en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2446915 Comments by eym5068 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/why-does-society-dislike-immigrants-and-why-are-they-portrayed-badly-119-blog/#IDComment145233315 I was one of the “white” students who raised their hand when Sam asked if anyone came from a family of illegal immigrants. I did not respond to why because I simply did not feel like talking but Sam’s statement afterword took the thoughts out of my head. I do not like that illegal immigrants are treated poorly. It is not fair that the American people decide to treat these people in a negative manner when all they are doing is looking for a better life. Basically each and every one of our grandparent’s came to America for the same exact reason. Not only did they come here in search of a better life, but they also stole the land from the Native Americans who were here originally. I do not like that people think it is just to kick these immigrants out of the country. These people do have rights just like you and I regardless if they pay taxes or not. I have a lot of friends who are here illegally or on expired visas. One of my best friends was even deported back to Russia over the summer. I was angry when this happened because I do not understand the reason for it. Americans get insulted when people come to this country and do not speak English. I have heard many people insult Mexicans because they speak their native language Spanish. I do not understand why everyone is so afraid of a little diversity and mixed culture. I think we should embrace others differences and incorporate them into the American way of life. We are supposed to be a melting put after all. Many people view immigrants as threats for they feel they can take away their jobs. This to me is stupid because anyone can take away a job, not necessarily just an immigrant. I think that Americans need to be more accepting as a hole. Immigrants offer a lot of positivity to our society and I think it is important that we do not discriminate against them. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 22:39:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/why-does-society-dislike-immigrants-and-why-are-they-portrayed-badly-119-blog/#IDComment145233315 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment143202418 I am really glad that Sam decided to show the class the hardships and struggles of living as a Native American in this country. I feel that a lot of people, myself included did not really understand the extent of what Native Americans have been through. Many of us never give their lifestyles and their pasts any thought. Besides for of course at Thanksgiving dinner, but those thoughts do not even count because I doubt that many Americans even discuss the slaughtering of the people our ancestors stole land from. I am not a person who has had claims to have Native American blood, nor have I ever really been in close contact with anyone who lives on a reservation. I have only seen Native Americans who actually live on a reservation two times in my life. One time was at a gas station by Mohegan Sun on my drive up to Maine and the second time was when I was in Nevada. I remember looking at their clothes and watching them all pile out of an ancient mini-van and thinking “oh my god, real live Indians!” But now I truly feel deep sympathy and I wish I could change something after learning about their way of life. I was always sympathetic for the Native Americans because I knew that their land was stolen and that their people were killed in the past, but I never truly thought about how much that set them back. This lesson opened my eyes to the everyday struggles they have to deal with. They are the poorest people in this country and they shouldn’t be. They deal with such a large number of rapes and murders. It is absolutely frightening. I think that every American should be given the lesson that Sam taught because everyone has to see what is really going on these reservations. Everyone has to see and understand the truth. I feel that if everyone knew what was really going on that maybe Native Americans will be given more of the respect that they deserve. The people in America should no longer be given the sugarcoated version of the story; we all need to be exposed to the lives of our nations first people. I am very thankful that Sam chose to teach us this topic because I now feel more aware. I felt a great deal of sadness after watching those videos, but they also inspired me to defend these people and spread the word to inform everyone I know. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:50:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment143202418 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/after-this-class-do-you-still-blame-terrorism-119-blog/#IDComment141128282 As I am getting ready to go out for my best friend’s birthday, the last thing I want to think about is terrorism. The Christian Invaders lesson did not, and nothing ever will change my mind about terrorism. Terrorists killed my cousin on the ninety-forth floor of the World Trade Center. Terrorists ended the lives of so many people close to me. Terrorists forever changed my father, a New York City firefighters life for the worst. Terrorists ultimately caused my parent’s divorce. Terrorists make me live in fear. In my opinion terrorists are the saddest excuse of human beings. They are sick minded, selfish individuals who do not care about anyone or anything besides for their own beliefs. The video in the beginning of class made me sick to my stomach. It hit way to close to home. Being from New York City, I do not exactly enjoy watching people jump from the Twin Towers. My own blood died in that attack. My father watched his friends die while trying to help others survive. The video put me in a terrible mood and I think it really shut me down to listening to the rest of the lecture. I do not agree with the war or the American presence in Iraq. I do not judge all of the Iraqi people, I just simply do not agree with terrorism. A lot of the posts above really bothered me. I do not understand how people can say, “I understand why they hate us”. A terrorist’s acts cannot be justified and they simply should not be. I do not agree with any civilian causalities. Which is why I do not agree with war. And why I certainly do not agree with the 29:1 ratio. I do not think that a innocent civilian’s life should ever be taken away, it is not fair. That is someone’s mother, father, sibling and friend. Nothing can make up for these people’s death. My opinion’s on terrorism certainly did not change, I really was not a fan of this lecture. I did not exactly like the way Sam went about everything because I do not agree with the whole religion aspect of the war, especially on the American behalf. I was really turned off and I was certainly not enlightened. I think Sam is great, but I think that was pushing it. I know a lot of people enjoyed the lesson, but a lot of people also were not directly affected by 9/11 or by this war. My cousin just got back from Afghanistan two weeks ago and I could not be happier. If only everyone else could come home. Sat, 9 Apr 2011 00:49:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/after-this-class-do-you-still-blame-terrorism-119-blog/#IDComment141128282 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/women-what-are-your-thoughts-on-dressing-up-while-men-dress-down-and-did-they-change-after-this-lecture-119-blog/#IDComment139237225 I for one have always envied the life of a guy. They get up, hopefully brush their teeth, then they throw on whatever is clean and head out the door. It seems like being a guy is the simplest task in the world. But at the same time I absolutely LOVE being a girl. I love to shop; I find that the biggest joy in my life is buying shoes. I know it sounds pathetic, but shopping is somewhat exhilarating to me. I love to rummage through my closet and let my creativity soar. I know that Sam says that every girl gets dressed to impress a guy. I do agree with that statement, but only under certain circumstances. I do truly feel like I am somewhat of an exception to the rule. I have been told that I am a free spirit. And when I get dressed, I get dressed for myself. Sure I have made sure I looked extra cute to impress a guy on occasion, but I do not think that everything I do is to satisfy and impress someone of the opposite sex. If I want to wear sweat pants and I t-shirt… I will wear sweat pants and a t-shirt. I am most definitely guilty of wearing the same sweats multiple times in one week. I do not worry about people judging me. My only matter is that I am comfortable. I also have quite a few funky items in my wardrobe. Guys have made fun of my floral pants and headbands. Items that only another fashionista would praise me for wearing. These negative comments do not ever faze me because I love who I am and I am very comfortable with myself. However, I do see where Sam is going with this. I have plenty of girlfriends who spend hours in front of the mirror, caking on make-up and switching their shirts hundreds of times. I am from New York City and I laugh at the girls who walk around State College dressed like they’re going to a nightclub in Manhattan. Sure I wear heels and skirts, but my nighttime school attire is very different than my going out clothes at home. I guess that was kind of going off topic, but I do feel sorry for girls that dress provocative every night of the week… I think it seems pretty desperate. I also loved the comment that Sam’s wife made about girls not wearing coats while barely wearing any clothes. I thought this was hysterical because I always wear a coat, but I also always wear stockings… something that a lot of girls seem to forget. But, whatever I guess it is just the life of a college student. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 00:31:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/women-what-are-your-thoughts-on-dressing-up-while-men-dress-down-and-did-they-change-after-this-lecture-119-blog/#IDComment139237225 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/women-what-are-your-thoughts-on-dressing-up-while-men-dress-down-and-did-they-change-after-this-lecture-119-blog/#IDComment139237065 I for one have always envied the life of a guy. They get up, hopefully brush their teeth, then they throw on whatever is clean and head out the door. It seems like being a guy is the simplest task in the world. But at the same time I absolutely LOVE being a girl. I love to shop; I find that the biggest joy in my life is buying shoes. I know it sounds pathetic, but shopping is somewhat exhilarating to me. I love to rummage through my closet and let my creativity soar. I know that Sam says that every girl gets dressed to impress a guy. I do agree with that statement, but only under certain circumstances. I do truly feel like I am somewhat of an exception to the rule. I have been told that I am a free spirit. And when I get dressed, I get dressed for myself. Sure I have made sure I looked extra cute to impress a guy on occasion, but I do not think that everything I do is to satisfy and impress someone of the opposite sex. If I want to wear sweat pants and I t-shirt… I will wear sweat pants and a t-shirt. I am most definitely guilty of wearing the same sweats multiple times in one week. I do not worry about people judging me. My only matter is that I am comfortable. I also have quite a few funky items in my wardrobe. Guys have made fun of my floral pants and headbands. Items that only another fashionista would praise me for wearing. These negative comments do not ever faze me because I love who I am and I am very comfortable with myself. However, I do see where Sam is going with this. I have plenty of girlfriends who spend hours in front of the mirror, caking on make-up and switching their shirts hundreds of times. I am from New York City and I laugh at the girls who walk around State College dressed like they’re going to a nightclub in Manhattan. Sure I wear heels and skirts, but my nighttime school attire is very different than my going out clothes at home. I guess that was kind of going off topic, but I do feel sorry for girls that dress provocative every night of the week… I think it seems pretty desperate. I also loved the comment that Sam’s wife made about girls not wearing coats while barely wearing any clothes. I thought this was hysterical because I always wear a coat, but I also always wear stockings… something that a lot of girls seem to forget. But, whatever I guess it is just the life of a college student. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 00:30:48 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/31/women-what-are-your-thoughts-on-dressing-up-while-men-dress-down-and-did-they-change-after-this-lecture-119-blog/#IDComment139237065 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/has-barak-obama%e2%80%99s-presidency-helped-the-race-movement-119-blog/#IDComment137583590 During my discussion group on Thursday, we came to the conclusion that once our grandparent’s generation has gone racial issues will no longer be as prominent in the American society. I think that Obama’s presidential election exemplifies our conclusion to the upmost degree. Obama had a larger youth following than any other person running for president in American history. This goes to show that our generation cares more about the issues at hand rather than what is on outside. The older generations would never have approved of this during the time of their youths. I think our generation is all about moving forward and making dreams possible for anyone regardless of race or ethnicity. I think this is a beautiful thing and I think that Obama as President is just the beginning. I do believe that we will one day have a full African American President, an Asian or even a Woman President. I believe that the options are limitless if we allow them to be. I am so glad that we are all moving forward together. I am so glad that minority children do not have to believe that their dreams have restrictions. For it is now a reality that ANYONE could be elected President. Of course not everyone will agree with me or even be on the same page, but I am a strong believer that there are tons of people on my wavelength and I believe that over time, almost everyone will be! I think that the only place to go from here is up, and I am so passionate about this. Obama made history and one day racist thoughts could be history as well! I do understand that every President has attended an ivy league school and that they all come from wealthy families, but I think that with more racial equality more people of color will be able to climb up the social ladder and ivy leagues will no longer be just a white thing. I do not think that I am just wishful thinking. I really believe that what I am saying will one day be true. I know for a fact that 50 years ago no one ever expected a mixed race man would ever hold the highest office in our country. But, in the last presidential election we proved all of them wrong. We, being the youth. And there are so many things that we have left to prove. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 22:27:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/has-barak-obama%e2%80%99s-presidency-helped-the-race-movement-119-blog/#IDComment137583590 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment134237624 Do I personally feel guilty that I was born as a white female? No, I do not. I do not think that any person, no matter from which race should ever feel guilty about the color of his or her skin. Do I feel ashamed that I happen to be part of a race that took part in one of the most disgusting eras of human life? Yes, I do. I look down upon the white people of the past. And even upon those in the present who still take part in modern day slavery. The thought of it sends chills down my spine that human beings; can treat other human begins with such hatred, with such unfairness. I hate the thought of hate. I hate the holocaust, I hate genocide, I hate inequality. But, do I feel guilty for the reality that even today inequality still exists in our society? No. I feel angry. I feel angry that people can still let this happen. I feel hungry. I feel hungry to help make a change. I do not care about the color of my skin, or your skin, or you neighbors skin. I will do my best to create and maintain a colorblind world, because I do believe that it is possible. I have said this before and I will say this again, that we as the future of our nation must uphold the responsibility to make a change. We must stop the greedy people of this country from taking advantage of the people in the ivory coast, and in India, in the Nike factories, in the rose gardens, and making Hershey’s chocolate. We must not make anyone feel guilty about being born into a certain race. We all came into this planet the same exact way, and we are all going to exit this planet the same way. We have to make our time here the same, I do not mean doing the same exact things, but being offered equal chances. As for the slavery that goes today, I have the recurring feeling of disgust. Sam’s lessons and videos have made me much more conscious about the decisions I will make when buying certain products. I do not want to buy products made in other nations because, I don’t even want to imagine the age of the poor person who made the product, and under what conditions, making how little pay. I do not want to support the major corporations that take in billions of dollars a year and pay their “employees” close to nothing. This idea of buying from America and not supporting the slavery has been in my head for a while, but after all we have learned, I am planning to abide by it. I feel guilty that I have contributed to those corporations, and I feel that is a major reason to feel guilty. Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:23:30 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment134237624 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/how-do-you-feel-about-the-poor-white-society-and-who-are-you-more-likely-to-help-119-blog/#IDComment130729181 I myself and I am sure that many of you can admit to making fun of a red neck at one time or another. I have already seen the video that Sam showed us during class and I have to say that it has opened my eyes even wider to the poor white rural culture. It greatly upsets me that these people are ridiculed by absolutely everyone. As Sam said, the poor white people are the bottom of the bottom. Living in a more urban culture the only poor white people I know live in projects and not trailers. My cousin who looks just like me, white skinned and all; was born and raised in the projects in the ghetto. She has been in rehab and in jail and currently lives in a half way house with her two year old child. That is the poor white culture I know. Besides for traveling to Florida and other states I have never been exposed to any other poor white people outside of the ghetto. I have used the words “white trash” “redneck” and “hick” and I have said these cruel words without any remorse. When I think of poor America I think about my friend Pat (who is not white) who lives in the projects without running water and legit shits out his own window. It is him and my cousin that I have always felt remorse for, not the poor white people in the rural areas. I feel that is because I have never been exposed to them and I have never seen it first hand. But, yes I now feel great remorse for those people and yes I would love to help. I feel that everyone needs more exposure to the great amount of poverty in the US. I don’t think that people really understand the poverty in our country. We are always seeing commercials about donating to third world countries, but I think we need to see about more about the poverty in our own country. America isn’t truly the world of dreams that everyone thinks it is. I cannot walk past a salvation army or a person collecting money for Katrina without donating. I would love to live in a world without poverty and I think if everyone was a little more conscious about the poverty people will be more willing to donate and will place us a little closer to a poverty free world. I for one will stop using derogatory words towards the poor white culture. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:27:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/how-do-you-feel-about-the-poor-white-society-and-who-are-you-more-likely-to-help-119-blog/#IDComment130729181 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-do-you-feel-about-the-way-people-live-in-america-compared-to-other-places-around-the-world-119-blog/#IDComment128895723 Ok, so this might be a little bit of a crappy entry since I’m about to leave for THON 2011!! But Ill try to make my point to the best of my abilities. America is kind of a funny place. We talk about freedom, meanwhile there are millions who still aren’t free. I mean sure we are more free than some other nations, but since we were all created equal, I feel that freedom should be guareenteed. I have somewhat of a love hate relationship with the red white and blue. I do not appreciate the whole “keeping up with the Jones’” mentality that we have going on here. Everything always has to be bigger and better. I truly believe that we are the most materialistic country on this planet. Money is power. Money is status. Money is ultimately everything! I feel that there are plenty of other nations that do not value material things to the greatest extent. Another thing about this country that kind of ticks me off is the pace. Everything has to be done by a deadline on a certain day and at a certain time. Its almost comical when you think about all of us Americans trying to juggle a million things at one time, not even taking a second to breath. I am from a big city and I have conquered the fast pace lifestyle, but I’d much rather be moving in slow motion and taking my time. I think it is much more important to enjoy life by soaking it, rather than letting the world pass you by. For after all we are all going to die so it is important that we enjoy every second on this planet. I love being on vacation and living by island time, I think there is no greater feeling in the world! I do love America and I think we are given so many opportunities here but I wish we truly had more say in the government. I wish we were actually run by a true democracy, which I understand would be impossible do to our huge population! But it would be nice and in my mind a little more fair. I wish we weren’t always in a fight to be the worlds best superpower and that we would just focus on living. I also wish we would follow the lead of other nations who have lower drinking ages and marijuana is legal… but I guess that would only be in a perfect world! FTK! Fri, 18 Feb 2011 20:02:50 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-do-you-feel-about-the-way-people-live-in-america-compared-to-other-places-around-the-world-119-blog/#IDComment128895723 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/do-we-have-a-responsibility-to-fix-inequality-119-blog/#IDComment127426595 Part Three: It makes me sick to think that a mother can get thrown in jail for trying to ensure her children a better education. Maybe if the school systems weren’t so unequal, there would not even need to be a law restricting people from going to schools outside of their stated zones. For if every school was equal, no one would even try to break the stupid law. It is our job to ensure that problems like this do not occur in the future. It is our job as the future of this nation to stop being ignorant and to start being proactive. It is our job to make sure that our own children do not need to live in a world with such inequality. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:09:10 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/do-we-have-a-responsibility-to-fix-inequality-119-blog/#IDComment127426595 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/do-we-have-a-responsibility-to-fix-inequality-119-blog/#IDComment127426542 Part Two: I am a Public Relations major and even though the field is dominated by women, there is still a huge gender gap when it comes to salary! I’m talking an over thirty thousand dollar gap! That is a lot of money, a lot of money that I do not want to be cheated out of. It is money that the hard working women deserve because after all... equal work deserves equal pay! When I am applying for a high level job or asking for a raise, I do not want to come in second place to a man. That is unless the man deserves the job, if that is the case then that is fine, but if I were to ever think that a man received a job over me just because he is a man… I would not be a happy camper! I hate the thought of thinking of minority groups suffering. It makes me sick to my stomach when I put into perspective how cruel this world is. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:08:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/do-we-have-a-responsibility-to-fix-inequality-119-blog/#IDComment127426542 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/do-we-have-a-responsibility-to-fix-inequality-119-blog/#IDComment127426398 Part One: Of course it is our responsibility to fix inequality! We the young, educated youth must come together to stop this nonsense once and for all! America is supposed to be the “land of equal opportunity”. I think it is finally time for this country to live up to its name. Unless you are a white middle to upper class man, you have been subjected to some type of inequality. Why does the white man think it is far to always remain the king of the hill? Why is it that just one race, one gender, one social class gets the right to decide everything? This is not fair and I for one do not want to put up with this any longer. Although I would classify myself as a Caucasian, I am a woman and we all know that women in this world have been long sufferers of inequality. Sure we have come a long way, but are we actually equal? Absolutely not! When I think about inequality, I think about my future. I have plans to become a very successful individual; that is if the work force does not put a huge wall in front of my road to success. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 23:07:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/do-we-have-a-responsibility-to-fix-inequality-119-blog/#IDComment127426398 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment126063847 PART THREE: I have been called a “stupid American” before and I have been told that all Americans are the “same” just from performing a simple task, the American way. I have been told that Americans do not know how to relax and most offensively that we are all fat- HAHA! But, I guess it is hard to say that you are anything, but an American when traveling to a different country for we apparently stick out like sore thumbs. I find it funny though that when I am in America, I get called out for being a New Yorker for the same reasons. I talk different, I walk faster, and I certainly have a stronger attitude. I guess that when we are here, we all have different traits that help explain what state we are from, but when we are out of the country our different traits make us all the same. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 03:36:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment126063847 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment126063780 PART TWO: I feel that maybe we do this to be a part of something. To feel more close knit to our stomping grounds. I am fortunate enough to have traveled to many different countries during my nineteen years and once I leave the United States, I am always an American first. When in Italy, I did not walk around telling people that I am Italian. If I did that, I would probably get laughed at for I do not speak the language and I am not familiar with all of their customs. I am familiar with the Italian American customs, more specifically, the New York-Italian-American customs. The American culture is so different from any other culture. Our appearance alone can serve as a red flag that we are foreign to a certain country. I feel that an American can be spotted from a million miles away. We are American in the way that we walk, the way that we talk, the way that we shop, the way that we dress and the way that we eat. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 03:35:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment126063780 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment126063659 PART ONE:I find the truth in this to be alarmingly funny. I find it funny because it made me think of how infrequently I use the sentence “I am American” when I am inside of this country. It is not that I lack American pride, or that I am ashamed to be an American, because that is not at all the case. It is just that I classify myself as so many other things before I actually use the term “American”. When I am on United States soil and I am asked the question “what are you?” I would quickly respond by saying “I am a New Yorker” or “I am Irish, Italian and Scottish Canadian”, I do not ever say that “I am American”. I am not even sure why, maybe it is because it is implied? I mean obviously if I say I am from New York, I am also from America. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 03:34:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment126063659 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124451434 PART THREE: I believe that staying in a comfort zone is no way to live life. You may technically be alive, but you are not really living. I hope that one day everyone will take on my meaning of comfort. I feel like a lot of hate will diminish this way. I end this entry with a suggestion, go crazy and befriend someone who does not look you. You may have more in common with them than you think. Because in the end of the day, people are just people. I can say this again and again, but it can not be any more true. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:47:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124451434 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124451336 PART TWO: I myself can not seem to understand that statement because being around people who are exactly the same as me makes me feel uncomfortable! I strive for diversity and I love learning about people. But, I don’t know, maybe I am just different. I have a spice for life that can not be fulfilled by hanging around a bunch of people with my exact same background. I feel so lucky to have been raised in such a great big city. I am glad I went to a high school with four-thousand plus students. I am even more fortunate that I have been able to travel and explore, for if I didn’t maybe I too would settle for comfort. I can however, understand why foreign exchange students tend to flock together. It is not easy for anyone to start at a new school and it is especially not easy to start at a new school, in a new country, with a different language. But, I do not see that as an excuse to absolutely avoid mingling with “outsiders”. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:46:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124451336 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124451144 PART ONE: I ask myself this same exact question all of the time; and quite frankly I do not think there is any acceptable answer for it. I come from the south shore of New York City’s smallest borough. Frequently nicknamed, Staten Italy for its extremely large Italian-American population. But, just because there are a lot of Italians does not mean that no other race or ethnicity lives on this twelve mile long island. Almost half a million people inhabit on that tiny rock, so I can definitely say that I have associated with people from many different backgrounds. I have friends from every race and religion. It scares me that so many people here at Penn State say things like “I have never met a Jewish person” or “I have never had a black friend.” Like come on!!!! Please step outside of your little bubble, because there is so much more to life than the people of rural America. Many comments above me have stated that people hang out in groups made up of people of the same ethnicity because that is where they feel “comfortable”. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 01:45:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124451144 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/what-do-you-think-blog-2/#IDComment122914527 Not to sound too much like the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but I too dream of a world where people are not judged by the color of their skin. A world where people do not need to check a box that subjects them to choose a race to belong to. Especially because in this day and age, it is not exactly easy to classify yourself as just one race. The exercise that Sam did in class proved this point. Because not only is it difficult to classify yourself as just one race, it is even harder for someone else to decide what race category others are in by judging them solely on their appearance. Sam choose two 4.0 students to come to the front of the class and told them to divide the twenty plus students that were lined up into the different racial groups of which they saw fit. I was at first shocked by their given assignment because I felt that this task would cause quite the controversy anywhere else besides for inside the walls of 100 Thomas. I knew that the girls had a difficult job in their hands. Unfortunately race is a touchy subject in this world and I am sure that they were worried about offending someone if they made a wrong decision about his or her racial background. I definitely agree with Lana for saying that this was a very interesting exercise. My only critique was that I wish I knew what the girls were thinking while they were placing their classmates into groups. I think it would have been even more interesting if Sam made it mandatory that they spoke into their microphones. I give the girls major props to stand up and do that, and impressively they did the job pretty well! As they were categorizing their fellow classmates, I was wondering what I would have done, if placed in their position. I felt that they sometimes made the mistake of placing people in groups just because of their skin color, instead of similar facial features. The one obvious mistake I think they made was misplacing the Mexican girl, but I guess, what does it really even matter? People are people, and I hope that one day everyone will realize that. I think this exercise was definitely an eye opener for a lot of people, since I know that a lot of Penn State student are from rural areas and they are not always exposed to people from different racial backgrounds. And I most definitely admired the two 4.0 student’s courage for participating in such a controversial task. Sat, 22 Jan 2011 04:12:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/what-do-you-think-blog-2/#IDComment122914527 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cm%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122522889 soc119 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 15:14:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cm%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122522889