and servants. And by doing this, we see that the lighter skinned slaves were given a bit of favor over those with darker skin. I have read different information of really light skinned blacks being able to pass off as white, which gave them opportunities darker skinned blacks did not have. It was all absolutely horrible, of course, but it shows how deeply rooted this problem in the black community is. This problem has changed in current society. Instead of lighter skin being a way to escape some of the problems faced by blacks during slavery, it is now seen by many blacks as an ideal beauty feature. In many different areas of entertainment such as music, television, movies, etc., lighter skinned blacks (especially women) seem to be the preference. And instead of this preference being made from those outside the black community, it is one that is made amongst blacks. There have been many times on the internet in which I have read someone’s opinion on how darker skinned blacks are not attractive. And the saddest part is that the people voicing that opinion are usually black themselves. It is a very bizarre thing to take notice of. But it is not surprising when we look at the problem of a lighter skin preference being a worldwide issue. We talked about skin whitening creams in class, and I have certainly heard about many blacks bleaching their own skin so it becomes much lighter. Just like many issues regarding race today, this problem is definitely not anything new and can be traced back hundreds of years. Having lighter skin meant looking more like the master, a person of power and much higher societal status. Of course, these days “looking like the master” is not why light skin is popular in the black community, but it certainly helped to start it. Also, darker skin is seen as negative because of connotations of being evil or bad. In class, one girl stated how her father did not like how she dated darker skinned black guys. And my guess is that it is because black guys with dark skin are given a bad reputation right from their birth. They are seen as criminals, and people who will not do much with their lives. It is a disgusting view, but I certainly think it is something that needs to change right away. Sun, 3 Mar 2013 05:11:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/28/voices-from-the-classroom-261/#IDComment583248376 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/21/voices-from-the-classroom-257/#IDComment577904352 If I were to wake up tomorrow and discover that God does not exist, how I live my life would not change. I do consider myself Christian, and I do believe in God, but my life is not centered around the religion or its teachings. I definitely consider myself a spiritual person rather than religious, and I do not attend church on my own will. I do however believe that God started the process of evolution, and many of my other beliefs are also a mix of religious and scientific. But I still do not think that the realization of there being no God would alter my life all that much. It would affect me a bit, of course. For most of my life I have been struggling with what to believe and wondering about the existence of there being such a being as God. So, to learn that it is absolutely guaranteed that such an existence is false would certainly jar me a bit. However, overall I would still live my life in a very similar way. I would still do the morally right things, although I no longer have to fear God’s judgment. And I would still highly appreciate nature and the beauty in the world around us even without having to think of it as works of God. While I believe in God, I can say that all of my decisions in life have been made without taking into consideration whether or not they are right in God’s eyes. So if I were to learn that God does not exist after all, I would just continue to make the same decisions. I can see how the discovery of there being no God would very heavily alter the lives of people all across the world, as looking to God helps many get through life and struggles. So to have no God to look to, they would lose faith in life and not know exactly how to continue without such an important part of their life. Many people use God as a reason to be a good person. If they are morally just and right and do good things throughout their life, then they have a better chance of getting into Heaven. But I do not think that’s right. People should do good no matter what. God or no God. If I discover that God absolutely does not exist, that would not stop me from being a good person and helping others. And I sincerely hope that that would not stop others from being good people, either. Also, I do believe that the confirmation of there being no God would solve a lot of political debates in which people use religion as a reason to be against something. And my hope would be that it would make it a lot easier for people to come to agreements on changes that should be made in our nation. Sat, 23 Feb 2013 23:21:25 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/21/voices-from-the-classroom-257/#IDComment577904352 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/14/voices-from-the-classroom-246/#IDComment572902752 While I have certainly never considered myself as being “rich” before, I completely understood what Sam was saying in class about all of us in that room being in the top five percent of wealth in the world. Because I can only get a firsthand view of what is directly around me, of course I am going to compare myself with those right around me and think that I have a much lower amount of wealth than some of my fellow classmates. But because of that, it is so easy to forget just how much suffering is going on in the rest of the world. Growing up, my family had many times when we had to be tight with our money for certain amounts of time. Still, my parents were always able to buy my brothers and I toys, gadgets, and other things that were unnecessary to our survival. Comparing that to children in third world countries whose families can’t even afford clothes, water, food, etc., it is so easy to see how rich I truly am. Being able to have a roof over my head my whole life; having closets full of clothes and the ability to buy more; being able to buy whatever food I want whenever—these are things I take for granted so often, and it is really unfortunate that I do not treasure these privileges as highly as I should. Just by living in America, I have been given much more privilege than many poor people in other countries will ever have. Even the homeless in America could be considered to have some wealth because this country has many resources, as was stated in class, to help them out and make sure they get a meal and place to get out of the cold when it becomes dangerous to one’s health. Meanwhile, there are countries that really cannot afford to help its homeless in such a way. It is true that there are those in this country that struggle financially, but those struggles are almost nothing compared to the struggles of those in third world countries. I think we all tend to forget that. And thinking about it now, I feel that I should no longer take what I have for granted. Especially the very simple things that I overlook all the time. I feel truly blessed that I was born into a life where I do not have to watch my younger siblings die from starvation because my parents have absolutely no way of getting money. That is a reality for way too many children, and it’s about time I see it as a reality and not just some thirty second television commercial starring some celebrity. Sat, 16 Feb 2013 21:32:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/14/voices-from-the-classroom-246/#IDComment572902752 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/07/voices-from-the-classroom-240/#IDComment567432817 If I knew my child was gay, I would not tell them. At least not at a very young age. A person’s sexuality is a big part of their identity, so I would not want to force them into making important decisions so early in their life. I think it is important for children to not be forced into roles so early on in life. Instead I believe that they should be left to figure out things about themselves on their own. Guidance from parents is good, of course, but not if misguides a child away from who they truly are. I would never sit down with my child (if they were under the age of sixteen or so) and flat out tell them that they are in fact homosexual. If they ever have any questions, then I would want them to feel comfortable enough to ask me. Then I would give them an answer, but only if they were to approach me first. Of course, if things get really troublesome and they are worried about why they feel so different from everyone else- then I would have a talk with them. If my child were so confused and unsure of themselves that they were holding all their problems in and truly struggling in life, I would make sure to start having a series of discussions with them. This would be to help them understand some of the feelings they may be having trouble with, and to help them feel that they do not have to struggle by themselves. Also, if I had a feeling that my child was gay but not absolutely sure of it, then I would make sure there were no barriers to keep them from going where they would naturally go in life. If I had a boy that at a young age became interested in toys and clothes that are usually meant for girls, then I would still buy him those things. Even if I was unsure whether he was gay or just going through a phase or whatever, I would let him go with what felt right to him. Limiting a child from things because it is not “right for their gender” just ends up limiting a child’s identity. And I would never want to purposefully deny my child what makes them feel comfortable in their skin. Giving a child a wide variety of options is a great way to help them figure out on their own what is right for them and who they are. Though it is certainly a major leap over the barriers set up in society about what is specifically for girls and what is specifically for boys. So, while I would not come straight out and tell my child that they are homosexual, I would subtly let them know that there is nothing wrong with that way of life. And when the time ever comes, I would hope that they feel absolutely comfortable in coming out to me. Sat, 9 Feb 2013 21:38:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/02/07/voices-from-the-classroom-240/#IDComment567432817 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/01/31/voices-from-the-classroom-235/#IDComment560537135 Approaching someone who has a serious problem that can endanger their life (such as cutting, eating disorders, etc.) with the intention of helping them can be very difficult. Certain things said could cause the person’s problem to worsen, so it’s best to approach them the right way. I certainly think it’s wrong to approach someone with a very serious problem and tell them, “I know how you feel.” Because you probably don’t know. If a person is heavily suffering with something that is affecting their life and the way they behave and think, the last thing they’ll want is for someone to make assumptions about how they think they feel. So the “walk a mile in their shoes” concept is not a good way to get somebody the help they need. I believe the best way to talk to someone who is struggling is to let them know as much as possible how much you care for them and that you’re there to support them. Letting them know that they can always talk to you if they need it may help to open them up a bit more to seeking help. Doing this, it is also important to not be judgmental and point fault at the person for their problems. As we discussed in class, what are often thought of as personal struggles are usually public problems. So this struggle is a result of the various happenings that have gone on in society and in the person’s life. Letting them know that they are not to blame is an important step to getting that person help. And letting that person know that they are not alone in this struggle is also important. Sometimes it helps to know that there are other people out there who have the same problem. Though the circumstances of others’ problems may be different, knowing that you’re not the only one suffering through it can certainly help. Tough love is another thing that is needed when getting someone to seek help. A constant motivator who is there to make sure that the one suffering is doing all that they can to get better. This can be through making sure they go to every therapy session, making sure they eat healthily, etc. Though it can be difficult, having someone constantly pushing you to do better is good encouragement to actually do better. Though it is important to not overdo it, and to know when to step back and give the person time to get themselves through certain problems along the way to recovery. Although these problems are not as personal as the one suffering through them may think, it is still important to give them help in a way that best fits them alone. Sat, 2 Feb 2013 04:58:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/01/31/voices-from-the-classroom-235/#IDComment560537135 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/01/18/voices-from-the-classroom-229/#IDComment548629220 When Sam questioned the girl in class on Friday on whether she was actually white, it didn’t strike me as odd at all. In the past, I’ve had people ask me if I was anything other than black and I’ve never found any offense in it. In my experience, when asked I always answer that I’m not sure and how my family often speaks of how we have Native American, Portuguese, and Irish ancestry. And although I’m not completely sure whether I can trace my lineage back to those cultures exactly, it is correct to say that my ancestors definitely came from other areas besides just Africa. For thousands of years people have been migrating and moving around the world, so it should be of no complete and utter surprise to anyone to find that they have an ancestor who is of a race they did not expect. Unless you’re from a family that has stayed in one single area for centuries and didn’t interact with anybody else from other areas, then it is very likely that there’s a good chance that racial mixing has happened in your family’s history. In my opinion, I think the whole concept of genealogy and tracing your family back to various places in the world is extremely intriguing. If you can trace your family back to multiple areas throughout the world, then it means you have various ancestors who could’ve been a part of important world histories. In terms of having people unexpectedly approach others and questioning them on their race, I don’t see anything offensive about it. If someone were to approach me and ask if I was part Asian, or Hispanic, or whatever, I’d just think it interesting that I appear to be mixed with that race. To be offended by the idea seems like a problem to me. It makes the person offended appear to be disgusted by the idea of having ancestry from that race. The girl who was put on the spot on Friday took the situation in a good way. Though it was probably a bit uncomfortable to be picked out from a class of well over five hundred people, she stated that she didn’t have any knowledge of anything but white in her family, and she stated that her being questioned wasn’t offensive. If it were me I’d probably be a bit nervous, but it wouldn’t really bother me. Perhaps a big part of why some people might be uncomfortable with the idea of having unexpected ancestors, is that those people are unsure of how it will affect how they and others see them. Maybe they’re afraid that they’ll find out they have genes from a race they didn’t expect and it affect them negatively, though that’s more of a problem with our society as a whole. Sat, 19 Jan 2013 22:06:11 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2013/01/18/voices-from-the-classroom-229/#IDComment548629220 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment145198725 What Americans fear when it comes to Muslims and the Middle East is the generalization of the extremes of the two. Since September 11, 2001, Muslims and Middle Easterners have been seen as a danger to our country. This fear stems from the generalization that all Muslims and Middle Easterners are like the terrorists that killed thousands on 9/11. Right after 9/11 there was a surge in hate crimes against the two groups in America. In my neighborhood, a young boy was beat up pretty badly by an older boy for being a Middle Eastern Muslim, "like the terrorists". These days, you don't hear much of the hate held for the groups in America as people have learned better. However, for many the fear is still there. For those who still hold a fear of Muslims and Middle Easterners, they picture all of the two groups to be like those in the video. They see them all as violent, anti-American, anti-everything that they are. Especially for Christian Americans who fear that Muslims want to kill them, their family and friends, because of their religious beliefs and non-belief in Allah. It makes sense that this fear exists. After 9/11 all you would see in the news were images and videos of people in the Middle East burning American flags, looking joyful, and seeming to be celebrating. Because of these images constantly put out by the media, this is the general image that Americans had in their heads of all Middle Easterners. Of course all these images did was to provoke a rise in hate and cause many Americans support the war on terrorism. This war, many hoped, would defeat the “evil agenda” of the Muslims and others in the Middle East. It basically seems like a Christian Invasion to turn people to Christianity, as we saw in the film we watched a couple of weeks ago. Many are unable to separate extremist Muslims, and those connected to the Taliban, from those who follow the Muslim faith but in no way support anything to do with terrorism and the harm of others in the name of Allah. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 19:46:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment145198725 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/transgendered-complications/#IDComment143271543 Though it has been proven that a person’s physical gender can be different from the gender they identify with, due to a happening with hormones, I’m not surprised stuff like this happens. Society likes when things are kept normal and the same. When something comes along and interferes with what we perceive as “normalcy”, people immediately go against it. Especially with an issue such as this. Everywhere in life we see just the two options: Male and female. You’re either born a man, or born a woman. That’s what society basically says. Up to a hundred, maybe less, years ago no one would go against that because it was a fact of life. It was normal. Now, in our lifetime, society is having to re-evaluate this and many people certainly aren’t comfortable with even the thought of changing what has been “normal” for basically ever. I certainly believe that if there is a change of hormones in a person’s body as they are still developing as a fetus, than they can be born with the wrong gender. It doesn’t seem right to force them into living their life wrong. Everything in life as we know it is not normal. Things change, and though society may have a problem with it, society should change as well. Throughout history what has been seen as “normal” has been challenged, and eventually they’ve all become the norm, at least for some. In this case, I think it will only be a matter of time until transgendered people are also considered “normal” by a majority of our society instead of being looked down upon as odd. Mr. Devoureau should have been able to keep his job, as he refers to himself as a male, and all of his legal documents do so as well. So many establishments claim that they do not discriminate based on “gender identity or expression”, but this article makes me wonder how many actually would if this situation would happen to them. If we want to make progress in society, we need to change. And just putting it down in words is not enough. It has to be shown through action as well. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:32:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/transgendered-complications/#IDComment143271543 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/women-and-war/#IDComment141107060 While it didn’t bring me to awe or make me think over anything I hadn’t before, I found this speech to be very well done and powerful concerning most of the points touched upon. When thinking of war the first thing that comes to a person’s mind, however it may be argued, is a man, perhaps carrying a weapon or whatnot. Even myself, my thoughts go straight to men on a battlefield. This could be untrue, perhaps, for those who personally know a female soldier. But a very large majority of us do not. When thinking of war we think of the men going off to fight, getting hurt, getting killed, fighting for their country, etc. But as the speaker said, there is life being carried on as before that no one really considers. Especially in war torn countries. War is such a masculine thing, dominated by men. However, the world is not occupied by men and men alone. I fully agree 100% that women should be brought into war negotiations, because there may be a war going on for the men, but life still goes on for those at home caring for their families, namely the women. When watching the news, all the time you’ll see footage from the war over in the Middle East. Soldiers out patrolling the streets, maybe you’ll see soldiers with their weapons and tanks. Just by seeing the images shown on TV, one may think that those places are total war zones, destroyed by the fighting. But what you don’t see are the women cleaning, cooking, and taking care of their kids. Not only the home life, but you also don’t see much of the women taking a stand and sharing their voices with the world. The world has always been this way when it comes to war. There may be female soldiers fighting for their countries now, but on a whole it’s a near completely masculine concept. Those at the top, the leaders who decide what actions to take, when, where, and how to take them are men. If there’s any concern on how the war will affect the innocent, the children, families, etc., then of course women should be brought in for the talks. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 22:43:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/women-and-war/#IDComment141107060 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/30/so-what-your-take-on-those-inequality-classes/#IDComment139241483 As most of the people who posted already have said: The great amount of inequality between classes in our country is nothing new, surprising, or secret. It is a well known fact that the upper-class has a wealth far larger than that of the middle and lower classes. The distribution of wealth in this country is almost sickening. But that’s basically how it’s always been. Looking at it from a distance one could say that it is not fair, and something should be changed about it. But, honestly, to change it would take years and a lot of digging deep. A majority of the wealth is passed down in families, which makes it hard for people who wish to rise up from upper-middle/middle to the upper class. It almost seems like we are playing a ridiculous game, in my opinion. In America, you are expected to succeed. You go through schooling for so many years, struggling in college to work for that degree, all to get a good job. After college, sometimes many people struggle to even find a good job in their field, or in any field that will take them. They work, and work, and work to provide for their families. But unless they are very fortunate, the chances of them making it into the upper-class, if that is what they wish, is very slim and close to none. On the other hand, you have people who come from a very long line of wealth who seem to have nearly everything handed to them on a plate. They get into the best colleges, get the best jobs, and can do all of these things that we in the middle class can only work hard toward even trying to reach. In society, people complain often about the disparities in classes. But only very few actually try to change it, and stand up to all of the wrong that is being committed. This is because, as we talked about in class, many hope to someday be a part of the upper class. So, why bash on it if that will one day be them? Sat, 2 Apr 2011 00:47:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/30/so-what-your-take-on-those-inequality-classes/#IDComment139241483 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment137603091 I really have to agree with this article. Though certainly not within the next five decades, but I do believe that at some point in the not too distant future religion will no longer be practiced. I have way more friends who consider themselves atheist or non-practicing, than I have friends who do practice a religion on a regular basis. I consider myself Christian, but besides Christmas and Easter, I don’t attend church. Sometimes I pray, and perhaps once every two months I will read a section of my bible, but unlike devout Christians I do not make it a priority to do these things regularly. I certainly agree with the statement about people wanting to be a part of the majority. More and more people these days are choosing to opt out of practicing a religion, and it seems to me that the “cool” thing now is to not have a religion at all. On the internet, I often see, mostly teens, people who stress their atheism as those it gives them cool points. I have a friend who is a very devout Christian, that is what she is known for, besides her kindness, and that’s also what she is sometimes mocked for. I do not care if a person is religious or not, but the thought of religion going extinct completely is a bit unsettling for me. I agree that religion is often the cause of wars and problems, but it is also something of a spirit lifter for many. Like Buddhism, or the more spiritual side of Christianity, so many people find relaxation and comfort with meditation and praying. If all of this is gone in the future, then what will people turn to? Maybe society will become a place where people don’t need to seek such salvation, but most likely not. I definitely don’t see religion losing base in the U.S. anytime soon, even 100 years from now. Perhaps in those countries listed the extinction of religion will come relatively soon, but for the rest of the world I think it will take a lot longer. Even if religion as a whole becomes obsolete, I believe there will still be many people who believe in a God or higher power. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:37:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment137603091 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/14/kids-getting-life-how-is-this-serving-us-really/#IDComment135904699 I agree with this entire entry. Seeing that number of juvenile lifers in Pennsylvania is very saddening, and a total surprise. I didn’t think the number would even pass 50. This is a very interesting topic to think about. In my opinion, there are some people who deserve life in prison for the crimes they commit and the pain they cause to others. However, for someone who’s only 13-16 years of age to get life in prison seems almost ridiculous. One could argue that these kids are old enough to know what’s morally right and wrong, but they don’t have as much knowledge of the justice system to prevent themselves from getting life in prison. It’s understandable if they had been sent to a juvenile correction facility for a certain number of years, and then transfer to a prison for another number of years. But to give someone an entire life sentence for what they may have done when they were maybe 13 or 14? At that age they’re barely in high school. And yes, they did something wrong, when we’re young we all do. Their crimes may have been more severe than what a bunch of pranksters may do while bored on the weekend, but I don’t think it’s fitting to just lock them up forever. Obviously the problems these kids have started in the home, or maybe at school. So instead of just throwing them in the cell when they commit the crime, something should be done way ahead of time to prevent it from even having the opportunity to happen. I don’t understand how it’s acceptable to give life to someone who has yet to even finish high school as they’re supposed to. Life should be given to those who are 18 and up, when you’re legally considered an adult. I’m kind of unsure with those who are the age of 17. But I definitely think that 16 and under is an unacceptable age bracket for a person to get life in prison. Hopefully, sometime in the near future Pennsylvania, and the rest of the nation, will look into this matter and consider changing the policy. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:35:41 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/14/kids-getting-life-how-is-this-serving-us-really/#IDComment135904699 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-much-government-do-we-need/#IDComment128981827 In my opinion, this is a question that really can not be answered so easily. At any degree of government there will be problems, because there are always people who find something that they disagree with. Of course, a dictatorship and anything near that level would be too much. Stripping people of their freedoms is not something to be done at all. Not only is it wrong for the people, but I do not see how a government can expect to last long treating its citizens in such a way. This much is evident from the revolutions that have happened recently in the Middle East. As time goes on, having little to no freedoms causes the anger and resentment of the people to build up until it eventually erupts into a backlash. Dictators may see a strict ruling as holding a revolt down, but all that causes is the anger to build up more. I do not think that there should be no government in place at all; some regulation is needed after all. If there were not as many laws, then yeah, the crime rate would possibly go down, but then there would still be those people who would take advantage of that. And then what could we do to them? Nothing, because there would be no law stating that they could not behave in such a way. Certain laws are set in place for a reason, because people commit those crimes. Sure, the majority of the population may not, but the law is set in order to protect the majority. When it comes to the issue with Michelle Obama and involving the government in health, I think it is okay for the government to become involved. I do not mean to pass laws regulating what we can and can not eat, but the government could better advise people as to what choices they could be making to better their health. As long as the government is not forcing you to eat certain foods or exercise however many times a week, I do not see what is wrong with simple advising. However, the government doesn’t have to have a say in everything people do. Some things aren’t up to the government decide, especially in our private lives. Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:30:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-much-government-do-we-need/#IDComment128981827 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment126075405 The experiment in this video is a prime example of how we as individuals behave in group settings. Even those of us who try to go against the norm and strive for individuality can never truly break out of group thinking. Because we are all raised from infanthood to act according to the rules of society, we expect for those rules to be followed by everyone at all times. So when people break these rules of society, and go out of the norm, we feel uncomfortable. The same goes for those rules that are not actually taught but just common knowledge of society, such as facing forward in an elevator. With this experiment, what is especially exemplified is how an individual changes his or her actions to fit that of the group’s, even if the group’s actions are out of the norm. The actions of the candid subjects in the video are very funny to watch, especially the third subject who follows the seemingly ridiculous actions of the others in the elevator without question. Almost instantly he changes his actions so as to not be out of place from the group. While amusing, this is also very interesting social commentary. To see how far a person will go to fit with the group is an odd thing, but when we are the ones trying to fit in we do not realize the peculiarity of our actions. What is funny about social conformity is to see rules broken by an individual versus rules broken by a whole group. If an individual goes against the norm, they are seen as odd, and in some cases they are out casted. However, when a group of people break the rules of society together, if done enough times, it becomes the norm and is seen as right. For example, if during a class only one student begins packing up to leave five minutes before the class actually ends, they are seen as being rude. But, if on the other hand, a majority of the students do the same each class period, it will eventually become normal for the rest of the students. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 04:42:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/30/conformity-rules-the-day/#IDComment126075405