I think it’s incredible that schools in the United States are finally picking up another language other than the typical high school intro language classes. The fact that these students are willing to start learning such a difficult language in high school is impressive to me. When I was in high school, I took Spanish because I thought it was easy and cool. If they started elementary programs with Chinese, Spanish, Arabic, French, or whatever language, I think they would see a major increase in the number of bilingual individuals in this country. Most of the people in other countries across the world are at least bilingual. In Buenos Aires, a majority of the population spoke English as well as Spanish. In Tunisia, they speak Arabic, French, English and Italian. This country is supposed to be the “melting pot” but yet we are requiring that most people speak English and the majority of the population is only monolingual. Starting Chinese or Spanish in the high schools is a good idea. I think it increases the amount of students who decide to further their education in languages. But it’s not soon enough to make a big enough difference. The one woman was saying about how she would love to get a Spanish program started in the elementary schools and I think that’s a great idea. I’m a Spanish major so I’m partial to early education in languages in the school system. I’m taking a second language acquisition class now and we’re constantly talking about this critical period and how after the age of around 12 you just start losing the ability to acquire a language or to at least become fluent.
It’s a good investment for China to send over teachers and students. It’s good for future international business between the two countries and could also better our political status. They’re spreading not only their language, but also their culture and ideas so that Americans can start to see how the other half of the world lives. It’s all about ethnocentrism and how immersing these younger students in languages and culture can change how they see things. If more Americans start looking at the lives of other people, whether it’s through different lenses or in their shoes, I think it would make a big difference in how we treat other countries and their inhabitants. That’s a big problem, I think, in many peoples’ thinking. They believe that it is just “learning another language”, but it represent so much more than that. The whole idea encompasses your willingness to accept another culture, one that is different from your own, and not just the “Americanized” version, but if you were to be in another culture, to be able to accept others who are different from yourself. It holds a lot of social weight, not just the ability to speak another language, but the attempt in general. I think it speaks volumes on a person’s character, whether or not they become 100% fluent.

I would have to say, as a woman, I respected everything that Sam said in class about the tough topic of bleeding. When he said that we have been trained to be silent and it works in man’s favor, I couldn’t have agreed more. I don’t have any problems talking about my period with my mom, or my sister, or my girlfriends, but it’s not something that I could talk to my dad about or my guy friends. I know some girls are uncomfortable with it but I think in a lot of cases it’s more about how they’ve been raised and told to think that it’s gross and that it should never be brought up. My mom grew up with three brothers and when she got her period, she was embarrassed because her brothers made fun of her and told her that she was gross. She also wasn’t close to her mother who didn’t even ask her about it, or even talk to her about what was happening to her. She didn’t know what to do and actually thought that she was dying. It’s hard when your own mother doesn’t even want to help you. I think that having two daughters has really helped my mom to be more comfortable with it.
Having your body regulated to a certain number of days can be trying and taxing, especially to young girls when you realize that you’re going to have to deal with this every single month for almost the rest of your life. And not only do you have to have this every month but you also get cramps and mood swings and headaches. I remember when I started mine, it was summer and we were going to the beach and I wasn’t allowed to go swimming and I was absolutely devastated. It’s a difficult adjustment for girls, especially if you play sports, and especially when you’re in high school. It’s hard to hide it when you have to go to the bathroom more often and you’re also carrying your purse along with you. I don’t think that women should have to hide it. Women shouldn’t have to apologize to their boyfriends or spouses. I don’t think that they should talk about it unnecessarily and I don’t think anyone needs to see it, but I don’t think the word ‘period’ or ‘bleeding’ should make someone else cringe. It’s not a disease. It’s natural, it’s normal and it’s really not that big of a deal. I look at it as more of an annoying bodily function. To some women, it’s even a relief sometimes, alleviating that fear of an unwanted pregnancy. I think that there needs to be a change and the change needs to begin with women first because if women are not comfortable talking about, then it will never be acceptable to talk about it to a man. (I apologize to my two male TAs for having to read this, I know its TMI)

It’s halftime. The distant sounds of the marching band are heard outside. The players are all in the locker room, discussing the game thus far. A female enters. Normally this would appear strange, or even be forbidden. However, for this team, it’s the norm. The reason? This woman is the first female football coach ever in the United States.
Though this is a big breakthrough in our culture, there are still many people thinking quite “traditionally” on the matter. Some believe that a woman could never be up to par in comparison to a male coach. The sport is typically male, and most females do not have the build/physical capabilities to play in competitive football, at least at the high school level. For these reasons, many view this sport as predominantly male, and so should be taught by a male. It’s not considered to be of “those who can’t do, teach” caliber, but something that should only be taught/coached by someone who is capable of that which they are teaching and understand the game to its fullest. The people of this camp doubt a female’s ability to truly understand this “man’s game” and especially doubt the ability of the female to possibly carry out the same physical commands that she is demanding of the players.
My opinion is that this concept is neither here nor there. Since when does a person need to physically perform something in order to understand the dynamics of and teach something? There are certain activities/academics in which this is the case, such as teaching a foreign language. One cannot really explain to others how to speak Spanish without having the ability to do so themselves. However, to give someone the work ethic and workout plan in order to successfully run a mile around a track, you do not need to indeed complete the same task. It may help, sure, but it is not necessary for the student’s understanding of it. I can understand to an extent, if I were to play Devil’s advocate, what these people are saying. But I know friends who were taught how to pole vault by a person who never did so themselves, and they learned a good deal.
Furthermore, I’m not convinced that this female coach “doesn’t know what she’s doing” just because she doesn’t have broad enough shoulders or what-have-you to have played high school football herself.
Regardless of how progressive this has been, and the statement she is making, there are still going to be people who believe that a man is more equipped and qualified to be a football coach.
The female coach entered the locker room, gave a motivational speech, full of powerful commands and game tactic reminders, and the team dispersed back out onto the field.

The past events that have occurred at UC San Diego make me realize that this country has not learned enough from our past as I had previously thought. For these college students to think that it’s acceptable to mock an important part of our history with their so-called “Compton Cookout,” makes us realize that we still have a long way to go with the subject of racism and race relations. In regards to the party that they threw for Black History Month, I, personally, found it to be completely offensive. We talked about this party in our discussion group this week and I already expressed my views on how I thought it was offensive to the black community and the description of the appropriate actions and attire for the women was offensive to just women in general. They attack the intelligence of these women, inferring that they’re dumb and have a limited vocabulary.
In regards to the noose found in the library, I don’t fully believe that it had nothing to do with the lynching symbol. First of all, the whole scenario just seems suspicious. They claim that they were just playing around with a rope, but I know that I don’t sit around with my friends and tie ropes into nooses for fun. I mean I don’t know what kind of activities and what kind of nightlife are available to these students but I think that they could find better things to do with their time. To hang it in the library, in a public place, also seems a bit suspicious to me. It’s one thing to actually make a noose, supposedly for fun with your friends, but to then hang it in a public place for everyone to see just seems a bit too far.
The solution to these problems is not very obvious, apparent, or easy to carry out. I don’t think the solution of which they suggested (to hire other minority professors or encourage more minority students) is necessarily the right way to go. These incidents alone would probably be enough to scare off any kind of potential minority students, and for this reason there should be more actions carried out to ensure that there is more being done than just following affirmative action to the T. For example, there should be severe consequences of the actions those people took so lightly. There should be an announcement from the dean, and a way to address the entire student body in order to formally state to them that this kind of behavior/attitude will not be ignored or tolerated in any way, shape, or form. Obviously the teach-in was not effective enough in informing the student body of this very serious issue. This is a severe case of racism that should not be taken as a joke or something that represents young people “goofing around”. It is a racist issue of which needs to be handled with the utmost care and attention.

The situation involving most Native American tribes is unfortunate. The majority of tribes is well under the poverty line and has the highest crime rates. The discovery of oil on one of these reservations is a definite advantage to the Native Americans living here. Naturally, these refineries will always have their disadvantages along with their advantages, but I think in this case the benefits outweigh the costs. Many of the people living here were unemployed and poor, but the refineries have created jobs and are bringing in money for the majority of the population. Jobs for people outside the reservations are also available to improve the economy for everyone. They are using this well-deserved money to improve life on these reservations with such things as road repair, health care benefits, and law enforcement. The improvement to their law enforcement will help reduce the crime and drug rates in these areas. The health risks associated with living near these refineries can be outweighed by the benefits to all.
It’s ironic, in my opinion, that the government and the people pushed them out of their original lands onto these reservations only to find abundant amounts of oil, which in a way repays them for the atrocities that were committed against their ancestors. Although I’m sure this in no way accounts for all the transgressions against them and all the hardships that they had to endure.
The issue of the casino and the newfound wealth of these Native Americans should certainly be addressed. They need to utilize this new money flow in such a way that is most effective. Meaning that instead of spending it, they can invest it and increase the likelihood of their grandchildren breaking the stereotypical mold that has defined these tribes and their members. They would be enhancing the lives of future generations.
I do believe that this money and discovery of the oil is a positive thing for the Native Americans but it also has many negative connotations involved. There is a lot of pollution and waste involved and many health hazards. The issue that I find disappointing is the fact that they need this money in the first place. They are living in horrible conditions with basically nothing while the government barely helps them out. We only give them attention because they are living over this abundance of oil, a resource that is becoming increasingly more difficult to obtain. We should give them attention because it’s what they deserve. We’ve taken everything from them and given them nothing back except when they have something else that we want.
While I feel that there are disadvantages and problems caused by the oil refineries being established, this discovery can be beneficial to many Native Americans and their tribes.

This family’s plight is heart wrenching because of how easily it could be remedied. People need to get over their issues with same sex marriage. It is sad that we are supposed to be this great independent nation that calls itself the “land of the free” and yet there is still persecution. The settlers came here to escape religious persecution and it’s the same story now except the topic has shifted to sexual discrimination. We should handle this the same way that religious discrimination was handled in that every person is entitled to his or her own beliefs and lifestyle. Why do we learn history, if we are to repeat the past? Must people go elsewhere, such as Canada or wherever, just to live with the one they love? Who are government officials to tell us how to live our lives, when it is in no way harming other individuals? To me, this is like saying one cannot wear blue on Mondays, because it makes others uncomfortable. There is no functional value of preventing gay marriage. How long will it take for our nation to understand this? Some feel it is “unnatural” or goes against values. Whose values, the values of the Catholic Church, maybe? We have strict policies, as far as I was informed, keeping state separate from church in this country. So I am curious as to what it is that is keeping from becoming legalized.
Legalization of gay marriage will prevent the separation of many families just like the one in the video. It is a horrible tragedy that they are allowing these families to be torn apart over an intolerance of an alternate lifestyle. The couple has been together for 23 years and because it cannot be recognized by the state that they are, in fact, devoted life partners (with children!) they will have to part indefinitely. It brings me to something else I find upsetting. Being legally “married” is all about being on record for people who do not matter to you. You can be devoted to someone and not have a piece of paper that “proves” it. This may seem a silly example, but think of Goldie Hawn Kurt Russell. They have 5 children together, and are easily one of the longest lasting marriages in Hollywood today.
Who is this deportation helping? There are people who get married to immigrants to stay in the country, and are not in love in any way, shape, or form. So to have someone deported when they truly are in love with someone, and have a family with them, but are being prevented from getting married, is quite asinine. The whole issue just really gets me to my core because one could go on and on with examples of its tragic existence (this intolerance) in the United States but it all boils down to one simple fact: there is no reason not to have it legalized in every state, and yet it is not.

This topic really hits home to me because I actually am thinking about becoming an interpreter and languages are an important part of my education. I can’t even imagine the loss of a language. I tried to imagine being 85 years old and being the last person who speaks English and just the thought of it is incredible. The loss of English is almost impossible to imagine but it is in fact possible. This situation is sad to me that people don’t care enough about their own heritage to spend the time to learn a language that has been spoken for so long by so many. Think of all the people who have spoken the Bo language, it’s over 70,00 years old. This language defined this entire tribe and now no one in that tribe can even speak the original language. Language is everything. It is a way to connect with others, like your family members, your friends, the people in your community. It’s hard to spend even a day without talking to someone at some point. Boa Sr had no one who could fully understand her. I’m studying several different languages (Spanish, Arabic, and Italian) and trying to figure out ways to communicate your thoughts and feelings to others in a language that isn’t fully your own is overwhelming. I studied abroad in Argentina last semester and I had countless moments where I was talking to someone and I had no idea what they were saying and they had no idea what I was saying. It’s not a good feeling to have, so I can’t imagine what this woman went through everyday, having no one else to converse with. I’m sure she spoke another language of some sort just to communicate with everyone else, but even still, it’s hard to translate between two different languages. You’re always going to lose some part of what you’re trying to say.
I think learning these languages should be an important goal for these different groups. If I had kids and I knew a dying language, I would make sure that they learned it no matter what. I would make sure that it was passed down just like my traditions and other parts of my culture. It’s sad that these people try to pass on their knowledge but no one is interested in learning them anymore. People need to realize that language is a part of their culture and a part of who they are. A lot of people move to the United States and learn English, and then they have kids and their kids are bilingual, but then the next generation will probably only know English. It’s sad that the youth let this happen. They should be proud to know their own language. Language is definitive for everyone. People should take pride in where they come from or at least put in an effort to stop these languages from becoming obsolete.

I definitely think that David Brooks made some solid and accurate points in his article. There are many good examples of his “White Messiah” fable and he uses these to his advantage. I think this point probably was lost on me at first glance (until I read his article) because I did not think about the connotations, as they are so common. I am white, so this kind of thing is not a rare occurrence. Having seen films such as ‘Avatar’, ‘The Last Samurai’, ‘FernGully’, ‘Pocahontas’, I think the point he’s trying to make is clear. They are stereotypical. One can even take it a step farther and say that the films that do feature a black or brown protagonist are not portraying them in the same manners as that of a white protagonist. For example, in “Men in Black” Will Smith was chosen for his comedic relief. He saves the world from aliens, sure, but he is the “token black guy” in a lot of ways as well.
But, just to play Devil’s advocate, and as much as I consider and even agree with things that Brooks says, there are solid arguments for the other side of things to take into consideration. Sticking with Will Smith as an example, what about “I Am Legend”? What about the power he holds in Hollywood, constantly putting out blockbusters? Will Smith more or less saved the world from aliens/zombies again in “I am legend” which did not have the same racial connotation. He was an intelligent, powerful, and multi-faceted protagonist in this film, not just the guy who comments on Tommy Lee Jones’ actions. Maybe there are many white messiah films, but we still go to see a large number of the "black messiah" version. You also have to think about the movies with Bruce Lee. A lot of his movies are the typical stereotype of the Asian fighter but it’s mainly about Bruce Lee killing the bad guys. He was the greatest influence for Asian martial arts cinema. I do agree that there is a “White Messiah” plotline in many films but I don’t think you can look at that alone. In addition, one can argue that yes Avatar does have “white messiah” connotation, but remember that the antagonists are also white. We aren’t so much for putting out the white power idea as we are for making satirical jabs at whites as well. I think that every race/ethnicity has this dichotomy to it. It's easy to stock up on arguing points either way, but I have to say that I believe we are pretty diverse in our movie production. There are so many movies out there, that it would be possible to argue just about any point you want to make due to an overwhelming availability of films to choose from.
In conclusion, I agree with many things that Brooks says, and it opened my eyes to something I had not previously noticed. However, I can’t help but point out that you can make many arguments such as his that would be perfectly valid. We have an influx of resources to back us up.

I think banning the burqas is a horrible idea. How can you ban people from wearing certain clothing? People walk around State College practically naked and no one says anything about it. This is more distracting to me than someone being fully covered up for religious or cultural purposes. I think it’s also more hygienic than being dressed inappropriately. These women choose to wear the burqas, or at least the majority does, it’s not being forced on them. It’s a choice. The Muslim women have been wearing this type of clothing their whole lives. It would just be like telling Americans they couldn’t wear jeans or telling them they couldn’t wear something like a cross necklace to show their religious beliefs. The French are all about fashion and quite frankly I find their fashion to be a little eccentric. I don’t blame the Muslim women for wanting to wear what they do. I could see where people would judge them and look at them for what they’re wearing but I don’t think it’s half as bad as some of the things you see on the runway. They also don’t have to worry about what they’re going to wear everyday, much like a school uniform. Today many of the hijabs or abayas are more decorated and more fashionable, giving them more ways to express themselves with what they wear.
The French think they know best but I don’t think they understand anything about the Muslim religion. I don’t think there should be a mandate to cover up but if that’s what they believe and that’s what they want to do, then I see no problem in this. I don’t doubt the oppression that some of these women feel, and I’m sure some husbands or family members demand that they wear the burqa, but you can find those types of people everywhere. Women in the United States get physically and verbally abused everyday and it’s a horrible thing but making Muslim women wear “normal clothing” isn’t going to stop this. So I tried to put myself in another perspective, and imagine that the French government is trying to help the women who are being forced to wear these by the men in their lives, or whomever. But by trying to pass this law, the French are simply doing the same thing that these possibly narrow-minded Muslim men are doing to their wives, daughters, etc. They are just afflicting the other side of the spectrum. The women who choose to wear these burqas are being prohibited by the government. Well that is quite similar to the men who force women (who may not wish to) to wear the burqas. It’s like fighting violence with violence. I think many people in the French government have no idea what these women go through or what’s best for them. It’s not their place to tell them how to dress.

hola