Thursday’s lecture was, in a word, interesting. It is always hard to deny Sam’s logic and to take sides against him because he has a way of looking at situations through the eyes of others. My views of the United States of America and numerous other issues, organizations, and establishments have really been put to the test this semester. This last lecture really hit hard though, Sam was not kidding when he said that the lecture was going to be really intense. To look at things like the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars through the eyes of the “enemy” is something that I had never really done before. Also, to think that mass media and news corporations have such a large part in some of the garbage that I see is incredible. I never gave a second thought to the fact that the extremists that I see on television and read about in the newspaper are such a small percent of the population. These people are just like the nut jobs that we see and hear about here at home. They are just like the few people who will go to any means, violent or non-violent, to prove a point that most cannot comprehend or agree with. Just like anything else, a few bad eggs can ruin the bunch. I have never been able to understand why it is so important to large media corporations to focus so much on the bad and so little on the good. It is interesting to me that we as humans love to writhe in the misery of others. This is another discussion entirely though. Back to the matter at hand, to think that we are in the Middle East fighting for oil is somewhat disturbing as well. As an Engineering Science and Mechanics student, I realize that I have the power to do research for alternative energy. What I did not realize is that I can have a part in ending wars for fossil fuels and natural resources and hopefully find a way of making cheap and efficient energy for all. But I do disagree with Sam when he says that the wars being fought in the Middle East are solely for oil. I would be curious to hear the perspective and facts from someone with some opposing views because in the end, the war in the Middle East cannot be summed up in a seventy-five minute lecture. This, however, is besides the fact. When I put myself in the shoes of a Middle Eastern college student and listened carefully to Sam’s words and points I was seriously pissed off. If people tried to come to my country and kick me off my land and put my family and friends in danger I would do everything in my power to stop them. This is when I had one of those ah-ha moments. This is the moment that I fully understood.

As a rather avid supporter of the video game industry, I am absolutely, one hundred and ten percent mortified by the creation of this highly inappropriate and dangerous video game. It never ceases to amaze me how low we as human beings have the potential to stoop. I mean really, like someone made a digital game about rape. Today, video game makers and supporters are calling for games to be made more and more realistic. I personally do not want this. The only violent video games that appeal to me are fantasy games that are fiction and far fetched. The real problem with games like these is that the utterly absurd and unacceptable behavior is suddenly made acceptable and is rewarded, not punished. I just wonder if the makers of these games think about the consequences of releasing the games. Yes, you will obviously make money, but at what cost? Do these selfish, greedy makers think that small children will not play their games? Do they not see that these kids learn ethics and a sense of right and wrong from these games? If the goal of the game is to rape girls, the people who play the game will become numb to the blatantly abominable goals of the game. The bottom line is that someone has to step up and regulate the content that goes into these games. And if that is not enough, then game sellers have to refuse to put certain games on their shelves, even if it is bad for business. But I seriously doubt that this will ever happen. Decent human morals and ethics tend to be forgotten when it comes to business. Some great examples of games that employ pointless and dangerous violence are the Grand Theft Auto games. The point of these games is to become a gangster and complete missions and hits to earn money, cars, houses, etc. I played some of these games when I was younger and did not really think much of them. But now that I look back on the series, I was exposed to some very graphic and grotesque details of this game at a relatively young age. If I did not have parents who discouraged violence and taught me to be kind and courteous to my fellow human, I may have responded poorly to the game. I may have thought that it was ok to steal cars and run from the police. These games teach people easy ways to become common criminals. The worst that happens in this game is that you die or get caught by the police. If either happens, you just go your merry way and lose a couple hundred dollars. I just wish that people would think of the consequences of their actions before they put garbage like this on the shelves or the Internet.

This video is interesting. I must admit that. I was a little shocked to see some of the reactions of various people to the things on the census that do not really deserve a reaction. I can understand wanting people to respect you and respect your heritage and where you came from. But people get upset about some of the most pointless things sometimes. I have a perfect example: the race section on the census. The census is used for more than just to count the number of people in the United States of America. It has more important implications than media stories that obviously blow things out of proportion and get people riled up about absolutely nothing. It offers more than a section that people get upset about for no reason at all. I have a couple of quotes from the official United States Senate Website. The quotes state: The Constitution of the United States of America “calls for an actual enumeration of the people every ten years, to be used for apportionment of seats in the House of Representatives among the states.” Also, “Besides providing the basis for congressional redistricting, Census data are used in many other ways. Since 1975, the Census Bureau has had responsibility to produce small-area population data needed to redraw state legislative and congressional districts. Other important uses of Census data include the distribution of funds for government programs such as Medicaid; planning the right locations for schools, roads, and other public facilities; helping real estate agents and potential residents learn about a neighborhood; and identifying trends over time that can help predict future needs.” These quotes are from the webpage: (http://factfinder.census.gov/jsp/saff/SAFFInfo.js... So you know what this means, the census has nothing to do with insulting people. It has to do with the accurate and fair representation of the United States population. I think that people and especially the media need to consider the goals of programs and plans before getting offended and judging something that has obviously been well researched and planned out. There is a reason that these people were elected and appointed to the positions that they hold in our government. I like to think that the people in charge of the Census and every other government agency are intelligent and have the best interests of the people of this country in mind. I am an Italian, white male. If the Census did not have Italian as a race or ethnicity listed I really would not care. Personally, its not important to the overall goal of the program and it is not listed I am not going to be offended. People just tend to blow things out of proportion for no reason at all and it really gets on my nerves. It is really pathetic how immature most people are.

This is a very interesting and intriguing story. When I think of Hawaii, I think of sunshine, beaches, honeymoons, and hula dancing. Not for one second do I think of the injustice done to indigenous peoples. It is so easy to forget the rich cultural heritage that Hawaiian natives have and that should be recognized and celebrated. It is incredible to me that although so many Native American and Alaskan native tribes that have been allowed to establish their own governments, this right has not been extended to Native Hawaiians. Just because Hawaii is not connected to the North American continent, Hawaii is still a state in the United States of America. The people who live there pay taxes, abide by laws and are citizens of this nation. I just do not understand why these people have been left out for so long. We need to respect the people who lived on this land before we did. The least we can do is to give their ancestors respect and acknowledgement by extending them the rights that they deserve. The article made mention of the dire straits that the descendants of these native peoples are in today. I am going to assume that their situation is much like that of some modern day Native Americans. The article states that “A disproportionate share of Native Hawaiians find themselves homeless, huddled beneath plastic tarps in beach camps or living in shelters. Native Hawaiians make up 28 percent of the state's homeless who received outreach services, while accounting for about 20 percent of the population, according to last year's report by the University of Hawaii Center on the Family.” This is a considerable number of people living in extreme poverty in “the greatest nation in the world where every man is equal.” This really makes you think. How equal are we? Really though, like how can this many people be so disintegrated. How could we have let this happen? How could we have let our collective ambitions get in the way of common human decency and respect for our fellow human beings? I mean, its bad enough that we pushed them off of land that was originally theirs, but we had to keep pushing, we wanted more than their land, we wanted their pride. I think that this recognition of the Native Hawaiians is the first step in the positive direction for the relationship between this nation, this government, and these people. I think that if we show them respect and decency that one day maybe, we could all be on equal footing. But as long as prejudice and selfish ambitions are allowed to get in the way we will never ever be equal.

This is a pleasantly unexpected video. I really did not know what to expect after reading Sam’s paragraph, but I really enjoyed watching this video and hearing what this woman in a very unusual position had to say. I was very surprised how soft spoken and humble Natalie Randolph was. This is a very big step for us as a culture and a nation that is obsessed with football. To have a woman as a high school head football coach is truly unique. I am anxious to see how the team responds to her and how they perform this coming season. I am sure that there are some players who are torn and some who are excited. This may create conflict, but may ultimately help the team in the long run. I think that if Natalie does well this season, you may see a couple more women being named head coaches of high schools around the nation. She is now the poster child for female high school head football coaches. I am sure that her actions and decisions will be scrutinized more than most coaches solely because she is a woman. This is disturbing, but I think that I can maybe make some sense of it. Because football as a sport is such a display of athleticism, toughness, and brutality it has always been assumed to be more of a masculine game. The gender roles that plague or nation and society are seen nowhere more than athletic fields. Men have traditionally been assumed to be the tougher, more brutal, and more athletic than women. With the development of women’s professional sports and now the integration of women into men’s sports, we as a society are breaking barriers and striving towards equality. Actually, this past season, I remember hearing of the first woman referee in a men’s collegiate football game. Had the announcers not made such a big deal of the whole thing, I would not have noticed that she was a woman. As we slowly progress, women gain more prowess and respect as human beings who are able to compete and participate in the highest levels of any sport. As for Natalie, I am confident that she will do a pronominal job as a coach. She was obviously chosen for the job because she is an outstanding leader and mentally tough. But I would hope that she was chosen for the job because she has a supreme understanding of the game of football. I think that her and her team’s season will really be fun and interesting to watch. As long as Natalie can motivate her players and be a responsible and honest mentor, she will be well fit for the job.

As a person who has played organized basketball for over ten years and who loves the sport, I feel obligated to respond to this article. I would first like to say that I despise the National Basketball Association (NBA) and everything that goes along with it. It is not entertaining to me; I do not like the way that these “professionals” play the game. Also, I do not like the negative publicity that goes along with the league. Some of these guys are more worried about selling their shoes than playing for their team. But this is beside the point; personally I would love to see the NBA adopt a more “conservative” and “traditional” style of basketball. What is the style I speak of? Maybe instead of going for a crazy dunk over a seven foot tall guy and his teammate you could look to your left and pass it to your teammate who is probably wide open under the hoop because you drew the defense to you and away from him. It’s the little things that really get on my nerves about the NBA. Like the fact that pretty much every team scores over one hundred points every game. There is no doubt that these players are overly talented, they have had to move the three point line much further away from the basket over the years. This is just a testament to the talent of the players, but just because you can make a basket from forty feet out doesn’t mean you have to, chances are that if you pass the ball there is probably a higher percentage shot that will open up. I just think that the style that used to be played, the “Pistol” Pete Maravich, Wilt “the Stilt” Chamberlin, Julius “Dr. J” Irving, and Larry Bird styles of the game is dead and gone. I love to watch films of old basketball games because that is how I play my game and that is how I think the sport should be played. No doubt, people in those players days thought that their styles were “flashy” and wanted to change the way they played, but it is about more than just the style. These guys busted their asses, they passed, they shot, they dribbled with purpose. They didn’t have big shoe contracts or magazine deals. These guys played the game for what it was, a sport that can untie people and get guys of different backgrounds to come together for a common purpose, to win and have a good time. I cannot tell you how many times I have watched a professional basketball game and seen traveling calls get let go, guys not paying attention on defense, and other guys just blatantly being lazy. It disgusts me to think that the game has come to this point. So I agree with the guy who wants to start the league in this respect, but I do not agree that the league should be an all white league. I know plenty of players who happen to be people of color who feel the same exact way that I do, and would love to see players actually care about the sport. It is disgusting that this man has been given the limelight to represent people that share my views about the sport.

Wow, this story is really very impressive, inspiring, and also tragic. How does this person, who has no more than a fifth grade education from Haiti gain the business savvy and poise to run such a clever and successful business? Seriously, think about it, this hardly educated Haitian woman has the knowledge to balance books, convert currency, give out loans, collect interest, and make a profit. Just think for a second, what if this woman had been raised in a developed nation where such heavy emphasis is put on education? Think of how many others throughout the world who have been blessed with so much potential that will never be tapped into because of where they were born and raised. Do we really have the right to say that we are all equal? Even in our own country, some clearly have greater opportunities than others. Some children have to grow up in harsh neighborhoods around drugs, crime, and corruption. They attend schools whose faculty expects them to drop out and land in jail. Other children grow up with every need they can ever imagine satisfied and then some. They attend the best schools in the country and are expected to attend college. The rich only get richer in today’s society. This, however, is the society we live in. I have absolutely no idea how to make the system more fair, and if I did, it probably would not be in my interests to fix anything. I attend the Pennsylvania State University, one of the best state universities in the country. I live in an upper middle class family in a nice house; I have a great life. If the was a way to fix the system, it probably would not be in my best interests. Which brings up more questions, since the ones with the power to make a difference or a change are generally benefiting from society, why should they change the system? The whole situation is one huge conflict of interest. I do not know if people will ever be on a level playing field financially, but I can say for sure that we are all so very different that we can never start at the same level.
In conclusion, I really have no idea how to fix a problem that is so integrated and ingrained to everything I have ever experienced. It is a really defeating feeling when you can not figure out the answer to a seemingly simple problem that turns out to be one of the most complex, diverse, ever-changing dilemmas that we as a nation and people will ever face. This may be the land of the free and the home of the brave, but all men are not created equal.

Articles like this are particularly interesting because it is nice to hear expert opinions about any book, let alone the best selling and arguably most important book of all time. Personally, I am a practicing Roman Catholic. I firmly believe that most of the time the Bible is interpreted much too literally. If we lived exactly how the Bible instructed, we would harshly abuse women among countless other things, and there would probably be no hope for complex thought and little room opinions. I was astounded to find out from this article that some of the Bible passages and stories that I have personally read and never thought twice about were so fully centered around and consumed by sexual innuendos. I attended a Catholic grade school and firmly remember learning the creation story at a very young age. If the parents of the young kids and dare I say the teachers and even clergy were aware of the sexual nature of Adam’s “rib” I would like to think that they would postpone this story until the children were a little older and more familiar with the human anatomy and its counterparts to discuss the story fully. I know and understand full well that the Bible if full of convoluted and racy stories, but I never would have guessed that a story as seemingly innocent as the creation story could be so dirty. I mean, what is the story actually telling us, that God created women from an obviously unnecessary bone in the penis. Like really, even saying that God created women from an obsolete rib is bad enough, but saying that women were created from this bone completely dehumanizes them and makes them a sex object right from the moment of creation. I will be the first one to step up and say that I do not believe in the creationist story; I do however believe that evolution did not proceed unsupervised. This is beside the point, but what really alarms me is that all of the stories that I thought were completely harmless that I have ever read could all be filled with sexual messages and innuendos that I never knew were present. I realize that the Bible was written long, long ago and that we cannot really fully translate anything from this long ago. But if you think for a second about how much we really read every day and how we are so oblivious to obvious messages, what messages are we really being fed? I am extremely embarrassed that I have been so oblivious for all of these years. I will be sure to really read into any other Bible passage that I read in the future. This article was really eye opening and I am very thankful that I read it.

Wow, I bet this guy is really kicking himself for making those comments now. The real question is, don’t these guys have a rough idea of what they are going to be asked, and how to respond at these town hall meetings? I mean, come on, any person within their right mind who would go up in front of a group of people and make such ridiculous comments does not have a common sense bone in their entire body. And this was not just some average Joe it was an elected official. If you voted for this guy and you were on welfare, you are really kicking yourself now. I still cannot get over the fact that this seemingly well educated (we would hope, I mean considering he is in politics) would get up in front of a body and compare human beings who happen to be in unfortunate situations to wild animals (picture a platypus in a line in the welfare office). If this guy really wanted to make a difference, he would put aside his ridiculous thoughts and realize one truth: the welfare system is flawed.
Poor individuals on welfare have no incentive to work to get off of welfare. Why should they, let’s say that a mother of two collecting welfare gets $26,000 from the government each year. Now let’s say that she goes to work, she makes around $26,000 working, but she had to work all year for her money, and now she doesn’t qualify for welfare anymore. But the kicker is that on top of all of that she has to pay taxes on the money that she made, so she ends up with around $20,000 or so. This results in a net loss of $6,000. Why would anyone in that deep of a hole try to pull themselves out, it makes no logical sense. This man should not be blaming the people who are on welfare; he should be blaming the system that controls welfare! He should blame himself! It is because of sleazy elected officials like this guy that these people are in this mess in the first place. The incentive system is set up completely wrong. I am not proposing a way to fix it, I am not an economist or sociologist, but we have some of the brightest minds living within our borders, we need them now more than ever. Elected officials should do their job and just admit that they know nothing. They should surround themselves with experts and work to solve complex problems rather than just getting in front of a body and making inconsiderate comments that only waste the time and money of the taxpayers who pay their salaries. So who is really the animal here?

I would first like to say that I have not seen the movie Avatar, and personally do not really care whether I get around to it or not. However, Mr. Brooks’ article does bring to light some rational and sound points. Mr. Brooks certainly picked the right movie to bring his viewpoints to light with considering that Avatar is now the one of the biggest grossing blockbuster of all time, certainly the largest in the last five, dare I say ten years. Beside the point, Mr. Brooks makes a completely valid argument. Time and time again we see a white protagonist with the help of a group of athletic, colored natives fight against the large militarily driven enemy. But, would changing the skin color of our hero be good for business? What Mr. Brooks fails to realize is that a movie is an art as much as it is a product. You have to appeal to the people who are most likely to see the movie. I do not claim to know which group of people this is, I tried to look it up online but could find nothing; but I would venture to assume that the majority of people seeing these films are white. Thus it is in the best financial interests of the both the movie director and the producers to have a white protagonist. It would be interesting to have a protagonist of a different ethnic background or color and compare the net grossing of the various films. As far as sending the message of the film according to Mr. Brooks, I have to agree with his viewpoint. It does seem that films and stories, both modern and arcane, have white heroes. The plot lines and messages of the many tales have become repetitive to the point of nausea. Although, from what I can gather from various opinions and descriptions: this movie is first and foremost an action movie that employed a completely new and revolutionary filming technique, which may completely revamp the whole movie industry. In light of this fact, I would suggest that Mr. Brooks needs to focus a little less on the semantics of the film and a little more on whether the heart pumping action and killer special effects glued him to his seat and kept him entertained. I know that, as a guy, whether I’m watching Wesley Snipes, Jackie Chan, or Arnold Schwarzenegger kick ass and take names, I am completely entertained and content. The color of their skin or their cultural heritage really does not matter to me. So in other words, if my assumptions of the movie are correct, Mr. Brooks needs to rethink his argument. But, this article has sparked my interests to watch the film.