en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/768677 Comments by accendere23 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69963521 This is so cool! I mean, these people are living in conditions that I have never seen in this country and they’re coming up with such creative solutions! Around here, we think that people who can get an A on a test is smart, but it takes some real intelligence and craftiness to be able to do something so great with so few resources. I have so much respect for people who can get by in any situation. I’m pretty inspired by this! A cell phone charging station? I think that’s brilliant. And he’s making kids happy. Way to go dude! Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:22:39 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69963521 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69961956 I can’t get over the simplistic beauty of this letter. I’m so touched by the last two paragraphs! The author is absolutely right, we all have such negative preconceptions about inmates and we rarely stop to realize that they too are people capable of change, of learning, of emoting. And it’s not just jailers that we consider in this way it could easily be any other group of people. A lot of people make bad decisions every day, and some of them get caught. It doesn’t give us the right to judge people without knowing their stories or their background. The author of this letter seems like a wonderful person, and I’m sure that if I met this individual in any other setting I would assume that he was a bright, decent man. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:09:33 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69961956 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69957564 I understand what you are saying. It really is awful that something so massive can happen and everyone just goes on with their lives. But what would be the right thing to do? And how much time do we commit to doing the right thing? You proposed taking a year off if someone in your family died, but is that appropriate for someone you have never met? Where do we draw the line? I spent a couple of minutes each day reflecting about what happened any time I heard a mention of it. I donated some money. I wish I could have gone down there to help, but how can I leave my $40,000 education behind? I don’t think that it’s a bad thing to go on with your life if you’re unaffected by the tragedy. Sure, we are all one world and we should feel something when someone suffers, but when do you think it’s okay to stop feeling that sorrow? So let’s say that you just found out your best friend’s cousin’s wife’s brother just died in a really tragic event. You’ve never met the guy before and don’t know a thing about him, other than what’s in the news and what your friend says about him. Would you really be as affected by his death as you would be if he were your own brother? Most people would feel some sort of sadness, but they are not going to take off a week and mourn for someone they don’t know. I think a lot of people do feel terrible about what happened in Haiti, but how can they stop their lives for people they don’t know? The best and most they can do is to make a few donations, think about what happened, and feel sorrowful. So although 300,000 people is a lot of people, if your life wasn’t personally changed by any one of them, then it’s doubtful that your life will change a whole lot when they are gone. It is a really sad way to think about it, but I don’t think that there is much more that people would want to do if they don’t have a direct association to the event. College students have a harder time involving themselves in events such as Haiti, which is acceptable. It is a little selfish, but at this stage in our growth we are allowed to be selfish. We are trying to build our own lives, so it is hard to be affected by something we are unfamiliar with. Additionally, we don’t have many resources to effectively help out. Of course we all donate a few dollars, or maybe our time to a significant cause. We help the best we can. Taking a year off, or even a week off is really out of the question. We have invested time and thousands of dollars into our education, so how could we just leave for a week to mourn for people we don’t know? Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:33:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69957564 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/the-tyranny-of-radical-muslims__trashed/#IDComment68473264 I totally understand this sentiment…and it definitely sucks. I think it is so ignorant when someone sees a person of a specific group and then assume that they represent everyone that belongs to that group. I have plenty of Muslim friends and they are obviously nothing like Osama or Saddam. It is really unfair that these amazing people are represented so poorly, but when you think about it, people are represented poorly all over the world. I mean, look at how Americans are portrayed in different parts of the world. We’re usually seen as either rich, fat pigs or scantily dressed sluts. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 04:08:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/the-tyranny-of-radical-muslims__trashed/#IDComment68473264 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68456072 Why would men be exempt from feeling like they have to conform to society's expectations? I think their expectations might be slightly healthier than what is expected from women, but of course they still have the weight of fitting in on their shoulders. Women might aim to be thinner than necessary or have to try harder to look presentable, they could have but men do too. They are expected to have defined, muscular bodies and high paying jobs. They think the way to be “cool” is to drive nice cars and buy expensive stuff but obviously that’s a pretty high expectation to live up to. Yeah, men definitely have it as tough as women do. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:31:48 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68456072 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-might-be-the-second-step__trashed/#IDComment66863130 Well, if the first step is acknowledging the information that is presented to you and accepting it as the truth, then the second step should be making a decision about how you feel about that. This doesn't necessarily mean that you have to take any action; it simply means that you have to take a stance on the situation. There is no right or wrong decision either. If you really are uncomfortable with eating chocolate after seeing that movie then you have to figure out what that means to you. Maybe it just means you need to buy fair trade chocolate, and maybe it means that you have to stop eating chocolate entirely. If you thought that it sucks for the slaves but doesn’t really affect you then your next step would be really simple…you decide to eat any chocolate you want. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 19:55:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-might-be-the-second-step__trashed/#IDComment66863130 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/revisioning-the-revisioning-stage__trashed/#IDComment65675066 I grew up with a variety of friends, as well. I had a lot of diversity exposure at a young age and I am very thankful for that. I think it helps me understand other people’s perspectives better. I do not have a hint of white in me, but I somehow experience the feeling of white guilt. I guess that could be a result of feeling like an American, and not a visitor to the country. In response to the Disney comment, I do not think Disney intended to make a negative reference to Africans. Not all of Disney’s characters are human. Ariel was a half fish, and the Beast was…well, a beast. Sat, 3 Apr 2010 01:05:26 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/revisioning-the-revisioning-stage__trashed/#IDComment65675066 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment65674161 I think this is a really interesting point. I do not see how there will ever be a resolution to this problem, though. I feel like someone is always going to be offended by either a lack of a term or an inclusion of a term. The important thing to keep in mind though, is that you can check more than one box. I guess most people assumed you can only check one box, but you can check off anything that you want to check off. When I fill out the census I am going to take into consideration how I perceive myself. Although I am not white, I was brought up in a community with a large percentage of white people. Sometimes I feel like I know those customs better than I know my own parents’ customs. However, my favorite culture is the Hispanic culture, because I feel like I relate to that culture the best. Even though no one in my family is Hispanic, I feel the most at home when I am with my Hispanic friends or when I am traveling in a Latin American country. I love their music, their dances, their food, and their language more than I love any other culture’s. Does that make me Hispanic? And what about the children of immigrants? My parents immigrated here when I was two months old. I have spent my whole life here and as a result, I am a mix of various cultures. Are they over going to have an option for that? Can you just put “American” in front of or after any other ethnicity and make it applicable to children of immigrants? Vietnamese American, Indian American, Chinese American. I think more of my friends could identify themselves as _____ American. In reference to the term “negroe” on the census, I think that it will eventually be replaced in time. Once the older African American generations have passed on, the term will not be used to the same degree that it is being used today. I understand why some people would be offended by it, but I think most people are really just surprised that it is on there, not exactly offended. The best route for the government to take here is to include every option. I think more people would be offended if they thought that their race or ethnicity was forgotten on the census completely. Like they mentioned in the video, some older African Americans would be completely confused if they did not see “negroe” on the census because that is how they are used to perceiving themselves. I think that this was the route to pleasing the most people. Sat, 3 Apr 2010 00:59:21 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment65674161 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-about-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment65670735 If you grew up in a Hispanic home and know that culture better than any other culture, then that is your ethnicity. People may mistake you for being white because of the way you look, but what really matters is how you want to see yourself. If being called a white boy makes you feel uncomfortable, if it makes you feel like you are denying your Hispanic upbringing then you are Hispanic. When I look at you I see someone who looks like they are of mixed ethnicities. I guess it is unfair of Sam to ask you questions on behalf of the white team. Sat, 3 Apr 2010 00:37:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-about-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment65670735 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment64279570 Wow, free tampons? That would be incredible. Unfortunately, I do not think that tampons would be free even if men could have menstrual cycles. Really though, it is important that men understand what is going on with menstrual cycles. I don't think that the majority of men really understand the hormonal changes that occur and the dramatic effect they have on a woman's body. I know many elementary schools start teaching their students about sex education in fifth grades, and I think it is very important. But I think that by drawing a boundary around it and labeling it "sex education" allows it to be more stigmatized. I say that they just incorporate the material into biology/science classes and make it a regular part of the curriculum. They sooner they learn about it, the more at ease they are when they start encountering "blleeding" girls. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:24:09 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment64279570 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment64277810 I definitely wish that Sam would talk about people of Asian descent more often. It is such an interesting topic. My parents were born in an Asian country but I have spent my whole life here. I consider myself more American first and foremost though because it is the culture that I can relate to the best. Sometimes I feel more "white" or even latina than I do Asian. This is probably a result of the area I grew up in. My parents did a great job of making sure I could feel comfortable in any cultural or racial group setting and I know a lot about my heritage, too. I am proud of where my family comes from, and I can speak freely and knowingly about my parents' culture and my culture. Thus, I can also easily associate with the Brown group. So...I don't know which group I belong to. In fact, I don't think I solely belong to one group. The way I see it, we need to re-classify our racial groups. For the sake of the racially mixed children and the American raised children of immigrants, it is important to create new categories. How about tan? I think Asians are Tan. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:04:43 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment64277810 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64258607 So, here is the problem I have with this post: the difference between segregation and menstrual cycles is that segregation was imposed on people by other PEOPLE. No one is mandating that women are required to have monthly periods -- it's a normal biological function and that is why people say that "that's just the way it is." I do not think you can compare the two and claim ethnocentricity if people refuse to accept to feel bad about or discuss menstruation. Segregation is completely different and makes a much better argument for the importance of inquisitive thinking. Although people might have said that things could not have been changed in regards to segregation, obviously it could have been because it was under the influence and control of other people. Is that not the same thing as oppression? You cannot argue that women are oppressed because of a cycle, so it is not an issue of justice. No one can make periods go away. Being uncomfortable about talking about periods is a personal issue. I have no problem talking about mine but I can understand and respect that there are people who do not care to hear about it and do not want to think about it. So why does that same kind of respect not exist towards the people who do not want to discuss it? In fact, I think it is very closed-minded of someone to think that another person is ignorant for not wanting to hear my complaints about what my body is excreting. Anyway, race relations have become a thousand times better than what it was a half a century ago and that is a direct result of people questioning the situation in their day, and boldly refusing to accept that what they were living through was acceptable. Issues like segregation should definitely be questioned because it is unfair and has potential to be changed. In fact, there are a lot of things in this world that should be questioned, but the "28 day cycle" is not one of them. How can you compare segregation to a menstrual cycle? Periods really shouldn't be this much of an issue...it is a natural process. I do understand what Sam was trying to do with the cycle discussion, though. Making people uncomfortable is a great tactic to start a conversation in class. I think it was interesting that people were so grossed out by something so natural. But, really, if Sam needs to make a point about ethnocentrism then he should not use a biological normality for an example. How about we ponder why there is a negative stigma associated with being naked in public...or something. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 22:19:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64258607 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64148259 Laurie, you are definitely right that our periods are an everyday female fact. But, I am frustrated that you refer to a menstrual cycle as a burden; as something that causes you to suffer. Women get periods and men do not and, unfortunately, that is just the way it is. Obviously, it is not something that women get excited for and of course some women have it much worse than others. But, like you said: it’s a fact. So instead of calling it a burden and using it as an excuse we women have to learn how to accept it as a normal and regular part of womanhood. At some point in your female life you have to realize that your menstrual cycle is not something that can easily disappear. Furthermore, if you want a healthy reproductive system then it is something that you definitely do not want to change. I understand the concept of wanting men to recognize our monthly friend but we cannot expect (and should not want) to be treated differently because of it. I appreciate it when men acknowledge our cycles but I absolutely hate it when someone says, “oh, she’s just on her period” and suddenly whatever I did wrong becomes okay. Do I really I want to be treated like that? To me, it’s the equivalent of saying that I am so different that I can’t be compared to others on the same plane. I would like to think that I can do anything I want to do. Why should my period stop me? We have the power to be strong, even with our female differences. If something as casual as a period can stop us, then we really are not as strong as we think we are. We ARE equal to men; we are equally smart, prepared and deserving of a voice as any male out there and the fact that we can deal with a period and still be equal might just make us cooler. Stop pretending that you don’t have to deal with this. Accept that you will. All this denial will do no good. If you want to be better than the guy next to you, then start by accepting your reality and figure out what characteristic you are really lacking. In reference to the discussion in class with Sam: The biggest problem I have with that conversation is that it was a huge waste of time. I think that most of the class still doesn’t understand the relevance between menstrual cycles and what the topic was that day. I’m all for respecting the cycle but that issue had no place in class. And I think Sam’s justification of that conversation in Thursday’s class was really poor. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 05:24:28 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64148259 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/all-that-is-solid-melts-into-air-including-our-words__trashed/#IDComment59991728 I am really touched by this story. It made me think of all the millions of different dialects that there must be in our world, and how each one developed and integrated with other dialects to form new ones. It is pretty cool. I am bilingual and the language from my relative’s hometown is really old. It is sad to say, but I think that within a few decades it is going to be in a steady state of decline. More people are beginning to speak English – which on the one hand is great because it can bring everyone together, but at the same time is deadly to the other dialects which are already dying. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:47:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/all-that-is-solid-melts-into-air-including-our-words__trashed/#IDComment59991728 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment59991655 I agree with Laurie that slavery in the United States is not a sufficient explanation for the reason that race issues always come back to white and black people. Our country is not the only one that experienced slavery, in fact, slavery has been around a lot longer than our own history and did not always involve White and Black people. If you take a look into the past and focus on the hoards of other groups that were involved in slavery from many different areas of the world, you will realize that the modern conception of slavery (White versus Black) is inapplicable. It looks like each country had its own form of slavery within its populations, and often times it was based on who did the conquering and who was conquered. In those cultures where slavery once was a prominent issue, it appears that over time those populations successfully integrated. Actually, the integration was so successful that most people today do not even consider anything prior to our country’s history when they think of slave trade. Based off of the past, I can confidently say that our culture will not always focus on the White-Black relationship. I also do not think it will always be inevitable in conversation. Our nation is fairly young in comparison to the rest of the world. Moreover, the civil rights movement is still fresh in our history. There has not been enough time to see all the ripples that the civil rights movement may have caused. I definitely think that the fact that our country even had a civil rights movement is reason enough to substantiate a White-Black focus. As long as individuals who experienced the movement firsthand are around, we will continue to hear the stories that changed the nation and brought it to where we are today. Additionally, I do not view the White-Black dialogue as being a negative idea and I do not agree with people who take offense to it. Because the concept is still so new, it will take a while for the focus to shift. I do, however, have an optimistic outlook on this situation. I think that in a few decades, the White-Black issue will be less relevant, and a few decades after that virtually no one will refer to it in the sense that we do today. Obviously, the only factor we cannot control is time. Meanwhile, we can make a more conscious effort to focus on inter-cultural relationships between other groups as well. With the growing numbers of Hispanic individuals in our population, the White-Hispanic relationship will eventually have to become the forefront sociological issue, as will the Brown-White relationship, and soon enough, every other permutation of race relations. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:46:55 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment59991655 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed__trashed/#IDComment59990075 This is one of those "half empty or half full" issues. Yeah, our nation has come a long way in the sense that it is no longer acceptable to abuse, force, or harm people in a physical manner because of their race. We do not chain people or use shackles to prevent them from expressing their free will. So, if you look at slavery from a physical standpoint then of course we have come accomplished a lot. But if the lack of respect for people of different colors and backgrounds still exists in any part of the country, I think there still is much progress to be made before we can applaud ourselves. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:32:46 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed__trashed/#IDComment59990075 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/fired-for-a-scarf__trashed/#IDComment59989089 What I do not understand is why she is getting death threats. What are people saying? I wish that the news anchor and Hani could have elaborated on that topic. She was the one who was discriminated against, and for something as insignificant as Abercrombie and Fitch. Furthermore, Abercrombie and Fitch really needs to increase the size their target populations. Their clothing is pretty limited to pre-teens, high school kids, and adults trying to appear young. If they do not show more diversity in their own workforce, how can they expect to attract more customers and fans? After all the accusations of racism, discrimination, and use of child labor they really cannot afford to continue their ridiculous “look policy Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:22:31 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/fired-for-a-scarf__trashed/#IDComment59989089 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment59988977 This story is really a huge disappointment. To see events such as these occur on such a diverse campus, in a state that is making so much progressive movement in present social issues, is outrageous. It infuriates me to see young people, who historically have a tendency to be forward moving, taking such huge strides backwards. I had not heard about the KKK tribute on their campus prior to this article, but reading about it brought two thoughts to my mind: First, wow. I cannot believe that my peers can be so harsh and find humor and amusement in such cruelty. But, has anyone confirmed that the pillowcase was meant to signify a KKK symbol? Obviously, that would be the first assumption that everyone would make, and if it were true, it is absolutely disgusting. But, as Sam’s lecture last month enlightened us, that same white hood has other meanings in different cultures. What if the rest of the community is looking at it the wrong way, and it was not intentionally meant to be an offensive statement? I admit that this idea is probably way off and too lenient, but, it could be a possibility, right? Anyway, I am not satisfied with the action that the university has taken thus far. I think they have fallen far too short of their responsibilities to their students and they need to make a stronger statement when the rest of the nation’s eyes are on them. I do not really know what a teach-in is or how it works, but if it is not satisfying the student body then it is definitely not enough. I agree with David that two hours of discussion is insufficient to ensure that this sort of outrage never occurs again. I would like to see that the university handles the situation better. The individuals who are involved with these hate crimes should be met with serious penalties. Their faces should be all over the media so that they can be publicly condemned for their lack of character. I hope they encounter very strong resistance from future employers. I am pleased, however, with the response of the student body. I am proud of the people who became upset with the situation and took the stance against it. This is not the first time that someone in their area has been a victim of a hate crime. The incident reminds me of the young man that was harassed and tazed by police a few years ago in the college library for some unfair reason. Hundreds of students had gathered around him and the police officers and witnessed the event. The issue then was that he was a Middle Eastern man who was unjustly and unnecessarily targeted. It is unacceptable for these things to keep happening. When will we see change? Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:21:29 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment59988977 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-six__trashed/#IDComment57675695 It seems to me that your question is addressing the difference between the sexual aspect and the emotional aspect. I do not think that lesbians are more accepted by society than gay men. I think what you meant to ask is why two girls having sex is seen as less unnatural than two guys having sex. Like Sam said in class, there is a difference between having sex with someone and being in love with someone. The act of sex is to satisfy physical needs, and if you look at it from a chemical and hormonal perspective, it really does not matter who the sex is with as long as those needs are fulfilled. Hormones are blind to gender. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:19:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-six__trashed/#IDComment57675695 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57675612 If people who are encountering so much hate and resistance are willing to raise a child, they must really want it. I do not think it makes a difference if the parents are straight, gay, or lesbian as long as they are physically and emotionally able to support the child and bring the child up in a loving atmosphere. Just because of the way that society has been structured for so many years, it has become odd for many people to see a couple of the same-sex. I really believe that this concept stems from the idea that in order to raise a child you need to have both a female and male influence. By this I do not mean that two women or two men cannot successfully raise a child on their own, but in order for the child's development to progress normally it is essential that they have exposure to the opposite sex as well. This could be a grandparent, aunt, uncle, friend...it really does not matter who the individual is as long as the child is able to seek their support. What happens often though is that a new family tends to separate themselves off from the rest of the world because they are a new unit and want to function as such. If this happened in a same-sex couple with a child, that child could be developmentally hindered from lack of exposure to the opposite sex. This could be especially problematic in adolescence and puberty, when the child is trying to identify themselves. It might be easier for many people to accept two women raising a child on their own because it has been done before. When a husband passes away, mothers are often left on their own to raise the children. Usually the people who come in to offer consistent help are other females. When a wife dies and the father is left alone to raise the children, it is usually not other men that throw their hats in to help. Additionally, the nurturing characteristic is more apparent in women than it is in men. However, I do believe that these attributes are chemically based and that if a male had the right chemical composition, he could have many of the same characteristics that are innate to women, and vice versa. This being said, it is just as possible that many women lack the correct composition to be nurturing and that the man could get the job done better. I certainly support adoptions by any sort of couple. I think anyone could successfully raise a child as long as there is a good balance for the child. What adoption agencies look for is a loving family. A family can consist of many types of individuals. Like Sam said in class, a gay couple could be better fit to raise a child because they actually really desire the child. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 21:18:20 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57675612