Sam definitely gave me a lot of new information that I probably would have never been exposed to if I did not take his class. Until he really put things into perspective, I didn’t realize the severity of the history between U.S. and Native Americans. It’s horrible to think about the fact that the place I call home was not my land first. Even worse, the majority of U.S. citizens do not understand the real history of our land, yet still wonder why Native Americans are upset. Growing up in school, we learned a very glazed over version of the relationship between our founding fathers and Native Americans. My teachers made it sound like a peaceful relationship – that Native Americans willingly gave up their land so that we could build our own country.

Little did I know Christopher Columbus was not actually a hero – even worse, he wasn’t even a good person. In reality, Christopher Columbus was a liar and a murder; he destroyed the Native American way of life due to his own greed. He took advantage of a culture that worked with the beauty of the land and shattered their future. I can’t understand how U.S. history can completely disregard the truth of what happened – it’s horrible to think about. How can we just overlook the fact that U.S. history with Native Americans was actually the largest and bloodiest genocide to occur? Ironically enough though, we have no problem educating people about Hitler and the holocaust. It’s almost as if diverting our attention to another horrific period of history takes focus away from the truth. By pointing out other countries failures in history, it makes it easier to forget about our own failures as a country.

Watching the video in class that showed the poverty among the Native American reservation gave everything that Sam described life. Thinking about the amount of alcohol abuse, which then leads to domestic abuse is scary. I couldn’t imagine living as a Native American woman on such a reservation and even worse, they still face more risk than women of other races in the U.S. as a whole. In addition, Native American people are more likely to be the victim of a violent crime, which is usually committed by a person of a different race. The statistics are sobering and really make me question why things have turned out this way. After taking their land and often times their livelihood, what makes it okay to be violent towards their culture as well? I really do think that more people need to be educated about the harsh reality behind Native American history. If people understood the truth of our history instead of the lies that we are taught, maybe we could change perceptions regarding Native Americans and give life back to their culture.

Putting myself in the view of the Middle Easterners definitely changed my views on the war. Initially, the example that Sam used in class about the coal in Pennsylvania put things into better perspective for me. Seeing the situation from the other side shows how people in the United States can be viewed, which is actually very similar to the way many Americans view Middle Easterners. It seems that Americans and Middle Easterners share three views regarding the people on opposing side of the war – they are violent, they want to convert us, and the oil does not belong to them.

As a U.S. citizen, I have the opportunity to access a wide variety of information through the television, the Internet, and other media in a less censored environment in comparison to a Middle Eastern citizen. For this reason, I know that although our news might show violent images of the War in Iraq and positive images of U.S. soldiers, this is not always the case. Many people in the U.S. though, fall victim to the skewed messages of the media and government, failing to do any of their own research. On the other hand, people in Iraq receive filtered messages regarding the war, which means that they cannot find a great deal of the information that we have access to. Overall, this has resulted in depictions and stories of violence about “the enemy.” Many Americans and Middle Easterners do not see things for what they really are due to that perception of violence, which only further inhibits our ability to understand one another.

Another interesting aspect of the lecture was the idea that the other side wants to convert us. Many Americans have the perception that Middle Easterners want everyone to believe that their religion is the right way. On the other hand though, I never realized that many Muslim’s think the same exact thing about us. Watching the bible camp video and other examples from class shows that some Christians are extremists who really do want to convert everyone. As I know the truth – that these people make up a very small percentage of the Christians in the United States – I do not take these people seriously. Many Middle Easterners do not see the other side of Christianity though, just as many Americans have skewed beliefs about religion in the Middle East.

Lastly, discussing the idea that the oil belongs to them really put things into perspective for me. Following Sam’s example about the coalmines in Pennsylvania, I couldn’t imagine if someone across the globe tried to say that they owned the soil that I had lived on my entire life. After hearing this argument, I don’t understand how the U.S. could think that the oil belongs to them in the first place. In the end, while oil is at the forefront of the war, it seems that the real fight comes down to the need for power. While the government and media have successfully convinced many people that the war is about protecting U.S. freedom, it is important that we understand the bigger picture. By educating ourselves about the real issues, we have the ability to change people’s perceptions of the Middle East and hopefully create more understanding among different cultures.

While I found the information about both sexes enlightening, I thought the information about women was more striking. As we live in a masculine world we often look at sex through a masculine eye, which often shapes our beliefs and perceptions about the issues surrounding sex. The most interesting part of the lecture for me specifically, was when we discussed how men use their reproductive parts simply for sexual pleasure, whereas women use them for a variety of the things aside from sex, such as menstruation or giving birth. Thinking about things through that light really shows why men and women can think about sex differently. While both men and women might enjoy engaging in sexual acts frequently, women also have other issues to worry about that are associated with those same parts.

Through the media, which also is generally representative of a masculine perception, we are taught certain things about sex. Using the magazine Cosmopolitan as an example, it is interesting to think about the issues that they often discuss in those articles. With headlines such as, “100 Ways to Please Your Man,” or “How to Make Him Notice You,” it’s no wonder that women have such a specific idea of what is normal in regards to sexual behavior. When we are constantly reinforced with the same ideas about sex, it’s hard to have an opinion that is completely mine anymore. I also think that pornography and some sexual scenes from movies also depict what we often picture when thinking about sex. By representing the masculine words (fast, hard, etc.), such terminology can become a consistent part of what we think of when we think about sex. For this reason, I definitely think that language plays a huge role in shaping our perceptions. Through hearing similar words and expressions we eventually begin to associate such language with the act of sex. Thinking back to the beginning of the lecture we were asked the question, “What would the world be like if women were in power?” The answers that students gave made it clear that the language we use definitely reflects what we are taught, or what we see on a daily basis.

While I do not think that the masculine opinion is wrong by any means, I also think that it shapes the feminine opinion in ways that many women don’t realize. I have to admit that I had never really thought about sex through this different perception until attending this lecture. It’s almost refreshing to hear a new side to the story – to feel a sense of normalcy even if I don’t always represent the masculine idea of what sex is. I really do feel like this lecture will make an impact on me later down the road, as I now better understand the differences between sex on a masculine and feminine level and how exactly they came to be that way.

While a project such as World in Conversation ideally wants everyone to end up in the final stage, I think it is going to be a long journey until we can actually reach that point. Personally, my goal is to make it to the last stage. I want to live without latent bias towards other people; I want to see everyone as human and never make another judgment based on skin color or ethnicity. So for me, my ultimate goal really does involve making it to that final stage. In order to reach that goal, I believe joining this class was a stepping-stone in the right direction. By becoming more aware of my surroundings, I feel that I can become more educated in terms of race relations. As Sam has said, so many people are unaware of what goes on and don’t know the statistics or real history behind racial issues. By learning more about why people look different, or why people are treated differently based on their looks, I better understand what issues need to be addressed within our society.

On the other hand though, not all people want to reach that final stage. Many people are happy going through their day-to-day lives ignorant of the real issues and unwilling to change their stubborn ways. For example, a white person in the revisioning or reversal stage may take out their anger on a person of another race who has done nothing wrong to begin with. Looking through this stage, which brings out anger, leads me to believe that certain stages really are worse than others because they can create unnecessary violence. During such stages of anger, it seems that people have the ability to turn a non-racial issue into a something that only leads to the build up of more anger and violence. On the other hand, I think that the pre-awakening and awakening stages provoke more curiosity, which is generally not harmful towards others. For this reason, I believe that some stages are better to be in than others.

Overall, I think everyone would be better off as a humanitarian. If we could all live in a world where everyone truly understands and respects one another for who they are, not how they look or how they live, we could minimize the violence that plagues our society. By embracing other cultures, we could not only create peace within the United States, but would have the ability to find peace on an international level. While this may seem like a big statement to make, I really do think that misunderstandings related to culture make an enormous impact on our lives, whether we choose to recognize it or not. In the end, I think people should live with the goal of making it to that last stage. By becoming humanitarians ourselves, we have the ability to educate others, thereby helping them make progress on their own journey of racial identity.

I think the fact that more and more people continue to look beyond race when it comes to relationships and actually discover a person for who they are is a positive change within our society – something that shows how racial barriers have been broken down. As Sam pointed out, interracial relationships are becoming more common in today’s society, showing that while we have a long way to go, race relations has changed significantly over the years.

This question made me think about an episode of Seinfeld, during which Elaine thought she was dating a guy of another race (she thought he was Black and he thought he she was Spanish). The idea of dating someone “exotic” kept them interested in the relationship, yet they discovered that they both, in fact, were actually White. Upon learning this, they both lost interest in the relationship. Through this comedic example, it seems that some people have the idea that an interracial relationship can be more exciting. I find it interesting that some people think about an interracial couple so differently than a same race couple. After all, as Sam said everyone pretty much has the same DNA.

The fact that I have friends who are in interracial relationships probably contributes greatly to my opinion. I do not think of their relationships differently than any of my other friend’s same-race relationships. Through spending time with them, it seems to me that they experience relatively the same things that any couple of the same race does – they go on dates, share similar interests, and sometimes bicker about the same things that other couples do. The fact that they are two different races hasn’t really changed anything within the relationship. The only major difference I’ve ever discussed with them regards what other people think. For example, they’ve said that they sometimes receive disapproving (mostly from older people) or curious (mostly from younger people) looks as they walk down the street. While I have never been in an interracial relationship personally, this is what I’ve come to find through experiences that others have shared with me.

I think that people of my generation are much more accepting of interracial relationships than our parents or grandparents would be. It is much more normal today for someone my age to walk down the street and see two guys holding hands, or two people of different races kissing. In addition to generational differences, I also think that where someone grows up impacts how he or she feel about these issues. Someone who has not had any exposure to different races would not be as comfortable around an interracial couple. It seems like the more exposure people have to racial issues, the more likely that they will begin to accept racial differences. While this may not always be the case, as some people have strong opinions, I think that people generally want to live without bias towards others and don’t want others to be bias towards them.

In my opinion, the basis of Affirmative Action is a good idea. It aims to make all people equal and give everyone the same opportunities. However, in this attempt people are segregated. In order for Affirmative Action to work we have to, once again, divide people into racial categories. I definitely think that something needs to be done to level the playing field though and I believe Affirmative Action is a step in the right direction. While it may not work perfectly, it is the beginning of a better solution. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of controversy around the way Affirmative Action works.

While it may be a flawed system, it is also important to recognize the positive things that Affirmative Action has helped to accomplish. For example, Affirmative Action definitely had given minorities additional opportunities in education and in the job search. The many scholarships that have become available to minorities and many companies newly found dedication to diversity in the workforce show that things are being done to overcome obstacles that previously put minorities at a disadvantage. While I am not saying that these systems work perfectly, I really do think that we have to start somewhere in our fight to erase discrimination. Going back to our discussions from class, it is clear that we are fighting an uphill battle.

In a perfect world, we would be able to pick out potential college students or job candidates without discriminating against certain races or groups. Unfortunately though, even latent discrimination plays a role in the application process. For example, during the study that we discussed in class, a white man with a criminal record was more likely to be hired than a black man without a criminal record – even though both men had the same resume and carried themselves in the same exact way. That is definitely scary to think about and shows just how far we still have to go in our fight towards equality. While Affirmative Action works to end similar discrimination, it clearly isn’t enough.

In the end, while I agree with the idea of Affirmative Action I do not believe that it always necessarily works the way it is supposed to. By addressing the issue of discrimination head on, rather than skating around it, I think we could do more to stop the daily inequalities that minorities face. Projects such as World in Conversation are a great start to finding a better solution – if people actually understood the issues, they would have a better chance of overcoming the problem. While Affirmative Action has tried to lay a foundation for equality, we must recognize why we need it in the first place. Through taking this class I now believe that unless people really understand how the issue of race affects our world they will never be able to think outside of the box, thereby never actually understanding why racial issues are so important in the first place.

I think that a lot of stereotypes around poor white society have made it seem more like a choice rather than something that they cannot control. For example, the video we watched in class about the Redneck games shows poor white people embracing the culture rather than fighting the stereotype. For this reason, it seems easier to poke fun at poor white society without being viewed as offensive. After learning more and seeing the video about Tammy and her family, it becomes obvious that this is not always true. While she may seem content walking ten miles to work a dead-end job at Burger King, she has dreams and hopes just like the rest of us – hers personally to become a teacher. Sadly enough, the chances of her dream becoming a reality are slim to none. Even further, seeing her son’s desire to make a better life for himself is inspiring, yet somewhat sad. He shows that just because you are poor and white, doesn’t mean that you are completely unmotivated. As he does not have the necessary resources available to him though, his chances of reaching his dreams of dental school are not going to be easy. Overall, the story of Tammy’s family shows that poor white society should not just be seen as lazy or unmotivated without question – they have hopes and dreams just like the rest of us.

Comparing poor white society to poor minorities, it seems less acceptable to openly criticize people of color. Due to the fact that white people are more often viewed as having a choice in the matter, people feel less inclined to say anything about poor colored minorities. Going back to the time when slavery was a common practice, it is as if white people today feel a sense of guilt for what happened in the past, bringing the idea of white privilege into play. While people of color do not always have the same advantages that white people do, I think that free will and determinism definitely are a factor in this as well. Whether black or white, some people have shown that they are willing to fight and make choices that will lead them to be successful (free will), while others sit back and make excuses for their situation in life (determinism). I think this is ultimately what separates people, not necessarily just their skin color.

Personally, I feel equally inclined to help either poor white people or poor colored people. Through volunteer work I’ve done in the community, I’ve had the opportunity to get to know kids of different races who all have a similar socioeconomic status. I’ve never felt more inclined to help one child additionally because of their race. Rather, I would get to know them by learning more about their personality. If we are going to reach a point of equality, we must start actually treating others as being equal rather than looking so critically at race.

Through other classes I have taken, I have developed a better understanding of the reality of modern-day slavery. Never could I have imagined that more people are in slavery today than in history. It seems so surreal – we’re supposed to live in the land of the free, right? Then how is it that human trafficking occurs before our very eyes, yet we don’t even realize it? According to the UN an estimated 2.4 million people are enslaved in the United States. Breaking that down even further, the U.S. Department of State estimates that 14,500 to 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. each year. While we are constantly told that we live in a country based on the principle of freedom, it’s hard to hear such threatening statistics. It seems that most of us have the preconceived notion that human trafficking is just a far-fetched story that could be seen in a movie, or occasionally on the news – not something that could happen in our community.

Human trafficking is the fastest growing and second largest criminal industry in the world, bringing in an estimated $32 billion dollars annually. It is unbelievable that it can even be thought of as an industry, considering the outcomes that result. When I hear the word “industry,” I think of the corporate world according to the way the media portrays it – as a way to produce goods for consumers to buy and sell. That being said, since when did actual people become the goods, or the profit? It’s frightening to think that something this huge can be happening every single day, that more people are enslaved every single day – yet most people do not realize just how widespread the problem has become.

While some actions have been taken to address modern-day slavery, I agree that more needs to be done. As part of the national effort, the Trafficking Protection Act made human trafficking a federal crime. Also, 40 states in the U.S. have passed anti-trafficking laws. Still, it seems that most laws do not come into play until after the damage has already been done. By taking more of a preventative approach, the U.S. could do more than simply address that there is a problem. Actually taking the initiative to increase awareness could, in turn, help minimize the detrimental problems associated with modern-day slavery.

In order to make people more aware that modern-day slavery is still a relevant issue, I think the government needs to get more involved. By allocating money that is dedicated to a campaign that not only increases awareness, but also highlights tips for prevention, they can help. I believe another aspect of creating awareness deals directly with the media. Currently, the news does not usually pay close attention to the tragic stories of trafficking victims in the area. While these are not feel-good stories, I think that if more people understood this issue, they could better spot the warning signs associated with human trafficking, which could in turn help prevent the spread of modern-day slavery.

I believe that my life has been equally affected by both the choices I’ve made and determinism. Going back to the discussion we had in class, I really do believe that it is a balanced combination of the two. While the family that I have and my heritage was determined before I was born, the choices that I have made through free will have also weighed heavily on my life. As I was brought up in the suburbs, my childhood experience was much different than someone who grew up in the city, which goes back to determinism. On the other hand, my motivation to do well in school was my choice, compared to someone who made the choice to take school less seriously, which goes back to free will. Ultimately, I believe the combination of the two, both where I grew up (determinism) and my personal motivation (free will), are the reason why I ended up where I am today.

Growing up in the suburbs, I went to a school that had great learning resources and opportunities for educational growth. In combination with my motivation, I took advantage of the opportunities that were given to me – I put in the work to get good grades, became involved in after-school activities, and played on different interscholastic sports teams throughout the years. On the other hand, I had a childhood friend growing up who chose to take a different route in life. While she also grew in the suburbs with a supportive family, she made different choices in life once we entered middle school. While she was a great athlete and had the potential to be a great student as well, she turned to drugs instead. Her choice to develop such bad habits led her to hang out with a different crowd of people – people who did not have a positive influence on her. For this reason, she never ended up graduating from our high school. While we tried to maintain our relationship and remain good friends, our choices in life ultimately led us to drift apart.

Using this personal example, I really think that while our place in life may initially be predetermined we also have the ability to make choices that can change our circumstances – either for better or worse. In the case of my friend, determinism gave her the foundation to succeed, but her choices led her down a different path. Sam’s lecture in class only reaffirmed my belief, as he exposed both sides of the argument through his examples. I really do think it is important to understand the ways in which determinism and free will have affected our lives on a personal level. Ultimately, this is the only way we can truly understand the intense debate that surrounds both of these issues.

While positive news has a feel good vibe, negative news is much more attractive due to the sense of drama that it brings. Looking back to the video that we watched in the beginning of class last Thursday, I think the woman speaking made some great points that really extended beyond the surface. As she said, most of us generally go through our day-to-day lives without any type of direct threat to our livelihood, which is why we need an outlet where we can focus those instincts that we never use. No longer do we need to be completely aware of our surroundings – we can walk down the street on our cell phones completely oblivious to the world around us and can sleep soundly and securely in our beds at night. The woman from the video definitely reminded me, not only why we are more intrigued by bad news, but also how it can be directly related to our daily lives.

As I said before, I believe that we are attracted to negative news due to the drama that surrounds it. For example, when I watch entertainment television, I am often intrigued by the conflict that creates commotion among the characters of the show. Take Jersey Shore for example. While I am completely aware that it is an over-the-top show that lacks a sense of morality, I keep coming back for the drama. Will Ron and Sam break up again? What off-the-wall comment will Snooki make today? – The questions, and the dramatic scenes, are endless. While this example seems like a stretch, I think it really shows how much more difficult it has become to hold people’s attention. What we once looked for in the entertainment aspect of the media, we now want to find in the news too.

As we have an over abundance of messages available to us on a daily basis, we have the choice to watch, read, or listen to what we find appealing through a variety of different media outlets. No longer is it a matter of what is actually happening – it is a matter of finding the news outlet that you are the most attracted to. For this reason, news stations or newspapers have to compete for viewers and readers. This competition has resulted in the need to not only develop accurate news, but to also develop stories that will keep viewers attentive and wanting more. In addition, going back to the video from class, many people might be unconsciously drawn to the shock factor in negative news that may help stimulate those instincts that they no longer use. In the end, it seems as if our reasoning for being attracted to negative news stories goes full circle. Aside from the simple answer, which includes our need to be entertained, we also have an underlying biological reason at to why many of us naturally do not prefer positive news.