en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/762572 Comments by Sashaaaaxo4 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/stories-for-uplift__trashed/#IDComment71463901 This video was very touching and actually made me tear up in class. At first I didn’t understand what was occurring so I had to watch it over again and that was when I finally understood. These two little children were in love and they did not know how one another felt for the other one. When they finally discovered that they were feeling the same way it was nothing but happiness. Whenever I would tell an adult I was in love or whenever I would hear a friend tell their parents they were in love, the response we always received was that we were too young and knew nothing about love. This angered me because I hate people telling me that I do not know things are I am too “young” to experience the real thing. These two little kids are definitely too young, but who are we to tell them they do not know anything about love? If anything they know more about love than a lot of people do because their love is innocent. They do not see or have to deal with the superficial things adults are coping with in society today and they are free to just love. After all, isn’t that what love is all about? To be free and share beautiful emotions with someone who can share them with you also? I guess I would not know because according to everyone I was never in “love.” It is sad that they could never be together because of their race, but it something I could relate to. I was born in the Bronx, New York so I was mainly surrounded by people of color. I never really saw white people unless it was on television or across the street where the court house was. Even then I never really looked at them as being white because it was never an interest to me. This changed when I moved to Pennsylvania and became one of the few Latinas in the school. The setting had changed and now I was the one who was different. My best friends were now white and I even started liking white boys. It was not until high school when I had my first real boyfriend, who was white. I thought I was in love with him, but of course my mother would say no. She did not want me to have a boyfriend because I was too “young.” At the time I did not agree, but looking back at it she had a reason to say this. It did not bother me as much that she did not want me to have a boyfriend, but that she told me I should not be with a white boy and she rather me be with someone of my own culture. I did not understand and I was going through my rebel stage, so I refused to listen to her anyway. She tried to explain that we just came from two different cultures and understanding each other would be difficult and so would life if we were to end up together. Honestly, she may have been right, but if I was really in love who is she to tell me what is right? Love has no color and it shouldn’t, which is why when children love it is so pure and real. It is innocent. Fri, 30 Apr 2010 09:58:17 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/stories-for-uplift__trashed/#IDComment71463901 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68449127 In America we are under the belief that we are all free and everyone is equal. This is wrong and is pretty evident throughout society. First off, black and white people are not equal because of white superiority, which traces back to the times of slavery. This is portrayed in jobs, housing and education. In most situations whites have the better jobs, live in the better areas and have the better education to be able to own all of this. Men and women, even though are not a race, can be compared to this concept. Inequality between men and women dates back to the time before Jesus. I am catholic so my God is a man and in the bible we believe that God made Adam first, who is also a man. Men were created first and this gives them the upper hand in a lot. Also, in some countries such as Europe men always controlled the women and told them what to do. Women were subordinate to them and did as they were told. In some Latin countries today this is still evident. For example, in Dominican Republic it is the women who cook, clean and care for the house. They are not supposed to do hard labor or have an “important” job. Their role is to care for the house, the children and of course the men. The typical job that they would have outside the house would be a beauty salon or working at a grocery store, which their husband owns. In society today women are always trying to improve themselves to live up and beyond the male standards. We are highly influenced by the media especially with the “perfect” appearance and looking appealing for men. In the work place we always have to look presentable with our hair done, nails done and that tight fitting work suit. What is this all for? T he real answer is to be better than the men. It also goes back to the slogan that “what you can do, Women can do better.” The reason why men do not conform to society, as much to a degree as women do is because they already have the upper hand. They do not need to change much about themselves to be better than women because in society’s eyes they already are better. Men are the ones who are the doctors, lawyers, engineers or accountants. They are the ones who buy the large houses and the cars. It is true that women are beginning to move up in this world, but the pace is very slow. Men change or alter their appearance, not to conform to society but to compete with other men in society. Males are very competitive and do anything to look better than the other male. They buy the better clothes; they go to the gym and brag about pointless things. Sadly, women are one of those important things, but it all has to do with competition. Men do not conform to society, but compete within society. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:21:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68449127 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65676503 When I first saw this video it was shocking to me at first and even made me tear up a little, but then I began to understand the children. At first when I saw the black children choosing the white doll over the black one I asked myself why and I could not think of a reason. I did not understand how, at such a young age, children and see color and beauty in color? Then I thought back to the biggest influence of children at this age and it is Disney and toys. All of the princess’ in Disney have been white or had white features. The characters have the nice hair which could be easily combed, the perfect figure and the nice rosy check bones. These are the images small girls saw and wanted to be like so of course their vision of beauty was this white figure. I can’t relate to this because growing up my favorite princess was Jasmine. She was of darker skin tone and had the beautiful black long hair like I did. I could never relate to the other princess’ so this was why Jasmine was my favorite. It is possible that some younger girls of color cannot relate like I do so that is why they love the white image. Another big influence on young girls are Barbie’s. Every little girl growing up love playing with Barbie’s and at first the only Barbie’s being made were white ones. I am guilty of the Barbie epidemic as well. As a young girl I had two types of Barbie’s. I had the white doll which was my collector’s item and I never took it out of the box. I would leave it in the box and just look at how beautiful she looked. The Barbie’s I did play with were the slightly darker ones. I played with these as well because they looked the most similar to me. I am not sure why this is how it is or why other children just automatically chose the white doll, but these two factors may play a big part in it. Something that confuses me is why some of the males chose the white doll. Boys do not play with dolls or watch Disney princess movies so I am still confused as to why they would choose the white doll. I guess the only reason for this would be the media. On television most of the models are white, actors are white and even most teachers are white. Depending on who children look up to is who they believe beauty is and it would make sense that this is the reason why beauty may be seen as white. Sat, 3 Apr 2010 01:16:22 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65676503 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64228713 My feelings toward discussing the period issue are very mixed along with what I call it. I was totally shocked when Sam used the word bleeding. I would not have been so shocked if he would have used menstrual cycle of period just because those terms are not as visual. I feel like the more visual something is the more response or reaction we get to it. Bleeding is very visual especially for females because we have to see this each month. Some males may have been disgusted and wanted to leave the room because bleeding from anywhere else in your body may be okay, but from the vagina it could be seen as disgusting to them. This could be because they mostly associate this part of the body with sex and sex and blood just do not really go together. I think that is why the term bleeding received such uproar in the classroom. It all had to do with the visual aspects behind it. I personally am comfortable to an extent talking about my period to people. With other girls I am really comfortable and even warm them that I have it so expect me to be a bitch and in pain. They totally agree and we even joke about it because we can relate to each other. When I was younger I was embarrassed to send my dad to the store to buy me feminine products just because I was embarrassed to ask him. I was taught that this is something only females get so I thought we were the only ones who knew about it. Boy, was I wrong. As I grew up and started dating I became more open to discussing my period because of course I would be in pain and be highly emotional, which in turn made the bitch in me come out even more. My boyfriends wanted to know why the drastic change and I would tell them because I had my period. I didn’t feel weird telling them because they had sisters and they understood. We wouldn’t talk about it though and that was good, but I definitely got everything I wanted for that whole week. It was amazing and I definitely took advantage of it. With some of my male friends it is a different story. I could have the worst cramps ever and they could ask me what is wrong and I would tell them my stomach hurts. They would immediately ask me if I had eaten or had to use the BR because that would be their reason for their stomach hurting. When I would smack them and say no it’s cramps idiots they would say ohh and leave me alone. With a stranger or boys I do not really know I don’t warn them that it is that time of the month. If they feel my wrath then I’m sorry, but I’m just not comfortable with that. It may be because just what Sam had said. This is a man’s world and some of them are just not educated in this topic, so why bother discussing it with someone who will be disgusted right off the bat. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:13:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64228713 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment62906006 The reason we learn history the way we do in school is because of the authors and location. This means who wrote the textbooks and where they are from or who they are trying to target. In most cases if not all, a white man is writing these books so he will recreate slavery from his point of view. Also, if we are describing slavery in the U.S. they will only touch lightly on slavery in other parts of the world. Slavery may have been worst in these other parts, but we will never be taught that because of who the author is and who their targeted audience is. These textbooks are the ones we use in school throughout the years and are how we learn about slavery. Most white people may not feel as guilty when they read these textbooks because a lot of the most graphic material and violence is left out. Sometimes the way slavery is portrayed in books lets some people believe that it was not even wrong and this may be viewed as racism today, but then it just goes back to who wrote the book. It was not until I entered high school and started reading books on slavery written by slave refugees or victims that I began to understand the horror and severity of it all. In some schools some students may not have access to these kinds of books or learning this point of view on slavery may not be taught. Therefore the students may never learn. It does not mean that they are racist, but it is ignorant. This could always be the reason why some white people do not understand why certain black people feel the way they do about white people. They may not understand that things are not equal despite how they “claim” to be. In some of the schools in which white students are required to read these books they get the other side of the story. This is when they may begin to start feeling that white guilt. They get the ‘real” story from the people themselves and feel sorry that their ancestors could have done this. They begin to think about how inhumane it is and guilty that even though they may not have owned slaves, someone in their family did. This may also cause them to mix and mingle with colored people and then this results in the other side of white people, which are very comfortable with African Americans and discussing issues. They are the ones who understand that things are unequal, while the other white student who came from a school in which the other side was not thought, does not. It all goes back to what type of education we receive while in school and the bubble we lock ourselves in. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 06:31:47 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment62906006 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/fired-for-a-scarf__trashed/#IDComment59990511 At first when I saw this video I was disgusted, but I wasn’t really shocked at all. I have also perceived Hollister and Abercrombie and Fitch to be stores which targeted a certain group or type of people and if you did not fit into this category you just wouldn’t go in. That certain group or type of people is extra skinny, usually attractive and really built. I know this because I used to shop at these stores. That is, until I reached high school and the clothes didn’t fit as they used to. When I was younger I was super skinny and didn’t have much of a body so I loved shopping at Hollister because the clothes were very slimming and nice. As I entered high school and my body started to fill out I couldn’t shop at this store anymore because even though I was growing, the clothes weren’t and they just didn’t fit the same. I still sometimes go into the store to look around or with my friend who fits that ultra slim figure, but I never have the intentions of buying anything. Just recently I decided to stop going into the store altogether because it just wasn’t for me and I didn’t want to waste my time. It wasn’t because the employers of the store were discriminating against me, but that was just the style of the store and my style had changed. I do admit that I wouldn’t mind them making the sleeve arms a little bigger because I doubt babies will be able to fit their arms through there or even jeans. Looking at America today, who really fits into a size double 0 anyway? It is kind of ridiculous, but that is the store. Truth is some stores are meant to target some people depending on style, built or for financial reasons and this is one of those stores. It didn’t surprise me that the employers would have to look up to these standards as well. This is why I wasn’t really surprised by the video because I know people who have tried to work there and if they did not fit the look they weren’t getting hired. These stores have an image and their employers are supposed to fit these images despite how discriminating it may be. Honestly, if you don’t fit the image why would you bother trying to apply anyway? I definitely don’t fit the image of the long haired blond, blue eyed, super slim girl, so I wouldn’t waste my time working there. What did bother me from this video was that she was hired and she was hired allowed to wear her head scarf. If they weren’t going to let her wear it then they should of said no to her from the beginning and save her the trouble. That is what makes this video wrong to me. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:37:11 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/fired-for-a-scarf__trashed/#IDComment59990511 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment58696799 When it comes to the criminal justice system I believe both money and race play a big role in it. First, I don’t think race plays such a big part as money does, but the factors that come with race do. From statistics it is shown that black males have less education than whites, have a smaller income and come from difficult backgrounds. This isn’t really to be discussed, its statistics we have seen in class. These three factors education, background and income are all associated with race and hurt the black male. In the court system a lot of what occurs has to do with power. Power equals money and many of us know that. From personal experience I can say that money can get someone anywhere when it comes to law. I was once driving with a high school friend who’s father is a doctor and well known. He stopped her for speeding as he should have because she was doing 30 over the limit. When she explained who her father was and that he would be paying the officer to avoid this fine, the police officer smiled and went back to his car as if nothing had happened. She said this happened all the time so she was happy. It made me sick that this occurred and it just wasn’t fair. This is where the black male fails and comes short. It is easier to see why the white male may not be getting sentenced as much. He has the money and he can get the better lawyer. It is the lawyer’s responsibility, if they take the case, to defend their client because in the end they want the money. The white male will do anything so he does not have to go to jail, even if it means paying more money. This is where the black male loses. It is more likely that they will not be able to pay for a lawyer or have a good, qualified one so they end up losing. In the end the better, more qualified lawyer will back up his client and win the case in the end despite who was guilty or not. This is why white males may not be getting sentenced as much, but we fail to see that and automatically think race. We think the judge is racist and is out to get black people everywhere. This may occur sometimes, but most of the time it doesn’t. It all goes back to how the case is presented and how the lawyer defends his client. In the end the criminal justice system, which is supposed to be fair, is not. This is not the result of racism though, but who has the most money and does the better job. It is just unfortunate that most of the time it is the white male who can afford the amazing lawyer and comes out winning in the end. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:48:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment58696799 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment57562127 This same question was brought up in section and I still don’t know how to explain it. Whenever I thought of the word gay or bisexual my definition was someone who is attracted to the same sex physically and emotionally with the goals of getting married and being together. This is my personal definition of it, but people argued that what separates this definition form someone being your best friend. We related it to a situation in which a guy and a girl are best friends and do not see each other in a sexual matter, but then one day they do. Could this also happen between a male and a male or a female and a female? We said it could happen, but who really is sure. I feel as if the gay or bisexual term does not have a real definition, just how race does not have a real definition as well. It all depends on the person who is defining it. So, why are we so hung up and focused on this term? I admire my best friend and her qualities are things I would love to have in a mate and want to get married to, but does this mean I am gay? I am not sexually attracted to her and will never see her in that way, but what if one day it does happen? Does this mean I am gay? I believe this case depends on a lot of what ifs and uncertainties, which cannot be defined. Maybe the world will never know because I sure don’t anymore. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:22:18 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment57562127 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment56585175 This same topic was brought up when I had my section two weeks ago. Whenever I would have discussions about race, whether it was in class or with a group of friends it would always revolve around the black and white issue. I didn’t really pay mind to it because I felt as if it was the common thing to discuss, but while taking this class it made me think of why this occurred. Why is it that these two race groups are the only ones heavily focused on? We discussed it in section and I came to the conclusion as well, that it has to do with history. Yes, Europeans came to America and basically did genocide to the Native American people, but the reason we do not discuss this as much is because there are not many Europeans in the United States and Native Americans usually keep to themselves. Also, people from that generation are mostly dead and the generations after them do not talk about it often. The same instance occurs with Spanish people and another race. Spanish or Latinos are minorities, but there was not a big incident that occurred over many years for us to still be focused on these groups. This also occurred with Asia in which, we had a war with countries in Asia, but Americans didn’t really witness the tragedies and affects of this war at home. When it comes to African Americans it deals with history. Slavery was something that occurred for many years and even when it was over, there were still divisions between blacks and whites. Many steps were taken afterward to end these divisions and bring equality, such as the civil rights movements. The reason why Americans are so hung up on the black and white race is because the effects and events which occurred were witnessed and included white and black people. The fact that these events occurred at home makes it more personal and meaningful and is why discussions on race are always traced to the black and white issue. If we were in Asia or in Europe these race issues would not be so heavily focused on these two races, but other races/cultures like Jews. I would like to focus on the Latino and white race division, but many people do not have much to discuss when it comes to it and it gets passed along to the black and white issue. I wished it would change so I can understand some things better, but it seems as it will not anytime soon because of the rich history African Americans have in the U.S. Sat, 13 Feb 2010 02:31:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment56585175 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55298633 When I first went to go see Avatar I will admit that it was not on my list of movies to see. I actually never even heard of it, knew what it was about and definitely didn’t want to waste my money on alien stuff. I did end up seeing it because that was what the group decided and it was the last thing available. Great, I thought. Within 10 minutes of the movie I was in a trance. Maybe it was the 3D glasses or maybe it was because it really was captivating. Nonetheless I ended up loving the movie and went back to see it three more times. Yes, I saw avatar four times in the theater. I couldn’t put my hands on why I loved this movie so much, but the one thing I did realize was that it made me feel horrible to be a human. While watching the movie I wished I was one of the avatar girls free from judgment, living in a positive community, appreciating nature and most importantly being happy. I feel as a human this is so hard to find and I would give anything to have the respect they did for things such as nature and community. I will admit, I did and still do want one of those huge birds they fly on. That totally beats any kind of transportation we use currently. The most important thing that this movie reminded me of or brought me to the realization was that the ways humans tried taking over the avatar’s homes was just like what we did with the Native Americans back in the colonizing period. We saw something, wanted it and had to have it so it didn’t matter what stood in our way. Humans killed other humans, families and children just for possessions and it makes me sick that this was portrayed in the movie as well. Are we all just greedy individuals’ focused on possessions? This is just one of the reasons I wished I lived on Pandora. Other reasons include the faith and belief these people had in their God, their connection to nature and their views of animal/avatar. Everyone and everything was equal and that is something I wished humans had. Sam mentions that the movie has to do with white people trying to save others from disastrous fates falling on them, but honestly it was the white people’s/ humans fault for why these creatures were put in danger on the first place. Before humans reached Pandora there was peace there and everything was fine. When the humans discovered that they wanted a rock, which was found on avatar’s land they immediately tried to compromise or devise a plan to take over their land. It was the humans who put their lives in jeopardy and destroyed their humble, happy home. The humans took over their land just like they did to the Indians who were here first. The white man may always be viewed as trying to help people, but it is only because they are the ones to initially cause the problems. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 08:09:12 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55298633 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55298482 When I first went to go see Avatar I will admit that it was not on my list of movies to see. I actually never even heard of it, knew what it was about and definitely didn’t want to waste my money on alien stuff. I did end up seeing it because that was what the group decided and it was the last thing available. Great, I thought. Within 10 minutes of the movie I was in a trance. Maybe it was the 3D glasses or maybe it was because it really was captivating. Nonetheless I ended up loving the movie and went back to see it three more times. Yes, I saw avatar four times in the theater. I couldn’t put my hands on why I loved this movie so much, but the one thing I did realize was that it made me feel horrible to be a human. While watching the movie I wished I was one of the avatar girls free from judgment, living in a positive community, appreciating nature and most importantly being happy. I feel as a human this is so hard to find and I would give anything to have the respect they did for things such as nature and community. I will admit, I did and still do want one of those huge birds they fly on. That totally beats any kind of transportation we use currently. The most important thing that this movie reminded me of or brought me to the realization was that the ways humans tried taking over the avatar’s homes was just like what we did with the Native Americans back in the colonizing period. We saw something, wanted it and had to have it so it didn’t matter what stood in our way. Humans killed other humans, families and children just for possessions and it makes me sick that this was portrayed in the movie as well. Are we all just greedy individuals’ focused on possessions? This is just one of the reasons I wished I lived on Pandora. Other reasons include the faith and belief these people had in their God, their connection to nature and their views of animal/avatar. Everyone and everything was equal and that is something I wished humans had. Sam mentions that the movie has to do with white people trying to save others from disastrous fates falling on them, but honestly it was the white people’s/ humans fault for why these creatures were put in danger on the first place. Before humans reached Pandora there was peace there and everything was fine. When the humans discovered that they wanted a rock, which was found on avatar’s land they immediately tried to compromise or devise a plan to take over their land. It was the humans who put their lives in jeopardy and destroyed their humble, happy home. The humans took over their land just like they did to the Indians who were here first. The white man may always be viewed as trying to help people, but it is only because they are the ones to initially cause the problems. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 08:06:57 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55298482 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-c__trashed/#IDComment53957676 Snookie! Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:38:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-c__trashed/#IDComment53957676 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/haitis-calamity__trashed/#IDComment53497125 When it comes to living in the United States many people do not realize that they have it made compared to other places. Many of us have homes, food, health care and get paid more than $2 a day, but still we complain about how hard it is to live here. We are so focused on our wants and not really thinking about what we need. We often complain and we don’t appreciate how good we have it living in the U.S. We sometimes are even so ignorant to only think of our own country and neglect to be aware of the other people in different countries who go to sleep hungry each night. That is, until a disaster happens and we finally open up our eyes and realize we might not have it that bad after all. I will admit that I was and sometimes still am one of those people who are focused on the wanting rather than the having. In the past I would always spend my money when I had some or want some of the weirdest things just to have it. After I would buy it, it would make me happy for a few days, but then I would get tired of it and move onto wanting something else. It wasn’t until I took BiSci 3 last semester that I realized how I could find happiness with the items I had. I was so focused on this cycle of wanting, buying, having then wanting another item that the happiness I found was only temporary. I finally learned that my happiness is not going to come from finally getting what I want, but appreciating and being thankful for what I now have. I feel as if many people do not understand this and will continue on the cycle of wanting, buying and having, to find happiness. Also, it bothers me that only when a disaster hits is when we all want to help people. I understand that the economy is hard right now, but a disaster should not be the event to bring different countries together. After all, we are all human and should be helping each other out either way. I am not saying that I am a saint and donate all the time to poor countries, but I do my best to help. I am active in my community and do a lot of community service to help those in need. I don’t do it just because a disaster hits, but because I believe we should all be helping each other. If the tables were turned and if Haiti weren’t one of the poorest countries in the world I believe this crisis wouldn’t have been so publicized. Evidence for this is that, just after Haiti was hit Venezuela was also, but did not receive as much hype as Haiti did. I do believe that everything happens for a reason and what is meant to be will find its way, but I am still unsure if God was the reason for this disaster. It may have been a sign from him that in this time we need to stick together, but it is hard to think that when he was the one who died for us to be alive. Sacrificing other humans is not in his nature so it still puzzles me, but something or someone did make this happen. Sat, 23 Jan 2010 03:16:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/haitis-calamity__trashed/#IDComment53497125