en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2400095 Comments by ake5029 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170515378 I can agree with you on many points in your response. I never really had any factual background on affirmative action. This lecture inspired me to do my own research on affirmative action and really find out for myself how it affects people of different races and different social classes. I, also was very surprised that women are in fact the ones that receive the largest benefit of affirmative action and that many of them are from the middle class. I defiantly agree that there needs to be some sort of affirmative action that targets people of lower social class. They are the ones who really need the opportunities provided by affirmative action to help advance themselves in society. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 03:35:20 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170515378 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170514265 Honestly I never really considered the implications and advantages of affirmative action. In fact I had never really had much background with affirmative action at all. I just used to believe that affirmative action was a program put into place to help minorities further advance themselves in society. But then I also heard the other side from some white people how they feel affirmative action is just a program that unfairly admits minorities into schools or other jobs simply because of race. These people may blame affirmative action for their faults in comparison to a minority. I never really researched affirmative action just circulated around the types of arguments I have heard throughout my life. I found the lecture so eye opening that after the lecture I did my own research just so I could form an opinion for myself. The lecture really caught my attention from the very beginning when same presented the statistic that most of the beneficiaries of affirmative action are for women and that most of the beneficiaries of color are from the middle class. I had always thought that affirmative action never really benefited women but was rather based on race. Another part that caught my attention was the presentation of nepotism. Now that I have been opened to idea of nepotism it is so hard not to face the reality that everyone practices some form of nepotism. It is so true that people believe in any situation of reward that they deserve what they get. It is like we are so consumed in our own love for ourselves that we cannot see that we are just like everyone else. Just like the research that examined the social ability of high school students and the how well people follow the bible, we will never put ourselves in the same category of everyone else and speak negatively of ourselves. For most people it is the “not me” attitude that fails to realize that whether you would like to believe it r not you are just like everyone else and everyone else has faults, nepotism just prevents you from seeing them. Now that I know some facts about affirmative action I would defiantly support a program like the one Obama had in mind. An affirmative action program should be based on the social class not solely on the merit of race or gender. This would make a lot more sense to help people that really have a financial deficiency than a person in the middle class who happens to be a minority. The video about the too different schools clearly shows that people of lower classes need assistance advancing themselves in society as compared to a hypothetically a minority who went to that wealthy private school. Regardless of race, people of lower class need an extra boost to help advance themselves. Thu, 7 Jul 2011 03:30:41 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170514265 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment168782332 I agreed with a lot of points in your blog about the lecture. But the thing that caught my attention was your last paragraph about how illegal immigrants can pay taxes and it changed your view of the situation. How about this, I worked around illegal immigrants since I was thirteen in an Italian restaurant in Long Island. The guy who made pizza’s name was David but we called him Flash. Anyway, Flash was an illegal immigrant and when he bought a car in America it was probably the happiest day of his life. After that he borrowed a social security card and started paying taxes. Now keep in mind this guy probably worked like 65 hours a week for like twelve dollars an hour. When I asked him why he wanted to pay taxes he said “It’s the least I can do for a country that has given me so much”. The tireless labor he does for very little pay, in his eyes was the greatest opportunity for him. In his eyes he wanted to give back the country that changed his life. Fri, 1 Jul 2011 19:43:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment168782332 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment168779914 I really enjoyed this lecture about immigration. I have always had strong feelings of admiration and sympathy for immigrants. As Sam stressed in the lecture it takes an immense amount of courage to pack up everything you have and come to a new world with nothing and try to make a life for yourself. A significant amount of these people do not even speak the native language and still take it upon them selves to deal with the bigotry and criticisms and work tirelessly to provide a better life for themselves and their families. I think I feel so strongly for immigrant rights because my parents immigrated here from Egypt and Colombia. Both spoke very little English but work tirelessly in order to become successful in a new world. I liked how Sam brought up the idea of free capitalism in relation to immigration. If you truly believe in capitalism then how can you not support immigration? Immigration both legal and illegal helps our economy whether critics want to recognize it or not. Illegal immigrants will perform the jobs that no one wants to do for a salary that no American would accept. Illegal immigrants at a cheap cost for the business perform many jobs like dishwashing, landscaping, and construction. This without a doubt helps the business and in turns the economy. I have worked with and around illegal immigrants all my life. I started working at a restaurant when I was thirteen and it amazed me how hard many of the people worked. I even had a friend who used to help me with my math homework every Thursday after work. Back in his country of El Salvador the math that I was learning in eleventh grade he had learned in the seventh grade before he came here. So it is not like these people are illiterate and stupid, as countless people in this country believe. They have just not been provided with the right opportunities to succeed in a world dominated by white Americans. I think its absurd that many white Americans claim this land as their land and they were the original owners. They stole this land from the Native Americans, the real owners of this land and are now trying to keep other people who are looking for a better life just as their ancestors were, out of the country. I find it pretty ironic that many Americans talk about the “American dream”. The little guy coming from poverty with nothing and worked his way tirelessly to the top. Escaping prejudice as the pilgrims did to a new world in search of a better life for themselves and their families. Our whole country revolves around the “American dream” yet we shut out people or Pilgrims of today who are just trying to do the same thing American ancestors did years ago. Fri, 1 Jul 2011 19:34:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment168779914 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168050720 I can defiantly agree with a lot of your points in your response in regards to the LBGT community. I thought the statistics about homophobic people was very surprising. I’ve always heard that homophobic people of some orientation issues to work out for him or herself but I never really believed it until I saw the high statistic. I think its crazy to use the holy books to justify prejudices for members of the LBGT community. Most people who claim to be die-hard religious followers pick and choose what parts of the religion they want to follow. Not too long ago many people used to believe they were superior to other people on the basis of skin color and race. As this has changed drastically in a short period of time, I believe discrimination against members of the LBGT community will similarly die out. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:33:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168050720 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168047975 I thought this lecture was very interesting and it defiantly changed the way I view the LBGT community. I used to feel indifferent about the LBGT community. Along the lines of let the people in the LBGT community do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t affect me. After this lecture I strongly feel as though the people in the LBGT community have the same rights as everyone else. The relationship between LBGT prejudice and different cultures is undeniable. I personally feel that members of the LBGT community suffered more discrimination and hatred than any group of any race. Members of every race constantly discriminate against members of the LBGT community. I am sure Sam surprised a lot of students with his analysis of the bible and other holy books in regards to the LBGT community. As we all know many people use the holy books to justify their prejudices for members of the LBGT community. Well, according to the strict guidelines of the bible we are all not going to Heaven. I think most people can agree that we have all done or do on weekly basis, many of the things that are forbidden in the Bible in order to be admitted to Heaven. If all these things are on the same level in the bible, why is it that we find the need to hold homosexuality as the ultimate of sins? Like Sam, it bothers me that people pick and choose what values of the bible to hold dear and over look the others. If someone views himself or herself as a die-hard worshipper of Christianity they should hold all of the values of the bible to the same level. The Willard preacher is a prime example of this. He preaches all the values of the bible on the same level. Many people feel as though members of the LBGT community flaunt their lifestyle. But what is their lifestyle; it is the same as members of the straight community. Members of the LBGT community don’t flaunt their lifestyle; members of the straight community simply just notice it more. To members of the straight community it is easy to point out two guys or girls holding each other than a heterosexual couple that is constantly over looked. I think one day in the future like when I have a family of my own, the issue of discrimination against members of the LBGT community be whipped out much like the issues of segregation during the civil rights movement. Not too long ago many people used to believe they were superior to other people solely on the merit of skin color and race. Look how far we have come in such a short time, it can only improve until all members of all races and communities are truly viewed as equal. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:23:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168047975 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168047603 I thought this lecture was very interesting and it defiantly changed the way I view the LBGT community. I used to feel indifferent about the LBGT community. Along the lines of let the people in the LBGT community do whatever they want as long as it doesn’t affect me. After this lecture I strongly feel as though the people in the LBGT community have the same rights as everyone else. The relationship between LBGT prejudice and different cultures is undeniable. I personally feel that members of the LBGT community suffered more discrimination and hatred than any group of any race. Members of every race constantly discriminate against members of the LBGT community. I am sure Sam surprised a lot of students with his analysis of the bible and other holy books in regards to the LBGT community. As we all know many people use the holy books to justify their prejudices for members of the LBGT community. Well, according to the strict guidelines of the bible we are all not going to Heaven. I think most people can agree that we have all done or do on weekly basis, many of the things that are forbidden in the Bible in order to be admitted to Heaven. If all these things are on the same level in the bible, why is it that we find the need to hold homosexuality as the ultimate of sins? Like Sam, it bothers me that people pick and choose what values of the bible to hold dear and over look the others. If someone views himself or herself as a die-hard worshipper of Christianity they should hold all of the values of the bible to the same level. The Willard preacher is a prime example of this. He preaches all the values of the bible on the same level. Many people feel as though members of the LBGT community flaunt their lifestyle. But what is their lifestyle; it is the same as members of the straight community. Members of the LBGT community don’t flaunt their lifestyle; members of the straight community simply just notice it more. To members of the straight community it is easy to point out two guys or girls holding each other than a heterosexual couple that is constantly over looked. I think one day in the future like when I have a family of my own, the issue of discrimination against members of the LBGT community be whipped out much like the issues of segregation during the civil rights movement. Not too long ago many people used to believe they were superior to other people solely on the merit of skin color and race. Look how far we have come in such a short time, it can only improve until all members of all races and communities are truly viewed as equal. Wed, 29 Jun 2011 19:22:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168047603 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165892967 I thought the experiment with the dolls was extremely interesting and thought provoking. It just demonstrates how deeply racism and discrimination is still rooted in society today. It’s so strong to the point where children are brainwashed into thinking they are superior or inferior, good or bad based on the category of race. The saddest part is when the experimenter asked the child to identify who was the good doll and the subject picked the white doll. Who was the bad doll and she picked the black doll and if she knew what race she was and she did. The horrifying experiment demonstrates how some races are taught from a very young age to feel different and inferior to other races. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:58:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165892967 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165885589 I thought this lecture was the most thought provoking and eye opening of any of the lectures regarding race so far. I thought it was really crazy to see statistical evidence and experiments of discrimination and to see a culture from another person’s eyes. I found the results of the experiment for housing very surprising. I’m sure this opened a lot of people eyes to the undeniable fact that racism still exists today. It was amazing that just by changing your voice and a name could elicit such prejudice judgment. But when the stereotypical white guy came to the phone everything was available after it was denied to other people because of their race or disabilities. Its like anything that is not able-bodied white is beneath them. One of the parts I could relate to was when the black girls were discussing their kinky hair and skin. The black girls were telling how they would make such an effort in an attempt to hide their kinky hair or straighten it constantly. Even the one part when the girls mother told her not to wear her hair kinky because she “looked African”. Also when light skinned black girls are considered lucky because they are closer to being white. I found it surprising that mothers would use creams on themselves and their children in an attempt to become lighter skinned. I found this really interesting because I can relate some of these situations to my family. I’m half Colombian and Egyptian but I’m very light skinned. My darker cousins used to always complement me and say how beautiful by skin was. I thought that was crazy because as a light skinned person I wanted to be tan or darker and never really understood what they meant by that. I actually thought they were making fun of me. I also have an aunt who used to use the bleach cream in order to try and make her skin lighter. When I asked her why she said “I just want to be lighter.” I never understood this as a person who is perceived as white until this class. My sister used to have what I thought was the coolest curly hair. Like tight curls that was basically a hanging Afro. As a guy I thought it was he coolest thing ever but she hated her kinky hair and makes it an event to get her hair permanently straightened twice a year. I found the LL Bean catalog part of the lecture very interesting because there are two sides to that argument. As a company you want your product to be open to all races. But as a white person you may think that the black people featured in the magazine are trying to be like them and accepted. But as a black person you may think these people are trying to be white and have “sold out” their race. So where is the medium where people are just people regardless of race. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:35:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165885589 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164326445 I also found this lecture really interesting and eye opening. I can defiantly see your points when you elaborated on “race credentials” or proving your race. Once a person sees you in a certain light or as a racist there is no changing their minds. Everything from that point on they will interpret as prejudice. The weirdest thing is that there is no set standard or rules of what people interpret as racist. Every individual of every group has a different ideology of what it means to be a part of that group and their own definition of what might be considered racist. As we learned in class what might be considered prejudice to one person may be completely appropriate for the next. Sun, 19 Jun 2011 17:27:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164326445 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment162937512 This lecture was a great continuation of the previous lecture that addresses the issue of being white. The first lecture really opened everyone’s eyes to the issue that white people do not really discuss their race and what it means to be white in America. Now that the first lecture established the fact that white people don’t identify with their race it is easier to understand the next stages and how it impacts the issue of addressing race among white people. Have you ever been in a conversation about race and seen a white person just automatically shut up and not contribute to the conversation? I have seen this happen so many times and it is because of the reasons Sam stresses in class. They either don’t want to be labeled as a racist or they really don’t know how to contribute to the conversation because they do not have enough experience with race. I think that people overuse the label racist and identify other people as racist to frequently. You can easily say something like calling a Jewish person a Jew in the appropriate context or not agree with a person of a different race on a racial issue an be labeled as racist. Just like Sam’s example in class when he was labeled a racist by someone who had no idea that he was a race relation’s professor but he just didn’t agree on a particular issue. I see this happen all the time and there really is nothing you can do to fight the “racist card”. Arguing just digs a deeper and deeper hole that is impossible to climb out of once you have been labeled someone who is prejudice against others. Just like every single white person has a different idea of white it means to be white to them, every person of color has a different idea as well. This is why there are so many issues with labeling someone as racist because every single person has a different idea of what being racist is to them. There is no rules and regulations book that if you say these words to this person you’re a racist. Its up to the individual to decide and what might be considered racist to one person may be perfectly acceptable to another person. The other reason is simply that many people don’t have enough experience with race and race issues to really contribute. One of my good friends at school who really has never been around or associated with other races goes about this in an interesting way. Since he knows he doesn’t know about certain issues or stereotypes he will ask a trusted person of that race. For example one day at school we were talking about a race issue with our black friends and out of no where he goes “do black people really all like chicken and watermelon.” Although we all started hysterical laughing, he really did not know so he asked. I feel like a lot of white people are afraid to just ask or address issues in fear of being labeled racist and instead they just keep quiet and never have these issues resolved. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 18:42:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment162937512 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162878984 I also think that the lecture made it pretty clear that white people do not discuss race issues. White people do not discuss what it means to be white. Instead they attribute their whiteness to their culture. If you ask a white person “what are you?” he’s not going to say white but refer to his cultural background or heritage. Where as a person of another race would automatically refer to their race. This lecture defiantly also showed me that different races will see the world through from a different perspective. But just like the fish can’t see water, people of different races don’t realize they all perceive the world differently. Wed, 15 Jun 2011 14:49:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162878984 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162371669 I’m sure this lecture really stirred some thoughts in many white people. As a society we really do not talk about what it really means to be white. We never identify what traits make up a person of the white race. African Americans can identify with their race and what it means to be black. Through the civil movements, African Americans express their pride in their race and clearly express what it means to be black in every level of the social spectrum. Many other races such as Latinos and Asians also identify with their races and what it means to be of that particular race. All other races clearly identify what it means to be of their particular races and how being a part of that race shapes how they are raised and their experiences in life except white people. White people do not identify with their race and what it means to be white, however they do identify with their culture. Italians for example, identify with their religion, their dress, music, traditions, food, and many other cultural factors. But all these things are identifying with a culture and not a race. If you asked an Italian person, “what are you” they will say Italian and identify with the culture not “I’m white” and identify with the race. It is easier to identify with a culture because we have an idea of what makes up our cultures. For a white person it is hard to identify themselves with a race and being white because not many white people have taken the time to think about what it actually means to be white. I even see myself doing this especially because I don’t know if I can identify with being white. I am half Colombian and half Egyptian but I have very light skin, basically I look white. Depending on whose definition I am not white because I am Egyptian and Colombian, but on the other hand many people consider me white because of my light skin. Even in school when we had to fill out those ethnic background checks I had no idea what race to identify myself with. Even teachers just told me to just check off everything because it depends on whose definition of race. Is it how you look or what your background is that defines race. When Sam asked what we identify ourselves with and what makes you, you there are many things that I can list. Probably the first thing to come into my head is that I’ve always been known as the Egyptian and Colombian kid. I never identify with being white particularly because I don’t know if I should and also it is easier to identify with your background like being Italian or Australian than white. Mon, 13 Jun 2011 20:54:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162371669 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160812809 I defiantly agree with you on a lot of points in your blog. I think a lot of people will openly admit that they are where they are because of pure luck and factors outside of there control. I defiantly think that other people that are not as fortunate also realize that they started the race with a disadvantage. I feel that people who recognize this disadvantage work to the bone to make up for the head start that a lot of fortunate people have in order to succeed. I think in all honesty it is impossible to cut the strings because no matter what we will always have a past that has shaped who we are. Thu, 9 Jun 2011 01:59:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160812809 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160662835 I have always thought about these types of issues living in the United States. These types of lectures are one of the reasons I love sociology because it opens your eyes to the issues right in front of you that no one wants to talk about but they are always there. I think as Americans we have this nationalistic and ethnocentric pride that makes us view our country literally as the best in the world and were the angelic saviors of other countries like Iraq. I think we fail to realize that the history of our country was found on the bones of the Native Americans whose land we stole from under them and the hard work and mistreatment of African Americans who were stolen from their land in Africa and sold like objects here in the U.S. for labor. Even today we deny and look past, like many other issues in our country, that racism does still exist today. As the United States we claim to be a melting pot and the land of the free, but who is free in a land that is governed by hidden prejudices and discrimination. We also claim to have equal opportunity for everyone and if you work hard you will succeed. Like Sam explained that the starting points are so much more different for white people in general than other minorities. It can’t be equal when a white persons rich grandfather gave him a significant inheritance and was the dean at Harvard and an inner city minority who works to help support his family’s rent. Who do you think has to work harder? Some sort of affirmative action is definitely necessary to even the playing field of racial groups. We cannot deny that racism does exist today. The whole “driving while black” law really does exist and have an affect on a lot of people today. I remember one time at the airport they stopped my Colombian cousin for a “random search” and ended up taking him in a back room for 45 minutes, questioning him, and searching him for who knows what and eventually made use miss our flight. Meanwhile I walked right through because I am significantly lighter than he is. The statistics in the judicial system displayed in the lecture really show how racism affects the judicial system. It is obviously really difficult to pin down the source of this discrimination in the justice system. It is defiantly more than just a racist judge or a prejudice lawyer. I think it’s a hidden even an unknown feeling deep inside many people in the judicial system that minorities are more prone to violence and crimes. The statistics of the same crime incarcerations just demonstrate that there has to be a third factor of prejudice that gave these minorities as harsher punishment than the same crime that a white person committed. Wed, 8 Jun 2011 15:49:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160662835 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158590497 I can defiantly see were your coming from. My parents immigrated to the United States from different countries in hopes of providing opportunities for their family that they never had growing up. Both our parents worked extremely hard to provide a better life for us and take advantage of the opportunities that they never had. I’ve had a job since I was 14 too because I defiantly needed money and my parents weren’t just going to give it to me. However I defiantly feel that because of our struggles and family struggles it motivates us to succeed and appreciate the opportunities here for us at Penn State. Regardless of structural obstacles in our way we can choose to fight and get around them and succeed. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 17:40:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158590497 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158588958 I defiantly really enjoyed these lecture because it opened a lot of people’s eyes to the topic of social inequality. I took soc 100 in the spring and a big theme of the class was the invisible strings that shape how we live our lives and what we become. Even though we can’t see these invisible strings they are the forces and factors outside of our control that shape us and move us like a puppet. We also have absolute free will that even in the most demanding and forceful situations like a gun pointed at your head you can still make a free decision. I really enjoyed the example of the homeless person that Sam used in class to demonstrate how both the strings or structural forces and freewill can shape us and really impact our lives. There were many factors outside of that persons control like born into a poor class, or losing his job, or some other tragedy that caused him to be homeless. However there are also decisions he made that drove him to be homeless, such as not going to school, not working, getting into drugs, and just not trying to help himself out of the situation. Another big example of how both the structural and freewill perspectives govern our lives is the A student versus the B student example. Where the A student chose to spend all his time studying the B student chose to party. But if the B student had some sort of obligation or tragic event that limited his studying time or forced him to be somewhere else it is beyond his control. I know that both my parents came from working class families and immigrated to the United States to work and hopefully provide better opportunities for their family than they had growing up. As a kid my parents ALWAYS stressed the importance of school and hard work. They always felt it was the only thing that could provide an ideal life and opportunities. I now believe they felt this way because they didn’t have the educational opportunities that I have here in the United States. Coming from parents who grew up working very hard I can see how they want me to take advantage of the opportunities that I take for granted because they never had them. Like the kids coming from Harper high school thought they could do much better in the new private school because of the vast opportunities that were in front of them. I also believe that even though structural forces may out obstacles in front of us we can chose using freewill to “bust our balls” to work hard and get around them because that is what is necessary to get to the other side. I think it all depends on how bad the individual wants to succeed. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 17:33:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158588958 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158276428 This lecture also gave me a whole different perspective of the word ethnocentrism. I never really realized what it meant or how it was governing my life so much as an American. Immediately when a person hears Muslim they don’t think of an ideally peaceful religion with extreme groups they think of terrorism and hatred. I feel that the Muslims see us in the same light that Sam is describing as Christian invaders. How can you not come to see someone as an enemy when our president called it a crusade and we are destroying their country and taking their oil. To them we are the terrorists. Wed, 1 Jun 2011 18:53:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158276428 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158274778 This is a war for oil but no one except who are the victims of the Christian invaders will see it that way. Because we are Americans we find our war overseas justified but many of us fail to take a walk in the victims shoes either because we don’t care or we can not accept the fact that maybe the United States isn’t as perfect and justified as we have been brain wash to believe. Wed, 1 Jun 2011 18:45:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158274778 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158274612 This is a war for oil but no one except who are the victims of the Christian invaders will see it that way. Because we are Americans we find our war overseas justified but many of us fail to take a walk in the victims shoes either because Wed, 1 Jun 2011 18:45:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158274612