So, I may have had a preconceived notion about criminals being bad people who had no remorse or who didn’t care about what they did. From what you see on TV and on documentaries is that they all fight and are horrible people. Needless to say, I was proven wrong by this letter.

This man (especially for not graduating from high school) wrote a very touching letter. It gave me some insight into what it was really like. But in the same way, is this what its generally like, or is this an exception to the rule?

What I feel is that it doesn’t matter though. You can be the most compassionate human being in the world, it doesn’t change what you did. If you consciously knew what you were doing was wrong, in some way fashion or form that you were taking life from another human being, it doesn’t matter. Even if you feel remorse, or regret, it happened. You murdered someone. So despite these men having great personalities or great compassion for each other, it doesn’t matter.

Now, besides that, I feel like its good to know that people are compassionate with each other in a situation where compassion isn’t the number one priority. That even through something like murder, they can find it in their hearts to put aside differences and help each other in a situation. Then again, its human nature to feel like that. People I truly dislike have my compassion in a situation that is hard for someone to go through. The last thing on their mind should be some petty rival or difference between the two of us.

The other day, I was flipping through channels and saw a special on the Vegas holding facilities. They were showing gang fight, how people had to be sent into isolation and put into a chair that restricted their movement. And how even some of the nicest inmates get out of hand and attack each other. One man walked in and decided to stab a random man sitting in the waiting area three times in the back. So can you blame me or anyone else for thinking and believing that when that’s all you see?

But then, this is exactly where stereotypes come from. We see a negative portrayal of Blacks or Latinos or Asians on television and we assume they are all a certain way. Why? Because of those documentaries and the images we see from television, so in the same way, can I blame others for judging me? I say no, but with the condition that after knowing me or any other person like me, know that everyone is different and is not apart of the stereotype and can’t be judged by it.

I think it’s a great thing that mandarin is on the rise. We are starting to live in a world where everything doesn’t revolve around us Americans. To understand what is going on in the business world, and to be a well rounded, marketable, versatile person, you have to be able to communicate with the ones in power. And in the very near future, that will be China.

In high school, I would have loved the option to take mandarin! My school was a small performing arts and accelerated school. Despite or fantastic academics, we didn’t excel in language. In fact, all we had were Spanish and French. I would have loved the option to take Italian or German or Latin, but it simply wasn’t offered at my school. Mandarin I would have had to take a second look at, but I would have maybe given it a shot.

One of the reasons I decided to go with Spanish was because I lived in Texas. The majority of Houstonians are Hispanic. It’s like that for all of Texas for the most part. In the US, it’s beneficial to have Spanish under your belt because that’s what we are made out of, and that’s what is close to us. Granted, in Europe, French is a much better language to learn because more people speak it. I am happy with my mediocre knowledge of the Spanish language because I know I can, staying in the US, have a huge benefit from it.

What’s also really surprising is that the Chinese government pays for teachers to come, which is great. I find it surprising that no one has really noticed how we are giving other teachers less spots for teaching and less benefits. A few years ago (and still to this day) we are crying and complaining about immigrants taking the jobs no one wants to do from hard working Americans. Will this happen again if we send a lot of teachers over from China. I’m curious.

The NY Times article says “America has had the study of a foreign language grow before, only to see the bubble burst. Many schools began teaching Japanese in the 1980s, after Japan emerged as an economic rival. But thousands have dropped the language, the survey found.” I feel that a lot of other people will argue that this will happen all over again. So what that China is booming, it doesn’t matter. I on the other hand think and believe that china will soon be in more power then we think and all of a sudden, English will not be such a demanding language anymore. My grandmother used to always say that we Americans are spoiled. We have visitors from other countries come over and we expect them to speak English. We go to foreign countries and we expect them to know English. Maybe mandarin will be the new standard.

So, I’m trying to think outside the box like Sam, but I simply cannot understand how this would pal you in anyone’s mind. Its ridiculous to think that there are multiple games out there that depict women in such a horrible light. The fact that you can grope a woman or a subway, or that the purpose of the game its to seek out and rape a woman for what, firing someone?

I understand the reasoning behind “Oh, this could be a way to let stress out for people who may actually go out and commit rape” Yeah sure, but in some sort of facility, not on the shelves of my local video game store. Even in pornography, there is no blatant rape, its consensual sex. If you want to see it, watch porn, don’t go out and rape or grope a woman in a video game.

I want to know who this even appeals to. Who would sit, at their computer and rape some cartoon character? Do they not see their mothers, sisters, or wives in those games getting disrespected, degraded, and violated? How could this even gain the slightest bit of popularity? I understand that the Japanese media censors to an extent, but there is still blatant disregard and disrespect for women and nothing is being done about it. The government doesn’t give a crap! It’s disgusting. None of them were even able to comment or say anything about it. It’s sad to see that we all don’t come to the same conclusion and see things the same way when it comes to disrespect.

I’m the kind of person who doesn’t like shooting games in the first place anyway, so it does bother me slightly, but there is a bit of separation between the game and reality. No one is going to go out with an AK47 or a bazooka and go shoot up random people or hunt down someone to assassinate them. Rape is something you need no weapons for, you can just do it to a vulnerable

Here in the US we are facing a lot of disrespect and degradation. Music videos [I’m thinking of this video Sam showed in Soc 001], movies, porn: everywhere. We are struggling to change that view and opinion, and I feel that across the world, we are even further behind that.

I was partially appalled by the fact that the woman wasn’t offended by the fact this game was not only promoting rape, but showing in graphic detail. I was sickened watching it. Knowing that some sick pervert out there may do what he saw in a video game and come after me, grope me, or try to rape me. It just doesn’t make any sense.

I think that Asians are under the bubble of people of color, or the “black and brown” people. Though, I always had a problem with Sam using brown as a term for Hispanics when I’ve spent most of my life considering brown people to be pacific islanders. But besides that, Asians have always been Asian to me.

Today in class, Sam showed us that Asian comedian. I feel like almost everything he said hit home. For example, we are fine with Asians because they brought us Kung Fu and have really amazing movies, but we don’t remove ourselves from that outside world. I feel that Asians are one of the hardest working, most admirable cultures that have come to America. Not to be racist, but to simply point out that Asians have dominated the cosmetic industry. As many times as I feel people joke about it, but many are successful business owners of hair salons, nail shops, and massage parlors. They work hard, believe in family love and unity, and live every day with purpose.

I find that I think about and consider Asians a lot. I lived in a largely Asian area at home, and my high school was 47% Asian. My high school was an academic and fine arts school (not to qualify a stereotype) kind of like a college prep thing, and there were a lot of Asians. We had 2 pages in our yearbook dedicated to students with the last name “Nguyen.” So, coming from what I was surrounded by, I was used to thinking about Asian people and their culture a lot. My junior year of high school, I dated an Asian guy who was half Vietnamese and half Chinese. I got so used to the culture, that just by looking at someone, I could tell you what their Asian heritage was.

I think being at Penn state has jaded me though. Now, I see Asians as a clump of people who don’t have their own identity. I’ve lost my ability to tell by the subtle differences in features, actions, and dress. For example, I think of the international students who hang around each other and speak their own respective languages. Also, generally, most of the Asians on campus smoke, and they do it together. Though, every minority on this campus is like that. They stay with their respective cultural groups because they feel more comfortable with it.

So to sum it all up, I think Asians are people just like everyone else. Some fit into the stereotype of being smart and studious, but others break the stereotype. Asians are like, the mix between whites and black. They can fit the stereotype of each, yet they have their own individuality and uniqueness.

I could get into a whole rant about how none of the women’s sports don’t get even a fraction of the recognition as men’s sports, and isn’t fair. But to be honest, I’m extremely glad that finally, people are recognizing that women are capable of knowing the game and doing well in it. In fact, Natalie was on Good Morning America, as well as CNN speaking. When she was introduced, the audience went wild. It was good to know that people acknowledged what she had done, and were happy for her and the change we may see in the future.

I love playing sports that are considered to be (and are) male dominated, and I feel that I’m pretty good at a lot of them. I also find that I can be just as aggressive as the men are. I will go to and attend a Penn State Football game, and yell, curse, and shout with the big boys. It’s my nature and my competitiveness that really gets me into the game. At one point during the season, I wanted to hop over the railing, suit up, and play defense because I know I could do better then some of the men on the field.

What I wanted to touch on was the question that the interview asked Natalie about being treated unfairly. I understand how hard it is to be accepted in the work force as a woman, especially in such a male dominated industry like football. There are so many women I know professionally who had to work hard for what they have, and it was either taken greatly, or turned around on them. What I really liked Natalie saying was that she didn’t really have to work hard, she was working hard anyway. I feel that even though there still is a struggle, women who work hard and have the drive and ambition are ready, willing, and able to work for what they want to achieve. And instead of proving things to the world, she proves things to herself-something I strive to do. Because when it comes down to it, it’s all on you.

To me, coaching is a huge job. It involves knowing the game inside and out, and knowing your players very well. That’s what she plans to do. It takes time and practice and a lot of patience, but once you hit it there, it will be a monumental moment. I feel that regardless, she is going to get a lot of people watching her and following what she is doing. She’s a woman. If the team doesn’t have a successful season, they will definitely come down harder on her then a man.

I agree with Sam about her though. She seems all meek and mild now, but suit her up and get her on the field and it’s a completely different story. But, Natalie is making history not only for women, but for black women as well. When one person like you breaks the mold, it gives you the drive and ambition to break one yourself.

As a black woman, I go to theme parties and I have never once felt attacked or insulted by any of the events. There have been more parties I can consider discriminatory against other groups. I went to a foreigners party where we dressed and acted like foreigners and spoke in accents. I also went to a Euro Trash party, Redneck Party, and high school cliques party. Most of these are simply just for fun. I have had various themes and the only ones I ever find offensive are pimps and hoes, and CEO’s and office hoes type things due to the blatant disregard for women. Then again, we could bring up the fact that we live in a society where if a woman doesn’t show any leg or wear anything revealing, she’s not seen in the same light as women who do are… but that’s a different story.

In ONE particular instance, I could see and individual being offended about one theme in particular. Earlier in the year, I went to a “I’m so glad I’m not…” party where you came as something you were glad you weren’t. If someone took that the wrong way, then yes, they could have gone as a ghetto person or a black person… but all I saw were freshmen, pregnant women, and fat people, but no one took it that far.

And think about it, we go to the number one party school… were going to do whatever we want as an excuse to drink. Period. We made our own holiday up just as an excuse to drink all day long. And can’t you consider any holiday you celebrate a party? A party is defined as “a social gathering for pleasure or amusement. So when you come together with your family to eat and celebrate a holiday, you are indeed throwing a party. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving… these can also all be themes, so you are attending and throwing a themed party yourself. Even gathering with a group of friends to play Taboo at the HUB could be considered a party with a gaming theme.

I don’t think that themed parties are a white thing. Most of the time it’s a personal preference. There are plenty of people I know-black or white-who throw and attend themed parties. Personally, every single party I go to is a themed party. Being in a few of the theatre groups on campus, I find it weird to go to parties that don’t have themes. What I find disturbing is the fact that there isn’t much crossover within the black and white communities. I find myself going to a party with a majority of white people, but rarely ever see white people at “black” parties-regardless of a theme. So maybe its not a question on themed parties, but a question on the participation and crossover of blacks/whites at parties where they would be considered a minority.

I had mentioned this is class as a comment, but I didn’t really get to elaborate. I feel that one of the things that we can do now in our generation is to stop buying products with negative depictions of American Indians. For example, Argo Corn Starch and Land-O-Lakes have negative stereotypes of American Indians and we can prevent these images from going out there. We support teams like the redskins and the braves which depict the wrong stereotype. Want to know why American Indians have the highest rates of alcoholism, drug use, and suicide? Because they have to constantly face these images of what the general public really thinks of them.

You don’t see any teams named Negroes, and if it happened, there would be an outrage. Darko toothpaste was taken off the shelves, and Aunt Jemima had to get redone multiple times to satisfy the NAACP and other black organizations. Notice the mascots like the Indians and the Warriors with Indians in teepees and feathers that cover the walls of public schools. That is not everything that the culture is and what it represents. It’s so much more, but all we know is the Powwows and tribal chants and what we have seen from TV and cartoons.

These people were the natives to this land and this country. I can’t say that I’m proud to be an American when this is what we know was taken from people who it originally belonged to. What I find ironic is that now, if someone steals something or is treated unjustly; we have laws in place that protect the owner of the property. Yet, we did the same thing, and we have laws preventing what we did to happen to anyone else.

I feel that one of the reasons I feel so strongly about this topic is because of one of my former Professors, John Sanchez. He was showing us the numbers in the US and at Penn State. He is one of the only three American Indian professors within the Penn State community. When he spoke of these stereotypes and how it affected his daily life, I could see it in his eyes and his heart that it physically was a struggle. Being black and of an African background, I know what it’s like to feel like there is no way of beating the system or being conceived as a negative thing, but they face these things ten times worse.

I feel that we don’t help because it doesn’t effect us. Like, when we were discussing the difference in the schools in Chicago. It’s a huge difference. But, those who are rich aren’t going to give all that to kids they don’t know when they want the best for their kids… it’s the same concept. We care, but we have to sacrifice something of our own lives to help, and most of us don’t want to take that extra step. Why take away from our cushy lives? “Luckily, it’s not me who was born on a reservation.” And it sucks… but that’s why we don’t care. It’s not us.

I feel that I have a lot to say about the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community because of my close connection with them. Growing up, I lived in a very diverse community, and as well, I went to a performing arts and academic high school which is code word for having a lot of homosexuals. One of my goals in coming to Penn State was to tray to stay away from what I was comfortable with, which was the gay community. Needless to say, I didn’t. I practically found my way into the center of the community. I can legitimately say that I know about half the gay population at Penn State, and I’m proud of it.

What I’m not proud of is the fact that this society, and in today’s world, we can’t accept the fact that two people love and care deeply for each other.

I link and relate issues with slavery, civil rights, and Women's suffrage along with the rights that LGBT couples are denied. In what way do we DARE to say that someone can’t love another person when they truly love someone. It’s like saying that because I’m black, I can’t enter through a certain door, or because I’m a woman, I can’t vote. You are taking away a persons right to be who they are and who they want to be.

To get to the question asked: I strongly disagree with this comment. Marriage is not necessarily a religious union. You don’t have to be at a church to get married, and you don’t have to be married by a priest. You can go to the courthouse and get a marriage license. I don’t see it as a God and religion thing as much as I see it as a legal thing. Many people don’t have a religion, and how can we, as Penn State students at the number one party school (and about 90% of the students commit acts that are sins) take a side. Do you pray every night, go to church every week, and follow the bible as your guide to every day life? Yeah, probably not.

What I try to do in this situation is to put myself in a place of one of my many friends. I don’t see how I could live, knowing that I cant truly love someone and be with them. You won’t let me have benefits, or just the simple fact of a commitment on paper that I love and care about someone to the fact that I want to spend the rest of my life with them. It’s a basic human right.

Long story short… if you sir, wanted to marry your Girlfriend, wouldn’t you want every benefit you could receive? Let’s just pretend you can’t get married… you’re just “life-partners.” Oh, and it’s just a “union” because I don’t think enough of you as a person to consider what you and her are and how much you care about her… and THAT is the fundamental difference between it.

Sam is right to feel sentimental about the ending of a language. It’s a sad thing to know that we have something as important as someone’s background and heritage lost because we didn’t care to learn it
My great grandmother spoke Creole. Her whole family did. She would say the Lord s Prayer in Creole every night before she went to bed. I remember that my Grandmother would be embarrassed by it if she had friends over, so she refused to say it in Creole after she left home, and she stopped and lost what little she knew in the language. Now that my Great Grandmother passed away, that one vital part of the culture is gone, and we don’t really have a chance of learning it again.
A friend of mine grew up for the first 6 years of her life in Japan where she spoke English and Japanese fluently. When her family moved back to the States, she was made fun of for speaking Japanese because she was white and it wasn’t normal to everyone else. So, she abandoned the language and refused to speak it at all. Now, she regrets her decision because she has lost the language. Not to say that Japanese is going to be like the language of the Bo tribe and be lost forever, but it is for her family. Her children won’t grow up knowing because she made the decision to abandon it.
This story also reminds me of something one of my professors taught me. John Sanchez, a Communications professor who is an American Indian, was talking to my freshman seminar class about his great grandfather who spoke one of the ancient tribal languages. He was saying how his grandfather, father, and him lost the language because it’s something you have to go ahead and speak when you’re born. Certain sounds you make in your throat and voices you hear are an essential part of the language, so the best way is to be immersed in the language young so you can learn. Outsides who grew away from the tribe couldn’t come back and pick up the language easily because they weren’t exposed to that. It’s a hard thing. There are only so many tribes that still remain, and it’s a loss to everyone. The customs, languages, and things they did are lost with the last of them who died because no one was left to carry their legacy.
Listening to the recordings from the video, it’s so strange to see how so few words, sounds, and syllables she said formed entire sentences. Like Eskimos have 17 different ways to say snow, and we just call it snow. We take for granted the fact that there are other languages and other people out there that we don’t realize that we have lost more then a person, but their traditions, language, culture, practices and everything they held died with them and its lost forever because they couldn’t pass it along to someone. This isn’t a drastic loss like the many we lose to natural disasters like that of Haiti, but it’s a loss to recognize and reflect on because it’s something simple enough for us to change by recording and studying so we don’t loose a culture to old age.

First of all, I can definitely understand why we need different categories. I consider myself mixed, even though others may not agree with me. My mother is, by Sam’s definition, African American. She can trace ancestry back to slavery and we are also Creole as well. On my dad’s side, I am Nigerian because he came from Nigeria when he was 17.
As for the Negro situation, I really can’t make heads or tails of it. I know that my grandmother, who grew up going to all black schools and such, heard it all her life, but to this day she rarely calls herself that. As for my mother, she is outright offended and appalled by the term. My mother went to all segregated schools as she grew up as well, until she got to high school where it was integrated. Her life and my grandmothers were filled with racial stereotypes, ridicule, and harassment.
I also have a theory that people who grew up in those times are more likely to think that every white person looks down on a black person. Never in my life has someone called me the n-word to my face, and for that I am grateful, but my family had to live through that. So, I understand why they may be wary by walking into a room full of white people, instead of me. I walk into a room of peers my age who never experienced that and I don’t feel any animosity or feel that anyone is judging me based on that.
This ties into the Negro thing. From that older mentality, they are used to that. Nothing can change what they experienced. In the same way, I can’t understand why or communicate in the same way how they feel because I have always been “African, African American” instead of a Negro. This also is like what Sam mentioned in class as how people may still classify themselves as a Negro simply because that’s what they know and grew up with.
I enjoyed the part in the article about the write in box and the explanation section. If I were white, I would be upset that I couldn’t specify my Russian, Italian, Irish, or German ancestry in the same way I can specify that I’m black with African origin. As the article says, “encouraging wider swaths of people to explain as precisely as possible how they see themselves, the Census is implicitly acknowledging that its count of the U.S. population is increasingly becoming a conduit for self-expression.” This proves that people can acknowledge if they are biracial (like many of my friends), or multi racial, or simply designate their heritage, as if “white” meant one thing like “black” or “Hispanic” does. We are all a mix of something, and it’s nice to know that the government is acknowledging it, accepting it, and trying to take into account of all of it as well.