In my culture there is a problem with homosexuals and interracial relationships. First of all, there is not a lot of people from different cultures in my country and there is a macho situation when it comes to gay people. From my point of view I believe that my family would be more content if I had an interracial relationship than me being LGTBA. I am straight but I know my parents wouldn’t accept me very well if my sexual orientation was different and from what they expect from me. Since I am straight and they don’t have to worry about that, they might worry for example if I have an interracial relationship with a black person. In my country, it is rare to see a black person and if there is, many people get really scared. From my perspective I wouldn’t mind dating someone who wasn’t from my same culture or country or if I ever have a kid I wouldn’t mind it. As well as if he or she is gay or not I would respect his or her decision. Nobody decide what to like or what not to like. I feel like everyone is born with something that tells them. No one can force you to like or not like something just because that person has a different way of view things. As of me dating someone in that category, I wouldn’t date them just because they are different culture or color; it is just that they aren’t the type of person I would date. Everyone has different things they like in a person. For me I like my own culture and I am very traditional and I wouldn’t want to change that. But going back to what my parents would view it, dating someone outside my culture would be better because being gay is a sin. That is how they were raced and that’s how they raced me. But sometimes I think why they were created if they are going to live in sin anyway. I don’t really understand that concept but I respect what they are because they are still human beings. My parent’s views and mine are completely opposite but I respect theirs and I would want them to respect mine. But there isn’t a perfect world and I know there will be disagreements if this happens one day. But I am sure in some cultures many would accept a gay son than a son with an interracial relationship. Everyone has their different points of view and their feelings towards people and their likes. I believe that since newer generations are getting more comfortable with these situations, many of these problems won’t exist anymore.

Personally I believe that one does not disrespect oneself because we want to. I believe that society and what is viewed right in it makes us disrespectful. Raised a catholic I learned that one has to dress modest so man do not go crazy and think bad things. I believe that it is somehow the same with the Muslim girls and it is just a difference of culture. As Americans, we only dress and act as what the media and society portrays to be the right and perfect way to do it. In my opinion many of the styles are just horrendous and make many look like they do not respect themselves. I may not be the modest of all, but I know what looks slutty as it said and I don’t dress very covered either. I believe everyone has the right to dress and express themselves however they want but sometimes fashion just goes over the top and does not look very respectful. I know many societies, like tribes, dress with just one piece of clothing or even nothing, but it is the way they look at each other that makes it okay. I believe that we live in a very perverted society and women are mostly dresses to please man. Even if they feel like they don’t because they say it’s their decision, I believe they do it just to attract man or female. It is more based in looks and not what a person really is. Like the Muslim girl said, one has to be approached by personality and not by the looks. It is also very easy to judge someone who is dress inappropriately because the person might dress in a certain way but who she really is; it’s the complete opposite of what she looks like. In my opinion people should stop dressing the way they do if they just do it to please someone else or society. If anyone is going to accept you, they should do it by the way you are and not by the way you look. If I had the power to change thing, I would change the way people dress but I wouldn’t be allowed because many would complain that they have their freedom of expression. Finally, I would like to add that wearing a bikini walking down the street is kind of weird in my perspective. No one walks around wearing a bikini just randomly in a street, maybe in a beach but not on the street. That is one thing that everyone would see as not being respectful to the person or others

When we were shown the video about the reporter asking this group of Asians something I don’t even know about people were laughing about it as if it was funny to see then being confused. But I do really think some people do not get offended because they have not been in a situation where they encountered an offensive situation. I believe that those who watched the video about the international Asian students they felt a connection of why to feel offended. I know some think that is funny because it related to then and just find some stereotype humorous. But other do not think that ways because in what way or another they have heard those as racist comments and not as jokes. Personally I have been in a situation where I felt offended by a situation and I believe many felt the same way even if it does not apply to them. Some of the stereotypes were somehow true but others were just not real and it made me feel offended. Offended because they were not doing it in a funny way but a mocking way with insult and I just believe anyone won’t think it is funny if they are offending something about them. If anyone does not get offended it’s for the fact that they might not care about it because they do not like their own race and just decide to make fun of it. I am pretty aware and pretty accepting of my culture and once someone touches a subject on it depending on the situation I might react well or offended. I just don’t think anyone has the right to make fun of anyone else’s culture if they are not well informed of what actually happens in that society and not just make fun of what they see from what person. I am not going to deny that I do too make fun of my own people but it is in something that I know it is true and that I will not get offended. But my point is that no one can make fun of other people without the other person getting a bit offended because even if they laugh at it. Not everyone will take a joke so easy especially one about their race. I recognize that I am being redundant but it is the way I think about this situation. I wouldn’t make fun of anyone else as an offense. Anyone can but nobody is capable of doing so without offending anyone. I wouldn’t want anyone to make fun of me or my culture either because if you do not know anything about it why would you even start talking about it.

Even though the United States presumes that it is a free prejudice country and that all those racist eras are history, I believe that it is all false. If the shooter was to be black and the victim was to be white the black person would be in jail right now with no exceptions. I also think that since Trayvon was not white, the authorities didn’t take much importance about the case and just let the shooter go. He is guilty no matter what his excuses are, he committed an unjustifiable crime. No one goes around shooting and killing people just because they look suspicious. For example, when I walk alone in the streets I must admit I am scared of everyone walking too, no matter what ethnicity I feel scared. And just because they look suspicious that does not give me the right to shoot them or just run away with fear. I believe that the racist white people should get over their fears of other people who look different from them. Color does not determine if you are good or bad, pretty or ugly, better or not anyone is the same. I just think that the authorities should really think about the situation and do justice for the poor victim who never had a say on anything. He couldn’t defend himself. He was a teenager just visiting his father and the shooter had no right to shoot just because he believed it was self-defense. And I think that what could’ve he been defending himself of? A defenseless young person who just went to buy skittles and nothing else. Now I might sound very defensive of the situation and I seem to have been pleading for justice, but in reality I am still very shocked and if it was one of my people who was the to be the shooter, I would still defend the victim. On the other hand I believe that the people in the U.S. should star opening their eyes to unjust situations and start noticing what others go through. I think that it would be a better country. Something better than what they seem to brag about and what they think they are.

I believe that certain races dominate specific sports for certain reasons. Now in our society has become more like a stereotype. For example, Asians tend to be smaller, weaker and nerdy and not your typical jock. As a result seeing Asians on a football field would be a rare spectacle. One tends to think that Asians are always playing ping pong, tennis or other sports that involve physical strength. Another example would be the black people. They are not thought of as too intellectually gifted and usually get in trouble and outside playing tough sports. That is why they are thought to dominate basketball and football. This is because they tend to be taller and stronger than other races. White people on the other hand, are portrayed more as the adventurous and extreme which is why you see them playing hockey, skating and jumping out of perfectly good air planes. Indian people are thought of being good at cricket because it is a very complicated and long sport that many other people don’t have the patience and time to play. Latinos for example, have always been known or being good at soccer and being big fanatics of this sport. One reason is because it is the only sport Latinos hear about because soccer involves a lot of running and physical endurance but it is not so much about strength Also many Latinos tend to be shorter than Caucasian and black individuals. And some places in South America also play rugby. It is rare that people see a diverse number of players that usually wouldn’t be involved in a specific sport. But, in my opinion it is possible to see someone who is not the typical person you would see in that team. Also, people from different races have convinced themselves that they can only play the stereotypical sport because of what is expected from society. In my opinion everyone can play any sport they want no matter what race they are as long as they have the physical condition and the mental will to drive them to succeed in the sport. For example, in professional sports everyone is starting to see different players breaking the stereotypes. Asians playing basketball, Mexicans playing football, Black people playing hockey or golf. Anybody can play any sport that they choose and just because you’re born a certain race does not make you better at a particular sport.

I always grew up knowing I am a Mexican. I was born and raised in Mexico by both of my parents who we also born and raised there. I identify myself as a Mexican, not a Latina. It is very hard for me to say that because back in my country no one identifies themselves as Latinos. It was very hard for me to say I am Latina because only people, Latinos, who live here in the USA identify themselves as Latino/a. On the other hand, I believe that people do not know how to identify other’s race because of the color of the skin and the color standard. If a person’s skin is black obviously someone who cannot tell will automatically say he is African American not knowing that they might be from the Caribbean or somewhere else in the world. For example, from past experiences I have been mistaken by a white person. It is funny to see someone’s reaction when I tell them I am Mexican. I have gotten other reactions mostly by people who think I am from Spain. But I am not. I consider myself very Mexican even if I don’t look much like one. I also learned and saw throughout my childhood that my great grandfather from my mom’s had French and Spanish ancestors. I could tell by his blue eyes and very light skin. My father is not sure where his ancestors are from because all his family has darker skin but not as brown as other people. He believes that his ancestors are Spanish gypsies and I could tell why. Some of the features from his side of the family can relate to those of the gypsies. I must admit that I also mistake people for another race. For example, Asians, I cannot tell them apart. Sometimes I do because of the way their eyes are. From my experience coming here to this country I can see why people do not know how to tell someone else’s race. Not living around people from different ethnicities it is very hard to tell once you start living around them. But features are the once I have trouble with. I am very good at telling where people come from by their accents. For example, people in South America have a lot of accents and I know what accent belong to where and that’s how I know what country they belong to. Finally, I believe that people should try at least to learn the different aspects of people and how each and every one can be identified by race and not by color. Colors should be used just to color paper and not people.

Being a freshman I was expecting a happy and peppy environment all year long. I never thought all this atrocious events were going to take place. I thought that PSU was a normal place from what I heard from my siblings who came here years before me. I never expected to be a part of a school that became of a scandal that was so big that the whole world came to know. But as the months passed I realized that no one is perfect and even the best places on earth have a flaw. When I went back home for the break people would ask me how the school was doing with all the riots and craziness that was happening here. I told them nothing was happening anymore and that the worse things were over the weekend after everything happened. I thought to myself, these people shouldn’t be judging the whole school just because one person messed up. I couldn’t believe how ignorant they were about the event and how little they know the people here in Penn State. I also believe that Joe Pa had his reason for not talking about the situation years ago and I guess everyone who came to dislike him shouldn’t judge him. I believe everyone should respect his memory. The good memories should remain and should keep him as the legend and great figure that he was to this place. I also believe that nobody should ignore the people who suffered the most and the bad events. Everyone should keep all this in mind so in a future a mistake of this degree shouldn’t happen again. As for the generations to come I guess their experience at Penn State will be a total different thing. It started all with my generation and will continue on until something else happens and changes the reputation of the institution once again. I don’t want to say I feel lucky to have been able to be here when the events happen but I guess I will use this as an experience I can relate to in a future. I can say I am able to learn more about life errors and how to deal with events and how to stay out of problems. I didn’t want to participate in the riots because I wasn’t a fan of Joe Paterno and I don’t follow football because is not of my interest. Plus I didn’t want to be involved in violent acts that were going to take me no where.But I was able to participate in the vigil because I wanted to be a part of guiding someone soul into the light of forgiveness. That is all I have to say of what I learned during this time of difficult events and a downfall for such a prestigious school.

Before the lecture about immigration, my views were similar to those after it. I always thought that nobody is an immigrant and everyone is a guest in this country. The real citizens are those who really belong here and are now treated like if they didn’t exist. I believe that Native Americans should have the benefits and right as everyone else. Native Americans should stand up for what belongs to them. They were so passive in the past that they didn’t even fight for their land. Sometimes I wonder what this country would be if it was only Native Americans as the only race. As for the immigrants I had always knew that people only think Mexicans are the only immigrants coming here and “ruin” everyone’s life. But I always knew immigrants are composed of South and Central America, Asians and many more that come here to look for opportunities that they couldn’t find in their native lands. In my experience I had the chance to feel how being an illegal is. When I was four years old my dad decided to bring us to the US because, like Erick’s situation, our documentation process was taking too long. It is not a very nice experience trying to cross the border and being caught four times until finally crossing. Most of my family members, like my grandfathers, came to this country as illegals and worked as farmers. My parents didn’t have enough money to get an education and were doing everything they could to find us an opportunity to succeed. A year and a half later we went back to Mexico because my dad realized it was not the right way to go and five years later we came back but now legally. It is a total different experience and a different sensation. Even if I was a four year old hearing about the “migra” catching you was the most horrific fear ever. Now that I see every immigrant being threatened by that I understand how it feels. This sensation of losing everything you’ve worked for and everything you have dreamed of that probably in your country without money you can’t find. I don’t see immigrants as aliens or invaders. I see them as people who sacrifice everything they had to come to an unknown land with a language that seems impossible to learn, I see them as brave human beings who risk their lives to give a better life to their families. I do not like the way most people who do not understand what being an immigrant is, talk about them and say they are filthy and dirty, because they are not. I do not like how the racist individuals argue about immigrants being ignorant without realizing they are the ignorant ones.