en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/767437 Comments by cmbarkanic https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69563276 This video just goes to show that even in the devastation and poverty that these people are facing, they can come together. It's crazy to think that people in Haiti are just living in those tents, and will probably be living in them for years and years to come. Building Haiti back up is going to be a very long process, but even in the horrific conditions, at least in the video they seem to be in pretty good spirits (given their circumstance of course.) After the lecture on Tuesday, I was trying to think about how Americans would be acting if something like this (300,000 people dying) happened in our country. It's so scary to think about. The lecture on Tuesday and this video has really opened my eyes. I also just want to add that I thought it was nice to hear that we, as students, CAN help in some way. I know after the earthquake, the word was that only doctors etc could help. But the lecture gave some really good insight on what would help their economy and the country and what would not. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:44:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69563276 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69558293 I really enjoyed reading this "lifers" letter. In his case in particular it's just showing that sometimes good people can do bad things. I'm not sure if this guy is putting on a show, or if he actually has changed, but regardless of his situation, it does make you think. At the same time though, I can't help but think about the family of the person that he murdered. Even if they have reconciled, that doesn't bring back the loved one that he murdered. This really hits home with me because a family friend of mine was murdered this past summer. Two men that actually lived in his apartment complex and were acquaintances with him went into his apartment, stole from him and then shot him and his roommate. It took weeks to find the two men that killed the boys, but finally they were arrested and put in jail for life. My older brother's girlfriend of eight years, who is a sister to me, was especially devastated by this because one of the men murdered was her older brother. Because both of our families are so close, I got to see first hand the impact this had on them, and of course I had such strong feelings myself. You go through so many stages of anger and sadness with something as horrific as this. So as I think about this man's letter, I feel for him, and I'm happy that he seems to have changed, but at the same time, I still feel sick thinking about the person he murdered and their suffering loved ones. I don't know how I would feel if the murders of my friend wrote a letter like this years down the road. I probably would call "bullshit" on every word out of their mouth. There are so many different angles to look at a situation like this. Another instance that hits home with me is with criminals and drugs. As I was reading in a previous post, you get burned so many times by someone before it's like your trust is gone for humanity. For the sake of the family member I'm talking about, I won't go into too much detail but long story short, he was deceiving my family for years between being addicted to heroin, and prescription pills. After we found him at his worst and struggling for life, he went to rehab. This was his absolute rock bottom. And from that point on, he moved forward and hasn't looked back. I think sometimes it takes people to hit their rock bottom in order to move forward. Just when I thought I wouldn't be able to trust him anymore, he's surprised me, and even though his trust still isn't completely back with my family, we just take it one day at a time. So I'm really split on the thought of being in prison for life. I think it is just a case by case basis. But there is no doubt in my mind that waking up behind bars for the rest of your life would be a horrible and gut-wrenching life to live each day. I wish there was some way to determine if a person would ever commit a crime again, and depending on what the results of that test are, they could be let out of jail or not....hmm wouldn't that be nice? Unfortunately it's not that easy, but I guess nothing is. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 03:26:36 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69558293 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68454408 I’ve really contemplated how I should respond to this blog, because I’m split on how I’m feeling about what Sam said. I think that Sam made some really good points, as always, but I’m always left with some sort of feeling about what he’s saying, this lecture in particular. I liked the idea of putting ourselves in the shoes of the Iraqi people, and how they perceive us. I think that with this situation and pretty much every other situation in life, putting yourself in someone else’s shoes is an eye-opener. But at the same time, what does it really solve? I mean, you can do that with pretty much anything. For example, if Iraqi students were “put in our shoes” maybe they would realize “Oh, now I can see why someone wearing a hijab in an airport would raise some speculation.” I’m sorry if that was a bad example, but hopefully you get my point. It’s one of those things where our country has made some mistakes, but so has theirs. I understand that they are facing horrific casualties and conditions in Iraq (thanks to that Jihad video that basically scared the shit out of me,) but I just don’t understand what people think WAR is. Obviously people are going to die. I personally wouldn’t want anyone to fighting in any war. I have friends who are in the Middle East as we speak, so even just thinking about that really hits home. And I’m really curious to know the reactions to the three-ish people that raised their hands when Sam asked if anyone was in the Army. I don’t know much about our Army, but I do know that the vast majority are great people, like Sam said. It just sucks that all it takes is one power hungry dick to ruin it for everyone. It’s just like that one little asshole in elementary school that acted up in class so the WHOLE class was punished and we couldn’t have our Rice Kripsie treats that day. That’s how I felt the idea behind the videos of the Army guy running that Iraqi off the road and the other one running his tank over the car was. Like of course those are the videos that the Iraqi civilians are going to see, and of course we are going to see the little Iraqi kids armed with guns twice their size. That’s what the media does. And I wouldn’t be surprised if our government has a huge part in that. I can understand how Iraqi civilians would associate Christians as the enemy, because that is all they hear, and see. I mean, why would their government show they pictures of our Army giving them lollipops and being kind to them? Their government wants their own country to be on their side. And we play that same game. Each government has their own motives, whatever they may be. And with the same example, of that one bad kid ruining it for everyone, we have Sarah Palin and George Bush talking about God and crusaders like idiots. As far as I’m concerned, God has nothing to do with war. I mean you can pray to God for guidance, strength etc, but to say,” the war is a mission from God” or whatever she said, that is insane to me. We just throw religion around in the government like it’s nothing. I’m not particularly religious at all, and I don’t vote because I think everyone in the government is corrupt, but one thing I can say is that I believe that it’s time for this damn war to end. Sat, 17 Apr 2010 01:14:27 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68454408 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66708906 I actually have talked about this a lot. I literally feel like there are some days where I leave this class just thinking.."what the heck." In the beginning of this semester I loved going to class, and listening to what Sam would TEACH. Toward the middle of the semester, I feel like Sam just got a little crazy and I really didn't learn much. I started coming to class solely to get a laugh out of what people would put on the screen with the texting questions. Sam is definitely an interesting professor and it has to be really difficult to keep 700+ students engaged, but I think he got off topic a lot. I think he needed to talk about the stuff that he puts on the test more, because I'm not gonna lie, when it came/comes time for studying for a test, I say to myself "uhhh, wait what have we learned..." Fri, 9 Apr 2010 02:46:31 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66708906 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66707654 I just want to know what the hell goes through peoples' minds sometimes. "Hmm, I think that shooting people and stealing cars is getting a little bit old, why don't we start raping women and children. Sound good? Okay greattttt." Like seriously, what is this world coming to? What ever happened to the good ole' days of Mario Kart and Donkey Kong? To be honest, I think all of that anime and virtual world crap is really weird. I know some people are into all of the internet gaming things, but with all of that virtual gaming, there are some really sick pervs out there. I know Sam tried to kind of even the playing fields on this one by saying it could create an "outlet" for rapists out there, but no, there is no excuse for this. If there is anyone out there that enjoys playing this game, they are messed up, and deserves to be in jail. I know that this sort of stuff is protected under Ashcroft vs Free Speech Coalition (I just had a test on this in a Comm class), which it basically says that even though these games are depicting minors, technically no one is being harmed, so this sort of shit is protected in our Constitution. I think that is so horrible though. How can a game this demeaning be okay to make and distribute, or even PLAY?! One of my brothers is really into playing video games, and when I lived at home I used to love watching him play. But he played sports games or Grand Theft Auto. I don't know what I would do if I walked in on him and he was playing a game where he was raping some girl. I just can't even fit my head around this. I know that Japan is culturally different then the United States, but rape is rape, and I'm pretty sure it is unacceptable in any country you go to. I understand that it may happen more frequently in some places, but that isn't a reason to make a stupid video game about it. I think that people are trying so hard to make these video games realistic in a way that they are crossing the line in a BIGGGG way. I'm not saying that raping women and children like depicted in the game is realistic, but rape is a very real and scary thing. And to add onto that, so is killing, and stealing cars, etc. But just because those things are very real, doesn't mean we need a video game out of it. I think that video games and all of the internet gaming are getting way too developed for their own good. This video game is degrading, and offensive and if I see one of these games I literally will snap it in half and burn it. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 02:38:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66707654 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment64930698 I agree with the fact that using the word "Negro" can seem offensive to some people. And I'm almost positive that everyone's reaction to the word will be enough for the Census to exclude the word next year. Maybe it was one of those trial things that they were testing out, and at the least they learned something for next time. The fact of the matter is that using that word was a little uncalled for. I mean even if an African American (I'd assume an elder African American) classified themselves as "Negro," and that wasn't an option on the Census, but "African American" or "Black" was, I doubt they would be too confused. It's words and sayings like that that are just outdated, and I'm surprised that the people that created the Census agreed to put that on there. And while it might offend Black and African Americans, I think it confuses White people. I'm not gonna lie, when I saw the ballot, I was like "Umm wait, soooo is it okay to call someone negro now? Because I'm pretty sure that wasn't alright. Great, now I'm even more confused." But on the other side of this argument, I kind of see this as just another way that Americans are complaining. It's like come on people, can we really not do anything anymore without people getting offended? That's what it seems like. I understand that many people have different ethnicities, but a Census should be pretty self explanatory. It's obvious that there isn't going to be a 1/2 Chinese, 1/4 African American, 1/4 Hispanic option or something like that but it's one of those things where it is at the discretion of the person filling out the sheet. And if it's difficult for the person to pick one bubble, it should also be an option to mark more than one, or fill out an "other" space. That way, this can be another way to judge for the next Census survey. Basically it is impossible to please everyone in any aspect of any person's life, so the Census of course isn't any different. I think that using the word "Negro" was a slip up, but then again maybe if everyone's panties weren't in a bunch, it wouldn't have caused such an uproar. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:37:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment64930698 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64285421 As I was watching this video I got the chills. It was a great way to convey the message, and it was really shocking to me. Growing up, I had A LOT of Barbies and dolls. However, if I was at the store and I'd see a blonde white Barbie, an Asian Barbie, a Black Barbie, and a Brown haired white Barbie, I'd ALWAYS choose the brown haired Barbie because I have brown hair. That was the same with my American Girl doll too. I had the brown haired doll. I always thought that kids would just choose a doll or whatever that looked like themselves, because that's what I always did. This video obviously proves that wrong, and I'm not sure what to feel about it other than shocked. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 02:30:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64285421 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64130843 I'm not gonna lie, I literally have no idea why we are STILL talking about this in class. Maybe I can understand if we just briefly touched on the topic, but talking about it in two class periods, like really? Although I do think it's ridiculous that we were talking about "bleeding" for so long in class, I think it's even more ridiculous that people started leaving. Maybe people really are that grossed out talking about periods. I mean I do think Sam crossed the line when he mentioned he would try to look in the toilet after his wife had her period. I guess I can't blame them, guys especially. I know whenever I'm around guys, and the slightest mention of periods or tampons comes up, they freak out. You'd think that by this time in life they would be mature enough to not get freaked out about it though. When I'm around my girl friends I can literally talk about anything, and we pretty much don't censor much at all, so if one of us has our periods, we each know. It's not like we are talking about our periods to each other though because we love talking about it. The only time we talk about it is to complain about it, and the conversation usually goes something like, "I have my period, it sucks so much right now." So when Sam said "why don't women feel like they can talk about it?" I was thinking to myself, that I do feel like I can talk about it, I just wouldn't want to. Like why would I want to talk about something more than I have to. It makes me miserable and I feel like shit for a straight week. Why in the world would I want to have conversations about something like that? I wouldn't want to bring it up to any guy because they personally don't know how it feels like and they wouldn't be able to relate. I'm sure guys talk about some gross stuff when they aren't around girls (some guys talk about that same gross stuff with girls around too now thinking about it.) But guys probably talk about their bodily functions with one another, and would sort of censor that if girls were around. That's how I think girls are with their periods. With that said, I think the situation is just fine the way it is. There are some things that should just stay between the girls, and talk that needs to stick with the guys. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 02:13:28 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64130843 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/women-and-sports__trashed/#IDComment63059770 My first reaction to this was that I thought it was really groundbreaking and pretty cool. I still think that it is interesting and all, but I have some concerns. First of all, I don't doubt that she can play football. But the amount of time that she's played and the intensity probably isn't the same as a male coach. And I'm interested to see how she is going to handle the locker room scenarios, as well as dealing with criticism from players. Being a football coach you have to be really tough and headstrong. I don't doubt that she will be able to do that, but I think that she's just going to have to work extra hard to prove herself. I do think it's a great break through though and I wish her the best. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:43:57 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/women-and-sports__trashed/#IDComment63059770 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment63057414 I always knew that there were people out there making irrational and unethical decisions on a daily basis, but I had no idea how often it actually happens. It's amazing to me that something that one person might see as a common sense decision could be completely different from the next person. I actually had to read over this story twice just because I couldn't help but thinking "No frickin' way could they have done that!" The fact that she would not be allowed to attend with her girlfriend and wearing a tuxedo is bad enough as it is. But going to the means of actually CANCELING the dance?! That is just ridiculous to me. It also is really interesting to think that these decisions were not made by just one person, but made by the entire School Board. So that means that a group of adults all came together and actually agreed that canceling the dance would be the best bet. Really? That is so scary to me. Those are the people that are supposed to be looking out for the students best interests and then they go and make these crazy decisions. They obviously didn't think about how Constance would be affected by this. She says "A bunch of kids at school are really going to hate me for this." I hope that her peers understand that she is doing the right thing and standing up for herself, and shouldn't be blamed for the dance being canceled at all. This is just an all around unfair decision and I'm surprised it got as far as it did. You'd think that with all the improvements and how far we have come with accepting homosexuals that this wouldn't have happened. I guess this just proves that there are still some people that have a long way to go. With Constance's feelings put aside, which are definitely the most important, I have to wonder if the school even thought about the other students attending the school. I'm not sure how this Mississippi school's senior prom is, but I know my senior prom was something to look forward to all year long. Girls were buying their dresses months and months in advance, and a lot of time and energy went into the preparation of the dance. Instead of the school complying, the school board said that they were going to leave it up to "private citizens" to organize a dance. Wow, thanks school board. Because doing that makes everything better? That is just like the icing on the cake. I'm sure in addition to Constance and her family, the school is going to have to face very many angry students and parents. Not only is the School Board being unethical, but it seems to me that they are also dealing with some serious stupidity on their part. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 22:34:52 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment63057414 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58437683 I think that your question is something that everyone asks themselves at some point. I have a friend that I met a couple years ago and after getting to know her for a while we joked about what we each thought about each other when we first met. She thought I looked intimidating and like a typical rich catty girl. I thought she looked like a total bitch. The more we got to know each other the more realized that those labels we put on each other were completely wrong. She's one of my best friends now and one of the nicest people I'll ever know and she doesn't think I'm not rich, catty, or intimidating. So I think the whole "first impression" question is something that everyone does in their head, but it's something that as soon as you actually have a conversation with that person, that goes out the window. But on the other side of that, if I look at a black person who is muscular and tall, yeah, I'm going to think maybe he plays football or basketball. AND if I see a white person that is muscular and tall, I'm going to think they play football or basketball as well. If I see a person with really broad shoulders, I'm going to think maybe they do gymnastics or swimming. I don't think the whole if your black, you might be a rapper, athlete, drug dealer etc stereotype holds true. I'd never look at someone's clothes and be like, oh that person is a thug, or a hick, or rich, because I know most of the time that is not true at all. But if I see someone with a certain type of muscular build, like broad shoulders for example, there is part of me that will always think "oh she must be a swimmer," but that has nothing to do with race. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:40:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58437683 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment58436057 I had no idea that this was going on on such a large scale. Obviously I have been aware of LGBT issues going on in the world, but when those come to mind, I never once think of a family like the one in the video being split apart. Seeing videos like this spread the awareness and I think that more people need to be subjected to seeing these videos. Those poor innocent boys and that family had to go through that separation, for what exactly? It just seems ridiculous. Immigration in itself is a huge issue, but for this family's case, that could be resolved by legitimizing their union by marriage. I think that seeing this video clearly depicts what is going on in our country and it really pulled on my heartstrings, especially after seeing that little boy get choked up. The two mothers were providing a great and loving life for their two sons, and just because they are gay and couldn't get married, the one mother was deported. Those mothers and two sons are a FAMILY just like any other family. By not letting gays get married, it's sending off the message that gays are these evil and horrible people, which clearly isn't true. I think that our society is gradually becoming more accepting of LGBT issues, and it's only going to be a matter of time before they have the same privileges as heterosexuals. I mean if you think about how far our country has come already with those issues, it's pretty extreme. Even just from one generation I think things have changed for the better. Like in my family for example, my grandparents are total homophobes, my parents are kind of okay with it but still uncomfortable, and my brothers and I are just like "whatever" and we are completely fine with it. So maybe by the time the people in our generation are ruling the country and businesses all around the world (hopefully in a decade or so) the LGBT issues will all be resolved. And hopefully all minority issues can be resolved as well. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:22:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/another-reason-why-gay-marriage-matters__trashed/#IDComment58436057 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment57577213 I hadn't given much thought to the "American labeling" until I read your post. The true definition of "American" is a native or inhabitant of the United States. So really, if you were born here and live here, you're considered an American, no if ands or buts. So why is there this constant need to label every person? Although skin color, eyes, hair etc. separate each race in a physical sense, there is no need to separate us even more by classifying us as different types of "Americans." When you brought up your story about going in for a job interview in high school, it brought back a memory for me when I was in high school. While we were taking our SATs, a bunch of people tried to boycott having to put our ethnicity down on the scantron sheet. I mean it makes sense, because what does it matter if I'm black, white, asian or hispanic, all they should be looking at is my SAT score. But no, there is a constant divide between the races. And the separation between black and white is the most divided. Although the situation between blacks and whites has gotten better, it still isn't where it needs to be. To me, it's kind of like when you're having a conversation with someone and it gets silent, and a person says "awkward silence." It's like great, you just made that a thousand times more awkward. I think the more that people focus on how black and whites are seen sort of divided, the more magnified the situation is, which doesn't make it any better. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:41:01 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment57577213 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57575050 Up until this class, I had always said that I thought that two gay parents adopting was okay, but now I truly believe it. I felt like maybe I was just saying it before because I didn't give it much thought, or didn't really care, but this class opened my eyes to the reasons why it should be okay. Like Sam said in class, gay couples that want to adopt are doing so because they desperately want a child. It's not like some couple accidently got pregnant and oops now they are stuck with a kid for 18 years. Gay couples, and even straight couples that want to adopt are doing it because they actually really want to be good parents and provide for their kids. To me, being in a family isn't about the roles, i.e. mom, dad, son, daughter, it's about loving each other and learning from one another to grow closer. Love knows no gender, especially when it comes to family. A constant issue that comes up with a gay couple adopting is "this child isn't going to grow up with a dad (or mom)." Well the reality is that that statement holds true to about half of the children already. There are single moms and dads raising children all over the world. In my opinion, gay couples are probably so much better off at raising children than single parent households, or even divorced parents. There is so much speculation on how the child is going to turn out with gay parents, but look at the effects that divorce can have on young kids! We also talked about in class how a child with gay parents doesn't have more of a chance of becoming gay than a kid with straight parents. After Sam said this I actually thought that a child would have even less of a chance because they would be seeing what their parents would have to go through. Although gays are becoming more accepted in today's society, I think that kids would still see and hear a lot of negative comments growing up. Either way though, gay couples should have an equal chance at adopting as any other couple. Just because they are gay, doesn't mean they can't provide shelter, food, and LOVE like any other parent, right?! Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:14:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57575050 http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxz11/blogs/comm409/2010/02/erin-donahue-blog-4-reporters-trust.html#IDComment56562603 I completely agree with your article. In fact, I too referenced Greg Marx's article in my post. I thought that he had some great input on journalism "going too far." The public relies so heavily on journalism and reporters for their information. But who's to say that they are always doing the most ethical thing? When I read his article, he gave me a different perspective with invasion of privacy and journalism. If a reporter is going to the means of using hidden cameras etc, what other things are they willing to do? It's kind of like that saying that goes something like "if someone is talking behind someone else's back, chances are they have talked about you behind your back." (I know I didn't get the saying exactly right, but you catch my drift.) Fri, 12 Feb 2010 23:07:21 +0000 http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxz11/blogs/comm409/2010/02/erin-donahue-blog-4-reporters-trust.html#IDComment56562603 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/animals-vs-humans-vs-welfare-cheats__trashed/#IDComment56291847 What is it with all these public political figures not watching what they say?! Harry Reid and now this, all in less than a month! Needless to say, I would have thought by now that politicians, and anyone in the public eye would really try to watch what they say. Bauer's offensive remark was completely out of line, and I don't even understand his means of using the metaphor at all. Is he implying that people that need welfare money are animals? Really Bauer?? I read that he was comparing public school children who receive lunches for free as animals as well. And by the way, the Associated Press claims that Bauer was awarded free lunches as a child. Talk about a hypocrite. So is this what a governor looks like? It makes you think twice about who's up there helping to run this country. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 05:14:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/animals-vs-humans-vs-welfare-cheats__trashed/#IDComment56291847 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/swinging-past-the-other-end-of-the-ideological-spectrum-on-the-way-to-the-intellectual-gray__trashed/#IDComment56290145 Last year on campus in front of the HUB, someone came up to me and asked me if I was registered to vote. I responded, "No, I don't believe in that. Ah no, I don't like it." Although I was flustered, and I could have found a more eloquent way to word my explanation, the guy got my point (I think..or maybe he was just freaked out) and walked the heck away from me. What I should have probably said was, "I am not really sure where I stand or who I want to be leading our country. So until I am completely comfortable with the idea of that person in office, I'm not going to vote for anyone." I am the only person in my family who does not vote. It's not because I don't have opinions about politics, because I definitely do, but it's because I just haven't felt like I've really agreed with anyone running for office yet. I have viewpoints that are Democratic, and ones that at Republican. The problem I have with so many people claiming they are Republican or Democrat, or Conservative or Liberal, is that half of the time, those people don't even know what that means. My parents have always begged me to "Just vote Republican." They say, "Oh, come on, you're definitely Republican, we're Republican!" I see that a lot with my friends, and family. They just vote for whoever their parents or friends vote for. So when Sam said today in class that what is best is for everyone essentially, is be in the middle, I totally agreed with that. And the ongoing debate between the two political parties is probably going to be never-ending unfortunately. Wouldn't it be nice if we could just all come together and meet in the middle with politics? Because to me, that is one of the biggest disputes in our country. It seems like an uphill battle that isn't ever going to cease. Another thing that I agreed with completely in class was when Sam talked about different people having different obstacles in their life. Some people do just skate through school. My parents gave me a credit card when I went to school for gas, groceries, and books, so when Sam mentioned that I felt a little guilty. I know my parents have worked hard to provide my brothers and I with "perks" like said credit card. But each individual and each family faces their own variation of obstacles. My family has had our share of family issues, that have tested our family a great deal. It's the things like that though that really make you appreciate what you have. Plus I realize how hard my parents have worked to get where they are. My dad is a minority in the sense that he grew up with minimal money, and worked his butt off to end that trend in our family. I definitely look up to him for that. Another thing that was really brought to my attention was the Harper School versus the "rich school" (I forget its name.) My High School resembled the "nicer" school that we saw. My school was fairly new, and basically had everything and more. Looking back, I never really appreciated it though. I "half-assed" my way through school and didn't use any of the wonderful resources that I had at hand. I really didn't take High School seriously, and after looking at the kids from Harper, and how much they actually wanted to learn, I really wish I wouldn't have taken my High School for granted. I'm really just realizing now how much I do like learning, and I just hope it's not too late. I think this class has opened my eyes to a lot of important things going on in this world, and also with myself. I loved talking about the Freedom vs. Determinism conflict, because I truly think that is something that every single person deals with. Everyone is going to have obstacles in their way, but it is how you handle those situation that really makes the difference. Although being put in a certain environment can hinder or enhance your performance (whether it be jobs, education, money you earn) in the end I think if you just work hard you can achieve anything. And besides, we're all going to die anyways, right? Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:52:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/swinging-past-the-other-end-of-the-ideological-spectrum-on-the-way-to-the-intellectual-gray__trashed/#IDComment56290145 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/the-enlightened-west-knows-best__trashed/#IDComment55108420 I completely disagree with what the French government is trying to do. Really, what harm are these women doing by wearing the burqas? Plus the video said it was only about 2,000 women. Is the French government really that bothered by that small amount of women covering up because of their religion?! Especially in this day and age, everyone should be allowed to wear whatever they want. You couldn't imagine a Jewish person getting fined $1000 dollars for wearing a Yarmulke or Kippah, could you? I always thought that these women HAD to wear the burqas because they were oppressed, but this video proved to me that it is just a religious decision. The French government needs to just calm down over there, I mean, aren't there more significant issues going on in the world that they should be worrying about? Wed, 3 Feb 2010 01:25:08 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/the-enlightened-west-knows-best__trashed/#IDComment55108420 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment54944179 For starters, I think that everyone should give Avatar a shot. I saw it, and was not disappointed in the least bit; in fact, I would even pay to see it again (which is saying a lot because paying eight bucks to see a movie is ridiculous to me.) However, I’ll admit, when the previews first came out, not only did I not care what the movie was about, I also thought it was completely animated and “cartoon-like,” which completely turned me off to the movie. But after I looked at the “behind the scenes,” I discovered that the actors actually were acting out each scene and the technology used in the film was amazing. After seeing Avatar, I could say that it definitely became one of my favorite movies. Naturally, when I really like something, and someone else bashes on it, I feel personally offended. As if I’m the one that spent years and millions of dollars making the movie, I know, it’s strange. But that is the way I felt after reading Brooks’ article. I found myself thinking, “Why can’t he just enjoy the movie?”I mean, at least for the technology and crazy graphics that were used in it! Why are there some people out there that have to take everything to the next level and look into everything? Because I honestly was blown away with some of the stuff that they were able to portray in this movie. Yes, I understand that the “White Messiah” storyline is used a lot. I didn’t think that was the case in Avatar though. However, I would be lying if I said that I didn’t predict the way the movie was going to end, but that doesn’t make it “offensive” like Brooks says, does it? I can see how Pocahontas would be offensive because John Smith wasn’t the handsome, wholesome, grade-A guy that he was depicted as. I actually thought that Avatar sent out a good message to the viewers. I didn’t think that the movie played into the typical “white guy comes to save the helpless natives” scenario at all. So I think Brooks’ statement, “It rests on the assumption that nonwhites need the White Messiah to lead their crusades” is entirely misguided. If anything, I thought that it was showing that the natives have and still have their acts together and they know what is really important in the world. And the white people are the ones that are going to ruin the world with overwhelming amounts of greed and selfishness. Plus, there wouldn’t even be a need for a “White Messiah” if the white people didn’t mess up the world in the first place. I see it as, just taking responsibility and trying to fix unwise actions, because after all, “you sleep in the bed you make.” Tue, 2 Feb 2010 02:47:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment54944179 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54157423 After reading this article, I was really bothered by it at first. My first thought was, "Americans are so unworldly and ignorant." It made me feel almost embarrassed. I don't see myself as the most cultured person in the world, but I think that the airline attendant just proved how ignorant some people can be. I understand that not everyone might have seen tefillin before. The only reason I know what it is is because I had a jewish friend growing up. But I also pride myself in being curious. I think if I didn't know what it was through my friend, I probably would have looked it up somewhere along the lines. I think that is one thing Americans need to focus more on, being curious and wanting to know more about OTHER cultures, not just our own. And as a flight attendant, I would hope that they would be "worldly" enough to know some of the customs of different cultures and religions. I actually think that they should take a course in the customs of different cultures. Maybe then this wouldn't have happened. It also bothers me that no one else looked at the boy. Was it only the one flight attendant that saw what he was doing? Did any of the passengers on the plane say anything? Did none of the other crew members on the plane know what tefillin was, or the rituals he was performing? She knew the boy was praying, so why couldn't she ask him more questions about what he was holding if she was so concerned? Plus, it's was a young boy and his sister, is everyone that paranoid?! I understand that we need to take precautions on airlines and in airports, especially after 9/11, but it seems that people are way too quick to assume. I mean, this was a 17 year old boy. If it was making her and other passengers uncomfortable, she should have just politely told him to put it away. If a person is on a plane with a dark beard wearing a turban, are they automatically seen as a terrorist? I can bet that a lot of people on that plane would feel uncomfortable, which is really sad. But one part of me understands that due to 9/11. However, the other part of me just wants the U.S. to wake the heck up. It's mistakes like the one this airline made that just prove to me that most Americans are so self centered and we don't even care about other cultures and religions. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 03:56:07 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54157423