en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/767354 Comments by angc20 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/south-park-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment71517053 I haven't watched this specific South Park episode, but I've watched the show in the past and therefore know that it can be insulting and controversial at times. Yet, I think that they have made fun of many different groups of people in the show and have not focused on one group. The show wasn't created to target and ridicule one group of individuals. Also, although the show can be crude at times, most people who watch it know that and therefore could chose to not watch it. I don't support shows making racial remarks, however I have to support that freedom of speech should allow them to, just as people's freedom allows them not to watch it. Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:11:01 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/south-park-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment71517053 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment71515445 I agree with you that sometimes those that work hard aren't the ones with the money, yet those who have money aren't sometimes the people who work hard. However, I likewise think its hard to have a solution to the problem. I think that many of the illegal immigrants who are in the United States are some of the hardest workers, but they can't or couldn't afford to become legal citizens. I would think that if given the option, many illegal immigrants would become legal; however the process is hard and expensive. However, I do also understand that illegal immigrants aren't always good for the economy or country. I just think that if people are willing to come here illegally and live in fear of being caught, then they must have been leaving a very bad situation behind. Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:58:10 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment71515445 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/stories-for-uplift__trashed/#IDComment71512962 I think that both of these videos were great videos, which show the good that’s in the world. The first video was truly touching to think that a man would undergo a surgery and give up an organ to a woman he only knew by going through her checkout line. That is a huge sacrifice to make, but that man changed the woman’s life forever. I think it shows that among all of the hate and destruction that we hear about every day, on the news and just in everyday life, there are still people who would make a completely selfless donation, just because they thought it was the right thing to do. The second video was also great to watch. The little kids were adorable, and the little boy’s face when she said he was her boyfriend was so funny! However, I also find this video to be really sad, because like the message at the end of the video says, kids are color blind, however sadly they don’t often stay that way. I am an elementary education major, and therefore have spent a lot of time around young children and it always amazes me how they don’t regard race the way adults do. It’s so refreshing to see that they don’t yet understand that race matters in the world. I think they notice race from a young age however, but they just don’t care the way many adults seem to when they grow older. Good family friends of mine have adopted two children, one from China and one from Guatemala. They just recently moved, but they use to live in upstate New York, in a town that was very predominantly white, where their children were two of only a few kids who weren’t white. However, it pleasantly surprised me that race wasn’t an issue in their children’s lives yet, since they are still so young. Their daughter who is Chinese would always joke that she had a boyfriend named Sam, a blond hair, blue eyed boy. However, I sadly think that their race would be an issue as they got older. Eventually, maybe as they started dating, it would become an issue for them to be dating people of a different race. Their parents recognized this and it influenced their decision to move to a city which was more diverse. It makes me so sad, and also angry, to think that one day they may not be allowed to date or be friends with someone because people will have a problem with their race. I think that this shows that problems between races are learned and taught. If kids can be “color blind” then why can’t adults. As with many things in life, I think that adults could learn a lot from the simple and accepting way that children live their lives. Fri, 30 Apr 2010 16:41:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/stories-for-uplift__trashed/#IDComment71512962 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69962264 Watching this video, I was amazed to see what a life the Haitians had created for themselves so quickly after they suffered through such horrible destruction. I had never realized how much business could occur within the confounds of a tent community. It's great to see that they are able to come together, while still doing what they had to do to support their families. Although sad to hear, like the video said, that they could be living in these tents for years possibly, it's at least encouraging that they are able to not only set up businesses to take care of the essentials, but also to have some entertainment in their lives. After the experience they lived through, the fact that they can build this type of a community so quickly is miraculous. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:11:58 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69962264 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69957769 I think that it’s sad that so many people, myself included, are so consumed with our own lives, that we give something like an earthquake that killed 300,000 so little of our time and thought. Yet, at the same time, I understand that in life, death and destruction is always all around us, on the news, in the newspapers, and just in life, that I feel like people become so use to hearing it that we've become less affected by these horrific events. However, I don't think that means it’s a good thing. I think that hearing lectures like the one about Haiti are good reminder of why it's so important to stop and think, and help, when something this awful happens to so many people. It’s easy to get sucked into our own lives, I completely understand that myself, yet I like being reminded that it’s not a good thing, so I can see why I do need to step out of the small bubble of my life and see and hear what else is going on. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:34:30 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69957769 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69955492 When I’ve heard Sam talk about visiting the “lifers” a few times in class, I thought it was really interesting and was curious to know more. After reading this article however, I am pleasantly surprised to realize I didn’t truly understand what he was saying about how interesting and eye opening it is talking to them, until I read this post. Reading this post I was so amazed by what I was reading. I honestly think very little about prison, or prison inmates, and even less about prisoner’s who are in jail for life. I also have never actually been inside a prison, so much of what I know about prison I’ve seen in movies, watched on TV, read in books, ect. Therefore, I am realizing how much of a preconceived and stereotypical view of prison life, and prisoner’s I hold. Many times popular culture depicts prisoners as mean, scary, and uncompassionate. Also, I’ve always thought that all prisoners must be unhappy all the time, because who really wants to live there life in jail. However, from what Sam has told us about the “lifers” view on life, they don’t seem to be this way. After reading this post I was happy to find that my view of prisoner’s and convicts has changed or at least broadened. It was really interesting to hear a story about the pure, compassion of a man when he knew someone else needed help, and therefore offered that help, even though he hated the other man. I feel like the story would be nice to hear regardless of where it occurred, but the fact that it occurred in prison makes it surprising. However, my own surprise at hearing this surprised me! I don’t think I really knew how much of a stereotype I had of prisoners, that they were emotionless and uncaring. I almost feel like society wants to believe that image because if someone is a criminal and has been convicted of a crime, I feel like it’s easier to say that they are a bad person than it is to say that they just made a mistake. Therefore popular culture and the media focus on all the negative scenarios, further perpetuating the stereotype. And I also understand, like the post said, that there are convicts who are not good people, and maybe this doesn’t apply to them. However, I think that’s the harm in applying stereotypes either way, it’s better to just try and be opened minded, and not assume all prisoners act or are a certain way. I feel like people who have not been probed to think about prisoners would do well to read this post, because it offers another side to the perception that society holds of the men and women in prison. If nothing else, it may cause people to think about the preconceived notion they are holding, or even broaden it! Fri, 23 Apr 2010 17:16:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69955492 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68327611 This question is interesting because I found that when I was writing my other blog comment that dealt with body image and being influenced by the media, I kept saying girls and not including boys into the issues. However I don't think that they aren't affected, I just think that we so often associate body image and the idea of conforming to an ideal with women. Just looking around at the similar outfits worn by men, it’s easy to see that they conform their image from some type of ideal style as well. Also, although being skinny may not be as much of an issue, guys are always trying to bulk up and get muscles. Human nature creates a tendency for people, of both genders to care about their appearance. Through caring about their appearance, the image that the media puts out can't help but play a role in determining how people want to look. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:36:21 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68327611 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68326608 When Sam said we were going to be talking about Christianity I wasn't sure what to expect. However, I did not anticipate the type of lecture that he gave today, yet I was pleasantly surprised. I walked away from class with a whole new perspective on the war in Iraq and in general what it means to think like an American. As I was sitting in class I found myself gradually becoming more aware of the way that living in a country and being exposed to the media from that country can completely shape the way one sees others and themselves. It's easy to get caught up in the idea that the way that I look at things as an American is the way that they exist. However, I am surprised, yet awakened to the idea that there are so many different ways at looking at the same issue, and yet unless you put yourself in the perspective of someone else, you may not even realize that the way you are viewing the world is through a specific lens, and in this case, an American lens. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:24:01 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68326608 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68325769 I really like this comment and I think that it shouldn’t really be about whether it’s worse to have bigger boobs or smaller boobs, but should be about loving your body the way it is. It seems that increasingly most women do not like the way they look and I can sympathize with them because I too criticize my body at times. It seems girls, and I’m sure boys as well, always want to change the way they look. However, when I look at my friends, as they complain about how they are too “fat” or “have a big nose” all I see is their positive qualities and that they are all beautiful. Therefore, when you take away all the many body issues, women are united by their friendships with each other, and their way of seeing the beauty in their friends that goes beyond physical appearances. I think that the media is to blame, but only as much as you let it. I understand how easy it is to get sucked into thinking that you have to look like the models in magazines, or actresses on TV. In a culture where the people idealized are mostly skinny it’s easy to get sucked in. I recently was watching a TV program where they were talking about different actresses, and they made a comment that it was nice that a few actresses embraced their curves, and didn’t follow Hollywood’s ideals of being super skinny. Yet, pretty much all of the actresses they were talking about were still at most size 4 or 6’s. I remember me and my friends saying that even Hollywood’s idea of being “curvy” was still skinny by most people’s standards. Most people on TV are all around the same skinny size, and it seems like for those who aren’t, people make a big deal out of their weight and often focus on their size. However, although it’s hard, you just have to remind yourself while watching TV or reading a magazine that that’s not how you have to look. That you don’t have to be that skinny, or have that type of face to be beautiful. I think this can apply to race as well, such as the video that we watched in class a couple weeks ago, where the black and brown girls were talking about how they felt ugly because of their skin color. This could also be attributed to the fact that a majority of celebrities are white and there are not a proportionate number of black and brown celebrities. The media is not real however, and although it may not be right or even fair that there are so many skinny, white celebrities, they are out there. Therefore people need to try and look past the media and see the beauty in themselves and others that is not compared to the media set standard. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:12:37 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68325769 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66849824 Although I am appalled at this game, like Sam said, it's easy to say "it’s disgusting", which it is, but it does show larger processes that are occurring. First, I feel like it shows a general disregard for the female gender, because it takes a lack of respect to not be bothered by a game whose goal is to rape women. Also, I am surprised by the interview with the young girl where she said she wasn't bothered by the game. It’s almost as bad that women buy and condone this game, because they are sending the message that they are okay with what they game is portraying. I think that women and men alike should stop supporting and buying these games in general. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:30:22 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66849824 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment65462440 I must admit that I was one of the people in class who were squirming in their seats as Sam talked about "bleeding." And although I still don't think it’s necessarily something that needs to be discussed or that I want to discuss, I find the parallel that Sam made to race in the post interesting. I'd have to agree that just because we don't talk about something, doesn't mean that it shouldn't be discussed. And more interestingly, why isn't it discussed? Like Sam said, race was the topic that was never discussed in the past, yet it obviously needed to be talked about. Therefore, although it still makes me uncomfortable, I must admit that maybe taboo topics like periods should be discussed too, even if it’s just to understand why they are never talked about. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 05:53:29 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment65462440 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment65451651 I feel like the people who make the census were almost in a lose, lose situation. If they added the term Negro then they were going to offend many people, however if they didn't include the term, they would most likely not get an accurate count of the population. Therefore, I feel like they were just trying to be as inclusive as was necessary to get accurate numbers. However, I can understand how the term could be offensive as well. Additionally, I also found the video interesting when it talked about how the census was confusing. In a country where there are so many people who are multiracial, I can see how the census could be confusing for some people to take. However, the census can't include every possible combination of races. Therefore, maybe better instructions could make the census process easier. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 05:13:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment65451651 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65443452 When Sam said that his video would be one of the most disturbing videos of the semesters, I was expecting a very different kind of video. However, after watching this video, and really thinking about what it meant, I have to agree that it is perhaps one of the most disturbing videos we have watched so far. Many of the videos we have seen in class so far have shown outright discrimination and racism, which at times has been very hard to watch and comprehend. However, to me, it’s so much worse to watch a video were young black and brown children prefer white dolls to black dolls, and where teenage black and brown girls talk about how they feel ugly because of their dark skin. It is almost easier to see someone openly dislike another person because of their skin color than to see someone openly dislike themselves because of skin color. After watching this video I just keep thinking, what in our society is teaching these children to dislike themselves so much because of their dark skin, and how can we change it. One thing I can think of which I’m sure plays a large part in it, is the media. I understand the overwhelming emphasis that the media puts on light skin as being beautiful, and in such a technology driven society, this image is most definitely part of the reason for these children’s mindset. I know a couple of the people in class who responded to the video, and the reason for these young children choosing the white dolls, said that they felt the media was to blame. I remember one girl saying that the advertisements on TV always made the white dolls and Barbies more appealing than the black dolls. However, it’s something that needs to be changed and revised. The idea that children as young as five or six are already thinking that being black or brown is bad is a horrifying example of the negative images these children must be seeing. I can only imagine what this does for a young child’s confidence, and for their idea of how race plays into the world as well. Also, if these brown and black girls and boys are seeing these negative images which are present in society, then unfortunately other races are noticing them as well. This could lead to more racism, which is definitely not the way anyone wants race relations to go. I think this video was really insightful into the identity problems that many black and brown children may be facing. It made me really pay attention to the fact that our society really does display the image of beauty as white, and that this image is having very negative consequences. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 04:46:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65443452 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment64112801 I agree with your statement that it's not about feeling like it’s our own personal fault that people of different races are treated differently, but more about the fact that they are. I understand the point of view that most people of our generation haven't personally done anything wrong toward another race, but that fact doesn't make the inequality not exist. It also doesn't mean that we can't feel guilty. This class has forced many people in it, myself included to face the identity of our race. It you are white that means accepting that because you are white, you get certain privileges. This makes me feel guilty when I think that I don't deserve these privileges because of my skin color. I would have to agree with the comment however, that before we can try and move past the guilt, people need to be made aware of the fact that wrongs were committed, and changing the history books could help do this. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 23:20:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment64112801 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment64079337 I agree with you as well, many white people, myself included, make an effort to be overly cautious about what we say. Many times, even discussing race can lead to heated debates, and like Sam says, this leads to many white people staying out to the race discussion all together. This also may be the cause behind the reaction when white people put inappropriate things on the texting screen, because even though many of those comments where rude, it seems to be a bigger deal when white people brought up race than when racial comments were made by black people. I think that openly discussing race however is the best way to start to overcome the taboo of discussing race. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:03:22 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment64079337 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/women-and-sports__trashed/#IDComment63948665 I think the fact that a woman is coaching football, which is perceived as such a male dominated sport is great! Most sports, which have historically been considered “male sports”, have begun to become sports played by both genders, such as basketball, and it’s great to see football heading in that direction. It also truly seems that the woman loves the game of football and therefore would be a great coach, and her gender really doesn’t affect her ability to do so in any way. However, I was slightly bothered by the way that the reporter wanted to make the interview all about the fact that she was a woman. I understand that it’s a big deal that a woman is appointed head coach of a high school team, and I’m glad she is getting recognition. However, it almost seems as if the reported wanted to create controversy because of her gender that didn’t exist. I think it’s safe to assume that she has experienced discrimination or even just comments because of her gender, but by the way that she was answering her questions it didn’t seem like it has been a huge problem for her so far. It did seem that Randolph was trying to not make a big deal out of the fact that she was a woman coaching football, and I commend her for trying to not focus solely on her gender as she is celebrating her appointment. However, it makes me wonder if trying to focus too much on the fact that she’s a woman is a bad thing. Besides somewhat taking away from her appointment to the position, focusing on her gender could make it a bigger deal that it needs to be, which I feel could make the fact that she’s a woman football coach more controversial that it may need to be. People should focus on her skills and abilities, and what she plans on doing for her football team, like they would if a new male coach was appointed. It seems that at least this reporter only cared about the fact that she was a woman coach in a field so largely dominated by men and not about her as a coach or her coaching plans. Therefore, I am happy to see this article and to read about a woman becoming a football coach, and I think it’s about time! Also I am glad that she is receiving recognition because it is a big step for the female gender in the football world and for women sports in general, and I think that Randolph deserves the attention. However, I just hope that people don’t over emphasis her gender and focus solely on the fact that she is a woman, but instead see her as a coach, like anyone would see a male coach in the same position. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:46:56 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/women-and-sports__trashed/#IDComment63948665 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59701798 I think I'd have to disagree that most theme parties are racist; however I can see how some of them may be. For the most part, theme parities hardly deal with race at all. Themes such as toga parties and 80's parties have nothing to do with any race in particular and aren't discriminating toward any race. However I can understand the exceptions of parties like "Jersey Shore" parties, which although not racist toward blacks, could be insulting for some Italians. Although I don't think that the point of a theme party is hardly ever to make fun of another race, even for the few themes that may have something to do with race. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 07:39:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59701798 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59700584 I likewise agree with the idea that the population the station is catering to largely affects what they put on that station, such as ABC portraying all white bachelors, and mostly white contestants and MTV having more racial diversity. However, I wonder if as our generation grows older, major stations like ABC and CBS will change. These stations seem to be much more conservative and safe in what they show compared to stations like MTV. Therefore, I wonder if the reputation of the station has something to do with it as well. Maybe ABC and other large stations are just playing it safe by not including things like biracial relationships on their shows for fear of losing viewers who may hold some racial ideas. I hope that I am wrong however, and that in time all stations will more accurately represent the population and will include all races in their shows. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 07:25:17 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59700584 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-this-racist-really__trashed/#IDComment59698947 After reading this article, it seems that the man is racist, but not necessarily just because of his idea to start an all white basketball league, but more because of the comments he made. Although funny, and pretty ridiculous, the idea of an all white basketball league by itself could be viewed as similar to other race affiliated programs. Although, it would discriminate against anyone who isn’t white, I guess in comparison it is no more racist than events like the “Miss Black Penn State” pageant which was mentioned in a comment above. However, I personally don’t see why it is necessary for an all white basketball league to be enacted when white players could play in the professional league and I think that Lewis’s intentions in creating the league are in fact racist. It hard to believe that after all the effort made in the past to join together segregated sports, that today people are trying to create all white teams again. However, where I find Lewis to be offensive and very racist is in his comments made concerning his reasoning for starting the league. To say that players, and I assume he is talking about black and brown players here, carry guns and attack fans in the stands is a stereotypical, racist comment which in essence is generalizing all black and brown players as gun carrying, violent people. If he truly is starting up the basketball league to make money because he believes there would be a market for all white sporting events, although I think I’d have to disagree, then he shouldn’t be justifying the league, with racist comments such as the ones he made. I think that by saying such things, his racist mentality is clearly shown, regardless of how much he tries to claim that his reasoning for starting the league is not racist. I also like how on the video, the representative from the NAACP stated that he hoped that Americans would show that they won’t endorse this type of racism in America. I equally hope that Americans wouldn’t support such obvious discrimination today, however I have to wonder. Although the racism present in America today is nothing compared to what it used to be, it obviously still exists, just in subtle ways. Therefore I would be curious, and anxious to actually see how many people would support an all white basketball team, that openly discriminates based on race and citizenship. I would love to say that there would be very few supporters, but if a man such as Lewis is willing to go through all the trouble of starting an entire minor league team, so that white players can play by themselves, then I wonder how many people actually would attend or watch the game. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 07:08:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-this-racist-really__trashed/#IDComment59698947 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58737348 I agree with you that the education of students in school about Native Americans should be conducted throughout all 12 years. I similarly remember learning about Native Americans when I was in elementary school; however my high school talked very little about Native American history. We briefly discussed the historical facts, however I feel like the little education I did receive about their history was through an American viewpoint, and my school did not fully discuss the many hardships inflicted upon Native Americans. I do think that educating others is the first necessary step in attempting to solve the wrongs that were done. The fact that so many of us are in college and are just now really learning about the extent of the injustice against Native Americans shows how lacking our education on the subject really is. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:57:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58737348