en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/763068 Comments by SweetD https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69521731 The other day when the lifers were mentioned in class, my interested was immediately sparked. My whole life I have believed that if a person murders someone or something terrible, that they should stay in prison and suffer. I have never really believed in the death penalty solely because I felt that if these people were going to create so much pain for other families then they should also feel some kind of great pain. However the other day in class and also in this letter from the man, something changed within me. I’m really on the fence about this issue and it has really made me think. Every day people are making mistakes and are being forgiven, but how far is someone allowed to go before being forgiven. I understand that the lifers for the most part are all people who definitely deserved to be put in prison, but do they deserve to be forgiven? This is obviously with the understanding that people can learn from their mistakes and change. Looking at this letter and understanding what can actually happen behind prison gates is incredible. These people who are looked at as absolutely terrible people can be great. Also, what about their families? We always talk about how our country is always willing to help other people and do whatever it takes, but what are we doing for these people. I understand that they may have made a larger mistake then a lot of us, but honestly everyone messes up. For someone to spend his or her entire life in prison almost seems unnecessary. Does locking them up for all that time really do any good? I know that they are probably a decent amount of people that are lifers that don’t deserve to ever get out because they have changed an ounce. In this guys letter he talks about how he would like to make an impact on the world and help out. Many of these people do have the opportunity to help out and make a positive impact on our society. The problem is that these people who are looked at so poorly are wanting and trying to make a difference in our world and then everyday people still don’t give two shits. This is a huge debate that I can’t decipher. It is really a matter of what is right and wrong and what we should do to handle it. I think it would be really interesting to sit down and have a conversation with one of these people and try to put myself in their shoes. I feel that with that opportunity I could then understand more where these people are coming from and find a way to open other peoples eyes to this issue. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 01:42:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69521731 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68298615 My entire life I have been around women who judge themselves based on their body image. I know so many girls who constantly look in the mirror and respond “ugh..I’m fat.” I don’t understand why people are never happy with their bodies. For a lot of people who are unhappy….they don’t work out. The reason why they do this is because they constantly compare themselves to other people. A lot of girls also feel that guys are really concerned with the size of women’s boobs and honestly they aren’t. In class we discussed how many times women dress up for other women and not for the men. This is true most of the time. Men are never really concerned with what a woman is wearing. Obviously guys would like to see women dressed up every now and then, but they also like to see a girl in sweatpants and a tee shirt. So, the real question is what makes someone a woman. In the video the girl says that women are all the same…which isn’t true. I guess technically all women fit into a category of what body parts consider us a woman. I don’t feel that Hollywood portrays all women, but I feel like we are moving closer to them doing so. Over the past couple of years, women of different sizes are finally being portrayed in the media. Hollywood is still filled with the so-called “perfect” women. These women all have beautiful faces and the ideal bodies. I think that it is ridiculous to think that these women are “perfect” and desired by many women around the world. There is so much more to a woman then what is on the outside. Sadly, physical appearance does matter, no matter how many people say it doesn’t. Women are all so much different not only because of their bodies, but also their personalities. Some women enjoy shopping and other women enjoy riding 4 wheelers and getting muddy. Women are unique in many ways and it is hard to describe what actually makes up a woman. Also, I feel that the problem with boob size in our culture is because of this image that women have in what men want. I personally have also been a smaller breasted woman and it doesn’t really bother me. So many women have problems with them being too big and causing problems, and as it would be nice to have bigger boobs, I would never consider changing them. I have learned to accept my body for what it is and I have learned to love it. This is the problem that many women have and really, all the thoughts that women have about their bodies would be fine if we learned to have a little confidence. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:11:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68298615 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66235968 At the beginning of the semester Sam told us straight up that he wasn’t here to change our opinions or to force us to believe the same things that he does. All Sam had tried to do this entire semester is to open our eyes to the real world and all of the things that have been hidden behind closed doors. He has also given us factual information about what is going on dealing with race so that we can form our own opinions. This class hasn’t necessarily changed my opinions about anything, but it has opened my eyes to a whole new world. Before this class I never really thought deeply about race and how it still affects people day to day. I do however feel like many people came into this class with very strong opinions on things, which is fine, but they aren’t even open to listening to what Sam has to say. Most things he says in class are to challenge our beliefs and to get us to think about race and look at things from a different perspective. A lot of people have just turned off their ears during this class because they are unable to listen to what others believe. I do wish that there was a little more interaction in this class, like people fighting back at Sam and challenging him. I feel that this would make this class so much better. I feel that a lot of people went into this class with a closed mind and haven’t allowed themselves to open up to the world. I feel that many people are like this because they are afraid as to what they will find out about themselves and others. I will say that some days this class does get a little boring, but really what class doesn’t. It is obviously getting to the time of year when it is gorgeous out, so nobody wants to be in any of his or her classes. As for me, I’m going to keep my mind open to what Sam has to say and just take it in and allow it to open my mind to a world full of unknowns. I realize that a lot of the things Sam presents in class can be seen as common sense, which is true, but there are many things that I have never thought of before. So, overall I haven’t changed my opinions about anything because of this class, but rather my eyes have been opened to a world full of things I never thought about. There are so many issues facing our world today and as sad as it is, race is still a huge part of the problem. Tue, 6 Apr 2010 16:24:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66235968 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment64955013 I feel that it is a little ridiculous that people are upset about the fact that “negro” is stated on the Census. The people who make up the Census are not stupid and they are putting categories on it based on people’s responses from previous years. I feel that there is no true way to make the Census fair to all races and ethnic backgrounds. I can see how it would be difficult for people to choose what their race or ethnicity is because they are able to check more then once box. I think that too many people focus on what is politically correct and what is the proper way to states things. This is why people are so affected by the word “negro.” That term is listed on the Census because there are still people today that use that term, and if it wasn’t listed on there, then what would they put. This video also made me think about the fact that white people are always thrown into one category. It never really occurred to me that many people that identify as white how different races mixed in but are just thrown into one flat “white” category. Is this not as big of a deal because we don’t make to out to be? There are so many issues that can be brought up about the Census along with many other things in life and still white people are left not knowing what we are supposed to refer to African Americans as. The huge issue comes about because when this topic is drawn upon white people are then looked at as racists. I feel that African Americans are given at least more then one category to mark as their race and several others as their ethnicity and still there are problems. Seriously, what about the white people? What about the people who don’t just consider themselves white? Is it really fair to just classify everyone into one huge category? The other problem comes about when trying to figure out how the Census should then be. There is no possible way to count everyone and have accurate measurements when people are given the opportunity to classify themselves under several categories. No matter what happens or how things are changed, someone is going to be offended. What I would like to know is why the younger generation has such a huge problem with the word “negro” while most of the older population classifies under this. It is interesting that there is such a huge gap in time and that matters almost seem to be getting worse. Who is to decide what should be listed on the Census? Either way, nobody will be happy, no matter how the Census is changed. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:06:36 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment64955013 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment63944106 First of all I would like to say that I don’t think a lot of people took away what was being portrayed by the subject of periods. Sam was making the point that you will never understand what it’s like to be another person until you are put in their shoes. White people don’t understand where black and brown people are coming from because they aren’t them. It is the same case with periods, unless you are a female you do not fully understand. I agree with the girl in this video in that menstruation shouldn’t be a big deal. I personally enjoy getting my period and have no problem talking about it with other people. It was interesting to see how everyone in the class reacted when Sam initially said the word bleeding. I don’t know if it is necessary to use this particular word, but this is a natural part of life and it is something that needs to be taken care of no matter what. Not many women enjoy their period and I find this to be kind of sad. This shows that a woman is fertile and is able to have a child. This is a huge part of a woman and many take it for granted. I also don’t understand why everyone gets so grossed out by it. Some people in general can stand the thought of blood, but we don’t get grossed out when someone donates blood to save lives. It is still coming out of the body, but for a different reason. I think that it is very sad that we live in a society where most women feel they need to hide their period and are left with the notion that women are bitches during this time. I think that this may be true for a lot of people, but not all women become a bitch. I for one become a nicer person during that week, so how exactly do you explain that? I think that men need to take the time to try to understand what it is like to have a period and to consider that some women are more susceptible to having problems associated with it. I find it sad that many men do not want to be seen going to the grocery store to buy tampons, but really that is the type of man every girl wants. She wants someone who respects her and will take care of something that isn’t even a big issue. It is our own faults for why the topic is so awkward to deal with, but the damage has already been done and it is going to be hard to break the silence. Overall, women should appreciate the fact that they have been given the opportunity to create life and men need to appreciate women and not shy away from something that is natural. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:04:48 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment63944106 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/women-and-sports__trashed/#IDComment62668178 As Natalie said in the video she hasn’t really been judged at all based on the fact that she is a woman. I personally feel that she is just as qualified as and man could be at the sport. I am actually kind of surprised that more controversy hasn’t been reached over this concept. I am really excited that there is finally a woman coach involved in this sport. A lot of women enjoy football along with many other sports and I feel like it is ridiculous that men primarily dominate these. I really don’t think that anything dealing with her skin color is going to be brought into this situation. There are both black students and white students on the team, so I think that race will not be a direct issue. I think that the only people that are really going to judge her are the fathers of the boys on the team. I think that most fathers want a big tough guy, just like them, to teach their boys how to play rough football. I think that it would be ridiculous for anyone to be upset or offended by the fact that she is a female. I think that this is going to be a wonderful experience for the boys on this team. I feel that the players on the team will greatly respect her and she will work them just as hard if not harder then any other coach would. I am seriously so happy to hear that a woman is finally stepping up and taking the initiative to take charge of a male dominated sport. If for some reason she would happen to crack and decide that she can’t handle coaching, I think that it would be a terrible thing. I feel that men have these views of women as if they are week and they are unable to stay strong. I feel that Natalie will be able to keep up with taking care of business. Also, for a lot of women, during sports they change into a whole new person. It is almost as if the adrenaline just takes over your body and conforms you into a game machine. Women can be just a competitive as men and I think that Natalie will have great success with her team. Anyone that doubts that she will be a good coach will hopefully change their opinion if she gives them reason to. I do feel that she will need to start off by being strict with the boys on the team and show her authority in order for all the boys to realize how serious she is. Overall I feel that gender or race have nothing to do with how good of a coach someone can be, and I feel that with much dedication Natalie will greatly succeed. Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:09:55 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/women-and-sports__trashed/#IDComment62668178 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment59921867 I think that this entire thing is completely out of hand. I feel that the theme of the party could have been okay…but the way the description is makes it a messy situation. I feel that because these students chose to do this themed party in honor of Black History Month they crossed the line. Also, the students painted their faces black which I feel is a little bit ridiculous. There are many other ways that this could have been carried out. There are many times when people here at Penn State have “ghetto” or “white trash” themed parties. I am not offended by either of these. I do feel that doing something so ridiculous to honor a huge part of our history is rude and unnecessary. The guy who was the main focus of this party is black himself and is not offended by what these students did. I am not sure why it is okay for him and not for other people. I guess it all just depends on how personal people take things. No matter what you do in life someone is going to be offended by something you say or so. There is no way to do something in life without this occurring. This also goes to say are people allowed to paint themselves black for Halloween? Halloween is seen as a time for costumes and getting dressed up as different characters or whatever. If someone dresses up as a black celebrity and paints him or herself black you can be sure that someone is doing to be offended. There will be many people who do not find this offensive at all, but there will be those few. There are a lot of problems in society revolving around race and I feel that this party wouldn’t have been seen as such a big deal if we didn’t have these issues. I feel that race for many many people is a huge issue and there are many instances where people don’t know what to act in certain situations. I’m not trying to say that what these students did is right, but I feel that if this is seen as such a big deal, then there are many other things that should also be viewed this way. There are many other themes that people find offensive and they aren’t posted all over the news. I feel that this is just another case of a huge racial dispute, but who is to say what is right and wrong in this situation. Some people would even find a Jersey Shore themed party offensive, while others think it isn’t a big deal at all. No matter what there will always be issues in our world where we are offending people, but here is no way that we can bring this to an end. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 18:32:10 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment59921867 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58595863 I think that this is a very interesting point. There are a lot of problems with people in our world not appreciating the things that we are given. We did steal our land from the Native Americans and that is a known fact, but honestly I don’t know what we are supposed to do about it. I do not think it is fair that these people are now at the bottom of the totem pole and I think that something should be done about this, what I don’t know. Also, I feel that there are indeed a lot of people who aren’t taking anything home from Sam’s lectures. I feel that this is because a lot of people have things already set in their minds and they are not willing to expand and open their minds to new things. In a lot of the classes I know that after Sam offends the people they basically shut down. I think that this is ridiculous because people need to be more open-minded to things that make them uncomfortable. This is the reason we have so many problems in our society because people aren’t willing to leave their comfort zone. I can say that I’m one of those people that takes into consideration what Sam has to say and I leave with my mind blown most of the time. I just don’t understand what we are supposed to do to fix most of the problems. There are a lot of the issues in this world and I realized that stealing land from the Native Americans was wrong but honestly what are we supposed to do, give it back to them? I don’t want to sound like a heartless bitch, but there are so many other things in this world that we need to worry about. I feel that something should be done so that the Native Americans are not the lowest ones in society, but besides that I feel like there isn’t much more we can do. No matter what we do in our society today things aren’t going to be perfect. There are way too many problems to be able to fix the world. We can make everything better just by appreciating what we have. The Native Americans were here first and then we stole their land. This isn’t fair to them at all. I feel that just the general idea of educating the world about the problems of our society is the first initial step. There are always going to be people in this world that don’t care about what is said and are focused on themselves. A lot of people in class don’t take anything away from the lectures because they simply don’t care and that is the entire story. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:03:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58595863 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57356970 I personally don’t think there is a difference whether the couple adopting the child is a female, male, or even a straight couple. I feel that whomever is willing to spend the money to go through the adoption process is willing to give all the love and joy possible to any child. Since for the most part gay and lesbian couples are not allowed to marry they partake in joint adoptions. This is just when two unmarried domestic partners adopt a child together at the same time. On average adoptions cost between $15,000 and $40,000. Anyone who is willing to risk that much money is definitely going to appreciate and provide for the child. I don’t feel like the child will be affected to greatly by the fact that their parents are gay or lesbian. In the growing up process it might be difficult at first for the child to grasp the fact that their family is the typical so called “normal” family. I do feel that the child will be loved and that as long as the parents can nurture and care for the child then this shouldn’t be an issue. Many children are squashed in foster homes or in orphanages and are living in terrible conditions. Who are we to say that a child can’t be placed in someone’s home just because they are LGBT. I feel that for anyone who thinks that this is a problem they need to check their moral values. I realize that there are a lot of things said in the bible about what is right and wrong and it basically doesn’t accept anyone who isn’t straight, but I feel like you are born into a certain family and into certain things and that you don’t get to choose whether you are straight or gay. Also, who are we to deny these people the right to marry? In some countries there are regulations and restrictions on what type of people can adopt from their country. Some of these rules are ridiculous. Some countries look at parental age, the amount of income, marital stability, and how many children are already in the home. Now these are more realistic examples, but in Korea you cannot weight over thirty percent for your height. Some countries get so picky about what is best for a child and they are typically things that don’t matter at all. Just because you are over weight or already have a lot of children in your home, doesn’t mean that you can’t be the best damn parent this country has ever seen. This is just the same a saying that a gay or lesbian couple cannot adopt. This is a free country and EVERYONE should have the right to chose their partner and be able to live a normal lifestyle without restrictions. Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:09:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57356970 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/animals-vs-humans-vs-welfare-cheats__trashed/#IDComment56291406 I am truly on the fence about the entire topic of welfare. I don’t necessarily agree with the politician referring to people on welfare as animals acceptable, but I can see where he is coming from. The relation to the animals deals with that if you keep feeding the problem, then it is never going to stop. Stray animals that you feed will just continue to live and reproduce. The problem with welfare is that people can beat the system. There are definitely people who are on welfare that truly need it and depend on it. These are the people who are trying to find jobs and trying to take care of children and just can’t get their head out of the water. So, it wouldn’t be fair for us to penalize the people who do indeed need welfare. Then you have the people who use welfare to the greatest extend possible. These are the people that don’t care how they are getting the money, but they know they are getting it and there is no point in trying to work or do anything to better themselves. This is the part of welfare that needs to be taken care. The problem lies in the fact that if we try to fix it the people who really need it will get hurt. This will then be taken out on their children, and it is definitely not their fault. So, what can be done to fix this problem? This is a serious question, and I have been battling myself with it for quite some time now. I just wish there was a way to fix this problem. So, overall I can understand where the politician was coming from, but it was unnecessary to classify all of the people on welfare into that category and refer to them as animals. There is just no way to pick and choose between the people who need it and those that are abusing the system. It is truly sad to think that someone would even take advantage of something like that, but with the way the economy is, some people see it as an easy way out. No matter what way this whole thing is interpreted, the politician does need to think before he speaks. Welfare is a big issue all around the world and you can’t just refer to the people as “animals.” I think that a huge part of it is that he was most likely raised by a family who had money and that he hasn’t given the people on welfare a fair chance. A lot of the people do work hard and are trying to make a living while taking care of their family. No matter what, this is always going to be an ongoing issue until there is something that can be done to fix it. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:09:15 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/animals-vs-humans-vs-welfare-cheats__trashed/#IDComment56291406 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55270072 I have not seen Avatar, but I wish that I had so that I would have a stronger opinion about this topic. I think what Brooks brings up about the White Messiah is rather interesting. I never really thought about the fact that in most fables and basically in anything there is always a “white hero” involved. I think that a lot of people are too quick to come to the table and place the race card with this, but I think that it brings up a rather interesting issue. I feel that if the movie industry would put other races in as the heroes then it would let more to the viewer’s imagination. Since I have not seen the movie I cannot sit here and say that the movie is racist in any way. When I saw the previews for it, I just simply did not have any desire to see it. I can say though that after all the good reviews I have heard that I would like to see the movie. I do not know if the creators of the movie intended for people to view it in a way that could be found as racist, but I feel that overall the movie needs to just be taken as it is. It may be that my mind doesn’t work like other people, but I don’t usually sit down at a movie and critique it the whole time and pick out all the stuff that is wrong with it. I feel that everything that Brooks stated could be very valid, but I don’t feel like there is a huge need for people to be upset about it. I would though like to see other races played into movies. I feel like if a black man came out in the end and was the hero while we were convinced that it was going to by the typical white man, then the movie would definitely catch people by surprise. Overall I do not feel as if the creator of the movie had the intention of enforcing “white power” in the movie and I feel like this is just a matter of someone wanting to challenge the creator. I feel that Brookes ideas are something that should be considered but should not be taken word for word. I think that it is always good for someone to be opening our minds to all kinds of points of view, but that doesn’t mean he is correct. I can see where he may have gotten his ideas from, but all in all I think that he just felt he needed to say something about all of it. In general, I feel that movies need to be taken as movies and that they are intended to provide fun and entertainment for the viewers. I don’t feel that this is an issue that needs to be made a huge deal. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 02:32:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55270072 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-p-or-q__trashed/#IDComment53877133 Response Tue, 26 Jan 2010 02:20:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-p-or-q__trashed/#IDComment53877133 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/clubbing-the-bejesus-out-of-rationality__trashed/#IDComment52856287 First of all I think that what Robertson is completely out of his element. I don’t understand how someone who so-called believes in God and all that he stands for and then go on about how the Haitians made a pack with the devil. Seriously, are you kidding me? Jon Stewart makes a valid point when he reads a part from the bible that states, “The Lord is close to the broken hearted, and he rescues those who are crushed in spirit.” Instead of trying to do something to help out the victims and families of this terrible tragedy, he has the nerve to blame it on the “pact to the devil.” Is it not obvious to him that natural disasters are a part of our world? I believe that is why they are called “natural”! I can’t even begin to fathom why he would be concerned with this pact and feel that it is necessary to harp on it. Everyone has his or her own freedom of speech, but I feel that what Robertson said is completely unnecessary and I can’t believe that he was given the time of day to say this on television. Also, I don’t see how the whole “pact to the devil” thing makes any sense. So what if there was a group of people that participated in the “pact,” what about those people who weren’t even involved in this decision-making. Like seriously children died that weren’t even born at the time this “pact” was supposedly made. For someone who believes so much in God and his religion, I don’t understand how he can just brush aside this huge catastrophe and blame it on something so ridiculous. This just shows that Robertson has no hope for himself or anyone else who lives in this world. As I continue to write this response I am giving myself an insight into how much time I waste in my life worrying about things that don’t matter. Yes, Robertson is a complete ass for his comment and most people realize that he is wrong with saying such bogus words, but now is the time we need to focus on those who actually need us. I would love to continue on and bash Robertson for his comment, but he is not the only one who should be seen as acting wrongly towards this horrible catastrophe. On many occasions I have been given the chance to donate money or to just simply take a moment of silence for those who are at a loss. The part that disturbs me is when people only think about themselves. Many of us in this world do not appreciate all the things we are given in our life. I am the type of person who had to grow up working for what I wanted, but I have also been given many things that others would not even dream of having. It really saddened me to see how much some people don’t care about what has happened to these people. Many of my peers acknowledged what has happened in Haiti and then moved on with their lives. Just simply acknowledging what has happened is not enough. As humans anytime something bad happens to us we reach out to others for help and expect something from them. So how can be expect something from other people in a time of need when we ourselves have not done anything to help others when they were in need? Sadly I have heard a lot of comments such as “I’m poor”, or “I don’t have any extra money.” So many of us seem to throw out excuses in order to make ourselves feel better. I’m not saying that everyone needs to jump out of their seat and donate $20, but to watch as some people aren’t even willing to give a penny, just shows me how selfish we as humans truly are. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 00:26:46 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/clubbing-the-bejesus-out-of-rationality__trashed/#IDComment52856287