en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/757150 Comments by brownsugarr https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70080584 Far from attempting to parallel the 'cost' of coming to America now and during the eighteenth century, I would say that it seems unfair now that we are tightening the belt on who can and who cannot come into the United States to gain citizenship; we ask these people who seek the ‘American dream’, as it is so proudly called, for their time and their money. I share Sam’s frustration with contradictory beliefs and hypocrisy in finding the answer to immigration reform in particular. How can we shut the door to people now, who come to this country for reasons no different than people did in the eighteenth century? It seems very selfish. On the receiving end of building a wall on the border between the United States and Mexico is the belief that we should let everyone who wants to come in, do so legally and unconditionally. I could see how some would make the argument that this is illogical, and I suppose I could agree. Like other issues, I suppose that the real intellectual and morally sound resolution to immigration in the United States lies in the middle. We must compromise on what must be done to tackle immigration. I believe in comprehensive immigration reform that is expressed through legislation like the DREAM Act, which was a federal bill considered in the months following strict federal immigration laws that passed in 2006. The DREAM Act “would provide certain undocumented alien students who graduate from US high schools, who are of good moral character, arrived in the U.S. as minors, and have been in the country continuously for at least five years prior to the bill's enactment, the opportunity to earn conditional permanent residency”. The more I think about immigration reform the more I begin to understand why it deserves attention and why it is so dynamic and difficult to find a solution for. I won't pretend like I understand all the politics and paperwork that goes behind immigration, but I have heard that immigrants who want to become citizens of the United States must wait several years before they gain their citizenship. Just what are these people waiting for? Is this a carrying capacity issue? Are we waiting for people to die off to let others in? Do we wait to investigate people for upwards of five years to insure that they are not going to harm our country before they are given citizenship? Is it like finally getting into Indigo after you've been waiting in line for hours on end? I'm not well rehearsed in the ecology of human beings and the 'consequences', if any, of at this very moment letting all who would like to come to the United States to do so without making these people wait for years on end to not even have confidence that they would gain full citizenship. Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:28:37 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70080584 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/south-park-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment70055814 Religion is always a sketchy subject to satirize. Recently, Seth MacFarlane was on Larry King talking about this same issue. What he said was that when you're a writer of Trey Parker and Matt Stone's genre, poking fun of religion is a matter of weighing out pros and cons; is this joke so funny and so worth it to make when you know that people are going to be completely offended, and maybe even regard your joke as blasphemous? Members of Revolution Muslim, Trey Parker and Matt Stone are all United States citizens which gives them both the rights to threaten those who mock the faith that they believe in so passionately, and broadcast their 'offensive' cartoon on cable television. Whether or not violence will be inflicted upon the two writers is to be seen. Sat, 24 Apr 2010 01:53:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/south-park-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment70055814 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68452830 In terms of determining which stage of racial identity I am in, what I can say with most certainty is that I am not a humanitarian. I have to admit that when I heard what the class would be about Thursday I got excited. I thought it was remarkable when Sam highlighted the definition of the word crusade. It's something that we might not think about often, but a crusade is a "religiously sanctioned war." Campus Crusade for Christ anyone? Its bizarre to me how people can justify war in the name of something, or someone who frankly there is no existence of proving. Perhaps my agnostic atheism is what leads me to be ethnocentric towards all religion. It goes without saying that when I saw the title of the powerpoint that Sam showed us on Thursday, I sat back in my chair, laughed and a huge grin swept across my face. As an atheist, I think I had an advantage over everyone else in the class in terms of letting down what defenses all other Christians had put up upon hearing this lecture, and, as Dr. Mulvey commands of us, listen without waiting for my turn to speak. I was able to grasp what Sam was saying, not about Christians, but about what Middle Easterners might logically be lead to believe about followers of this specific faith. I was able to understand just how deeply rooted ethnocentrism is, in everyone. In myself for not understanding the argument that Sam was making, but for not believing in Christianity, of which so many people are passionate about. I was able to understand, but not justify why greedy Americans citizens and politicians chose and continue to remain in Iraq. I was able to understand the frustration that they must have towards us. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:58:50 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68452830 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/is-quality-the-question__trashed/#IDComment65675085 The standards of job employers are not lowered. Theoretically affirmative action whittles the decision down to two people. These two people are EQUALLY QUALIFIED for the job. Meaning, they meet the often high standards, like, for example, the ones demanded by medical institutions. Sat, 3 Apr 2010 01:05:36 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/is-quality-the-question__trashed/#IDComment65675085 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment65062491 If your end goal in life is to reproduce, how is it acceptable to accept sex the act and rearing children and sending them to Sunday School and the long list of things that come with marriage, but ignore the birthing process and the natural and beautiful creation of the placenta that forms every 28 days? Wed, 31 Mar 2010 20:19:06 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment65062491 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64275387 Perhaps this study and the separate times at which it was conducted will show some of us how deeply rooted this issue of racism is. While I watched this sobering video during class on Thursday, I couldn't help but think about the dichotomy of color; not just as race, but as certain wavelengths of light and such. Is it possible, or am I just making another argument for the white team to hold onto like a crutch, that our perceptions of color are fixed by popular culture and psychology. Why was Ursula’s tentacles black and dark purple, but our heroine Ariel’s fin was a vibrant green hue and her bubbly friend Flounder embraced a golden yellow color? Races of characters aside, I think it would be safe to say that the colors of things make us feel a certain way about them. Mood rings, goth kids. I don’t want to take away from the fact that some people will discriminate against others based on race but we have been channelled to believe, perhaps, that dark colors and bright colors code for specific things. Maybe this problem could be alleviated through educating people at a certain age. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:37:48 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64275387 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment63111999 Too many white people jump on the defense when they hear the phrase "white guilt". Guilt is something, bred in our American culture most specifically, to be something that nobody is proud of admitting. Nobody enjoys hearing that they are wrong. As a person of color, I am not sure how I feel about white guilt. I guess the instant inclination by many, understandably, would be to reject white guilt because people also have a way to feel about pity. Not many people want to be pitied. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:57:25 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment63111999 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59992722 
ABC is a network that finds its way into any American household with a television and electricity. It is a prime example of what this country represents and it accounts for a large portion of what American culture values. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:57:18 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59992722 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59991151 
ABC is a network that finds its way into any American household with a television and electricity. It is a prime example of what this country represents and it accounts for a large portion of what American culture values. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:43:28 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59991151 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59991045 
ABC is a network that finds its way into any American household with a television and electricity. It is a prime example of what this country represents and it accounts for a large portion of what American culture values. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:42:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59991045 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59989621 
ABC is a network that finds its way into any American household with a television and electricity. It is a prime example of what this country represents and it accounts for a large portion of what American culture values. Sat, 6 Mar 2010 04:27:53 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59989621 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment59898449 This party goes beyond 'ghetto' themed. This is the official invitation to the 'Compton Cookout' that was posted on Facebook: "February marks a very important month in American society. No, i'm not referring to Valentines day or Presidents day. I'm talking about Black History month. As a time to celebrate and in hopes of showing respect, the Regents community cordially invites you to its very first Compton Cookout. For guys: I expect all males to be rockin Jersey's, stuntin' up in ya White T (XXXL smallest size acceptable), anything FUBU, Ecko, Rockawear, High/low top Jordans or Dunks, Chains, Jorts, stunner shades, 59 50 hats, Tats, etc. For girls: For those of you who are unfamiliar with ghetto chicks-Ghetto chicks usually have gold teeth, start fights and drama, and wear cheap clothes - they consider Baby Phat to be high class and expensive couture. They also have short, nappy hair, and usually wear cheap weave, usually in bad colors, such as purple or bright red. They look and act similar to Shenaynay, and speak very loudly, while rolling their neck, and waving their finger in your face. Ghetto chicks have a very limited vocabulary, and attempt to make up for it, by forming new words, such as "constipulated", or simply cursing persistently, or using other types of vulgarities, and making noises, such as "hmmg!", or smacking their lips, and making other angry noises,grunts, and faces. The objective is for all you lovely ladies to look, act, and essentially take on these "respectable" qualities throughout the day. Several of the regents condos will be teaming up to house this monstrosity, so travel house to house and experience the various elements of life in the ghetto. We will be serving 40's, Kegs of Natty, dat Purple Drank- which consists of sugar, water, and the color purple , chicken, coolade, and of course Watermelon. So come one and come all, make ya self before we break ya self, keep strapped, get yo shine on, and join us for a day party to be remembered-or not. " Fri, 5 Mar 2010 15:25:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment59898449 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/question-on-discrimination__trashed/#IDComment59031131 Sam mentioned in class that this issue is "so deeply rooted." I think this means that overall, if given the choice, most people of color will also pick white employees. This isn't to say that there aren't a few exceptions out there Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:26:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/question-on-discrimination__trashed/#IDComment59031131 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58895324 It was interesting to note two different perspectives about the plight of Native American's in this week's class. I guess you could say, among the other feelings towards Native Americans, there was a "defense" and "offense" side. The "defense" team had a rebuttal to Sam's lecture that interpreted our professor's words into a sort of sick blame game. I as well as many of you undoubtedly heard the argument from a young woman in class that seemed to take offense at Sam's words almost, as she claimed that the plight of "Indians" was not "her fault" or anyone else's in the room, and that she was unsure of the next step into mediating the Native American "problem". For anyone who failed to make sense of Sam's overall message, I could see how this argument could manifest itself. I recall from Dr. Mulvey's book the progress that she was able to make in the race discussion when she sat back and actually listened to the opinion and meaning of the argument from the other side, rather than hearing an argument and "waiting for her turn to speak". Instead of filtering through one's words and excavating how they could someway effect us as individuals, and formulating a way to make a rebuttal that regards ourselves as innocent, or not in the wrong, why don’t we just listen to the message for what it is, objectively, to begin to tear down the wall we have built around ourselves? On the other hand, I recall a young man who diverted our conversation about Native Americans to the king-of-the-mountain-slash-social-Darwinian explanation for this group's plight. I wasn't the only one taken aback by this young man's abrasiveness. The "defensive" people, like the young woman mentioned before, and this young man, who claimed that whites should be on top, because "they won" were both playing the white team on both sides. You can't discredit yourself from the situation and still believe that the actions that your white ancestors did are somehow justified to hold down thousands of people today. And I'm sorry, but as my friend so beautifully put it, it doesn't matter who "won" when the white man raped this land, if you're coming in here with mechanized rifles and all I've got is a arrowhead tied to a stick... that doesn't mean you're somehow better than me, or that you're "more biologically capable of dominating a population." Sam is posted up in the front of the class making me consider switching my major. As a Comanche woman, I am all too familiar with my history and my ancestor's plight. Actually, I am familiar with my family's plight as well, because I have had the humbling opportunity to witness the horror of two of the hundreds of reservations that are formally recognized by this United States. My mother and father are divorced because, as statistics show, Native Americans have the highest level of substance abuse and my dad was unfortunately known to come home most evenings, sauced. When I went back to the Santa Clara Pueblo reservation two summers ago, my cousin told me a story of how she feared for her child’s life after he was playing in a sandbox and discovered an apparently used hypodermic needle right there, next to her son, in the god damn sand. I don’t know what the step in the right direction is. I’m not demanding anything from any white people. I just wish it was easier for people to recognize that we are not on a level playing field. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:30:36 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58895324 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-five__trashed/#IDComment58893035 We shouldn't feel obligated or bound by some invisible rule that tells us we can only choose one team to play on. If you're black, why would you only play on the black team? Why not the all encompassing minority team that includes blacks, Native Americans, hispanics, Asians, women and LGBTs among many many others? Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:08:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-five__trashed/#IDComment58893035 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment57692093 Where does the line between sex and love lie? No one can say for certain, and this line certainly isn’t uniform at any one point. This isn’t a clear cut issue. For every one person, the area at which this line lies could be different. Having passionate intimate love for your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband etc. is a different kind of love than that which you share with your parents. No one can tell you whether a relationship you have with someone is simply platonic or something more. These are matters which only you can decide. These things are important for us as human beings for us to live among each other. On a separate note, if you’re confused and scared about whether or not you are are at risk for crossing that line between friendship and a romantic relationship, you should give yourself the capacity to find yourself and explore; contrary to the idea that you should hide your feelings, or that they will magically go away if you pray them out hard enough. Attraction to someone of the same sex does not make you gay. There are different levels of attraction, as Sam had earlier mentioned in lecture Tuesday. Are you visually attracted to the same sex? Or do you feel an emotional connection with the same sex? Are the feelings you have for the same sex more primal, and lustful? Take the time to ask yourself these questions and do not embody a fear of being that which is not hated; rather, misunderstood. With all of this said, could I be wrong on all of this? Is there even a line at all? I can see Sam’s point of view that we are all bisexual. I realize that studies measuring homophobia versus can only be analyzed so far, but we’re all human. Mammals, even. Animals don’t know love, or feeling or emotions but sex. There’s no guilt assigned to having the freedom to have sex. I will be thinking about this issue a lot this weekend. I am currently in Madison, Wisconsin for the Midwest LGBTA Conference. I am here as a single woman. Should I give myself the room to experiment with the same sex? If I do, will I have a hard time justifying it to myself because of the pressure that’s put against all non-heterosexuals? This issue becomes more complicated when you take into consideration that multitude of sexual acts do not define one’s sexuality. The influences that our society has on our decisions on the level of openness we choose to exhibit is enormous. Restricting ourselves from showing who we really are inhibits us from breaking down the wall of taboo that surrounds sexuality and LGBT issues. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 23:38:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment57692093 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-four__trashed/#IDComment57474150 Great logic Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:11:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-four__trashed/#IDComment57474150 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-six__trashed/#IDComment57310081 What does it mean to eradicate sin by committing a relationship to God? That one would have to 'stop' being gay and try to find the path to heterosexuality? Is faith straight? Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:54:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-six__trashed/#IDComment57310081 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/men-and-women-were-really-this-different__trashed/#IDComment56839133 On the whole men and women have different sexual needs. Again, on average! I only repeat this so as not to upset the percentage of male prudes and female nymphs out there. I'm happy to say I know what I need sexually and I know what others need from me sexually; so much so that I or my partner would never have to go out and buy a $7,000 sausage wallet. Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:06:58 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/men-and-women-were-really-this-different__trashed/#IDComment56839133 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/animals-vs-humans-vs-welfare-cheats__trashed/#IDComment56600154 Governor Mark Sanford made trips to South America to visit his mistresses, not Andre Bauer, the man in question. Gays shouldn't be allowed the right to marriage? The problem with that lies within your definition of a "normal family". What are the qualifications for "normal"? If you could write me a rubric for "normalness" what would it include? White? Middle-class? Bible bent? Heterosexual? Simply because you yourself don't understand the principle of gay marriage isn't sufficient enough reason to dismiss a group's right to choose their spouse, right to love, and right for that love to be formally recognized by the government. What specifically is "morally wrong" about the acceptance of gay marriage? A marriage by definition is a civil union between two people; the sex of those people is not denotatively specified. It is inherently assumed; grounds which are not sufficient enough to impose upon others legally. Since when is it a requirement that a child be brought up following the creeds of a specific religion? Sat, 13 Feb 2010 05:27:50 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/animals-vs-humans-vs-welfare-cheats__trashed/#IDComment56600154