The video opened my eyes to a side society doesn’t want us to see. Although we are fighting an “enemy,” that same “enemy” has a family that would be completely devastated if they were to lose their life. I honestly can say that I would not avenge my family’s death, I would probably be so heartbroken that I couldn’t live without them, but I wouldn’t continue the cycle of killing somebody’s loved one. I honestly think my next plan of action would be suicide. I do realize that by killing myself, somebody in my family would suffer, but I don’t think I would blow myself up just for the fact that it sounds absolutely disgusting and I want my body in one piece (thank you very much). A human life is so valuable, and to treat each other like they are disposable is irresponsible. There are so many other ways to express how you are feeling, at the end of the day, the Russian’s woman death was in vain, as was her husband’s. I would continue to fight the Russian forces until they were sick of me. I would rally up as many people as I could. I wouldn’t shut up for ANYBODY! My story would never be silenced, and yea she killed herself so now it’s getting publicity, but just like everything else, our attention span is so short that I guarantee by May nobody will be talking about this. After reading the article, I am left disgusted. How could they think to even begin justifying killing civilians by “offering” them a peace gift? I would be FURIOUS. There isn’t a monetary equivalent to the life of a loved one. I hope that the 80-year-old Haji Sharabuddin doesn’t actual go through with his suicide attack, but instead can continue to use his anger, hate and fuel that to let the forces know that they are extremely insensitive. How can anybody think that $2,000 would be worth a life? The fact that it’s also being offered per victim is ridiculous. Where is all this money coming from? They need to use that money towards buying a clue and realize who they real enemies are instead of creating more from civilians. This vicious cycle will never end until people realize that war truly isn’t an answer. Lives are irreplaceable and we need to realize that we can’t keep doing this anymore.

All in all, it reminds me of student Constance McMillena’s story because it all came down to the education system. The segregated proms in the Montgomery County High School is said to be organized outside of school, through students committees with the help of parents; meaning that the school board does not take any responsibility. But in all actuality, it falls back onto the school board and how they handle situations of diversity; where it pertains to race or sexual orientation. In both cases the education system could have taken full control and done the right thing. Showing children that homosexuality is wrong, is just as bad as teaching children that segregation is effective and still exist.
I feel extremely bad for the young girl. But this is a situation in which she can honestly learn from. I am glad that she realized that the world was not so nice at a very young age though. Better now than later!

After reading this story, it reminded me of a news article that was published in May of 2009, titled: A Prom Divided. Montgomery County High School in Georgia has been holding segregated proms, since proms were first initiated at Montgomery County High School, since its schools were integrated in 1971. The most recent class of 2009 at MCH consisted of 54 students. And yet again, the Caucasian students held their senior prom on a Friday night, and the African American students held theirs that following Saturday.

Yes everyone may have their own opinion about “alternative” lifestyles, but a school board should not be making anyone’s final decision! To my understanding, the duties of a school board is to establish and maintain a basic organizational structure for the local school system, create a climate that promotes education excellence, identify district needs and goals and also represent the interest of the community on the public education issues. I just highly doubt that the final decision to revoke students of their prom was a community effort. This just goes to show that the education system in the US state of Missouri is to telling its students that homosexuality is not acceptable and no way tolerable.

Prom or No Prom?
Seriously, this is a tad bit ridiculous. Let me say it again… ridiculous! After reading this article it made me really think about how unfair our modern day and age is. It is one thing to discriminate against someone’s race, since it has been ongoing for decades, but to discriminate about someone’s sexual orientation? This is a first for me when it comes to the public eye. Yes I always hear stories about how one’s sexual orientation may interfere with their everyday living, but little is it shown on television or popping up on news flashes.

I think that society is not going to change anytime soon when it comes to this. Lesbians are women caring for women, and gays are men caring for men. Society is clearly more comfortable watching women show affections towards each other. I think this is because women are initially taught to care and be kind, when boys are taught to be strong and firm. To me, it doesn’t matter either way.

Let’s look back into ones childhood. If a young girl was not feminine and girly, out playing sports and obsessed with cars, they are considered as ‘tomboys’. Which in most cases is said when girls are just going through a phase and they will grow out of it. Whereas if a young boy is to play with dolls and want to dress up, he is highly considered as being ‘gay’ at a very young age. It is also noticeable that when a girl is young, she is supposed to be caring and nurturing, and a boy is supposed to be tough and dirty. It all stems back to how society puts an emphasis on what is considered socially right and wrong.

When it comes to the company that one may keep, straight men are more open and accepting to having lesbian friends than they would have gay friends. But something that often comes up is that women are more open with their sexuality than men are. Meaning lesbians are initially more comfortable in society than gay men are. There are a lot of open lesbians in society, like Ellen DeGeneres and now supposedly Oprah and people still look at her as a human being with natural instincts. Whereas, if an openly gay man was to be the host of a television show, he would not be accepted into society, like a woman would. That is partially because the men that we do see on television are mostly flamboyant and in love with fashion design or hair.

Why are lesbians accepted more than gay men?
I agree that the lesbian population is way more acceptable than gay men in society. I am truly not an expert when it comes to LGBT, but I do think that there are various reasons as to why women’s sexuality is more acceptable. I have a lot of male friends and all of them expect for one, would always talk about girl on girl sex, and how they often times wished that their significant other was bi-sexual. But when it comes to gay sex, they seem to highly disagree. Most men in general do not have a problem talking about their likes of lesbian sex, but when it comes to gay sex, the men are often called ‘gays’ or ‘fagots’, when there is not term used to lesbians. There is obviously a double standard in society.

I completely agree with the lady in the video. I really respect the part where she said that we as Americans cannot and should not forget the things that African Americans went through in this country. This country has witnessed the brutality and hate that has been transpired towards the black community throughout this country’s history. Black and white is the longest stemming traditional fact. The conversation of black and white comes to light every single day. I do not believe that there is a point in this country’s history, where we will completely ignore the topic of black and white. I also think that Asians and Latinos do not get enough recognition when it comes to racial facts, not just throughout this country but in this world. In the world I think that the U.S. is the only country that focuses and aims to the ongoing and changing relationship between blacks and whites in this country. Black and white conversations will never fully die.