en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2397295 Comments by jessicasalmasi http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144690924 Before this class, I essentially held the same views as I did afterwards. I always knew that illegal immigrants came to this country for better opportunity. No where in the world are people living as well as we live in the United States, at least in comparison to places that have it a lot worse. I know that many people thought it was startling that immigration laws are formed by the business world, but think about it, it makes perfect sense. Business owners know that these “illegal” immigrants will work just as hard, if not harder, for less money. So why would they ever object to that? Sure, it makes it much more competitive for the legal Americans to acquire these same jobs. Interestingly enough, I feel like we seem to forget that if it wasn’t for “illegal” immigration, America would never become the “melting pot” it is today. It would still be predominately Native Americans living their day to day lives without the intrusion of people coming in from all over the world. I never thought of everyone as an illegal immigrant until Sam said that today. We are immigrants, so what makes one “legal” and one “illegal?” Its an interesting concept because to become a legal immigrant, you have to pass an exam, pay a fee, stay in the country without leaving for an allotted period of time, and you’re instantly a “legal.” None of those prerequisites really have anything to do with why you are immigrating; they are just standard procedural duties so you are documented. It would be a lie to say there isn’t a negative stigma to the word “immigrant.” But unless you are a Native American, you are an illegal immigrant. I think the negative connotation needs to be dropped because anyone who is leaving their homes to start a new and better life for their families and themselves deserves praise, not judgment. I really appreciated how Sam said that immigrants are not lazy, because if they were lazy, they would still be in their native countries. We are given to many opportunities and so many doors are open to us because our families immigrated to the United States and planted seeds in different industries, and gained beneficial networks. American would not be what it is today if it wasn’t for these illegal immigrants stepping in and taking charge of their own individual futures. In class today, I was very moved by the story Eric shared about his family crossing the Mexican border and coming to the United States. It was very inspirational how these people literally risked their lives to just have a shot at starting over in America. I have personal experience working along side “illegal” immigrants, and they are some of the hardest working and dedicated people I have ever met. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 02:35:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/how-has-your-opinion-changed-on-illegal-immigration-119-blog/#IDComment144690924 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/what-are-your-thoughts-on-everything-we-saw-and-heard-in-lecture-about-native-americans-119-blog/#IDComment142575911 I was really shocked after hearing that song because it was very, very deep. I think it’s a really big shame how much we don’t even think about Native Americans and what we did to their well-being. I honestly can say that I was never taught about what we did to the Native American’s until this class. I never knew how we essentially exterminated them and kicked them out of their homes in order to establish our lives and industries. The lyrics acknowledged how little we cared about what we did to these people because we were only thinking about the growth of our neighborhoods and establishments. I still have some misunderstandings about what really happened with the Native Americans. Like, for example, how come they still isolate themselves in reservations? How come they refuse to assimilate into our culture? After all, America is a melting pot complete with many different ethnicities, so why do they segregate themselves in such a way? I also don’t really understand how we were able to knock out an entire race of people, like why weren’t we reprimanded or punished for our actions? How can our civilization be based on murder when the basis of our government is about respecting one another? Throughout the song, I was very moved by particular lines in the lyrics. The song was basically saying we don’t care about what we did; we just care about our business and communities flourishing. Also, the images in the video clip were very moving because while the melodramatic music was playing, images of white picket fenced homes and shopping malls were popping up. The song would sing “cause you’re all dead now, I live with all my greedy need” and images of a high tech mall would be presented. This was essentially saying we only care about our greedy needs, and we don’t care if we have to kill your family to get what we want. This is really moving and devastating, and it makes us look so inhumane. The line that reads “Don’t drink the water, There’s blood in the water” was perhaps the most moving line in the song because it acknowledges how we killed off an entire race. The blood in the water is representative of the individual Native Americans who lost their lives on our quest to achieving all the superficial things we wanted. The line “Yes I will call this home, I have no time to justify to you” is exactly what we did. We took their land, called it our home, and we didn’t care who was standing in our way. We just got rid of them. In my eyes, we were really barbaric and inconsiderate and just straight up heartless. We participated in a mass homicide. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:17:26 +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/#IDComment142575911 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140613957 Putting myself in the shoes of middle easterners really did change my views on the war in Iraq. However, I never withheld the same judgment and accusations that the vast majority of the American population does. This is partially because my family is middle eastern, so I have been informed about the middle eastern perspective my entire life. I know what they feel, and why they do the things they do. Although I am an American, I traveled to many parts of the Middle East, and I got to talk to Middle Eastern people, and I learned about how they felt about Americans and the constant invasion and intrusion they face. However, I never really understood terrorism until this class today. I think the media portrays the Middle East as being extremely violent and angry and irrational. But in reality, the American soldiers really are “Christian invaders” and they are dangerous, cruel, and genuinely mean to the inhabitants of the areas they invade. This does not go to say that all American soldiers are like this, but we’re certainly not the angels that the media, and patriotism as a whole, portrays us to be. Though I am more of a spiritual person, not a religious person, I was very astounded by how “cult-like” Christianity seemed after watching the clips Sam showed in class. It seems as though America feels obligated to things that do not belong to them, simply because we’re American and “we’re the best.” We ignore the astronomical effect it has on the civilians who are having their resources depleted before their eyes. I never really realized how selfish we are as a country until this class. Now, I do seem to understand “terrorism” a little bit more. I understand why another country would feel hostility towards Americans, because if the tables were turned, we would do and feel the same. The Middle Eastern people need to protect themselves the same way we protect ourselves. Terrorism, though it is completely morally unjustifiable, is the same thing as when we bring all our troops into civilian territory and open fire. If they are considered terrorists, then technically, we are too. I truly understand now why terrorist attacks happen because they are essentially saying “if you are going to come in an kill our people and invade our land and take our resources, we have to reciprocate.” Though all war is morally corrupt and it results in a lot of lives lost, it is sometimes completely necessary. In order to obtain compliance, there has to be a level of enforcement that only comes with war. The real eye opener was that while I was sitting in class, I saw no difference between our military invasion and terrorist invasion. We pride ourselves on being hero’s when we are no different than the enemy. We single handedly bring discomfort, pain, and death to innocent people simply because we want to forcefully steal what they have. Thu, 7 Apr 2011 01:27:02 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment140613957 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877674 part 4 My dad speaks fluent Turkish, and although I speak some Turkish, I’m not fluent. So whenever him and my mom want to say something to each other and they don’t want me to know what they are saying, they say it in Turkish. It is very frustrating! Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:24:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877674 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877649 part 3 It is also just common courtesy to speak the language that everyone in unison can understand. I’m not saying everyone needs to assimilate and speak English, but there it is polite to embrace the native language of where you are in the moment. For example, if I traveled to Mexico, and I was in a native area (not in a resort) I would try my best to interact with the native people in their language to the best of my ability simply as a way of showing respect. Americans always complain about other cultures speaking in their native tongues, and it’s more of a respect issue than anything else. It’s not because American’s are racist or prejudice against other language and cultures. Although it is nice to know a language that other people don’t understand because it becomes almost like a code that no one understands besides you and a few other people (because Farsi is not a very common language to speak). But, it is uncomforting when you’re on the opposite end of the spectrum. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:24:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877649 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877556 part 2 I know personally, growing up, my family spoke Farsi to each other more than they spoke English, and when my friends from school would come over, I’d feel rude when I’d hear my parents speaking Farsi and not English. I thought my English speaking friends would perceive them as being boisterous and inconsiderate because they are speaking a dialect that not everyone understands. I can also confirm that if you think someone is talking behind your back (or to your face, I should say) in another language, it’s probably because they are. I know when I’m with my Persian friends and we want to say something about someone, we usually just say it in Farsi right in front of them. I know, it’s so rude, but it’s the truth and everyone does it. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:24:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877556 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877483 Part 1 Innately, I do feel a little uncomfortable when people are speaking another language around me because I always wonder what they are talking about, and if they are talking about me per say. I am all for people speaking their native languages, and I do think it’s very important to stay in touch with your cultural background and roots, but I think there is a time and place for everything. In certain social settings, when you are around people you know that don’t speak the language you are speaking, it is inconsiderate because you are sort of shutting them out of your conversation. But, another example would be if you are in a public place and you are only with people who speak the same language as you, it’s perfectly acceptable to speak your native language. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 16:23:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138877483 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137367553 I’m going to start out by saying that no, I have never dated a black man in my past, but I am open to the idea of it. I am an Iranian American female, so my features are dark, and I do find dark skin to be very attractive. I am naturally olive skin, but I like to be extra bronze by using tanning beds and a lot of bronzer, so I do find dark skin attractive. Though I am tan, I am considered white. My family, however, is less open to the idea of dating outside one’s racial category. My mom and dad don’t admit to being prejudice, because honestly, I don’t think they are. But, I know my somewhat ignorant (god bless them) grandparents are prejudice. They are not upfront and openly rude to people of other racial groups, but they would be upset if their granddaughter dated a black man. There are a lot of biracial couples today and I think it is a beautiful thing. People are starting to look beyond racial barriers, and are beginning to see people as humans and not categorize them by what they look like on the surface. When looking for a partner, you have to have physical attraction, respect, and compatibility. Race has nothing to do with any of those three things. I could see why very religious people do not want to date outside of their religion, because they may not be compatible with a partner that doesn’t share their strong core values and beliefs. But, skin color has nothing to do with anything. Many white woman simply aren’t attracted to black men because perhaps they just don’t find black features attractive, and to each to their own. That is the same way certain men like blondes and certain men strictly prefer brunettes. What you find attractive in a partner doesn’t make you prejudice. It is simply a preference. I think you are prejudice if you wouldn’t date a black man that you are compatible with and are indeed attracted to, simply because they are black. That is an example of withholding latent prejudice. Women, and people in general, need to get passed the physical barriers and accept that people are people. Another big problem are racist families. I know personally that if I dated a black male, my family would be very uncomfortable and there definitely be some judgment going on. I think it is a shame, but I know when I have my own family, I would be happy if my daughter dated a good person that treated her right and had good values, regardless of their skin color or any other superficial trait. Race is nothing more than pigmentation, it says nothing about you. People need to start realizing this. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 00:40:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137367553 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135438173 Zach Wahls is an extremely powerful speaker, and it really seems as though he is a well-rounded individual with good morals and character. I think when society thinks of people that have two parents of the same sex, they innately believe that the child will be strange, or that the same sex couple will be unfit to be raise a child properly, but this is where our discrimination and latent prejudice comes into play. We subconsciously believe this because we don’t know any better. We don’t know enough people who have same sex parents to make positive judgments, so we make negative ones. Sure, it isn’t the norm, and we aren’t used to the idea of it. But, same sex couples are no different than heterosexual couples besides for the fact that they are gay. So what? Why does it even need to matter? Same sex couples are exactly the same as straight couples in the sense that they want the best for their children and they strive to instill good morals and character in their children. Zach is a living, breathing example of this. He said it himself, that with his accomplishments, he would make any parents proud whether they are gay or straight, and this is true. We are now living in a society where gay people will someday receive full rights and they will be considered “normal.” So, it’s up to us to accept it, embrace it, and move forward, and concentrate our energy on more riveting issues. A gay couple is just as fit to raise children as a straight couple because they are not “weird” or “strange.” They are normal, with just a different preference in their sexuality but that has virtually zero affect on how a child is raised. The only issue that I see with same sex parents raising children is the issue of bullying. I do believe that a lot of people are still not completely accepting of the idea of homosexuality, and the children of these gay parents could face bullying and tormenting, especially when they are in the adolescent stage of life. But, again, there isn’t a single individual that I know that can say they have never been bullied in their lifetime. That is a problem that we all will face in our lives, so bullying alone should not stop a gay couple that wants children from doing so. Zach Wahls carries himself with a very respectable and strong demeaner and this represents how well he was raised. He was raised by two genuinely good parents that lead him down a path full of success, and if it wasn’t for them, he probably wouldn’t be where he is today. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 00:05:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/lgbt-families-theres-a-lot-of-fear-out-there/#IDComment135438173 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/is-it-possible-for-affirmative-action-to-take-things-too-far-119-blog/#IDComment132024894 Innately, I do feel that affirmative action is becoming a sort of mechanism for people who are slightly less qualified than their competitors to get their foot in the door. My feelings about affirmative action is torn, because I do think it is absolutely incredible that our nation is now equal opportunity, and people who were once deprived of opportunity are now able to make up for those times. However, I know that personally, when I was applying to college, I definitely thought about the effect of affirmative action would have on the status of my application. Being Iranian American, I know I am considered Caucasian, but when the application allowed me to do so, instead of marking just Caucasian, I would specify that I was Iranian American, and not just white. I did this because I figured that most universities want a diverse population, and my ethnicity would provide that diversity (even though it’s not a racial-marker). Whether it actually benefitted me, I don’t know for sure, but I figured it would either benefit me or not affect me at all. From the reading, I learned that quotas in institutions are not legal, and so perhaps this will keep affirmative action from taking things too far. However, I think if a company notices that, from an outsiders perspective, looks to be a mostly “white” company, they will strive to bring in people from different ethnicities so that their company looks more “racially friendly.” Whether this actually occurs or not, I’m not sure, because these kinds of scenarios are usually discussed behind closed doors of institutions. But, in a society where its very important to not be racist, this could be a very possible a very plausible situation. I think institutions want to represent themselves as being an equal opportunity employer both for their goodwill and so they look good in the public eye. Whether employers and various institutions take this too far is debatable. Personally, I think affirmative action is a very good practice because of what other ethnicities have faced in the history of our country. If in some case, diverse groups of people are getting a carrot because of affirmative action, this is a good thing. This will contribute to the redistribution of wealth in our country, and it will allow other racial groups to raise their economic status. I think the reason white people sometimes think that affirmative action takes it too far is because they aren’t used to other racial groups being on top. They aren’t used to it, and they don’t necessary like the fact that other people are coming in and taking the jobs that used to belong solely to them. Other than that, affirmative action is a very good practice that continues to bring equality to our society. Thu, 3 Mar 2011 04:41:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/is-it-possible-for-affirmative-action-to-take-things-too-far-119-blog/#IDComment132024894 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-are-white-people-so-reluctant-to-admit-to-having-discriminations-119-blog/#IDComment130168937 I think the issue here is that we, not just limited to white people, are not fully aware of our racism. Like Sam said, our racism is latent. It’s deep rooted and hidden in a place inside of us that we aren’t consciously aware of. I also think this is particularly directed to white people because, since in white history, we expressed such extreme forms of racism, that now we want to compensate for those times, so we all want to classify ourselves as not being racist. An example that really stood out to me was one of the clicker questions Sam put up in class. The question read, “If you and your partner were not able to conceive children, would you be willing to use the sperm or egg of someone whose race was different than your own?” This question stood out to me, because I know I am not a racist, but at the same time, that is a very big thing to think about. If for example, me being white, I had a baby that was half black. I personally wouldn’t have a problem with that, but I’d always have to be explaining the situation, both to my child and to other people. I would constantly have to justify why, when both my partner and I are white, is my child half black. Then, at the same time, I’d have to deal with the assumptions of outsiders looking in, and thinking perhaps this baby was a result of an affair, or whatever people think. That is my justification for probably not going that route if I was inable to conceive, but for a lot other white (or any ethnic group), they just wouldn’t feel comfortable with it. Also, like Sam said how employers don’t openly say “Yes, I discriminate,” people don’t want to admit or accept that they are racist or discriminate other ethnicities. In particular to white people, we have such a stigma on us for being former slave owners and discriminating against African Americans before and during the Civil war era. So, in a sense, I think many white people don’t admit they’re racist because they are trying to eradicate that stereotype of whites being racist. This doesn’t go to say that white people are actually racist, because like I said, there is a wide barometer of racism. For example, some people have never discriminated or felt any negative feelings towards other ethnicities, but they wouldn’t necessarily feel comfortable raising a child of a different race, or dating outside of their race. Though this is a form of racism in and of itself, it is on a different caliber than taking part in hate crimes, for example. I don’t think its particularly restricted to white people, I just think no one wants to admit that they are racist when society is supposed to be so accepting of other races and ethnicities Wed, 23 Feb 2011 21:02:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-are-white-people-so-reluctant-to-admit-to-having-discriminations-119-blog/#IDComment130168937 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/16/do-arrests-of-different-races-occur-more-due-to-racism-or-more-police-in-urban-areas-119-blog/#IDComment128412570 Innately, I do believe the way individuals are penalized in the legal system does involve racism. I think that when people think of crime and “urban life” they automatically, and subconsciously, associate these words with specific ethnic groups and this is because, typically, urban life is much more diverse than suburban life. Also, in cities, there tends to be a lot more crime. Therefore, in our minds, we associate crimes to these different ethnic groups. As for our legal system being racist, I don’t necessarily think this is true in my own opinion. I think the crime in urban areas is linked to the low income, low educated individuals and families that typically inhabit these areas. Urban areas, because the crime level is elevated, need more police forces. Therefore, more African Americans, Hispanics, and other racial categories are being arrested. In my opinion, the reason more ethnic groups are being arrested versus white people has less to do with racism, and more to do with the crime rate in the areas where they reside. At the same time, the stereotype that African Americans and Hispanics are “dangerous” is an example of racism, and I do believe a lot of people do believe in that stereotype. This is a deeply rooted stereotype. I believe that the legal system tries to set an example out of African Americans and other ethnic groups to essentially teach a lesson to the remainder of society. At the same time, white privilege has a lot to do with it as well. Being white, to me, almost seems like a “get-out-of-jail-free” card. White people are stereotyped as being “good” or even “safe”, while black people are essentially viewed as being the opposite. This, to me, exemplifies that racism is still very real in our society. Yes, we may have come a long way, but the statistics Sam showed us in class revealed that maybe “white privilege” is more prevalent and alive than we all think. Another reason society thinks the way it does is because when we watch the news, we only see the really extreme drug busts and murder scenes that are typically actions of black or ethnic people. Sometimes I think this may be coincidence, or perhaps all the recent scandals involve non-white people, but then I think, maybe that’s not the case, maybe that is what the media WANTS us to think. This, to me, opens my mind up to the idea that the media and the legal system do have some deeply rooted racism in it. Growing up just outside of Philadelphia in an all white neighborhood, I had it instilled in me that Philadelphia was a dangerous place, and that I should never walk home alone at night when in the city. Now I wonder, was it actually because of the crime in Philadelphia? Or was it because my all white neighborhood feared the diversity in the city? I know now, looking back at where I grew up, that the majority of people were more afraid of the different people than the crime itself. Since perhaps they weren’t exposed to different races and ethnicities, maybe they feared that people unlike themselves are “dangerous.” This all ties into white people feeling superior, and racism still living and breathing in our society. Wed, 16 Feb 2011 22:41:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/16/do-arrests-of-different-races-occur-more-due-to-racism-or-more-police-in-urban-areas-119-blog/#IDComment128412570 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250915 At the same token, my successful and educated family inspires me. I grew up admiring educated people who work hard and had their successes pay off, and this made me want to be successful. At the same time, I do appreciate every little thing, and I know I am here because I am lucky. In class, Sam mentioned how people usually look in the mirror and say “I’m successful because I work hard, and I’m smart. That’s why I am where I am today.” But, I actually don’t think that. I know that there are people who, if they were in my shoes and had all the opportunities I had, would probably be in a much better place than I am. However, I also believe the choices you make for yourself have a lot to do with your personal success in life as well. Although I believe determinism has a lot to do with it, it is not everything, and there are many exceptions. I do believe with the right dedication, motivation, and drive, anyone can make it. It may take longer, and a lot more effort, but it is definitely possible, and Sam is a perfect example of that. But, I do think that people tend to follow what they know, and for people who grew up to less educated parents who don’t have high aspirations themselves, it is very difficult for them to break away from that. It all has to do with what you want in your life, and knowing how you’re going to get there, regardless of any restrictions that stand in your way. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:19:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250915 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250904 (3)At the same token, my successful and educated family inspires me. I grew up admiring educated people who work hard and had their successes pay off, and this made me want to be successful. At the same time, I do appreciate every little thing, and I know I am here because I am lucky. In class, Sam mentioned how people usually look in the mirror and say “I’m successful because I work hard, and I’m smart. That’s why I am where I am today.” But, I actually don’t think that. I know that there are people who, if they were in my shoes and had all the opportunities I had, would probably be in a much better place than I am. However, I also believe the choices you make for yourself have a lot to do with your personal success in life as well. Although I believe determinism has a lot to do with it, it is not everything, and there are many exceptions. I do believe with the right dedication, motivation, and drive, anyone can make it. It may take longer, and a lot more effort, but it is definitely possible, and Sam is a perfect example of that. But, I do think that people tend to follow what they know, and for people who grew up to less educated parents who don’t have high aspirations themselves, it is very difficult for them to break away from that. It all has to do with what you want in your life, and knowing how you’re going to get there, regardless of any restrictions that stand in your way. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:19:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250904 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250839 (3)At the same token, my successful and educated family inspires me. I grew up admiring educated people who work hard and had their successes pay off, and this made me want to be successful. At the same time, I do appreciate every little thing, and I know I am here because I am lucky. In class, Sam mentioned how people usually look in the mirror and say “I’m successful because I work hard, and I’m smart. That’s why I am where I am today.” But, I actually don’t think that. I know that there are people who, if they were in my shoes and had all the opportunities I had, would probably be in a much better place than I am. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:18:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250839 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250755 (2)I know determinism has shaped my life vastly because I know that if my parents didn’t pay for an expensive SAT tutor, and send me to a reputable secondary school, I probably wouldn’t be at Penn State today. Another example of how determinism has shaped my life is the recent internship I’ve acquired that I got solely because of my father’s connections and because of the people he has met through his success in his field. My father’s success has brought me success, and this trend will most likely pass on to generations to come. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:18:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250755 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250699 (1)Without a doubt, I am where I am today because of determinism and the choices I’ve made for myself. However, I think the choices I made for myself are largely based on my family, and their socioeconomic background. I also think that if I was raised in a family that did not have the financial means that my family does have, maybe I wouldn’t have such high expectations for myself, and perhaps I wouldn’t be at a reputable university getting an education. Sam made a really good point in class about how kids with wealthier parents scored higher on their SAT’s, and I do see the logic behind this argument. Kids with wealthier parents can afford tutors, and send their kids to better schools, and live in areas where there is less negative influence, where they can study efficiently. Kids with wealthier parents probably don’t have to work while they’re in school, and can therefore spend more of their time studying and focusing on their education solely. It all makes perfect sense. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 03:17:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment127250699 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment125552187 I definitely agree with the girl in the video because without fail, I always refer to myself as American when I travel to other countries. Here, when people ask me where I’m from or what my nationality is, I always say I’m Persian. They look at me confused, and then I explain what “Persian” is, and they give me an “Oh.” It’s a whole routine that I’ve got down pat. But, when I went to Iran a few years ago, I would refer to myself as American, and everyone else who knew I was from America would call me American without me even saying anything. I believe this is the case because American culture is so strong, and it’s so extremely different from any other country in the world. We stand our like a sore thumb regardless of our nationality or skin color or any of those surface features. I also think that when I go to Iran they call me American even though I actually am Iran is because I don’t know their culture the way they know their culture. I don’t know their fashion, their mannerisms, their pop culture, and what people my age there do. Regardless of the fact that my parents were born in Iran, I don’t embrace Iranian life. This is similar to the way we react when we see an individual that’s not “American.” Sure, they may look American (Whatever that means…), but they don’t know how we live, they don’t know what we do socially, they speak with an accent, and so on and so forth. The differences are so extreme that we can’t consider them American. A friend of mine was born in the United States, like me. Her parents are Iranian as well. When she was 12, she moved to Iran for about 6 years. When she came back, just in time for college in America, to me, she was an immigrant. She wasn’t Americanized anymore. She didn’t dress like us, she spoke with a Persian accent, and she acted as though she was living in Iran. Even though she is an American born citizen, she lost her American mannerisms, and therefore, I don’t consider her the same as the people that I interact with everyday. Being “America” isn’t a nationality, it’s a culture and a way of living and thinking and dressing and essentially just existing. Among other Americans, we consider ourselves the status quo, when really; we are so extremely different from the rest of the world. I also think that we address ourselves as American when we go to foreign places because its almost like subconscious explanation for our differences. We say we’re American so people can understand us. So we don’t have to explain why we dress the way we do, or why we talk with a heavy accent. Being American is who we are, not where we come from. Thu, 3 Feb 2011 02:03:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment125552187 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/21/body-image-issues-119-blog/#IDComment124040011 Instinctively, my answer to this question would be that our issues with our own bodies would be prevalent regardless of whether our features are hereditary or not. I think, deep down, we know we look the way we do because of the genes our parents and ancestors passed on to us, but still, we feel that we are imperfect. In today’s society, no one cares if your looks are hereditary, they just care about what looks good, and what fits in the “attractive” stereotype. The problem strikes when an individual feels as though they do not fit that confining mold, and that they are not accepted by society because they stray from that mold. I, personally, do not feel the slightest piece of mind knowing my features are hereditary, because regardless, I still desire to be thinner and have different features because those features are considered more beautiful. Our society is severely focused on physical attractiveness. Although our society is flawed in this way, it is the way it is, and men and women alike feel the pressure. However, in class, when Sam talked about how our features benefited our ancestors, and that is why these features were passed on to us, I felt a slight peace at mind because I realized that I look the way I do for a reason. Society is way to caught up on the “norms” of society, and trying to look a certain way, that they forget to appreciate what was god-given to them. If people could take a step back and learn to embrace other features about themselves that are not related to physical beauty, they would feel a much greater feeling of self-worth. I personally wish I could follow my own advice and realize that beauty is only skin deep. You can diet and wear makeup and get plastic surgery, but at the end of the day, you’re still you. Your insides are still the same, and no matter how much you try to change yourself, you’re still always you innately. I believe there is no real solution to the issue of body image because as long as there are large groups of people, there is going to be a status quo that people are going to try to follow. There will forever be unrealistic standards for women to strive to achieve. People essentially follow these standards because the media manipulates society and they actually believe that whatever trend pop culture tags “beautiful” or “sexy” is actually those things. We are slaves to the media. Whatever way it sways, we sway. However, my views on plastic surgery and one’s perception of personal beauty is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so if you are truly unhappy with the way you look, it its your prerogative as an individual to fix it. Not all individuals who get plastic surgery do so because they want to fit in with the social norms. Some people, like myself, get plastic surgery to feel better about themselves, and to feel more confident when they look in the mirror. Overall, I believe knowing that your features are hereditary is comforting, but it will not fix the issue of body image in this society. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:44:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/21/body-image-issues-119-blog/#IDComment124040011 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/what-characteristics-would-you-give-your-race-blog-2/#IDComment122651872 Part 2 The practiced religion in Iran and Turkey alike is typically Muslim, while there are still some Christians and Jews. My family is ancestrally Muslim, but when my parents came to the United States, they became self-proclaimed agnostics. I believe they did this to blend more easily into American society. However, neither my mom nor my dad was very serious about their religion to begin with. Since a very strict Islamic government controls Iran, women are required to cover their hair with a hijab. Don’t be mistaken, however, the women’s entire face is still exposed. Only their hair is covered with a scarf. In turkey, however, women are not required to cover their hair. Also, in Iran, women must wear clothing that covers their entire body, but the clothing can be as stylish and form fitting as they please. Also, my parents have also raised me to be an extremely hard working individual, and I see this as a trend among other Persian parents as well. I believe this is because they came to this country completely on their own, with no money to their name, and they built a prosperous life for themselves through hard work and patience alone. Education is extremely important to the Iranian culture. Growing up, my parents also raised me to have very high standard for myself, and I believe this is because they shadowed the way they were raised in their native countries. All in all, I definitely see a considerable difference between the way I was raised and the way I look in comparison to my all-American peers. Fri, 21 Jan 2011 03:52:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/what-characteristics-would-you-give-your-race-blog-2/#IDComment122651872