en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3075678 Comments by bpsmith07 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170310382 I really enjoyed reading our post a lot. You offered many different points and opinions that I really agreed with and reading. It is also very interesting to read what others think and have to say because it allows me to see and learn different opinions and topics. I also thought this lecture was very interesting and really enjoyed the many different examples and stories Sam had to offer for this particular topic. Dont get me wrong, every one of these lectures has had many interesting points and topics, but these one in particular stuck out to me because I was really unsure if I knew a whole a lot about affirmative action, and everything that deals with it. It was really helpful for me to hear about the Penn State role on affirmative action also, because it gave me a first hand look at this. Seeing as we are students of Penn State and a real member of this great community, it showed me how our group/culture deal with this very complex topic. Overall I was very happy with this lecture and I learned a great deal. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 15:12:41 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170310382 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170289538 This lecture was extremely interesting because I personally did not know much at all about Affirmative Action. So going in, I knew I had to have an open mind and take in all of the information possible. Overall I really enjoyed this lecture because it made me think about many different things, specifically what goes on around us on a daily basis. Throughout this class, there have been so many different lectures that have really interested me, but this one in particular really sparked my interest because it was fairly new to me. I have definitely heard of the term and know of it, but really nothing more than that. It is always very good to go into a lecture when you dont know something well if at all, because you know there is a great opportunity to learn and really develop knowledge on this particular topic. Affirmative action is such an important factor throughout the world today, because of the constant discussions and arguments over different races and cultures. Still people argue the differences between races and cultures, and what makes one better than the other. This class especially has shown me just how much arguing still goes on to this day. Obviously I was aware these things were going on, but this class just highlighted it that much more. It is very interesting to think about the question that Sam posed about who benefits the most from affirmative action. Especially after learning through the lecture and seeing different examples, this question just had me think that much more. There are so many different scenarios that people bring up when discussing affirmative action. Some of these scenarios may actually never happen, but of course people always feel the need to cause controversy or a stir. In every scenario there is an argument for each and every side, no it will always be very difficult to really come up with a final correct answer of who is benefitting. But this class allowed me to see both sides of the situation and really think more than I would normally. You cannot really agree or disagree with a certain argument, unless you take time to see both sides of the situation and put your selves in that side. By no means am I saying that this is an easy task to do, but this class really showed the true impact of actually seeing both sides of the situation and not just being closed off to one because you may disagree with them or not like them or any reason. I really believe that everyone should have equal opportunities in life. Obviously there will be those individuals and families who will be more blessed and successful than others, but for the most part it needs to be fair to get the opportunities that others are getting. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 13:48:53 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170289538 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169461560 I really enjoyed reading your post, because I too had many of the same feelings about this lecture/topic. The different things you brought up really allowed me to think deeper into this situation, and really try and see what I personally think about it. This class has really taught me so many things, and one in particular is seeing both sides of the situation, and trying to see it through the eyes of the individuals involved in the different scenarios. The letter that Sam read really struck me as well, because it was truly something that struck me as mind blowing and interesting. These are the kinds of things that have really made this topic so complex and nonstop because nothing is ever good enough, there always has to be more added in. With immigration, people always feel the need to throw their two cents into the argument, and think they have all the right answers. Immigration is a very tough topic to get a true grip of, and down the road we as citizens of this country need to be more open minded and hopefully find a true answer for it. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 00:47:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169461560 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169460403 Immigration is an extremely interesting topic, specifically for us here in the United States. Nearly every day in the news there is discussion about immigration and individuals who are in our country and taking jobs and money from American citizens. It is a very complex and detailed situation because there is so much that goes into it. This particular lecture really stuck out to me, because I knew about immigration but this lecture taught me so much more about everything that is involved in immigration. It really showed me the impact it can have on the individuals involved, but also the country as a whole. There is so much that goes into, and this lecture really opened my eyes to just how important it really is. The different policies and laws are so interesting because there is so much that is involved with them specifically on the different countries. The different rules really allow for us to get a better understanding of different situations involving immigrants. There is always talk about the differences in immigrants, with most of the time many people are very upset that they are able to do certain things. It is an extremely important issue that really needs to be brought to the table and fully figured out. One of the main problems in my mind is the fact that there is so much controversy and dos and don’ts. There always seems to be something that is causing problems, and not allowing for a final answer or idea. The biggest argument is over these immigrants and individuals coming to a country that they are not from and taking jobs and other things that Americans believe they should have. This is a very valid argument, and with this lecture it made me think about it even more. Even the littlest things can be such an important factor in an individual getting a job. The different examples and stories Sam had to offer throughout the lecture were really important to me because it allows me to just further learn and take in all that goes into this particular topic. I really have enjoyed each and every lecture because of the stores and examples given for each one. Immigration especially is really important because it allows you to open your mind more and see both sides of the argument and what and why each are thinking. I really have a much better understanding of this whole situation now because of the thorough examples and teaching for this topic. We really need to be more open minded about topics like this, because rarely do ever people really take time to see both sides and really learn everything that is important to a situation. In this situation it is seeing everything, especially from the side of the immigrants. Mon, 4 Jul 2011 00:43:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169460403 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168173303 I agree with many things you stated throughout this lecture. I also didn't know much if anything about multiculturalism and the reasons for why it is inevitable. It really allowed me to take time and learn something new and make sure I had a good grasp on it. This is such a complex and difficult topic to fully grasp because there is so much that goes into it, and not just simple and easy to understand. But at the same time this is why it was so interesting to me because it made me think about the different things brought up, and then I was able to relate them to my daily life the best I could. The different points and examples used throughout the lecture, really served as a bonus to the actual topic and allowed me to further understand the topic. The world is so detailed and complex and it is because of people we see every day of our lives. Even though we may not take time to realize it, it is something we must continue to be better with and realize that we are all here for a reason. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:40:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168173303 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168172511 As I read through many other people’s post, I really agree in saying that this was an extremely interesting topic, and really had my full attention from start to finish. Not only did it continue to build of the past lectures throughout this class, but it also opened my eyes to many things I never knew about or realized in my life. So often we as individuals feel like we know it all, and there is nothing that we should learn or understand. This class in particular has really opened my eyes to this situation, specifically dealing with race and culture. There are so many interesting topics and information that really have showed me so much about the world around me, specifically people I interact with on a daily basis. I will be honest in saying that I was a person who looked at others differently because they may have looked or acted different than me. This class has really changed my perspective on this because I see and realize the differences now, and want to be more open to everyone around me all over the world. It is so important to see the world around us and not just be closed off to just us and the small group of people we know. Rarely do we ever take the time to see where others have come from, and what they had to do to be here on this earth today. As I have stated in many of my other posts, this class has opened my eyes to this fact and has really taught me a lot not only about myself, but the world as a whole. This world is so special because so many different people all over make it up to what it truly is today. The best part about all of this is that it is only going to continue to grow and become that much better and diverse. We rarely take time to realize even the smallest things are available to us because of people who have come before us and paved a path for us to follow. This really goes along with this class, because we are called to live a life with open eyes and treat others and you would like to be treated. This class and lecture in particular in my opinion really deals with this topic of treating others with respect, because it opens our eyes to the many many different individuals all over the world. No matter what race, culture, gender, or group we may be, we are all here on this earth for a special reason. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 03:36:41 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168172511 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165565466 I really enjoyed reading your post, because I really thought about the same kind of things, and it had me think even deeper into these subjects. So many points that were brought up throughout this lecture had me thinking about many things not only in my life, but all around me throughout the world. The examples and driving definitions and points just further emphasize the main points of racism and culture. They are such important topics to discuss, because they really have a big impact on many people’s lives. It is really interesting as a white male, to learn about this stuff because it allows me to think about it as a whole, and see it from many different angles. It is so interesting to see and then think about more, the differences and similarities between white people and other races. Normally people don’t even think about these kinds of things, because everything just seems normal on a daily basis. But in thinking more, it allows us to see the broader picture, and really the reasons for why certain things happen. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:14:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165565466 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165563774 After going through this lecture and each of the video and slides, I was really opened up to many different important and interesting topics. Race and culture, the two main topics of this course, are so detailed and interesting because they both are incorporated in so many things; many that we rarely even realize. We live our lives in a certain way, and many people are closed off to so many things all around the world. This is a major issue within our society, because people fail to recognize others as they do people who are just like them. This just causes more and more problems, and leads to more and more arguments and discussions about racism and different cultures. I truly believe people need to be more open minded and see the world as a whole, and realize that yes people are different from each other, but at the same time there are many similarities that make us the people of this great world. People so often just assume many things and because they assume, problems arise when they mistreat others and categorize them in a particular group. This lecture in particular really opened up my eyes to the many beliefs and opinions that people all over the world have about each other and themselves. It is so interesting to really sit down and think about stuff like this, because I myself rarely ever recognize that things like this are happening daily all around the world. From the smallest to the biggest issues and opinions, each and every one of them can have a lasting impact on an individual or a group as a whole. Racism is such an important and tender subject all over the world, because of the bad history it carries with it. Unfortunately still to this day, racism continues to happen around the world, and it is something that is an extremely important issue, that needs to be put to an end. I also really enjoyed the example of the little kids playing with the babies, and the choice of which one they would pick up. It just further emphasized what we have been discussing and really just showed the differences and similarities from when we are younger and then as we grow older. It is really interesting to see things like this, and then apply them to life today because you are really able to see why different things continue to happen and so on. Overall I was really interested by this lecture because it just continued to drive these topics into my head, and just how important they really are, not only here in this country, but all over the world. Different things are occurring all over, but in the end it all comes back to the main topics of race and culture, that have the lasting impact. Wed, 22 Jun 2011 22:09:58 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment165563774 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164034509 I really enjoyed reading your post for this particular lecture. Being able to read it as a white male, was very interesting because I was really able to see it from both sides, and open my eyes to the topic even more. It is such an important topic, specifically in today's society with more and more people all over the country. Race and culture are such important factors throughout the world, and always will be. Racism especially is a subject that is so important, because it is something that needs to put to rest. There is no reason for individuals to continue to be like this because in this world today, people need to be open to everyone and treat others like they want to be treated. It is so important to be open to others and have a free mind about things like this. I agree with many things that you said throughout this post. Sat, 18 Jun 2011 22:15:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164034509 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164026195 Once again this was a great lecture, especially going along great with the past lecture on white people and race and culture. I really enjoy this kind of stuff because it allows me to think deeper into everything that is presented throughout the presentation and slides. There are so many things that I know about and or understand, but topics like this allow me to think even further into these types of things and learn more about myself and the world around me. Race is such an interesting topic because there is so much involved in the entire topic itself, and most of it is very unclear or not known by most. People just think of the cut and dry stuff when they think about race, but in reality there is so much more involved in it. This is why this class has been so interesting for me because, because I admit that I was one of those people who just looked at it from the outside and thought I understood everything. Now I am quickly realizing and learning that many different aspects are so important in the total makeup of race and culture as a whole. No matter what people tell themselves or believe, race is that much more, all over the world. It isn’t just focused on a particular part of the world or country, it is everywhere. Race and culture is different all around the world, and this is just another reason why it is so interesting and complex. Obviously there will always be similarities between different groups around the world, but the differences are what makes it so special and unique. Each person and group has different things to offer to the table, whether they are good or bad in people’s eyes. Like every other lecture we have had, this one really opened my eyes to many different things not only involving race, specifically white people, but in culture as a whole all over the world. I have been to many places all over the United States, but I haven’t been out of this country besides to Canada. So to see and look at different cultures all over the world, is very appealing because it allows me to look at the world as a whole, and not just see people like me who I am surrounded by. Being a white person, this lecture really allows me to see it through my eyes, but then also look at it as a whole, and see the reasons for the problems and things that arise dealing with culture and race. White people as a culture, rarely ever realize things that go on, and this lecture really showed that first hand. I was very impressed with this lecture, and I look forward to going into these kind of topics more. Sat, 18 Jun 2011 21:50:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164026195 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162566747 I really agree with so many things you said throughout this post. I am also white, so this lecture really opened my eyes to so many things that I never realized/knew before now. It is so interesting to think about things like this because they are so important, and it just shows how closed off we are to stuff like this. Being white is something that I never really think about and discuss, it is just something that is the case, and rarely ever brought up. When you discussed identity and self, it really made me think also because I absolutely agree with what you saying dealing with being a white person from Pennsylvania who attends Penn State. These things just seem normal to me, but sitting down and thinking about it, it is interesting to realize how people are able to look at individuals like me and have opinions and different thoughts. Overall, I also really enjoyed this lecture because not only did I learn about myself , but the people that I am surrounded by every day of my life. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:39:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162566747 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162565053 This has probably been the most interesting lecture so far for me, because it really made me think a great deal about so many different things. I am a white male, so since this is the case, this lecture on whites/whiteness really had me thinking about many things that I would never normally think about. It truly opened my eyes to many different things, and really let me discover so much more about being white and “whiteness”. It is so interesting to really see and discover that white people rarely talk about their own race and each other. Obviously there are always talks about different races and cultures, but rarely have I ever heard of whites talking about their particular race. It wasn’t until after this lecture, that I truly realized that this is the case. I am always very intrigued when I learn things like this, because it is happening around us on a daily basis, but we are so used to everything going on, that we rarely even realize it. It just shows how so many people just live a daily life, and rarely realize some of the things they do and do not do. From the smallest to the biggest things we do in life, people are just so used to everyday rituals and practices that we rarely realize what is really going on. Overall this lecture really taught me a lot not only about myself, but about the entire world around me. It showed me how different individuals think differently and see the world through a different pair of eyes. The different stages discussed in the lecture really helped me, because it was broken down step by step and really explained very well. This once again is very helpful to have the PowerPoint but also have the lecture video, because it allows me to get a grasp of both sides of the lecture as a whole. The different stages between whites and other races are so interesting because it really breaks it down into the real reasoning for this different opinions and thoughts. It really opened my eyes to the world I live on a daily basis, and more importantly the reasons for the way I think about so many different things. Race and culture are extremely important throughout the world today in everyone’s lives, whether they realize it or not. It allows people to view the world through their own eyes, and through the “eyes” of their thoughts/opinions. Sometimes this may be the same thing they are seeing, but in many cases people have many different opinions when it comes to different races and cultures all over the world, not just in one’s surrounding area. How we are brought up and where we are from really tell a lot about an individual. I hope to continue to learn more about topics like this, because it really made me think of the kind of person/individual I am. Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:31:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment162565053 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160387707 I really agree with a lot of the things that you said throughout this post. Sam really brought up so many good examples that really made me think about each of the topics much more. It is always helpful to me, to have visual evidence along with actual examples by voice, so by doing so it allowed me to think much deeper into this entire lecture. The particular point in your response when you said about Philadelphia really stuck out to me, because I am from right outside of the city and actually attended high school in North Philadelphia right by Temple University. So just like you I really could see firsthand the extreme inequalities that were going on, on a daily basis. It really opened my eyes the first time I drove on the bus to my high school freshmen year, because I really wasn’t aware of the urban life that cities have. I grew up in a neighborhood outside of the city, so growing up I rarely ever went into the city besides maybe for dinner or to meet family members who were in town. So overall, I really agree with many things that you said throughout this post and I was also very impressed and interested by this lecture on race and inequality. Tue, 7 Jun 2011 17:44:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160387707 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160360898 Once again this was a very interesting lecture, and it really helped because I thought a lot about last week’s lecture dealing with inequalities. It is so interesting to think about how much of an influence individuals and inequalities have on us in today’s society. From the smallest to the biggest inequalities, in every sense they have a lasting impact on the individuals that are involved. The most important thing is how different people view others and other groups besides their own, and the inequalities that grow from these particular opinions and stances. It is really upsetting when I sit down and think about all of the inequalities that are all around us on a daily basis. To think that individuals are treated differently because of their race or the amount of money they have, is something that is really eye-opening and leaves you thinking about many different things. Every day the world around us is changing, whether it is for better or worse. In this case, inequalities continue to arise daily, leaving many people on the wrong side of the situation. The different views and opinions people have all over this world are very upsetting and wrong, because obviously no one on this earth is alike, but at the same time there is no reason for certain individuals to be treated differently. Like I stated in last week’s discussion, so many people all over the world are so narrow-minded and do not see other people and groups like they see their own. This is a problem because it causes for differences between groups and individuals, and rarely do people realize how unfortunate certain groups are, and just care about themselves and close people around them. I understand is certain situations, that there will always be inequalities, but what bothers me the most is when people are oblivious to the surrounding world, and just care about themselves. People must realize that there are those people out there who barely have anything to live, and struggle to make it each day. So often, people don’t give any attention to these individuals, and this is a main reason for these constant inequalities. Overall, I was extremely impressed with this lecture because once again it opened my eyes to more and more information and happenings that are occurring every day all around the world. I myself am narrow-minded in a sense, particularly with things happening in other countries. These last two or three lectures have really showed me to open my eyes even more then they are, and realize those that are in need not only in this country, but all over the world. It is so upsetting to see individuals struggling every day, that live in the middle of nowhere in Africa. These are the individuals that deserve the most attention, and this lecture really showed me just how important this issue is. Tue, 7 Jun 2011 15:56:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/02/week-4-lesson-6-race-and-ethnic-inequality/#IDComment160360898 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158625999 I really agree with many points you had to offer throughout this post. I enjoyed reading your points about working hard and achieving success. It is something you must earn, and not something that is just going to fall into your lap. In very few cases, individuals are in a situation where money and success is placed right onto their laps, because of their parents and or family that has worked very hard throughout their lives. Growing up I was in the same position with my parents constantly driving into me and my sister to work hard and success will not come with lack of care and hard work. Overtime and still to this day, I really am very fortunate that my parents made us work hard throughout our lives in everything we did, whether it was a big or small. The reason being it taught me that nothing is going to come easy, you must have your mind set on a goal and be willing to work for that goal. This really goes along well with this topic of social inequality specifically dealing with individuals who are naive about the world around them, and rarely ever realize how many people all over the world are struggling to live and survive on a daily basis. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 20:09:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158625999 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158624080 Once again this was a very interesting and eye-opening lecture. The topic of social inequality is so important in today’s society, because there are such great differences between those with money and those with little to no money. It is really a shame when you think about the differences between individuals throughout this world. You have families out there with two or three houses all over the country and then a family with four kids who is living on the street or in their car, eating maybe one meal a day. It is so eye-opening to see just how powerful this problem truly is, and how so many people all over the world are oblivious to it or don’t even pay attention to it. This is such an important issue that really needs to be a vocal point in everyone’s lives because there is absolutely no reason for these inequalities to happen. Obviously with the tough economy and everything, by no means is everyone going to have the same money and nice house; but at the same time when there are millionaires out there with multiple cars and then others who live off of two dollars a day; this is where the problem arises. Overtime, more and more individuals are making money and creating the gap to just be that much larger. And the saddest thing about that is rarely does anyone with money realize how blessed they are, and how others never will have the luxuries that they have. Just like the other lectures, people are so closed off from the world around them, just care about themselves and the close group of people around them. This is something that needs to change or it will just continue to get worse over the years. The lecture by Professor Richards offered many points that really made me think even deeper into this topic. People need to realize that they individuals, who are poor and less fortunate than others, did not chose to be this way. They are in an extremely tough position, one that is very tough to dig your way out of. Rarely does anyone who is poor with little to no money, all of the sudden have a ton of money and all the luxuries they want. It just doesn’t happen, so it’s extremely important for people all over the world to realize this and look out and care for those individuals who are less fortunate. I know that it will never be fully taken care of, but if more and more people are aware of this ongoing problem and take a stance to help it become better, over time it will continue to improve and help those in need. It will only continue to get worse over the years, so it is very important people open their eyes and see the world around them, and do what they can to help. Thu, 2 Jun 2011 20:02:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-5-social-inequality/#IDComment158624080 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158321773 I really agree with many things you said throughout this post. Especially when talking about Professor Richards and the way he went about delivering this lecture. It really allowed me to think more into this topic, specifically the stance he took and how he addressed certain issues. It is always very appealing to me, when an individual goes against the norm because it allows me to open my mind that much more and really learn more than I knew before. Not only do I get the chance to learn, but it is also a chance to see both sides and compare and contrast. It is so compelling to see the similarities and differences between two particular groups/nations and in this lecture it showed me both sides of this picture, specifically dealing with backgrounds and religions in this world. No one religion stands alone as perfect and no one can judge or critique them, and people must realize this and learn from it for the future. Nothing in this world is perfect, they can always be changed to the better, and this is especially the case for religions and their fellow nations. Overall I was very intrigued by this lecture and I look forward to learning more about it. Wed, 1 Jun 2011 21:47:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158321773 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158319856 Once again this was a very interesting and eye-opening lecture. The main topic of ethnocentrism is a very interesting and complex topic that really had me thinking about many different things. Throughout the lecture I learned many different things that really allowed me to think deeply into everything that goes on, on a daily basis. Rarely are we ever fully aware of everything going on, and this is what makes everyone so different in this world today. I really thought it was helpful to start off with background information about this topic, because it was a stepping stone in a way for me, for the rest of the lecture. I have always had a good sense that so many people including myself are very close-minded and naïve about so many things all over the world. However with this lecture, it even open my mind that much more to how this is the case. It is so interesting and amusing to think about just how closed off and narrow minded some individuals are in this world. Rarely do they ever even see/acknowledge individuals who are different from them. There could be many reasons for this including; the way one was raised/brought up, his/her different opinions and views, and also the culture and background they come from. In every case, there is some influence that is causing this narrow-mindedness for this person. Tradition and culture are so important in everyone’s lives all over the world, and in saying this, it plays right into how we see and judge other individuals who may/may not be different from us. It is so interesting to think that certain people look at others differently simply because they may be another race or from a different background/part of the world. Don’t get me wrong, I have definitely done this throughout my life, but this lecture in particular really just showed me how important and powerful this topic truly is in and for our world. It creates and causes such differences among individuals, and with these differences most likely will result in problems and issues between the individuals and or groups. It is very interesting to look at this topic dealing with religions throughout the world and the differences between the many different types. Obviously there are so many religions throughout this world, in this country alone there are a few that really stick out. In the lecture, when Christianity and Christian invaders were discussed, it just further emphasized my view on this topic and the differences and ongoing arguments between the different religions in this country and also all over the world. Overall I was very informed by this lecture because it just further the information I already knew and made me think deeper into everything that goes into ethnocentrism in the world around us. Wed, 1 Jun 2011 21:38:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/25/week-3-lesson-4-ethnocentrism/#IDComment158319856 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156080117 I really agree with alot of things you said in the post. It is so interesting to see how there are Irish black people out there. It is just something that I never really think about. You are so used to hearing the white Irish Catholics with pale skin. But in reality, this isn't all true and in this lecture, it proved this point exactly. It is so interesting to think about how many thoughts/opinions people have just sealed in their mind and they never really open the eyes to the rest of the world around them. There are so many special and unique individuals all around us, and just because we may not have heard about them or met them, doesn't mean they don't exist. It is so interesting to learn about special individuals out there and how they may go against everyone's beliefs, but in reality they exist and are on this earth for a reason. Wed, 25 May 2011 19:05:41 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156080117 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156076832 Overall these two first video lectures were extremely interesting and appealing to me. I thought it was very helpful to have the video of the lecture in class along with the slides to the right. It allowed me to listen to the lecture and read the slides to get a full understanding. It was also very helpful that it was an extremely interesting and complex topic such as race. Throughout the lecture, so many things were eye opening for me and things I never knew before today. Obviously it is a lot to take in especially over the computer, but for the most part I really felt it was very beneficial in learning these topics for this section. Race is such an interesting and detailed topic, so to be able to look over the slides and listen to Professor Richards lecture was a very good thing. Every day in life you are around people of different races and backgrounds. Rarely do I ever realize this and think about it fully. It is so interesting to see and realize how many different individuals throughout the world and from so many different backgrounds and races. This is what makes this world so interesting and special, because no one person is the same. Everyone has their own makeup and characteristics that separate them from everyone else. With all of these differences in characteristics, it really allows for people to come together and learn from each other and build for the future. Even thought there are always people out there who argue that different races/backgrounds shouldn’t be together and all that. In my opinion this is not true at all, because by meeting individuals and talking with them, we are sharing experiences and opinions and getting a chance to collaborate and make this world the best it can possibly be. Not only do we benefit from meeting new people and new learning things they have to offer, it allows us to realize the world around us and not just stay in your little bubble of close friends. Race is such an important characteristic in this world, because it allows for differences and developments throughout the world. Another thing that I really found interesting was the different pictures and displays that were included throughout the lecture slides. It really helped me learn more about race and the differences amongst people all over the world. It is really cool to get a visual aspect, where you can see two different individuals, and really been able to tell the differences and similarities between the two. Race is so much more than just the color of one’s skin, and in this lecture it really showed just how complex and interesting this topic is. Overall I was very pleased with these lectures, because it allowed me to think more in detail about the power of race in our world, and how much of an impact it can have in the future of this world. Individuals and our world are going to continue to develop over time, and this will only lead to more advancements and findings. Wed, 25 May 2011 18:54:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/05/22/week-two-lesson-2-intro-to-race/#IDComment156076832