en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/765478 Comments by blp5094 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment66443209 When I first read this article I was somewhat surprised. I have always heard people say that eventually people will all be one race, and that minorities will eventually be the minority. I guess I never really thought about it that much. Since I’m not currently in the minority I don’t have to think or worry about being discriminated for the color of my skin. I really don't that the whites being in the minority will make America anything less than a White country. Wealthy areas, and powerful positions will most likely remain majority white, even when white people are in the minority. There are many people from many different countries who have settled here bringing new races in. It was bound to happen eventually where the minority is big enough that they would eventually become the majority. I would hope that with times changing and the whites now become the minority racism will come to an end. Of course it’s easier said than done, but maybe now people will actually realize that we are on a more equal field then we ever were before. If the minorities now become the majorities, more voices will be heard and more people will be able to speak their opinions and feelings. Hopefully people will start realizing that color really doesn’t matter. I wish older generations were more accepting of this idea, however I think they are also starting to realize the changes that are being made in our everyday society. The article talks about older elderly white people and their effect on the ballots, in areas such as taxes for ethnic schools. If the birth rate of non-Hispanic whites declines and the minority becomes the minority that may be an effect we have to address. It is a shame to think that in this day and age people would want to deprive children just because of their race. However, overall I doubt most of the American people would notice these things. I am interested to see what comes about with this change, if anything. I feel that while discrimination and race issues are still a problem today, we are working towards equality and I believe and truly hope that one day the color of your skin won’t matter to anyone about anything. I hope this opens up more opportunities to people of color. I think white people should not be given all of the power or most important positions in our society. Eventually our government will include more colored people so things can be more equal. Maybe knowing that whites will soon be the minority will give others more confidence. It really does not bother me that I could soon be a minority. Wed, 7 Apr 2010 18:52:37 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment66443209 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63670890 I was really disappointed and kind of upset about most of things that were displayed on the texting screen. It was shocking to see how rude people are and think that it is ok to write things like that. I don't quite understand those people's thoughts when they text those meaningless and impolite stuff to the screen. I couldn't understand because when in discussion group, everyone was very nice and always caring about the others. We discussed in our group how people would never dare to say those things to a persons face so what makes it ok to anonymously write that? No one sitting around me in class thought any of the nasty remarks displayed were funny, so why do it? Although I didn’t speak out and make any comments, I sat there in disbelief at the amount of things that people were saying. It was sad that very few people could take Sam’s exercise seriously. It did also seem like people of color were posting much more rude things about whites I found. This did bother me in a way to know all these horrible things that they thought about whites. I think that this feeling of being politically correct is a good thing because sometimes people would otherwise say offensive things. But I also think that it can be bad because it prevents people from opening up to each other because you accidentally offend a black person or any person of color. How is it that everyone can reprimand white people for saying rude things about black people if black people say rude things about white people? Regardless of what happened in the past, on an individual level this is never okay. I do agree that when both groups put up racist comments it defiantly seemed that the white’s comments were much more offensive and I think also upsetting to a lot of people. I definitely do think that each group responds to both ways very differently. I also agree with the point that when white people make a negative or racist comment about colored people it is socially fine for the colored group to get outraged and furious. However, when a colored group makes a racist comment towards white it is usually just laughed off and not made a big deal or anything. Although I do believe that these issues are going to come up because we live in the most diverse country in the world, and the best way to approach them is to just be more open and listen to the needs and beliefs of others willingly without displaying ignorance. Overall I think this activity showed that we still have a lot of understanding to explore about one another. This did show me that both races still do have a lot of discrimination against one another. Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:57:07 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63670890 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59828726 Every single themed party I have ever been to has nothing to do with race. I don't really understand why the person who asked this question thinks theme parties are geared towards making fun of racial stereotypes. If she told us an example of this maybe I would understand better but I haven't heard of any party themes for racial stereotypes. All different races go to these parties, and none of them are suppose to be discriminatory against any race or religion. People do theme parties all of the time, it is just a way for everyone to look ridiculous and be creative. When I go to theme parties I usually try to wear the craziest things I can find, because its fun to laugh yourself. For situations in which people need to dress like nerds or jocks, it’s a fun way to really go out and be out of your box and really have a funny side that you can share with others. Iv never before considered theme party’s racist, nor had I been under the impression that white kids were throwing more of these parties than another race. To say it is generally white people is not really fair. I think people of the other race have just as much fun with theme parties. I don’t think anyone will disagree with me when I say that it is more fun to go to a party where you get to act like someone different for a night, especially when you are just going to party after party that are all the same and you want a change. I really don’t think you can say that any of the parties people throw are intentionally trying to hurt the image of a certain race, especially the black culture as the person in the video said. No one is intentionally trying to offend anyone at a party, especially not an entire racial group. People go to parties to have fun, they act out and dress up as they please and that is the only reason people even want to have themed parties. A lot of theme parties make fun of white stereotypes like jersey shore. Those theme parties are just a way for people to make fun of the outrageous things that happened on that show. It is not in any way trying to discriminate against all Italians. As mentioned by a few people in their blogs, most theme parties are related to holidays, whether they are nationally recognized Halloween or student created State Patty’s. Some of my friends who are black love having theme parties and they don’t care what the theme is. They host the same themes that white people do like gangster or BET/CMT. These parties are meant for people to gather together and dress up like a culture that is different from their own. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 03:08:53 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59828726 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment58861689 This video was quite shocking to me. It really made me think about the problem we have in the United States on the issue of same sex marriages. I didn’t know that the immigration laws of this country would not accept same-sex partnerships as reasonable grounds for someone to stay in this country. Our country shouldn't be able to tell us who to love or marry. It's completely illogical that our government has the power to not let people get married. I thought we were living in a free nation? We are they tearing families apart? If a gay couple wants to have a family, and wants to adopt children, they are giving children a better life than these kids would have ever had otherwise. I think it is devastating that these children are losing a parent to something as ridiculous as this. It is going to affect the children in such a negative way for a very long time. Something they have seen and known as normal for their entire lives is suddenly being taken away from that. In this article it shows the mother is getting deported and being told her sexuality is at fault for it. Who is to judge that her children should be taken from her? The kids now have to deal with not having a mother when they have been used to it their whole lives. Losing a parent is extremely hard to deal with whether it is a heterosexual, homosexual, or one parent family. The United States wants two parent households, but will not recognize same sex marriages or unions. People in these situations cannot get the same benefits as people in a marriage between a man and a woman. People who want to enter into same sex marriages and unions are being told that they are not as deserving of the same basic human rights as those who are heterosexual. The idea or concept of heterosexuality is socially constructed to be the right choice to take when one is pursuing a relationship. However we need to realize that our country is changing in so many ways. I think it is good for people to see videos like the one shown, because it brings light to an important topic in our society and how it affects not just these families but others who are trying to raise a family in the LGBT community. LGBT should keep fighting to gain equal rights and recognition. I think this is the only way people will understand, they need to continue to let the world know about the hardships and problems they have to face in today’s society. These people should feel that they can raise a loving family just like any other American family. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:46:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment58861689 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/all-that-is-solid-melts-into-air-including-our-words__trashed/#IDComment57651858 I can’t even imagine being the last person alive speaking a certain language. The fact that half of today's known languages will be extinct by the time we die is crazy to think about. This article was very interesting to see how lives are affected and how people's entire culture seem to come to an end if a language dies. However, I also believe that we are lucky that we speak English and that it is one of the most spoken languages in the world. More and more people are stopping to speak their original language and starting to pick up newer more popular ones, which is usually English. This could be due to all the ways of communication and advanced technology like computers, cell phones, and television. Years ago individuals would usually only talk to people around them geographically. All these people would speak the same language, so there was really no need to try to learn another language. A great amount of Native American's culture, lifestyle, beliefs, heritage, and history from the beginning of existence have died and with no living heir left to carry on the tradition and the language. It is said how a Native American tribe and a Bo language will never be heard again. It is a shame that languages like Boa Sr.'s are becoming lost, and there must people who are trying to preserve these languages before they are lost forever. This article was also kind of upsetting because so many of those cultural ideas were never written down. They were simply passed on only by oral tradition. Their beliefs and traditions are now never going to be heard of again. Language is the first thing you learn as a child and will remain that way because of the importance of communicating to others. It is truly unique if you speak another language, however I can see how in today’s society that could make communication very difficult. Everyone wants to speak the most superior language in order to get ahead in society. I think most people overlook how language is the extremely important to understanding different cultures. I can't imagine how it must feel to have one's language and culture die along with you. I think that language is a very important role in all of society. It's what brings cultures together and to unite so we can all be in understanding of each other. It is difficult to succeed in any country where the most popular language is not what you were raised to learn. Personally, I am not sure what we can do to prevent other languages from becoming extinct. Hopefully some people will hear about this and realize how important it is to pass down their languages if they are in danger of becoming extinct. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:41:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/all-that-is-solid-melts-into-air-including-our-words__trashed/#IDComment57651858 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment56551526 I do notice that race conversations on race always come back to black and white. To me it is because of the way race relations are taught, the actual history between the two, and the fact that the major issues that occurred between the two groups of people really did not happen that long ago. Since grade school an American child is taught about the end of slavery and the civil rights movement that occurred in this country. While I believe that there never should have been any issues about race and ethnicity, it is now an everyday thing and all of us just have to live with it. I also think this happens because the world is still racist, and although there may be many of us who are not, there are many out there who still hold something against another race. It's also crazy how after all these years, with slavery "ending" more than 100 years ago, whites and blacks are still having problems. If the reason the race conversation only involves blacks and whites because of their troubled past together, then Asians and Native Americans have as much of a right to be in the conversation. All of these groups have faced similar circumstances throughout history, but for some reason they have been forgotten or pushed aside. I feel the reason that blacks and whites are the only ones mentioned is because they are the ones who have pushed the most to be in the conversation. We have a black history month, this clearly separates the races and makes it known that there is a difference between blacks and whites. There is no white history month celebrating what we have accomplished. But I guess that is because whites were the ones who enslaved the black people so we do not really deserve to have a month. Blacks today, still have to face different circumstances. For the blacks who are still at the lower income group, things are even tougher. Also I feel today this issue and our history is more easily talked about and discussed. Race is always a touchy subject, especially because of the history of slavery, but I feel it is definitely talked about more today. However, I think there will always be major differences in black and white culture and societies, but they will grow closer together. I believe that now in this day and age with so much diversity in this country that these conversions are starting to change. We need to recognize all races, not just white and black, there are many in between. In order to bring everyone together, we must first acknowledge the presence of everybody. In this sense, I think all race relations discussions will be more effective, and society in general would probably get along better. Maybe schools need to start teaching more about all races at a younger age. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:00:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment56551526 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/the-enlightened-west-knows-best__trashed/#IDComment55263478 These women consider themselves to be women of Muslim faith and the French republic should not stop them from carrying out their beliefs. This news story changed my mind because I now realize that many Muslim women choose to wear full veils. I think it is wrong for France to completely outlaw the wearing of veils because they see it as a symbol of oppression. They are not harming other members of society by wearing burqas. I think that if women do not want their bodies exposed or their faces then they have every right to do so. These women clearly are happy and comfortable with what they wear. Why should one person’s comfort be disregarded for the comfort of another? It is crazy that the French are trying to make a law that bans women from wearing a veil that covers their bodies. It will not help the ones who are truly oppressed gain any freedom. What’s next, will Jews be banned from wearing yamicas or will Catholics be banned from wearing crosses? These Muslims are expressing their religions and beliefs in a way that ‘outsiders’ don’t understand. In reality, these women really do want to wear burqas. America would never go to such lengths to stop a certain culture from practicing their beliefs and rituals that don’t harm anyone. It seems so easy for a government to just ban something they don’t agree with. While there are certainly some women who are forced by their husbands to wear burqas, but on the other hand they are banning the freedoms of those women who do wear them voluntarily. The French should be more concerned with encouraging women who are forced to wear them to speak up. They definitely need to reconsider the message they are sending not only to their citizens but also to the world. In a direct relation to the blog post, I disagree with the French statement that says they are going to turn them into “enlightened French citizens.” What really is an enlightened citizen anyway? I think that education is the best way to open people’s minds up to new ideals and not just ban them because they are so different. No one in the United States or any other country is calling for the end of these rituals and beliefs of the modern women. I would be furious if someone told me I was not allowed to wear a dress or tight jeans. People in this world need to be more understanding of different values and cultures. I also think that people should be allowed to practice their beliefs as long as they are not harming the lives of other people. Everyone should have the right to express who they are whether it’s the religion they practice or they way they dress. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 01:18:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/the-enlightened-west-knows-best__trashed/#IDComment55263478 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54148564 I was also very shocked and disgusted when I saw this video. I am very into sports and I have watched the world cup a few times, its amazing how athletic and talented these soccer players are. I have seen on TV how devoted these fans are to their teams and how crazy they get about it. It must be even more shocking to you, since you have not seen what sports are like in Europe. I have seen clips of large physical fights that have broken out in these stadiums that would blow your mind. I completely agree with you that it is horrible that even a devoted fan could have such hatred for one player on the team they route for. In America, we love the game we route for and we don't care what race the players are. If we ever acted like that in America, shouting out racist slanders and throwing things at black or African players it would be stopped immediately. I also agree with your comment about how it made you realize how different our countries and cultures are when it comes to sporting events. You would think with so much news covering this topic that something more would be done to prevent such racism. Clearly, not enough things are being done to prevent this. Everyone knows that one person or one organization wont change the racism in Europe, it most likely could get worse. If so many of these fans are banning together, making swastika banners, it makes you think how do they act outside of the stadium? Do they throw things and shout profanities to people just walking in the streets? I agree, this racism definitely goes beyond the soccer stadium. I think its absurd that the athletes have to be the ones to speak out and defend themselves. Its great that they are making ads and commercials, however I doubt that will change the way these fans think. They are acting in such a strong manner, that the soccer players who are being verbally abused can't even play the game they love. They are playing for that country, and its hard for myself and I am sure most Americans to grasp this concept, because we would never see someone react this way. This really makes me have faith in our country and the racist problems we have here. Watching this clip and how awful it is, really makes you think, wow, America really has come a long way. We have a very diverse country and you would never imagine that this could happen here. I strongly think there should be consequences for fans over in Europe. They should be escorted immediately out of the stadium or something. It just is unreal and I can't keep thinking, why can't they control this more. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:50:52 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54148564 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-p-or-q__trashed/#IDComment53868426 one word response Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:49:59 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-p-or-q__trashed/#IDComment53868426 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/the-solution-to-the-race-dilemma__trashed/#IDComment52864594 I am originally from Chicago, so seeing Sammy Sosa that white immediately drew my attention to this post. I personally have seen Sammy Sosa up close, and it was unreal to see how different he looks that white. I don’t understand what goes through people’s minds when they change themselves so dramatically. It’s the same as getting plastic surgery and altering your appearance. Why has our culture provoked this idea that people need to look a certain way to fit in. I don’t think anything would be simpler if everyone was white and no one should want that to happen, its insane. This video strikes me and really made me think about my lifestyle and what I do to alter my appearance. I am guilty of tanning, like most of the young women I know today. I guess you could say I too want to change the way I look, but I also think that there are many extremes to altering your appearance not just simple things like wearing makeup or tanning. I was shocked when I first saw Michael Jackson transform himself into a White man and now Sammy Sosa. Your immediate thought is that there is something mentally wrong with these people. Why on earth would you want to change your background and what defines you as a person? Why do some people think that whiteness is the standard for beauty? Who gets to decide what color is beautiful and what is not? It also came to my attention that it seems as though in the United States today, if someone wanted to make their skin lighter it would seem odd, but it might seem acceptable to a lot of people. However, if famous white people all of a sudden started dying their skin black somehow, how do you think people would react? I think much differently. I do not agree with people getting surgery to change the color of their skin. I think ethnicity brings life to the world giving us diversity and the chance to surround ourselves with different cultures. If everyone all of a sudden changed himself or herself to white, I don’t think we would be able to experience this. Shit would just be plain boring. I am white, so I also don’t know what these people really thought when they wanted to so drastically change their skin color. It raises a lot of controversy, especially when it’s people who we look up to. This completely changes my perspective of Sosa. I wonder how looking whiter affects his life now. I also wonder how other dark skinned people are reacting to this. Does the majority think that this is diminishing and unthinkable or would they to consider making their skin color white if they were given a cream that worked in just a few months. Wed, 20 Jan 2010 02:00:21 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/the-solution-to-the-race-dilemma__trashed/#IDComment52864594