At times, we are faced with things in our life that race matters. I am personally from an Asian Family where it is expected for us to marry or date someone of our own kind.The second video with Tan Hong Ming was really cute and funny, but it really represents a deep message about relationship with one another. The message in that video that race should not really matter in relationship and love, if two people are to fall in love with one another then so be it, love is something that is not suppose to be bound to limits on the basis of race. I remember when i fall in love with a Spanish girl when i was little, my mindset during that age was not based on racism topics nor base on seeing the skin color difference between us, or seeing the difference in culture in us. In that age those topics didnt really matter to me because it was something that didnt really matter to me or made a big deal of in that time. I think kids should just be "colour blind", not just kids but to everything. Why make a big deal of things such as race, appearance, and culture. I think everything should be become one, have people open their hears and minds and experience a world where everything can be seen in peace and unity. The first video where a man give a kidney to a grocery store clerk i thought was really touching, i mean this man with nothing in return goes out and gives a kidney for person who never demanded or asked it from him. The man gave his kidney with a open heart and wanted to assure safety for the person and her dearing life. He represents what good we have in our world, where everyone is willing to help each other and give each other hope and give one us recognition not on the basis of racism and skin color, but on the basis of the inside just do not understand, it is so frustrating to think about the way this world works. We honestly should all have to think about the way our children things and how their minds function, children see no differences on the basis of race and skin color, they see no boundaries or limits in people. We adults have to teach people and our children to live in a world with a open mind and heart and look beyond a person's color. We need a world where everyone is unified and love each other and care for each other not on race but on the inside.

To the 300000 people who died, i guess in reality people here in america or anywhere else do feel not affected for it like they do with loved ones but i get the feeling of guilt because i dont know what to do or feel i cant do anything about it and i just move on with my life. I was sad about it of course, but i didnt really cry - its like me saying "oh it happened, that is sad, and i just move on with my life" i guess we feel that doesnt really effect us cause we dont feel the pain and suffering ourselves and we feel that it might never happen to us. People in haiti gone through some many bad and suffering experiences that i myself cant imagine, but since they are there and we are here, i guess we cant feel so much sympathy as those who experience the pain there.

Well i gotta say that south park, family guy, and other forms of entertainment do things to the extreme where that all take forms of insults to people. They things they say or show are out of the ordinary but it like this. They are doing this kind of things because it way of proving entertainment, south park always has episode where it angers people and if offends them and their culture, but hey its south park, but i guess there are times where they went to far to insult someone religion and culture, i guess they have to wake up and realize sometimes they things they say and talk about in their show arent in reality really funny and they have to wake up and realize that.

i think its personally okay to know that you are speaking within the lines racism, but if you know that surely that means that you are not a racist. I like to respect you to know that your in the line. It might appear to be racist that if some one were to say something like they are better suited to help a country then a least developing country but in reality it is not racism at all. People should be aware that racism is not always from the lines of stating a fact. If america is able to help a least foreign country then another country then it could be true. It not like the guy was saying yeah Americans are better than the rest of the world because we have more resources, better homes, better people, etc etc. but in reality that sense of pride did not come from the speaker. You should not worry because i believe you were aware of what you were saying, some people say things before they think and usually they end up insulting someone like as racist, political leaders who are interested in one race domination. America is given lots of opportunities and it is our duty as Americans to help those in need of our resources and developed country. I think we should be able to recognize that all the benefits that we American possesses should not be uses just on our country. there are other countries in need of our aid. An example is Haiti and american and other developed countries should help those who are in pain and suffering and have lack of resources to help themselves out. The definition of racism is judging someone of another skin, color, appearance by your own standards and stating your race is better then theres. In this case that america is one to help a less developed country is not a form of racism. America is here along with other developed countries to help and provide, whatever the cost may be.

I agree with the concept of "it does not really matter" i mean society and the media tells us what the ideal vision of what is perfect and what is to be expected in order to be perfect. Personally i see that as utter B.s., i watch shows such as America's next top model and movies like Vegas and i see scenes where judges tell people who are auditioning for them comments like "your nose is to big" "your baby fat has to go" "your face is to big" "you body is to small" blah blah blah. To me i see it something that is really pointless. I think is not right to tell someone else that they are not perfect even you who are judging are not perfect either. I look at the judges and say wow, some of them are really ugly. I see one judge that acts like a total dick and man he is butt ugly. The point i am trying to make is that the world tells us we need to fit some kind of standard in reaching perfection. I see my friends who look at magazines such as seven teen or G Q and they say comments like "i wish i had her face" or "man, she is really beautiful, what joy it would be to be in her body". I just look at my friends and yell " you guys are not ugly nor do you have to be like those girls to be beautiful" To me, my friends are beautiful, no doubt about it. Not because they look like the girls in the magazine, not because they fit the criteria of "being perfect" in society, but because to me they are people who believe they are perfect and will always believe they were perfect, no matter what society tells them.

I feel that Men themselves have a lot to conform to, to society standards, to men's ideal vision of pride, to the media, to the flow of what is to be expected in Men, and the ideal vision of what a man represents. I went through so many pressures of trying to fit in the norms and pressure of being the ideal man in society. In media and to the public of this nation, the ideal man is someone who is strong, courageous, confident, athletic, protective, aggressive, and charming to women. As i skim over pages of magazines such a sports illustrated and power house, i see pictures and description of men who are well dressed, handsome, popular and secured in both state of mind and physical aspects. Through out grade school and even till now, i been trying to fit that persona and be that kind of man. I struggled everyday to fit that criteria by going to the gym, hanging out with peers who fit that description of man, and always to exert myself in becoming best in sports. Through the trails of achieving perfection in men hood, i have gone through many pain and suffering. In Tuesday class, we were given a performance of a skit, which consisted of three girls, the girls acted out a scenario where a girl is about to get a boob adjustment and her friend is trying to convince her not to get it and save it for others who really do need it. Her friend refuses to listen and argues with her friend and the third girl is trying to speed things up with no care at all. Basically both friends get hurt and walk away from each other. Scratching the boob part, but that kind of scenario is the same with men as well. There are men who went out to do drugs such as steroids in order to perform and be the best in sports and have a looks of a "manly" man.I have friends who went through that case and i have been hurt and eventually my friend go hurt. The media, our culture, and view points of men and women is what brings so many insecurities in both male and females. Men, just like women, are constantly aware of themselves and what the appear. They change themselves in order to be fit in society image of what men and women should look like. Through that process of fitting the image, males grow through my trials of pain and hopelessness in order to meet the standards. It brings stress and pain and blinds males of seeing what is really in front of them, they are perfect no matter what people or the media tells them.

Today's lecture kinda made sensed to me and by far one of the best lectures i hear. Sam said that in the past he has heard that criticism about his lectures, knowing that the some people view him as crazy. Today however, i believe why so many of my class mates in the past or from people who took his class before have stated why he is such a good, powerful teacher. I know from today why Sam is a professor with reputation that goes beyond from ordinary professors. The way he conducted his lecture no just one single view point but from multiple view points. Today in lecture we looked from a Muslim student stand point and how they react to the acts they see in Americans. Sam showed us viewpoints from baptist, Sarah Palin, George Bush, and a general. Some of the things that Sam discussed today (to some people) were offensive, but let us forget that in Sam's lectures that will always be the case, there will be some one in the crowd that will be offended of the things that Sam says. I found it very touching and emotional how the lecture open the eyes of some people and saw things differently. They understand why Muslims or people living in Iraq are in so much pain and anger because they believe in the concept of Christian Invaders. The video of soldiers shooting at a car and running over it with a tank because of law of mugging was broken or a tank pushing a car in front off to the side of the road. The people who hate Americans and its soldier are only exposed to that image and viewpoint. They are unaware of our view point, that the soldiers are people who have families and known to be good people. Muslim are restricted to that one view point and can not see things the way we do. It is also reverse to, we only see Muslims as terrorist, who are always going out for war and for chaos of the united nations, America, Christians, and its allies. I feel that that today's lecture was really emotional and in then end, Sam asked us a question concerning with the thought of whether if we were Muslim would we fight against American's, i answer maybe or more towards to the idea that i might be against war. But if i was a Muslim student who is faced with a single view point maybe i dont want to. Sam lesson is to not become a extremist and hes right.

I guess its different for everyone, like we all take different effects from Sam's lectures. I know some people say that their lives have been changed by Sam's lecture. I personally feel that i got a lot from this class. When i first came to this class in January, i thought i knew what to expect from this class, i thought i would hear the same things over and over again. I came to Sam's class having the assumption that i would hear the same lesson- racism is wrong, blacks today are mistreated. But i was proven wrong, i learned many things such as the white guilt theory, slavery- not just in american history, but slavery exist today. The lesson that outer appearance or basing where we are from does not tell us what our heritage and race comes from. Basically I personally got a lot from Sam. I admit that some lectures i felt i did not get anything at all from it but in reality each time i came to Sam's Lecture, i feel that my eye open more. Today in lecture, Sam told us about Slavery and its effect on us. At first i came to class thinking it would be a class where i can fall asleep and rest after a long day of exams. But the topic and the video same showed us really struck me and made me fully awake. Sam , today, gave us all two pieces of chocolate that were wrapped in foil and told everyone to eat the first piece and not to eat the second one until after the video. Sam showed us a video of Africans making and working on gathering chocolate, the very chocolate that we eat today, the chocolate that we just ate. The truth about these Africans is that they are slave, who work on the fields everyday while receiving no money at all from their owners or managers. They left their homes and country in order to make money for their families and get out of the state of poverty. Ever since they left their families, they were place in fields where its location is unknown to them. The workers are overpowered by their owner. if they ask for money, they wont receive any. If they escape, they are severely beaten while in bondage. They show their scares and the image is very powerful and affected me. After watching the video, Sam tells everyone to eat the second, and i knew and thought how could i eat something that slave work so much to make and without seeing any benefits in for themselves. How could the world not realize this. I was also affected by the baby video where colored children choose the white doll over the black doll and say that the white doll is beautiful and say that the black doll is not- which represents themselves. The main point is Sam do change our way of thinking and makes us realize and be aware of what is really happening in our world today and we are blinded from not seeing it.

Well I faced this same issues before that of my own , although Im fully Asian, sometimes i am confused to whether I am categorized as a white or a black/dark people. In class, Sam mostly used the categories black and white and sometimes I feel left out or my race- the whole Asian group- is left out in the category- like how are suppose to identify ourselves? Are we considered to be black cause we are minorities or are we suppose to be categorized in the white group because we have pale white skin? But for the person who is asking the question in the video, I would suggest to categorize yourself in what ever you feel heart or home with. The speaker stated that hes half white, half Hispanic, and his ethnicity is Porto .Rican, and many people come up to him, even Sam, and say hes "white." I believe that you cant just say or state what you are based on what other people would describe or say what you look like. For me, people say I am Asian and in reality i do look like an Asian. Both of my parents are from Asia and i inherit their genes in appearance and looks. Even though I may look like a Asian, i feel like I am more Asian American then Asian. Many people would argue that Asian and Asian American are very much the same, but i believe the two terms are completely different from each other, its like they are both different culture (which i totally agree with.) The speaker in the video said that through his experience in his life- he has always categorized himself as black and colored. Even Sam came up to him and said what were his views on white issues and he responded by saying that he is Hispanic. I believe that he just need to have a firm grip and standing of knowing who he is and what race he belongs in- which i believe he already had done. If i was in that guys shoes i would have done the same thing, if i feel like i grew up in environment and experiences more Hispanic influenced than white, then i would say i was Hispanic as well. No matter what other people would say or what people would tell you, only you (yourself) will know what you are and where you belong in. Thats why i stated that i was Asian American than Asian because i grew up in a white culture, i lived in american, i was more involved with white culture than my Asian culture. It comes down to what you see in the inside, not the outside. You are the one who knows what you heritage is, it all comes down the your race identity that you feel comfortable and suitable with yourself.

Well I faced this same issues before that of my own , although Im fully Asian, sometimes i am confused to whether I am categorized as a white or a black/dark people. In class, Sam mostly used the categories black and white and sometimes I feel left out or my race- the whole Asian group- is left out in the category- like how are suppose to identify ourselves? Are we considered to be black cause we are minorities or are we suppose to be categorized in the white group because we have pale white skin? But for the person who is asking the question in the video, I would suggest to categorize yourself in what ever you feel heart or home with. The speaker stated that hes half white, half Hispanic, and his ethnicity is Porto .Rican, and many people come up to him, even Sam, and say hes "white." I believe that you cant just say or state what you are based on what other people would describe or say what you look like. For me, people say I am Asian and in reality i do look like an Asian. Both of my parents are from Asia and i inherit their genes in appearance and looks. Even though I may look like a Asian, i feel like I am more Asian American then Asian. Many people would argue that Asian and Asian American are very much the same, but i believe the two terms are completely different from each other, its like they are both different culture (which i totally agree with.) The speaker in the video said that through his experience in his life- he has always categorized himself as black and colored. Even Sam came up to him and said what were his views on white issues and he responded by saying that he is Hispanic. I believe that he just need to have a firm grip and standing of knowing who he is and what race he belongs in- which i believe he already had done. If i was in that guys shoes i would have done the same thing, if i feel like i grew up in environment and experiences more Hispanic influenced than white, then i would say i was Hispanic as well. No matter what other people would say or what people would tell you, only you (yourself) will know what you are and where you belong in. Thats why i stated that i was Asian American than Asian because i grew up in a white culture, i lived in american, i was more involved with white culture than my Asian culture. It comes down to what you see in the inside, not the outside. You are the one who knows what you heritage is, it all comes down the your race identity that you feel comfortable and suitable with yourself.