en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4233327 Comments by Alec_Mirchandani http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-157/#IDComment343901829 I think this is a really interesting question, I mean that is probably one of the only reasons I ever find myself actually segregating people at least in how I think of them sometimes. I never have an opinion on somebody based on how they look unless I have basis to believe how that person may be, and that is different in other people who will just see black and automatically assume this seemingly endless pit of hatred in their bodies. And it’s tragic that people can be like that, it’s tragic that they can just shut out the people around them because of how they look. I am a mixed race but I’ve never been treated badly enough to ever say something about it, and I couldn’t imagine what that is like honestly to be picked on our ostracized over something so ridiculous and insignificant. It is strange sometimes how the animosity of these perpetrators can turn the victims into this open target for criticism; it’s actually pretty fucked up. Just think about how this segregation can eat at the good nature of people as we know them, this ignorant racism cuts so deep that it literally drives people apart from one another; it’s not just hatred, it’s so much more. So I think that it can make the people who are not prejudicial whatsoever kind of confused when their efforts are met with resistance and more focus on their own well being and not the well being of all people. You can never be empathetic to somebody who has been racially victimized; you can only sympathize for them because you’ll never really know what it’s like to go through what they have gone through. In the same respect I do think that it is important to recognize that I will never truly understand and that it’s my duty to be humble and respectful to that which I do not know. I think of what it would feel like to have someone hate me without ever knowing me, and if I had experience that then you know what, I probably wouldn’t want anything to fucking do with anybody else anyways. I would probably want to just worry about myself because it can be frustrating to care about people and then have them spit in your face. I think people have the right to respect when that is what they are themselves, people have the duty to be fair and equal to each other and when that’s not the case then what choice does that leave them? I’m all for being obnoxious, vulgar, and rude but when there comes a time to show respect for a person, it lies on your honor; to be representative of good character it is your responsibility to defend the level of honor you hold. Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:13:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-157/#IDComment343901829 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/04/voices-from-the-classroom-142/#IDComment333565001 What Sam talks about in class is some of the most important things I think a college student can learn. I’m only a sophomore but I have had the opportunity to take some pretty interesting classes and distinguish between the most relevant to life courses. I have been eating this class up in every single lecture, the ethnocentrism lecture was great but it’s really only one part of what we get to experience. I do feel bad for Sam though, because he loves the shit out of teaching this class and what it stands for but kids aren’t always as open minded as he would like them to be. I don’t do anything but pay attention in the class, but I see these brats on their electronics just fucking around all class. I guess that’s just another thing that this class has taught me about though: putting up with ignorance. It’s one thing to not know what you’re talking about but it’s another thing entirely to embrace it and consciously decide not to learn anything. The tolerance came very slowly for me, I mean, I understand not wanting to learn calculus or chemistry or even biology for some, but this course is interactive and interesting and not just some memorize and regurgitate subject. Focusing more on ethnocentrism, I think that it’s the people that don’t want to understand that don’t. I know that last statement is pretty fucking obvious, but it’s important when trying to figure out the best way to move forward. This is one of the reasons that I really enjoy my discussion group; even when people are saying something or defending something I don’t agree with or that I think is very ignorant, I find myself happy still because they’re actually thinking. They are thinking about what they value and why they value it; something they wouldn’t have done if Sam hadn’t been there to question it in the first place. Acceptance is another thing entirely but I value the fact that Sam accepts everybody despite whether he agrees with them or not. I think the last lecture was great but I wouldn’t put it on the top of the list of the best or most pivotal lectures of this class. I thought our race discussions were the most on point in terms of people really giving a shit and being subjugated to an actual thought process. I have a lot to learn but I have been able to embrace the core concepts of this class because I have always been trying to see things from others perspectives. I try to see things from others perspectives because I think that’s the only way to properly interact with people, but that has rubbed off on me in how I interpret other cultures and customs as well. Sat, 7 Apr 2012 03:36:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/04/voices-from-the-classroom-142/#IDComment333565001 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-134/#IDComment328115778 I’ve usually been the one to stick up for other people no matter what the issue; be it a scumbag boyfriend or a school bully, I’m always the one that has something to say and do about it. When it comes to the, I suppose, more lighthearted stereotypes (like black people liking chicken) I find myself thinking of the similar stereotypes that exist in almost every culture. Indian people eat curry, Chinese people eat rice, Japanese people eat sushi, Australian people like barbeque, or Russian people liking goulash. When it’s said and taken lightheartedly I usually don’t even think about it being said; that is, I usually accept humor or comments made in good and appropriate contexts. I guess laughing at it, and slowly phasing it out of our minds is a good tactic to eliminate stereotypes in my mind. But if someone honestly thought that ALL black people like chicken and watermelon, that’s where I draw the fucking line. I believe that racism is the product of closed mindedness; anybody that is truly open minded could not possibly believe that they are better than somebody else because of their appearance. Any hint at all of racism or legitimate belief in stereotypes immediately puts me on alert; I take it as my duty to alert that person of what a useless prick they are being. It’s not that I take offense to it personally when it’s said to other people, but I know most people are a lot less confrontational than I am and they won’t stick up for themselves. I want to protect people and let them know that nobody should have to listen to some assholes ignorant thoughts. I’m part Indian and part Slovenian and I see the stereotypes that have been drawn on my behalf; when I say I’m Indian people immediately have a perspective of what an Indian person eats, what kind of religion they practice, and maybe even what their home life is like. If they are wrong about one of their assumptions I will do my very best and in the most respectful way possible to inform them of what it actually is like. But if somebody thinks that they’re viewpoint is more informed than theirs is (meaning they reject the truth for their own bullshit) then I’m going to tell them to fuck off. At the same time, when I see or hear someone embracing a stereotype I know not to be true, no matter what race it is in regards to, I will first assess whether they are open minded to where they have misspoke and if not then I see no reason to be respectful. I guess most of my reaction to stereotypes is based on the competency of the person, and I always take the opportunity to defend those that are being rudely subjected to another’s ignorant opinion. If only closed minds came with closed mouths. Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:08:08 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-134/#IDComment328115778 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/13/voices-from-the-classroom-119/#IDComment318363843 I think that it’s pretty ridiculous that people get so defensive about topics that they themselves barely understand. People have no idea what the term, “devil’s advocate” means, and I think that’s where the majority of misconceptions come from. I usually leave it up to ignorance and stupidity but I’m going to believe in people for at least a couple minutes and say that they just don’t understand what it is to be objective (which is stupid). Sam is an absolutely amazing teacher because he explores almost every single view point you could have on an issue; he doesn’t just state his opinion, he provides you with relevant statistics and information that would mold your own. You would assume people would draw knowledge from him and make new conclusions but instead I see the typical response. In my discussion group I got to see this first hand; it’s a shame that these people don’t learn because of the way they choose to conduct themselves. To answer the question directly, there is no excuse whatsoever to how the people reacted in class on Tuesday. There is ignorance and blind pride in defending something that they themselves know little to nothing about. I would have expected much better and open minded responses from a classroom full of children, and even a classroom full of veteran marines. College kids are stupid and that is fucking unfortunate. College kids especially at this university get this complex that they are smart just because they go here, and because they take the classes but it doesn’t work when the moment they disagree with something that they just shut off. This is a pretty big and common occurrence in our classroom, and I hear it from my discussion group almost every week. They just don’t listen or they have truly ignorant opinions, and it’s infuriating. I listen and analyze every word that Sam says in class so I can think objectively and because I’m really curious as to what Sam’s actual opinions are. But some of these kids, they just fuck around all class on their apple products playing the stupid iphone games or going on their $2,000 facebook machines (macbooks). If you’re doing that kind of shit all class, then you’re no longer allowed to have a fucking opinion, you’re no longer allowed to think because you evidently don’t. These dipshits sit in class and the moment they don’t agree with something, they tune it right the fuck out like they want to be morons. I really like this class and have been waiting for the opportunity to take it since freshman year, but it really pisses me off that these kids could give a shit less. They get in their groups and support each other’s stupidity instead of realizing how fucking stupid they really are. But whatever really, right? Where’s the next frat party? Burn alive. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:27:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/13/voices-from-the-classroom-119/#IDComment318363843 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/22/voices-from-the-classroom-109/#IDComment301683050 I remember the first time I met somebody who honestly and without shame just did not recognize how big of a thing racial discrimination is. I come from a pretty mixed cultural background but my social culture still comes from living inside the U.S. and it’s always been apparent to me that there are people everywhere who are racist or at the very least discriminatory in almost every different culture. The difference I found is that people express it differently depending on where they are from and how they were brought up. The people from the U.S. though have a unique way of showing it, and unfortunately I believe they are the most criticized for it. Racism in other cultures is not always openly talked about but it is still made known; and not in a way which could interpret it as embarrassing but rather in a way that some take pride in thinking lesser of other people. In the United States it’s a bit different and unfortunately a lot more infuriating; the people here are just content with ignorance. At least from the people I’ve met and conversed with there is some strong opinion, one to be fought for sure but also a mutual respect of differing viewpoints. That’s where the intelligence comes in: the people who actually have a conversation to have are the ones that are self aware. The people in this country are just happy with being stupid, and unfortunately stupid people are the target sheep for tyrannical leaders like Rick Santorum (I mean holy fucking shit, this psycho is actually running for president. Doesn’t that freak anybody else out, that he would even have supporters?). I think people have just mellowed out and aren’t taking civil injustices as seriously anymore. Martin Luther King Junior was one of the most brilliant men I have ever heard of, and the tyrants of this country killed him because without sheep there is no control. I’m getting to the point of answering the question. The white people in power of this country are gladly promoting white supremacy because they can’t be in control of people who are self aware. Social class and race form trends that put white people at the top and everybody else below and it’s ridiculous. But to be honest I think that addressing these things is just not productive at this moment in time; I don’t know if it is how I was raised or the characteristics I’ve adopted but I don’t truly judge a person until I hear them speak of something they’re passionate about. I don’t care what you look like; I care what you have to say. The trends talked about in class are tragic, that is I think that it’s tragic that anybody would do worse on an examination just because of the color of their skin or the holidays they celebrate. Everybody is equal and what’s fucked up is that we all don’t have the same opportunities because of people that just want control. I can be a pretty pissed off person but I’m not angry, I just think we have a really cool world with a lot of really cool people and it really pisses me off when I see somebody fucking it up. I brought up King because he stood for justice and equality, and he wasn’t scared to talk about the little things that make people uncomfortable. “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy” Sun, 26 Feb 2012 01:56:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/22/voices-from-the-classroom-109/#IDComment301683050 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/15/voices-from-the-classroom-107/#IDComment295330095 I really like this question because I’ve thought about it a lot and it has troubled me a lot but I think I finally found my answer from some actual experiences. I think that existential thought is something that people have trouble dealing with and definitely trouble accepting. I mean Sam is right, who wouldn’t think that way? Why think that we are just a coincidence? And even to a more harsh extent, isn’t it a bit pretentious to even be thinking that we are an accident? You know what, it makes sense and I don’t question that form of logic but all I have to offer is another perspective. Why take this all so personally? I don’t believe that we own this earth and the biggest Native American mantra is that man doesn’t own the earth, he belongs to it. I believe that we really are here on sheer coincidence and I think that is the most beautiful fucking thing about life itself. My questions are different than most I think: Why are you so pretentious against our mother, the earth? Why should we take our own imaginary friend’s credit for being here? The real meaning of life is to appreciate its existence and then embrace what we are, a coincidence. I’m a biology major and I want to go to medical school and I’m still okay with why we are here. And don’t think I just have some vendetta against Christians; I have a vendetta against all organized religion. I want to find out what to believe, and I need to figure that out without anybody else telling me what they think. I’ll keep to myself about it but I can only ask that everybody else do the same; you’re not going to change my mind that religion is a crutch for the weak and the hopeless. I say this out of no ignorance, I know what most major religions are about and I see only one trend: control. I don’t want to be controlled in the direction of my life and it may sound hypocritical but it really is not. Part of me wants to join the Marine Corps more than anything I’ve ever wanted to do and that is control as well but that is what I want, a control of my body not of my mind. Life is pain and pain is a part of what we are, and that is self aware. The only way to feign happiness is by letting yourself close your mind to the induction of pain, and that ability is readily granted by religion. Pain is the great isolator, the almighty truth teller. Fuck Spirituality. It’s all in the flesh and how much you can take. You want to transcend? Burn. Sat, 18 Feb 2012 02:51:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/15/voices-from-the-classroom-107/#IDComment295330095 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/10/voices-from-the-classroom-103/#IDComment290713826 I think that the topics that we have been covering concerning white supremacy have been incredibly influential on the entire world and how it functions. Sam talked about how there are certain things that happen that we cannot really account for and unfortunately they just happen; I think that this explanation is as exact of an answer as we can get sometimes. Certain races don’t want to associate with their corresponding ethnic groups or their friends because they don’t want to be judged by others. I think that it’s sad because people should want to be themselves no matter what, they should never have to prove anything to anybody else and certainly not to a bunch of white people. I was the very first one in my family to be born in the United States and that has affected my life and my life choices as such. I am to no extent “white” but culturally I cannot deny that is what I am; it’s interesting to view it from this perspective. People often don’t like to associate with their ethnicity but that goes for white people as well, that is the people that are culturally white but are not ethnically white. I hate associating myself as white because that’s simply not what my heritage is and it is rather embarrassing to go overseas to my family and be the American. I was talking with my brother about it yesterday as well and he told me about how his friends that came to the United States from Africa and how they dealt with foreign exchange students from America in their schools in Africa. The one thing that they noticed is that suddenly when the American black students would arrive that all of a sudden they were proud to be AFRICAN-american and not just American but that they would become flustered as they realized how not African they were. I think its ridiculous to be embarrassed about where you come from because anybody that would judge you based on where you grew up or the color of your skin is not someone who is worthy of your time. I cannot deny that I am to an extent culturally white because this is where I grew up and these are the customs I have learned to adopt; however, when somebody is embarrassed of their culture it comes off as insulting to me; do they expect me to be embarrassed as well? But the thing that pisses me off about it is that some people will try to take pride in a culture they are not a part of; the African American students in our class might take credit for being African but some of their families may have absolutely no ties to their culture and they have grown up in Philadelphia their entire lives. At the same time it is hard for me to be part Indian but not have any solid ties to my heritage and the same goes to my Slovenian heritage as well. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:36:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/10/voices-from-the-classroom-103/#IDComment290713826 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/02/voices-from-the-classroom-96/#IDComment283403652 I feel like what Sam said in class was very accurate in terms of pointing out the normal behavior of people in the long run and how that correlates with white supremacy. We don’t even intend for it to happen but it unfortunately still does. I feel like interracial dating is just like this except it’s very ambiguous in terms of who is against it. Most parents seem to frown on interracial dating but whom the frown upon depends on the race of the parents themselves. White parents in general seem to frown upon their sons and daughters dating black men or women while Asian parents would seem to frown upon any race other than their own. I have been able to get some perspective on this issue from a friend I made recently, her name is Jei-laya, and she was adopted by a very racially dynamic couple. Her mother is the sweet and kind white woman from central Pennsylvania, with a very bright and open mind, and her father is a Muslim mechanical engineer. The best thing about her is that she’s black, and that she’s adopted. Visiting her home was fantastic for me because I saw one of the best family environment that I have ever seen, this really affected me because it showed me how much nurture has to do with a good family environment, and not whether the people around you are actually your blood relatives or whether they are even your same race. I have always been open minded and non judgmental when it comes to dating other races, but in the long term concerning children and adoption I guess I never got to form an opinion on it until I met Jei and her family. I realize that white supremacy runs deep and I hope that I can expel it from any aspect of my thought process, Sam made me realize that some aspects are kind of unavoidable unless we all work together to make it happen. There are some races which I think deserve more of my effort; I’ve realized that Native Americans have had the most difficult time dealing with whites compared to African Americans and Latinos. I think racial discrimination should never be an issue and I’m sure that if I have a daughter in my future that it won’t matter what race the guy is because I’m just not going to like my daughter to be around guys. What matters to me is the man is decent and good enough to take care of my daughter, not the color of his skin but rather the quality of his character and the honor of his convictions. I like eggs a lot. Sat, 4 Feb 2012 04:56:30 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/02/voices-from-the-classroom-96/#IDComment283403652 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment279146250 I learned a lot of things about people in general from all the events that have transpired recently, mostly concerning interactions and respect for new ideals. I saw a lot of really ridiculous things happened and I have been very open to people’s opinions to try to get some kind of understanding of what exactly is the popular opinion. I wanted to understand because I saw people worship a football coach and give little to no regard or even mention to the victims, to the children. I realize that is a point of view, but I think it’s a life lesson because it has showed me not to believe what everybody around me believes. It has shown me to come to my own conclusions and to be objective towards other people’s opinions. I think that the events showed the world how to be a sheep, to follow other people’s voices and never care to have one of your own. I want to make sure that I never follow something with blind pride; that is, a pride in something that I’m not really sure why I have pride in the first place. Standing behind what I believe in means actually understanding why I believe in it, and the recent events have made me more aware of blind pride present in many different facets. I’ve always tried to be very objective about things ever since my father drilled it into my head with lectures, and I always realized how important it was to make sure I didn’t believe things coming from people that were not credible. Penn State has taught me not to go with the popular opinion, and to make my own opinion for my own reasons. Unfortunately I have also seen that the people following popular opinion can be the most self righteous pricks I’ve ever heard speak. This has also taught me the life lesson of not being a prick, and respecting people’s opinions up until the point I have a substantial reason to divert and assert my own opinion. Respect is a tricky thing and it’s lacking at this University, people don’t want to hear what you have to say and unfortunately usually they are just waiting for their turn to speak. You cannot fill a glass that is already full, now I don’t have any idea where that proverb comes from but it’s a metaphor for the mind. It is not possible to exchange ideas with someone that does not care about any ideas but their own and recent events have shown me that a lot more people at this university don’t care about any point of view other than their own. Conversation is a really fun and educational thing but it’s really easy to fuck up if one person isn’t conscious and self aware of the things going on around them. Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:44:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment279146250 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/16/voices-from-the-classroom-33/#IDComment270189090 I think that people need to identify so that they can deal with their true to life insignificance. Once we really embrace that all of life and its existence is a coincidence then we can free our minds to making it as best as it could ever be. All of us are one as we are made of the same things and are surrounded by the same biological and physical properties; our self awareness is what makes an explanation to all of this wonder necessary. People’s inability to deal with existentialism has led them to create crutches for them to lean on so that they don’t have to deal with this kind of thought; they have done this by creating things like religion. Without an ability to be in some kind of social or racial group they don’t feel different, they need to feel separated so that they will not have to deal with the truth. People need to self identify but I don’t think that their identifications are in-genuine. The way we view ourselves is the only perception of reality we can deal with on a day to day basis, without being able to distinguish between ourselves leaves us unable to view value in the days themselves. The problem I see today is that globalization has pushed us all together and instead of prevalent groups that people are actually passionate about, we are left with bullshit groups like frat boys and sorority girls and party boys/girls. These people identify with something that they saw on television, I don’t think they were born to party or drink or to overall embarrass the rest of the world, and especially the United States. I wish that people would identify with what they really cared about, and I wish that people would be genuine and hold some kind of honor in what they stand for but sadly it isn’t like that much anymore. It’s not that I’m an angry person that thinks everybody is full of shit; it’s that I think that we have a really cool world going on here and it really pisses me off when people try to fuck it up. We can all be ourselves, all be true individuals like many do fully embrace; but until that happens then we are stuck in this rut of conformity that people shamelessly embrace. I hope that this happens because then maybe people wouldn’t want to self identify out of personal weakness, but rather out of personal strength. Existential thought is tricky and fun but if we trap our minds to things like religion then we can’t move on to new plains. Hopefully people will find the need to self identify with what they actually are, rather than what they think they are expected to be. Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:54:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/16/voices-from-the-classroom-33/#IDComment270189090