en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2410562 Comments by aef10 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/women-and-war/#IDComment144410390 This Women and War speech by Zainab Salbi was incredibly intriguing. Her perspective of living in a world of war is one I feel people could immediately relate to after hearing it. It is obvious that nobody would ever want to live a life consisting of hatred and fear, and yet that is the way we are currently living. Some of the statistics she told concerning the war and the rapes were absolutely shocking. When I say that war is scary, it has such a different meaning than if it were to come from someone actually living in a war zone. Personally, I have the fear of losing somebody close to me who is fighting as a soldier. I do not have the daily fear that I could lose everything around me including my family, friends, and home. She was absolutely right when she said people take casualties too casually. When I hear about death tolls on the television, I am greatly disturbed and upset but then I move on with my day. It saddens me think that there are people who “die ten times” every time they hear an explosion or gunshot. Nobody should have to feel that way, to fear losing the “I” in “me”. Regardless of individual experiences, everyone unites over the fact that we have these fears and that we all truly want peace and compassion. This video emphasized that women are able to carry out daily activities and try to function as if they were not in the midst of a war, mainly because men are usually the ones on the front line. A good point is made to insist that people, especially women, should be able to be at the negotiating table. They can contribute to the table from an outside perspective. They are not so numbed to the fear and they feel most likely more compassion because women are usually more emotional. These women, or men who are not fighting, are more likely just want the fighting to end and to have peace rather than want revenge. If her case is true, then there should be more of these women on the negotiating table because we need more peace advocates. Hopefully, this would help improve the world and make it a better place. A place without the hatred, the fear, and the feelings to get revenge. First, we must all unite and agree to try to get input from as many people as possible, so we can take the next step and try negotiating some sort of peace around the world. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 04:57:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/women-and-war/#IDComment144410390 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/war-vets-and-ptsd/#IDComment143271675 This video did a great job of really hitting home and giving the viewers a deeper understanding of what is really going on with our soldiers. Being misled by the news and being reluctant to hear about unpleasant events, citizens are often unaware of the magnitude of an issue. It is unbelievable that more U.S. soldiers have died from taking their own lives than have died in combat in Afghanistan, which shows just how big of a problem war really is. It does not just end once the troops are home. When we think of war, we think of destruction and brutality. We see only the images that media, such as the news or movies, have depicted of the war. I cannot imagine seeing these images really happen right in front of me. It is no wonder that soldiers come home with post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a shame that more is not being done to give help to the soldiers who really need it. This lack of help seems to be due to the fact that people assume the soldiers will be fine once they return home and everything will go back to normal. Clearly, this is not the case. It is difficult for anyone to really relate to the soldiers when they come back from the war. Even the closest of loved ones are rarely successful in consoling their soldier. This video proved that and made me upset that they rarely get help. I feel this is a video for everyone to watch because it makes one realize the effects of war other than the obvious bombing and other forms of mass murder. War is emotional just as it is physical, otherwise the soldiers would not need to be emotionally trained to kill another human being. A soldier could be the strongest in the entire army but if he is not emotionally prepared, he will not be able to fulfill his duties. Since most of us can do nothing to help the soldiers, we need to give out support. Instead of protesting the war, we need to have more support our troop campaigns. We are already in the war and there is nothing we can do about it, so the least we can do is show our support for clearly the many soldiers that need it. I am glad this video opened my eyes to this. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 01:32:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/07/war-vets-and-ptsd/#IDComment143271675 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment140855114 The first two sentences of this post are what initially caught my eye. They display the stereotype that women feel men do not respect them, and that all they are used for is some Chinese food and sex. Contemporary music calling women derogatory terms and seeing abuse on the television only further strengthens this stereotype. It was nice to continue reading and hear from a man so in touch with his emotions. It is unfortunate that it took prison to see what he sees now, but he sees it nonetheless. It was also uplifting to know that some men are aware of exactly what most women want from men. It is true, that if a man followed this guideline, he could be with nearly any woman he desired. Personally, I would probably fall head over heels for a man who still believes in chivalry, is attentive, and is not afraid to completely open up. However, although it would be nice to have someone with all of these amazing qualities, the post seems to portray women as a little needy. It makes me feel as though women are very dependent. I am very independent and would like to be able to defend and stand up for myself if necessary. The lifer stated that he was upset to see how some women accepted certain treatment from men. Many men have not been through what this lifer has been through and continue to treat women like the ways in the media. Therefore, many women need to be wise about who they trust. Some men will lie and “sweet talk” to make women believe they have these qualities, ruining the image for many men that actually do have these traits. Regarding that statement about women wanting sex and money, I do not blame the lifer for believing then. The media contributes to this just as it contributes to the way men treat women. Sure there are many women out there that look solely for sex and money, but I think men can agree that most women are more sensitive than, otherwise they would not need to do everything stated in this post. There needs to be respect both ways. I think it would be interesting to see what this lifer would say defining a woman. In the end, however, it comes to wanting to do these things for the other person, not doing them because you think you should. Otherwise, nobody is happy. Thu, 7 Apr 2011 23:33:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/03/what-a-man-is/#IDComment140855114 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/rethinking-education/#IDComment138979522 Education is a serious topic in today’s society. Its importance is stressed and yet the funding necessary for it to successfully take place is being cut. As seen in this video, there needs to be a new development, which costs money, of ways to teach children because the old style of teaching with a mind set on industrialization is no longer necessary. With an “intensely stimulating society” as a distraction, children need to have a more aesthetic experience to keep them fully alive and open-minded and at their maximum learning potential. It is obvious that children have various types of learning styles, ones that focus better on different subject, or in the daytime, or in groups. Instead, society has made schools another place of conformity focused more on high scores on standardized testing rather than having the students just learn as much useful information as possible in an environment that best suits their learning style. Students are encouraged to think critically on only a couple questions on a test, which is probably why divergent thinking deteriorates with age. In today’s society, people collaborate with one another making it almost difficult to work efficiently on their own. As said at the end of the video, the habits of institutes should focus on the habitats they occupy. It was interesting to learn about all of this in the video because I am always hearing that students have many different types of learning styles. Sure, some teachers try to incorporate different types of teaching to account for those different types of learning styles, but many are not. Instead, schools are still based on the learning styles that were developed many years ago despite the fact that there needs to be an adjustment. Also, ADHD is a condition that people take too lightly or look to as an excuse, rather than removing themselves from the distractions that decrease their focus. What will it take to reform schools to best suit the various learning styles and increase the percentage of divergent thinking? The capability is there but is not being properly addressed. The world has changed dramatically but schools have not, and it is time that they adapt to their surroundings and accommodate to the new needs of the students. Of course, with all of the new budget cuts, this may never happen. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 01:08:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/rethinking-education/#IDComment138979522 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137614438 B. is absolutely right when he says that most people think of murderers when they think of people who are sentenced to life in jail. I cannot imagine not even committing the murder and still being sentenced for life, but the law is the law. I was always one who thought people who are sentenced to life must really deserve to be there. What I didn’t do was take the time to really understand why some people are there. People do not look into what doesn’t impact them and I am sorry for that. I understand why he is so defensive and it is unfortunate that people are so uneducated that they make these assumptions. I was amazed, however, by the fact that he finds so much freedom and so much inspiration while in jail. There are so many of us who are so much more free to go out and do things than he is, and yet we feel trapped in our own little world. He appreciates the small things in life that people take for granted everyday. I find inspiration similarly to the way he does, from the people who are strong to do the unexpected. However, as I sit here at my computer reading his letter, I find myself inspired by him as well. I never could have imagined myself being inspired by someone sentenced to life in jail. He has such a positive attitude and does not feel sorry for himself, but rather accepts what happened for what it is or what it could have been. It is also amazing to see how much forgiveness he has. He could blame his parents for making him act the way he did when he was younger. He could be angry towards them. Instead, he takes the opportunity to appreciate the support system and enjoy the fact that his sequence of events has actually helped them to become closer. This just goes to show that although the invisible strings that we will never understand impact us all, we still are free to make our own choices. We can acknowledge where we are and where we are headed, and choose to act on it. We can continue to be influenced by others or make a new path for ourselves. I appreciate that B. helped me open my eyes to something that was so obviously in front of me, but so unseen. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 01:59:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/b-s-response/#IDComment137614438 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/who-am-i/#IDComment135634148 This letter by J.V.G. was very intriguing. It is clearly about his life prior to becoming a lifer in prison. When he was younger, he was able to experience the many different cultures in the world without ever traveling outside of New York. He had his own Puerto Rican/Dominican background while he realized he also was part Indian, Jamaican, European, and many other ethnicities because he is “a citizen of the world”. While it is good that J.V.G. was able to get a true sense of who he is, it is unfortunate that he probably figured out that he is really a citizen of the world while in prison. He will never get the chance to maybe travel the world and get a better understanding of the cultures he was briefly exposed to as a child. Instead, he is trapped in a prison where he can only remember and think about the experiences that he did have. Although this was about J.V.G. discovering who he is, I felt myself reflecting more about who I am, how I live, and how I see the world as I read the letter. While J.V.G. faced racial slurs such as spic, I felt I could relate because I need to face the prejudice towards Jews. Like him, I am proud of who I am and accept the differences of those around me. I go about my days open-minded and willing to learn about people who are different than I am. I could live a sheltered life and be ignorant of those around me, but then they might as well stick me in a prison too. I am inspired by this letter to take advantage of the freedoms that I have and to just take a step back, slow down, and really take in the world around me. I feel fortunate that I am exposed to so many different cultures here in America. I hope to travel to get a better sense of the cultures in their home environment, where they might even interested in learning about some of my culture. If all people would be more willing to accept each other regardless of their differences, the world would be much better off. If J.V.G.’s girl’s father only saw J.V.G. as a spic, he would have never learned to accept him for who he really is. As the father learned, J.V.G. was a man who he would gladly invite back for dinner again. Everybody just needs to take a moment to discover and be proud of themselves. Then, they could accept everyone else for who they are. They should find this out and do it before it is too late, as it probably was for J.V.G. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:42:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/07/who-am-i/#IDComment135634148 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment133303805 It is true that there are many dangers in the world for which precautionary measures should be taken. Some issues are too lightly considered while other issues are too extremely accounted for. When considering the risks of child abduction, people often prepare their families almost too much. Parents tell their children not to talk to strangers because they cannot be trusted and can do harmful things. Although that is correct and things can happen such as that shown in the video, more often than not strangers will be helpful. The chances of being the victim of a kidnapper are very slim, but people take extreme protective measures because fear overrides the statistics. It is easier to tell a child the assumption that all strangers are bad and that they are at risk rather than going through an entire explanation of how some people could be dangerous while many others are helpful. Driving fear into children by telling them that they could be abducted could keep them from talking to that one stranger that may harm them. People should really just take the time to sit their children down and tell them the truth. They should know all of the risks but also realize that if they are really in trouble, many people are actually willing to help them. Talking to strangers, of course, should only be when necessary because you cannot necessarily just “trust” anyone. All of this is what society has shaped us all into believing. A couple decades ago, crime was not so high and society was believed to be much safer, allowing things such as hitchhikers. Now, the media displays more violent news making people believe the world is filled with terrible people that could harm you no matter where you go. We are all influenced by what is around us, and if videos like this one is what people are watching, then avoiding strangers is what is going to be taught to children. Maybe if awareness tips were more often seen on television, then parents would better inform their children of what to keep an eye out for or be cautious of. Tue, 8 Mar 2011 07:37:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/21/stranger-kidnapping/#IDComment133303805 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/whats-the-sociological-message-here/#IDComment130687371 The song “If I Didn’t Have You” by Tim Minchin is clever, humorous, and very interesting to look at from a sociological perspective. It is an appropriate song to play around the time of Valentine’s Day because it allows those who are in relationships to appreciate the sequence of events that happened in order for them to meet their significant other. Although it could have easily happened with someone else, their lives worked out in such a way that brought them together. The song also allowed those who are not in relationships to realize that there are so many people out there that they have the possibility of being compatible with. If a relationship does not work out with one person, it is probably going to work out with somebody else. Many lessons could be learned from this seemingly simple message. Minchin points out that the world today has people who believe they have soul mates. These people happen to magically find each other and feel this immediate connection of love. However, he also states that since the population is so large, it is highly unlikely for anyone to find their specific soul mate if there is one. He would be surprised himself to find out that he somehow managed to find this special person at the age of seventeen. Instead, they are probably somewhere else on the other side of the world. Rather than a soul mate, however, people can find other compatible matches whom they are very happy with and share similar feelings. Rather than having the immediate connection as expected, they grow towards each other through experiences that they share. The feelings of love develop over time instead of being there immediately and possibly fading away later on. If people could recognize all of the possibilities around them or how fortunate they are to find someone they are happy with they would be all together happier people. Instead, they are too busy getting caught up in finding their soul mate and wondering if there is someone better. They should accept the person they are with and be OK with the fact that there are other people out there that are both better and worse matches. If they find someone who makes them happy enough, they should not have to worry about finding anyone better and be one hundred percent content with their significant other. Minchin does a good job of showing the reality of relationships and that it is not necessary the end of the world if a relationship does not work because one can always find somebody else. The chances are in their favor. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:24:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/13/whats-the-sociological-message-here/#IDComment130687371 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/09/4092/#IDComment128955816 Reading this article made me very sad. It is upsetting to see that one bad decision completely changed not only the prisoner’s life, but also the lives of the family of the victim and his own family. I have had friends be victims of drunken acts so it is not a distant topic. From personal experience, I know just how large of an effect it has on the community. On the other hand, I also no people who have been in the prisoner’s shoes, who most likely are feeling the same emotions. Had they taken a split second to think about what they were doing before making a stupid decision, the pain, suffering, and anguish could have been avoided. It is clear that the prisoner is aware of the pain he has caused. The prisoner seeks forgiveness for his wrongdoings and understands that many will never forgive him. It is unfortunate, however, that the man has nearly lost all hope during his stay in prison. He has lost his memories and cannot do anything about it. The only thing he remembers clearly is the event that happened to get him where he is today. In order to comfort himself, he looks solely to his mother and his only other promising figure, G-d. This proves that he has not completely lost hope, because he believes that he can still be forgiven by the “all-mighty”. There is a major lesson to be learned from this article. People see prisoners and terrible, evil people that deserve to spend their lives behind bars. However, sometimes the prisoners just make one stupid, large mistake. If people could see how this prisoner ended up where he is now, they may think twice about their actions before they do them. They can get a better sense of possible consequences. Unfortunately for this prisoner, he found out the hard way. It is good that he has become a better person since being locked up and seems to have grown as a person, but it is still sad to know that the entire situation could have been avoided. Hopefully people can learn from this mans mistakes. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 23:57:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/09/4092/#IDComment128955816 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/23/if-men-could-menstruate/#IDComment127239534 Many men are not more educated about women’s menstrual cycle because the society in which we’ve grown up in has kept it a more private matter. As many others have already stated, we learn simply about our own gender when we are younger. Boys and girls are separated and talk about matters that deal with their own bodies. Had the two genders stayed in the same room and learned about each other’s differences, the topic might be less awkward or for lack of a better word, foreign. Men are distant from the menstrual topic because they are not exposed to it and do not deal with it themselves. There is essentially no absolute need for them to learn about it because it has no effect on them. They should, however, learn about it so that they can have a better understanding of how women function. If men would become more educated about the menstrual cycle, they would be able to get a feeling for what women go through. They would understand what we go through and why we act the way that we do, at least for one week each month. Just as Sam understands his wife when she is going through her cycle, most men would be able to understand women in this way. I feel that because the menstrual cycle is a part of life, it should not be held back in conversations. Women tend not to talk about things that are gross, so it is not really talked about. This includes other bodily functions, as well. It is all a way of life and it should be natural to talk about it. I may be biased, however, because I am also one who feels that emotions should be told as well. People should feel comfortable to open up about anything. If everyone would just say how they were feeling, there would be less confusion between people and most certainly less drama. Over the years, society has become much more open about topics concerning the body, including sex and LGBT lifestyles. Sooner or later, I feel that the menstrual cycle may be a more common topic. As for the last question, I do not see why men having a menstrual cycle would make tampons free. Nothing is ever free so this would not make any sense. Prices might even go up because there would be more demand for the item. In conclusion, men are not educated about the menstrual cycle because of the way society has brought up our generation. If they were more educated it probably would not be as “weird” and if they had one too, tampons still would not be free. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 01:53:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/03/23/if-men-could-menstruate/#IDComment127239534 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook/#IDComment125793759 This video completely shocked me, to the point where I had no idea how to even begin writing about it. As someone who hates to see anyone upset or in pain, it is so hard for me to understand how anyone could find enjoyment in this type of game. I may be biased, however, because I also dislike videogames that shoot and kill people. I understand that people may think it is fun to “be bad” once in awhile, but it does not have to be in such an aggressive manner. Why can’t we blow things up in games other than an innocent group of people? If people get used to seeing rape in the videogame, they are more likely to shrug it off in real life. For example, when I see murders being reported on the news, I no longer have the shock effect. When I was younger, I used to look at the news and say, ‘Wow! Five people shot! Who would do that?” Now, I say ‘Another five people shot? That’s awful, but that’s how people are in today’s world and that’s life.’ I accept it, hope it doesn’t happen to anyone else, and move on with my day. Although I know it is a big deal, it has no effect on me as if it’s not a big deal. It is scary to think that people who get used to seeing rape may hear about it on the news, and not think it is a big deal because they are used to it. I feel this type of video has more of an effect on me because the aggression is towards my gender. It is an issue that I really need to worry about so it hits close to home. Had this been a video pertaining to men being repeatedly kicked below the belt I might not have been quite as impacted. I would understand that it is a problem that causes pain to others, but I could not necessarily relate to it. This is the exact same thing as Sam said about men not understanding what it’s like to menstruate every month. People could argue that it is just a game, but it gives some sick people the wrong idea and should not even be an option. Others may find the game comical, but it is not funny in any way, shape, or form, and should be taken seriously. This could pose seriously problems for susceptible rape victims and the public in general. Fri, 4 Feb 2011 00:17:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2010/04/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook/#IDComment125793759 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/19/rise-in-national-guard-and-reserve-suicides-whats-it-all-about-soc-001-blog/#IDComment124253897 Suicide is a topic that unfortunately hits close to home for me. A friend of mine committed suicide about four years ago. It could be considered an egoistic suicide because he was never one to fit in and was extremely depressed. I have another friend, however, who I also feel is depressed but probably more due to family issues. I have talked to them about it and their “way out” is to join the army. They feel they are just not “cut out” for school and do not have anyone here that would need them to stick around. This being said, it should not necessarily be generalized that all those who join the army are big, brave, and strong. In fact, many who enter the army are people who feel they need a way out but do not want to or are too afraid to commit suicide. These people would be considered altruistic because they completely lose their sense of individuality and sacrifice themselves for the cause. This blog focuses more on those who commit suicide after going into the army and come out traumatized. It is easy to see why military men and women struggle so much after coming home from battle. My grandfather used to scream at night from nightmares of what he witnessed while fighting, just like the young man in this video. Those who go through stresses or hardships are predisposed to suicide. Unfortunately for those in the military, they are taught to be strong and distant from their emotions. They may get the feeling that they should not need help because they are supposed to be so strong. Hopefully, more and more people will recognize that getting help is normal, especially now that more options are becoming available. It is important to focus on this issue because with more fighting or wars, more people are going to be affected and the issue is not going to fix itself. As said in the video, we should not be more dangerous to ourselves than the enemy. Suicide should not even be an option and people should become more educated on how to deal with their issues themselves or how to get help. Those who do choose to get help should not be sent back to war, either. The problem will only snowball into something even larger. Fri, 28 Jan 2011 04:22:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/19/rise-in-national-guard-and-reserve-suicides-whats-it-all-about-soc-001-blog/#IDComment124253897 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122452150 My first thought when I began reading this letter was “Good. I’m glad you don’t have any freedoms, just like the person you probably killed no longer has freedoms.” However, I knew I needed to finish reading the letter open-minded and I am so glad that I did. So many people in the world are misinformed when it comes to jails and prisoners. Most people can barely understand themselves, let alone try to understand the life of another. I never thought that someone who committed such a terrible crime could actually change for the better and become so insightful. I think this inmate has made more of an impact on me from one letter than some people I have known my entire life have. As we talked about freedom in class, I understood that maybe Americans are not necessarily the “freest” of people even though there are so many decisions that we make every single day. This letter made me realize just how free we really are regardless of a few restrictions. The prisoner made me think of parts of life I never would have even considered a freedom. Sometimes I complain when I hear people outside early in the morning because they wake me from my sleep when instead, I should be thankful that I am able to get up and embrace the world around me. To listen to sounds I enjoy, to see people that make me happy, or to play games I feel are fun are all freedoms that I take for granted everyday. Nonetheless, I learned that I need to appreciate these freedoms not from someone who has experienced it themselves, but from someone who does not have these freedoms. Do we really need to be “the fish out of water” to finally pay mind to what surrounds us, such as the wallpaper the inmate refers to? The inmate shows just how many things people actually take advantage of without even noticing. What I take most out of this letter is that we will always have the freedom of choice. I can choose continue to go about my days and not let this letter affect me in any way whatsoever. On the other hand, I can (and will) choose to take more notice of all of the freedoms and opportunities that I am fortunate enough to have, and make the most of them. Will we ever fully appreciate all of the freedoms we actually have? Will we ever be able to recognize all of these freedoms? I am thankful that this inmate was able to show me just how lucky I am that I have the freedom to make choices and be surrounded by sounds, events, and people that I love. Opposing to my very first thought when I began reading the letter, I feel sorry that the inmate cannot go experience the freedoms he once enjoyed. For being locked up, he has such a positive outlook, one that everyone should admire. He embraces the freedom he has left to make himself a better person. The letter allowed to me realize that freedom is not about going out and voicing your opinion, it’s about being able to make any choice you want regardless of what others say. Everyone has the right to make their own decision. They can make themselves better people or they can throw all they have away, but it is still their choice. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 06:57:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/15/what-does-it-mean-to-be-free/#IDComment122452150 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cf%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment121201200 SOC 001 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 01:58:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cf%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment121201200