en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4232230 Comments by ahenritzy http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/12/voices-from-the-classroom-147/#IDComment341243320 When posed with the question, who would you save in a life-threatening situation, your mother, your spouse, or your child is it difficult to come up with a response but ultimately one can come to a conclusion. It is easier to just pick an answer and justify it however you want because it is just a hypothetical situation- it is not real life. In the actual situation the decision drastically becomes more challenging and time is of the essence. I cannot honestly say who I would choose to save in this morbid scenario. In out culture you are always taught to take care of your elders and children, but your children generally come first as your parents took care of you. As of now I would say that I would not choose my husband. Maybe it is because I have not found that person yet that I would be willing to sacrifice my mother and hypothetical child for but I feel that I will not have the same connections or emotions that I would have with the other two options. I do not believe that I would safe my mother either because she has lived her life to the fullest or has done so that I can live a happy life with my new family and future generations. She would want me to save my child (and I hope that my husband would too) and I think that would be my decision. An innocent, helpless child deserves a chance in the world. As a mother, I brought the child in to existence and it is my responsibility to care for it and nurture it, which would require me to protect it in this situation. The question did force me to really think about every situation I have been in when I had to choose one person over another and what led me to make that decision and the consequences of my actions. Although I am not proud of all of the decisions that I have made this question forced you to really think about each outcome because your life would be forever changed. If I choose to save my mother I would then have to find a new husband and possibly have a new child all with her support but I would be set back in my dating life and whatnot several years. If I chose to save my husband I would forever have to live with the memories that I once had a child but no longer do which could be one of the hardest things someone faces in their life. Additionally, I would not have the support of my mother to cope with my loss. Finally with my decision I have the joy and happiness of my child and the mother-child relationship that I had with my parents. Each decision in life should be weighed seriously and each following action should be considered as well. I pray that no one ever actually has to make this decision in their life but rather they take the lessons away from this activity. Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:38:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/12/voices-from-the-classroom-147/#IDComment341243320 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-144/#IDComment337463091 I think the “What would you do?” scenario was very shocking. I was so surprised that more people did not speak up and defend the woman. There situations are always hard to judge and say what you would actually do in the situation because you never know how you would react until it is happening. I have several Muslim and African-American friends and if I were with them and that was happening I would most definitely speak out and lash out at the store clerk. If I was with my other white friends and it was happening to a stranger I would probably say something because I would have my friends defend me. However, when I am alone my personality definitely changes and I am less likely to comment on other people’s situation or public discrepancies. Being that this is an extreme case I would definitely say something to the woman. I would apologize for the man’s ignorance and offer to buy her whatever she was looking for. I can not say that I would definitely say something to the store clerk since I would be on my own but I would not say nothing to the woman. She deserves to be served just as I do or anyone else who walks through those doors. It is scary to think that things like this actually do happen still ten years after September 11th and in a world as modern as today’s society. I understand there will probably always be some discrimination against people of other races and religions and that is just the way it is going to be. However, if you have a problem with others around you than express it in the freedom of your own home. It is completely unnecessary and inexcusable to express these feelings in a public place to complete strangers out of pure prejudice knowing nothing about where they come from or how they were brought up. Although this was an extreme situation and probably a little exaggerated (not by much but it was set up) I hope that my friends and I would actually step up and do something. What now just upset me was that if this was an extreme situation, the majority of people did not say anything so even less people would probably speak up if this was just one comment or something on the lesser scale which is disgusting, no one should ever be spoken to the way the woman in the video was. Thu, 12 Apr 2012 13:21:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-144/#IDComment337463091 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment331653825 I think respect is a very personal thing and no one is able to tell you how you feel about yourself, your body, your morals and values, and your belief. If you want to walk around the street in a bikini and you are doing it for your own personal interests such as tanning or perhaps you lost weight and are proud of your new looks then go strut your stuff. However, I think the respect issue stems from people who walk around in little to no clothing in search of attention from other and to cause a distraction or gain a reaction for others. At that point you are no longer acting for your own interest but the interest of others. By doing that you are seeking the respect of others rather than being comfortable and confident in the respect that you have for yourself. I do not believe that people are able to tell by what you are wearing how much respect you have for yourself but instead how you present yourself. It does not matter how much clothing you have no or how much of your body is showing but rather how you are acting. You can be covered up from head to toe even more so than the Muslim women who spoke out in class and still throw yourself at people and do and say ridiculous things to seek attention that would show people your lack of self respect in the same way that wearing a bathing suit would. I think it all comes down to your own personal choices and opinions that reflect your actions to show others the respect that you have for yourself. Most of the time this is reflected into your personality and dress as well but there are exceptions which is why the whole class always comes full circle and there is no logic to every making assumptions about people before hearing their views. The cartoon about the two women, one covered all but her eyes and the other only covered by her feminine parts and eyes, and both women commenting on the other’s male-dominated society really caught my attention. I thought it was very ironic how both cultures are judging the other without knowing the reasoning behind it. I do not believe that either culture is more male-dominated by the other but both are definitely driven by the attention wanted by the opposite sex in this example. The Muslim women want to be noticed for their personality above all and therefore do not reveal their body however the western women sometimes use their bodies to attract the men before introducing their personality. Neither is right or wrong just all focused around men whether that was the intention or not. Wed, 4 Apr 2012 17:34:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment331653825 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment327233973 I hope that most people were able to put themselves into a situation and realize how ridiculous they would look if the roles were reversed and they were questioned about a topic they had never heard of before. Someone in my section this week said “if you can’t laugh at yourself then who can you laugh at?” I think that is exactly true. You have to look at yourself in that situation and realize it is a comical scenario unrelated to race. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:20:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment327233973 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment327233756 No one is insulting the Asian culture, no one is making fun how the only speak proficient English (which is probably better than most people in the 750 person lecture who only know English), I do not recall anyone making fun of their stereotypes, the point of the movie was to act like USC students have no idea what is going on in the PAC 12 and that is obviously not the case for the majority of students, hence why they targeted foreign students in the video. It is a lot easier to identify an Asian transfer student than and French one which is probably why they stuck to that theme. The first few Asian-American students were not offended at all by the video and they even thought it was funny. Most people in the room were not amused by the Asian aspects of the video but rather the dumbfounded looks on their faces or the hesitant tones in their voices while they welcomed states to a program that they had never heard of before. Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:19:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment327233756 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment327233613 I think that the video we watched in class about the white talk show host asking Asian students questions about USC football would have produced the same reaction is the foreign students has been white. I found the video clip to be humorous because the host was asking people who clearly did not know anything about the topic. I did not find it offensive because I believe people would have laughed at me in the same reaction if some host were to ask me about meteorology or quantum physics, topics that I know nothing about. I can see why people would believe that the host was being racist considering he did only interview Asian students. I think a lot less people would have been offended if the host had chosen some Asian, a few Indian, and maybe even a couple Hispanic students to interview to prove that most cultures outside of the United States do not follow college football. However, since this was not the case I am trying to see what people are so offended about. The video is demonstrating how foreign students, of Asian descent, do not follow American college football. WHO CARES!? Thu, 29 Mar 2012 17:19:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment327233613 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/18/benefits-of-being-bilingual/#IDComment320591575 I would like to see the rationale behind the reasoning stating that it is detrimental for presidential candidates to speak a second language. Who in their right mind would consider someone less to run their country, a country that interacts with hundreds of other countries and speak hundreds of different language, because they speak a different language? If this is because of extreme nationalism and how some people dislike Obama because they heard his middle name is Mohammad and he is Muslim, than this country is worse off than I thought if they are able to make a sufficient impact. I’m confused as to what these “divided loyalties” are. These people are running to be the President of the United States; I think their loyalty is pretty clear if you ask me. English is still their primary language; they still reside in the United States, they just happened to be more educated and cultured (like a good president should) and speak a second language. I would bet that the leader of every single other county on this planet speaks at least two languages; most of their second languages is probably English. That says something alone right there. I believe that everyone should have enough experience with multiculturalism by at least visiting another culture and learning about something that does not directly affect their every day lives. Try to say a few words in a different language, go out and pick your dinner from the garden, sing a native song, walk a few steps in their shoes. No one is asking for a drastic change just an experience or two that is outside of your comfort zone, when we expect miles from them. After reading this article I cannot think of one flaw about being bilingual besides you have a smaller chance of being elected president, but not many of us are trying to take on that role. Your mind is able to switch back and force easily, you are culturally smarter and more aware, and you have received more linguistic education, formal or not. It also provides people a unique way of learning. People learn through cue and contexts and many people remember more when they have a visual aid, an additional cue to remember something by, when you learn something and can identify or describe it in multiple language you instantly have multiple memory cues to help you recall the information. If everyone in the country tried to learn another language or culture, as a country alone we would be more educated, more well rounded, more open-minded and more empathetic to immigrants. I am realistic enough to know that this may never happen but as a teacher I want my students to learn another language so that they can help themselves improve their education and exercise their mind into being the most empowering, intelligent, worldly, and non judgmental person that they can be. Tue, 20 Mar 2012 19:45:20 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/18/benefits-of-being-bilingual/#IDComment320591575 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-120/#IDComment317603543 I thought the video was pretty interesting. I have always considered myself a very open minded person and did my best to never group people of Middle Eastern descent as “Muslims” or “Iraqis” and definitely not “terrorists” without knowing them. However, I never put myself into their shoes during the war. I knew not everyone was bad, I knew they were defending their culture and beliefs, and I knew they were losing family members just like us but I did not consider the absurdity of the war when you look at the sole cause; oil. I also did not consider that the war was not being fought in my homeland, I did not have to see the violence in my neighborhood each day and my family members did not wake up and feel the need to kill anyone on a daily basis to protect me, and they did. As innocent civilians, they had to leave their homes on a daily basis to seek shelter and security while average people went out to fight without army weapons and guard to protect their loved ones. I would see pictures and assume that the guns were to the heads of the terrorists and of the “bad guys” but how did I know for sure that they were evil people? I did feel for their families, but then I was reminded of all the families that they hurt, so I assumed. I try to steer clear of every news article because I feel I will be constantly confused and exhaust myself trying to figure out if we are actually “winning” if there is an “end” in sight or what is really going on. With a refreshed perspective, I feel that I am now less inclined to pick up a paper because I will question every word and justification behind the killings. I will also think of the 29 families that could be mourning when the United States is grieving the loss of 1. As I watched the video I was almost comforted of some of the faces of people in the room. You could tell who was really affected by it, some almost in tears because of the guilt they felt due to their strong feelings regarding the war. They would never think to walk an inch in a Muslim person’s shoes because they were the bad guys and they hurt Americans and now everything they had been taught was proven wrong. I hope that the class did actually take away the message of the class which is not to just say our American soldiers are on a power trip but rather see every side to a picture and news article and have faith that is this crazy world and hectic time our soldiers are able to see good from bad and right from wrong and are truly doing all that they can to eliminate the evil from the middle east, and many other places in world, while keeping the peace and helping the innocent civilians lead their normal lives. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:22:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-120/#IDComment317603543 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/23/voices-from-the-classroom-115/#IDComment304108334 I think Sam was very right about this situation, I am white and I do feel a certain way about the affirmative action in my favor. I feel undeserving and guilty that I am being privileged when there may be people of other races just as qualified for a position as I am but not getting the opportunity. However, I am often left wondering what I am supposed to do next. There is actually nothing I can do to rectify this situation. If I am ever in the position to select someone for a given position I hope that I would make the right decision based on the person who is more qualified and in the best interest of the company or project as a whole. The other opportunity I may have to better the situation would be, as a teacher, to educated my students as much as possible on race, the information I have been provided with, and the ethical ways to handle these situations so that they can go on and make the right choices and teach others along the way. If everyone in the class can reach someone in a position that is able to influence others, and they connect to that person, who is able to connect to another person, who will then show it to someone else, maybe then we will see that 50% chance of a white name being more likely to get a call back decrease to an even playing field regardless of a name. What is really sad is that if two people are equally qualified for a position, the determining factor would be a name. Not a phone interview, not information from an additional reference, not anything to help one have a better chance the other, they just look at the name, that is what is unfair and absurd. I think it is really interesting how ksanthem pointed out the ridiculous names that celebrities have been naming their children. Granted, Blue Ivy and Apple probably won’t be applying for the same jobs as Tamika and Kaitlin, there chances are not much better at getting that call back. What is also interesting is that no one really has control over their names and it is sad that that is how we are judged from someone who does not know us. Our parents pick our names and by the time we are 18, no matter how many times we threatened to change it, people rarely do because it has become a part of your identity and how you are known to others and anything else, besides nicknames or initials, just does not seem fitting. So when I see crazy names I think more along the lines of what were their parents thinking or I wonder what that means opposed to they must not be a good employer. Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:58:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/23/voices-from-the-classroom-115/#IDComment304108334 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/22/voices-from-the-classroom-110/#IDComment299097150 I was also very put off by the fact that race alone can determine someone’s test scores based solely on the information they are or are not given prior to taking a given exam. I do not see an immediate resolution to this but I do believe it will come over time. As we learned in class it is not just about economic status, the area we grew up in, nor schooling that we had. I think that as we continue to evolve as people and become more diverse within the world this will fade. The more interracial relationships that form the less people will be able to identify with one specific race but rather a variety of races and be confident with their own race made of different colors and ethnicities. The more aware people come with the facts about how race alone can influence our performances, the less it will impact our society. I would like to see how these studies are done with a group of people that do not identify with one specific race. Have them told that blacks perform poorly on that test, having some African American blood, I wonder if that would affect their scores even though they do not see themselves as only black but black and Puerto Rican or whatever the case may be. Would their scores still be altered or would it not affect them because being black does not define that individual? I think these studies are very interesting. I am curious that if our class was prompted with one of these studies saying that middle class citizens perform poorly on a given exam if that would alter our scores. Sam keeps reminding the class that we are in the upper-middle class of the world but I still consider myself on the lower end of middle class because I am so used to comparing myself with people in my immediate surroundings. Over time I believe people will begin to compare themselves more with worldwide issues rather than just nationwide. This concept is similar to what I said about race, I believe that over time people will begin to see race as just as skin color and nothing more and that people will not be able to easily identify themselves as black, white, whatever because races will continue to blend and people will be made up of traits of all different ethnicities. Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:10:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/22/voices-from-the-classroom-110/#IDComment299097150 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/10/voices-from-the-classroom-103/#IDComment292702317 I think a main reason that people feel the need to defend their nationalities and want people to recognize that they are different from the majority is so they stand out and can defend their heritage. With Asians, each Asian culture is so different. Although Japanese, Chinese, and other nationalities are of Asian decent, they want their culture to get the positive recognition and they want the positive label associated with them. I think a great deal of the hostility comes with pride. I personally get offended when people assume that I celebrate Christmas because I look Irish or because people just assume everyone celebrates Christmas. I often bite back and ask them “What makes you assume that I celebrate Christmas?” or “Actually, I am Jewish.” I get biter that people do not stop to think that others can be different from them or just re so naïve that everyone falls under one bubble. That bubble to me is religion however in this case is race. People are black, white, or brown. Even according Sam it appears. He uses those labels freely yet always makes a point to note that people cannot just be black, white, or brown. Within those categories people defend their family tree of those colors. Dominicans, African Americans and Haitians would prefer those labels opposed to black because it gives them a strong sense of roots and pride. White people are rather unsure of their European decent so they are often not as offended. Finally, brown people, such as Mexicans, Egyptians, and Puerto Ricans also have that strong tie to their homelands and want to be associated with them. Also most European countries are pretty similar so there is a lot of overlapping cultural influences among white people. However, the nationalities that I mentioned in discussing black and brown people are so drastically different from one another. Just because the color of their skin may look similar they come from all corners of the world with different cultural influences, religious views, and moral values. That leads back to why people may strongly prefer to be labeled as the country of their descent rather than the color of their skin. Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:41:10 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/10/voices-from-the-classroom-103/#IDComment292702317 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/02/voices-from-the-classroom-98/#IDComment286811629 As a white female with curly hair, who often straightens her hair, I do not believe that it has anything to do with race but rather self-esteem. I straighten my hair because I am unhappy with my physical appearance and think that it improves it. I do sometimes leave in curly when I am looking for a change or feeling too lazy to take the time to do it but I do not feel as confident or secure with curly hair. I think it also falls into a category of "keeping up with the Jones's," everyone seems to want what they cannot have. People work hard to have things that they see others with (if they did not see someone else with it they would not know it even existed). It does not matter if it is looks, clothes, electronics; everyone is working for something they do not have. I think a healthy competition is good however at some point you have to stop and say I am happy with what I have. With our physical appearances that we can alter easily (hair, make-up, tans, etc.) females are looking for simple fixes to improve their appearance (or what they dislike) without making any drastic changes to their bodies. These daily adjustments bring confidence and higher self-esteems among the women who are not entirely satisfied with the looks they were given. According to the lecture today, this is the perfect solution for women that do not want to be angry with God for the looks that they were given. As far as the race issue within this question, I do not think there is one. I think this is a female issue of insecurity and jealousy. I am jealous that the female in this video can wake up and not touch her hair and she looks so cute with her kinks and curls under her beanie cap. If I ever dreamed of cutting my hair like that I would look like a hot mess regardless of my skin color. I cannot say if she is jealous of my long curly waves or fake straight hair on most days but I do not believe either of us pictures our skin color changing when we imagine ourselves with the alternative hairstyle. I like to believe that this is along the lines of not seeing a different color skin when we look at others but maybe I would be prettier as a black woman with kinks in her hair but as a white woman with curly hair I believe it looks better straightened. Wed, 8 Feb 2012 06:04:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/02/voices-from-the-classroom-98/#IDComment286811629 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/31/voices-from-the-classroom-94/#IDComment280562568 I don’t believe that in the United States we cater to Spanish speakers enough. I’m confused as to where people think we cater to them at all besides having directions printed in Spanish on our electronic boxes. Our schools, community centers, stores, and media is solely presented in English. I cannot imagine not being able to speak English in America because they are left with virtually nothing to live by. In every country I have ever been to from Central America, Europe, and the Middle East, every street sign, restaurant menu, and stores had labels in at least two languages, one of which was English. Every country welcomes English speakers and caters to them throughout the country and as a traveler I have never had an issue of language barriers. I have never seen any of that in the United States except for maybe Chinatown or in Italian restaurants. I spent a summer abroad in Puerto Rico and have been to Spain as well as the Dominican Republic and several other Spanish-speaking countries. In all of my experiences I rarely had to speak in Spanish. In fact, they preferred to speak in English is most cases because they were more proficient in their second language than I was in mine. I took most of these trips to improve my Spanish language skills but I often spent more time teaching natives English. They have been studying English for as long as they have been in school, Americans are lucky if they have had 3 years of a foreign language class by the time they graduate college. I think Americans look ignorant and selfish when they refuse to learn languages of foreign countries but expect them to speak perfect English upon stepping foot on American land. I have a Spanish minor and can read and write in Hebrew and still feel like I know nothing compared to Europeans my age who speak at least two, usually more, languages fluently. I think that if America wants to keep the success and respect that she has earned from other countries over the years then as Americans, we need to respect those countries in return. I feel very blessed to have been born and raised in this country and I would never want to hinder the opportunity of living her for anyone, including foreigners. It is obviously not easy to move here from a foreign country, let alone learn the language, yet that is what we expect of others with no sympathy. The least we can do is help them and cater to them and show them the class and respect they have done to us in their homelands. Wed, 1 Feb 2012 06:26:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/31/voices-from-the-classroom-94/#IDComment280562568 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment276333272 After all of the events that have happened since November I can honestly say I have learned so much about the media, the university, and the current Penn State student body. The media (or people around us) can pick and choose what aspects of a story that they want to hear, believe, and report to others on. With the scandal, the media choose to focus on Joe Paterno and his role more than they wanted to draw attention to the sexual abuse in school facilities across the nation or jerry Sandusky and the lifestyle that he chose. In life, when we choose to make decisions that we do we often forget to think about how others might view our decisions. Some people may forget about it moments later but some people might go on to tell others of the choice that you made. With that they may go on to tell the truth, tell the truth with parts missing, or exaggerate parts of the story to make them more or less dramatic than what actually occurred. This series of events often leads people to judge you or form an opinion of your before they actually know the whole story of what happened. In the petty drama that goes on within friend groups, many altercations begin with something of this nature occurring, much like how the media told the world the “horrible” story of Joe Paterno and they formed their opinions of him without knowing what he may or may not have actually known or done in the situation. What I have no choice but to respect about Joe is that he stuck by his story throughout the entire time the media was attacking him and did in fact stand his ground and admit his wrongdoings. This taught me that although stories will be tol and not everyone may respect or understand my decision I have no choice but to defend myself, stand by the decisions that I have made, and respect that fact that not everyone will support them but they are entitled to their opinions. On the opposite end of things I have learned that when I am told a story of any kind I must take it as a grain of salt. Innocent until proven guilty. I must think of everything as false until both parties are able to agree on the truth (which still may be inaccurate). I have often overreacted at given situations after being told a story by someone about my friends, my school, or me. I have additionally learned that I need to take a minute to soak everything in, remind myself to take the words as grains of salt, and then strongly think about what my reactions will bring. The Penn State student body on the night of Joe Paterno’s firing did not take the time to think about their actions. They were angered by the stories told, but were unable to hear all sides of the story and reacted without thinking of anything but their emotions in that instant. The “riot” was a result of this lack of thought. As a student body (I am hoping everyone would agree with me) we have learned that the media obviously portray this university however they feel that day and just as they only saw the negative side of Joe in this story they only saw the negatives of the students as well which is why if we would all take a minute to evaluate the situation and think of the best possible solutions and reactions we will choose how the media portrays us because there will be no miscommunication of our message. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:33:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment276333272 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/16/voices-from-the-classroom-33/#IDComment268240508 I think we identify with other people of a similar race because it is the most obvious trait that people have in common. People seek out others that they are comfortable with and can share interests with and race is a physical characteristic that others can relate with. I do not feel like people of different ethnic groups “block off” people of other races from joining their group any more than people of different sports teams “block off” other athletes on another team. People tend to hang out with people who they share similar interests with and if that happens to be based on ethnicity then it is a coincidence. Although my group of friends is predominantly made up of Caucasians, we are mostly Jewish. We have several non-Jewish friends in our immediate group and we certainly do not block ourselves off from hanging out with people of other religions, we just happened to meet and really click and by chance we practice the same religion. I feel like it is a similar situation among people who predominantly hang out with people of the same race. They are comfortable around one another, have common interests, and have the same color skin. The pros of having a group based on your race or religion can really only be understood by someone who has ever been a minority of a group. There is an underlying understanding that you have for one another which leads to small, tight-knit groups. The friendships I have found over the past few years are irreplaceable and I would not have found them if my friends hadn’t found one another. We met on a trip to Israel through Penn State. Ironically, I trip that I took because I identified myself as Jewish. There were a lot of Jewish people in my hometown so it was never a big deal to me until I came to college and met people who had never met a Jewish person before, they would ask me questions like I was an urban legend. I felt uncomfortable and soon after went to events at Hillel to reassure myself I was not alone. I was never very religious nor wanted to become it I just needed the comfort of being around other Jews who I may have had nothing else in common with, I just needed that underlying understanding of one another. When I watched this video I immediately thought it was not that important to identify yourself as an ethnicity until I realized that I needed to identify myself as a religion even though I was confident of who I was. It is important for someone to have a basic group to fall back on based on something as race, religion, gender, or and other physical characteristic to have others they are able to identify with to help give them a better sense of being and confidence in who they are. As far as what box to check, I think it should be an open-ended question so people can identify themselves however they wish without having to restrict their identities. Thu, 19 Jan 2012 02:20:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/16/voices-from-the-classroom-33/#IDComment268240508