en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2419644 Comments by dancer2248 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144956229 PART 3:At 9:30 every night Jorge drives his truck to Queens where he serves hungry immigrants what may be their first meal of the day. A line forms on the street as the laborers anxiously await Jorge’s arrival. A typical meal consists of beans, rice, bread, and hot chocolate. On average Jorge serves 34 meals a night. The immigrants are all very appreciative of Jorge’s generosity. One man called him the angel of Queens. Another immigrant admitted that Jorge’s meal was the only thing he had eaten in 3 days. I was moved by the level of compassion Jorge showed towards the immigrants. Jorge said, “My paycheck is seeing their smiles.” He is extremely humble and asks for nothing in return. The video showed Jorge’s mother being brought to tears by the thought of anyone going hungry. Jorge does more than just provide these laborers with a meal, he gives them hope. Being able to instill hope, faith, and trust in another human being is the greatest gift of all. I am inspired by Jorge’s generous offerings and hard work. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:24:01 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144956229 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144956168 PART2: A typical day in Jorge’s life consists of waking up, prepping the food, going to his shift as a bus driver, returning home, finishing cooking, and then serving meals to immigrants. His mother and sister both graciously help with the cooking. Jorge discussed why he devotes so much of his time and energy to helping the immigrants. He said he was from Colombia and arrived in the United States 20 years ago. Jorge can relate to what the immigrants are going through: trying to find labor and providing for their families. Due to the competitiveness in the labor field many immigrants go days without finding work. Family is a very strong component in the lives of Hispanics. Immigrants are committed to their families, that is why they work so hard to provide for and send money to them. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:23:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144956168 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144956114 My knowledge about illegal immigration prior to Tuesday’s class consisted of what I learned from the media and news articles. We briefly covered immigration in one of my Spanish classes but did not go in-depth into the economics and politics surrounding the issue. I know feel more informed about the current situation. I was surprised to learn that businesses are the primary factor shaping immigration policies. The video we watched at the end of class today had the biggest impact on me regarding immigration. The video was about a man, Jorge Munoz, who provided dinners for day laborers in Queens, New York. This man exemplifies qualities of generosity, kindness, and selflessness. Money does not mandate his life. Jorge prepares food all day in his house, paying for the ingredients primarily out of his own pocket. He also receives excess food from friends who work at restaurants Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:23:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144956114 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/is-nepotism-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-the-long-run-119-blog/#IDComment142589873 PART 3 I cannot deny that I have benefited from nepotism, however, I do believe in hard work and skill. Last summer I applied to an internship with the International Center for the Study of Terrorism on campus. I became aware of the internship through the Liberal Arts newswire. I applied and was thrilled when I was informed that I had been accepted as an intern. I received this internship based on my academics, skill level, and experience. I did not know anyone involved in the organization or in the department who gave me preferential treatment. Looking back I realized that the internship was one of the best experiences I have ever had and I am glad that I can say I received it on my own merits. Even though nepotism has its benefits no one can deny the truth and respect that comes from hard work, education, and skill. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:23:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/is-nepotism-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-the-long-run-119-blog/#IDComment142589873 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/is-nepotism-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-the-long-run-119-blog/#IDComment142589163 An example of how Penn State endorses networking is the Liberal Arts Mentor Program. I am fortunate to be a member of this program which pairs students with an alumnus who has experience or works in the field that the student is studying. Due to my major in Crime, Law, and Justice and my interest in the federal government I was paired with a mentor who works for the U.S. Justice Department in Washington D.C. The purpose of this program is to offer students networking opportunities through the contact of a devoted mentor who offers guidance, support, and expertise. I am particularly interested in working for the FBI and have discussed this goal with my mentor. She has offered to introduce me with a friend of hers who is an agent in the Bureau. She also suggested I talk with other colleagues and friends of hers who work in other federal government agencies in order to gain a perspective on other possibilities for a future career. I am very grateful for her guidance and resources and look forward to the networking process. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:21:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/is-nepotism-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-the-long-run-119-blog/#IDComment142589163 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/is-nepotism-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-the-long-run-119-blog/#IDComment142589041 Yesterday in class we discussed affirmative action and nepotism. Nepotism is defined as, “patronage bestowed or favoritism shown on the basis of family relationship, as in business and politics.” An example of nepotism includes receiving a job or internship based on a connection one has with a family member or friend. Professor Richards commented several problems with nepotism, such that we assume we deserve this opportunity because we are better than others. Many argue that nepotism is unfair in that people who are unqualified for a job or internship receive the position solely because of the connections they have. As nepotism grows and becomes more evident in the job market I do believe it will have a negative effect in the long run. However nepotism is inevitable, I do not see it disappearing any time soon. As Sam mentioned in class from the day we enter Penn State it is engrained into our heads that our future depends on the connections and networks we make. Hard work is not disregarded but connections are more valuable when seeking a job after graduation. Penn State prides itself in its alumni, and rightfully so with its 164,000 members involved in the Alumni Association. These alumni provide a great resource for networking. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 21:21:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/is-nepotism-a-good-or-bad-thing-in-the-long-run-119-blog/#IDComment142589041 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140568940 PART 3: Later that day my teacher brought us outside to discuss the details of what had happened surrounding the attacks. When I came home that afternoon I remember my mom had the news on television; that is when I first saw a visual image of the horrible attacks. One student in our group discussed the conspiracy theory in which it is believed that the United States had some involvement in the attacks. The student mentioned the possibility that the US either had prior knowledge about the attack or that we were actually involved in its implementation. I was shocked at this idea. How could our government have played a role in the destruction of so many innocent American lives? I cannot even fathom this idea. Part of me refuses to believe that such a conspiracy could exist. Will we ever truly know? Will we ever be able to separate facts from fiction? Wed, 6 Apr 2011 21:11:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140568940 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140568851 PART 2: The discussion about oil was very enlightening. I really never considered how Arabs feel when the U.S. comes over and “steals” their oil. I understand how they may perceive us and interpret our actions. Many are outraged at the way we handle the oil situation. I would feel the same way if another country was coming here claiming our resources and disregarding our interests. We addressed emotional and challenging topics today in our discussion group. We tied in yesterdays lecture with the 9/11 terrorist attacks. One student mentioned the conspiracy theories associated with 9/11. I was surprised that I was unaware of many of these theories. It was informative to hear other student’s points of view and knowledge about this topic. I remember I was sitting in my 6th grade social studies class when my principal’s voice came over the loud speaker and announced the tragic event that had occurred at the World Trade Center. I was very confused and did not understand what had happened. Wed, 6 Apr 2011 21:10:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140568851 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140568768 I think how Professor Richards approached class yesterday was very interesting and helpful. By asking us to put ourselves in the shoes of a Middle Easterner we were forced to take a different perspective. He kept enforcing this new perspective by asking, “How would that make you feel?” and “What do you think?” As Americans we have our own viewpoints and knowledge about terrorism, the war in Iraq, and the military. However, people from the Middle East do not have those same perspectives. Stereotyping and bias come into play here. Middle Easterners may think all Americans are corrupt, basing their claim for example on a negative experience they encountered with the US military. Similarly some Americans have the preconceived notion that all Middle Easterners are Muslim or support terrorism. These prejudicial preconceptions need to stop. Yesterday’s lecture opened my eyes to both sides of the story. Wed, 6 Apr 2011 21:10:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140568768 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138744136 PART 3:The federal government is currently not hiring for any positions. I know this because I applied to a federal agency’s summer internship program and was denied because the program had to be eliminated due to financial reasons. Many federal governmental opportunities for students that were once paid are now volunteer programs. These programs are highly competitive and prestigious. It has been my goal to pursue one of these internship programs and further develop my skills, knowledge, and experience in legal affairs and criminal justice. The ability to speak more than one language not only benefits one in the job market but also in everyday social life. It provides one with the opportunity to communicate with a wide variety of people and learn different cultures. This ties in with what we discussed in class pertaining to multiculturalism. People learn aspects of one another’s cultures and thus become more aware of traditions, beliefs and values that are practiced around the world. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:17:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138744136 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138744075 PART 2:While Spanish is a valuable language to learn in terms of everyday use the FBI is more interested in those who can speak Middle Eastern languages such as Arabic. If an applicant has proficiency in Arabic he or she will be an impressive candidate for a position within the FBI. I have considered taking summer classes in Arabic to start a foundation with which I could expand upon in the future. I would also be willing to relocate to a foreign country for my job, as many federal agencies require agents to travel for assignments. I know the challenges and time commitment associated with learning a new language late in ones academic career. That being said I would still be eager and prepared to learn a different language if it would enhance my chances at acquiring a job. In today’s economy and job market any advantage that would enhance one’s candidacy for employment should be pursued. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:16:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138744075 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138743992 I would definitely be willing to learn a new language for a job. I am a criminal justice major with a minor in Spanish. I specifically chose to minor in Spanish because I thought it would benefit me when it came time to apply to positions in the criminal justice field. I specifically want to work for the FBI in the future. Proficiency in a foreign language is highly regarded in the application process. Being able to fluently speak Spanish will allow me the opportunity to work in large cities where there is an high percentage of Spanish speakers. This is an extremely valuable skill to have in today’s society where the population of Hispanics and Latinos is steadily increasing. By the end of my education here at Penn State I hope to have a firm understanding of the Spanish language and culture. I hope I will be able to communicate and help Spanish speakers by implementing my skills of interpretation, translation, and listening. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 02:16:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment138743992 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137350252 PART 3 I have never been involved in an interracial relationship but I would be very open to one. I think my parents would be receptive if I were involved in an interracial relationship. They would not judge the man by his skin color but rather by his principles, the way he treated me, and his character. They would trust my decision and support the relationship. The same goes for religion. My parents would not be concerned if my boyfriend practiced a different religion or was not unaffiliated with a religion. My brother recently got married and his wife is from a large Greek family. They are all very involved in their religion, Greek orthodox. The wedding was held in a Greek orthodox church and the priest conducted the ceremony in Greek. It was a very beautiful ceremony but I could not understand any of it; there were certain traditions that they performed that I was unfamiliar with. Our families were very respectful of our different religions, her parents did not pressure my brother to convert or demean our religion. In conclusion I support interracial relationships, I do not think there should be a negative stigma associated with them. Everyone should be free to date or marry whoever they please. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:01:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137350252 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137350179 PART 2Culture plays an important role in parents’ decisions. Sometimes parents are just reiterating what their parents told them. Our parents have a powerful influence over us, some students abide by their parents wishes and others seek to rebel. It is common for grandparents to have a powerful influence regarding such issues. Some grandparents want their grandchildren to continue their family lineage and religion. My grandma is 100% Irish, when she was younger her mother wanted her to marry a nice Irish boy. Well contrary to her parent’s wishes she married an Italian. Therefore my grandparents have never pressured me to date within a certain race or ethnicity. This discussion really made me think about my own family and their beliefs on the topic. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:01:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137350179 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137350126 PART 1: I think the topic of interracial relationships stimulates many different viewpoints, opinions, and experiences. My discussion group had a great conversation about this topic. One student facilitated the conversation by boldly asking in the beginning of class, “Who has been in an interracial relationship?” A fair amount of students raised their hands. We went around the room and those who had been in an interracial relationship described their experience and what race their partner was. Everyone commented that they had positive experiences while they were in their relationship. One student then asked, “Who would be open to date outside their race?” Everyone in the room raised their hand. We have a very eclectic discussion group with students of all nationalities. It was interesting to hear their opinions and experiences. We then moved on to talk about other topics relating to interracial relationships such as religion and our parents views. Some students stated that their parents preferred them to date within their religion or ethnicity. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 23:01:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137350126 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment135906713 part 3:One way in which to combat these messages and create an equal environment is for parents to take action. Parents should not try to alter or change their child’s appearance because it does not coincide with either their cultural ideals or society’s standards of beauty. One should embrace uniqueness not shun away from it. Some examples we talked about in class were African American parents who tried to tame their daughter’s wild curly hair or who made their children apply whitening cream. There is no one standard of beauty; we should not have to alter our appearances to be someone we are not. Everyone should be able to look in the mirror and feel proud and confident. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:47:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment135906713 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment135906667 part 2: This can send the message to kids that white people are dominant and prevail over other classes. Currently though I think there has been an effort to diversify children’s shows and movies. An example would be the new Disney princess movie, “The Princess and the Frog,” and shows such as “The Proud Family.” I think print media also plays a role in enforcing these messages. Billboards and magazines glamorize tall, thin, white models. Aesthetics are stressed and the criteria for beauty is portrayed through these images and advertisements. Children are exposed to the media at a very young age and are bombarded with advertisements. Young girls are especially at risk for internalizing these images. Once they internalize these images and messages they come to regard the ideal woman as tall, slender, fair skinned and blonde. I do not think there is a variety of exposure to other races and nationalities in the mass media. Children come to associate light skin with beauty because the media primarily focuses on portraying attractiveness with white characters and models in the media. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:46:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment135906667 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment135906588 The messages that teach kids of all colors and socioeconomic classes that dark skin is bad and light skin is good still persist in the world, as exemplified in the video we watched in class. The video showed a study in which young children of color were asked to choose what doll they would like to play with; the black doll or the white doll. In almost all cases the child picked up the white doll. When asked which doll was the bad doll a child pointed to the black doll. Where do these messages come from and why do they continue to persist in our society if we know they are wrong? I agree with the comments made in class and the previous blog post stating that the media plays a role in enforcing these messages. African American characters in children’s movies, cartoons, and television shows have appeared more recently, however, this was not always the case. When I was younger I do not remember a lot of shows with minorities or strong lead role characters who were African American. Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:46:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/where-do-the-messages-come-from-119-blog/#IDComment135906588 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/the-r-word-and-the-oblivious-others/#IDComment133931405 PART 3: I applaud the Special Olympics Organization for taking steps to spread awareness about the use of the r-word. The film stated that the organization was planning on declaring “march 3 the day to spread the word to end the word.” The more people who gain insight into the meaning behind this word, the more likely we are to reduce the use of it in everyday slang. People need to know that it is offensive to those who live with mental, physical, and developmental disabilities. Politicians should not be the only ones monitored. Frank Stephens stated it perfectly in the video; “it’s time we come up with a new word, respect.” Respect for ourselves, and respect for one another. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:54:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/the-r-word-and-the-oblivious-others/#IDComment133931405 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/the-r-word-and-the-oblivious-others/#IDComment133931321 PART2: I was unaware of the incident where the President’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, called Democrats “f*ing retarded.” This is uncalled for in the political arena as well as in everyday speech. There is no need for such degrading comments, especially coming from an esteemed political figure. This brings into play the concept of political correctness and how it affects our lives. Was it actual remorse or a need to salvage his reputation that propelled Mr. Emmanuel to sign the Special Olympics online pledge? Mr. Emanuel tried to make amends by promising to review congressional legislation in hopes of removing the r-word from federal law. This seems like a steep action to take, one with an unlikely outcome since the term “mental retardation” is frequently stated in legal documents. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 20:54:18 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/the-r-word-and-the-oblivious-others/#IDComment133931321