en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/763101 Comments by jlm5428 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68734196 I think you need to look at your facts before you start cursing someone out on here for what they believe in. Isn't this class supposed to make us think? That's what all of us are doing, and if some of us are beginning to doubt our country than so be it. Just because you believe that Sarah Palin has done some great things in this world, don't you think that she has done that to make herself look better because she is a politician. Realistically, people are not always going to agree with you or what you have to say, but just because someone disagrees with you, you do not have to tell them that they have no life or are stupid and insult them. I think that it is childish that you are arguing over an educational website that we all use for class. Why don't you save this argument for Facebook or some other dumb blogging website. You are wasting everyone's time by just posting dumb bullshit like you just did. Get over yourself, America is not a perfect place to live and the people that run this country are not perfect either. Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:29:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68734196 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68732952 I understand that we all could get sick and tired of feeling like we are the problems for the world, but did you understand what Sam was trying to say? Just as you are saying that not all Christians are trying to take over the world, Sam was explaining that not all Muslims are trying to take over the world either. In every religion there are radicals. In EVERY religion. I am a Christian, and I find it absolutely disgusting that people are going into Iraq and disguising themselves to try to change people to turn to Christianity. Just like you said, not every Christian tries to press their views on other people to make them become Christians, but do you not realize that a lot of Christians are doing that. Think about just Penn State's campus. The Willard preachers stands every day preaching to a bunch of college students that pretty much we are all going to Hell for the way we think, and what do most of us do while we walk past the Willard preacher. Some laugh, some get pretty pissed off, and some fight back at him. Or what about the insane days where there are 5 preachers outside of the HUB with enlarged pictures of abortions and cut up fetuses. How does that make you feel? How does that make you feel about your own religion? I personally feel that it is disgusting, absurd, and wrong. No one on this Earth deserves to judge the way I or anyone else around me lives except for the man upstairs. If most of us think that it is wrong for preachers to be on campus handing out Bibles and pamphlets, how would you feel if preachers and missionaries came into YOUR country and tried to change the way you have thought about the world and your religion for your entire life. Some would laugh, some would ignore it, and some would be REALLY pissed. Those who are really pissed are taking action. The Muslim religion is their religion, the country is their country; not ours. How could we go into someone's country and just take everything they had; their pride, their families, and their religion. If someone were to seriously come in to America and try to take anything that is ours or try to start a Holy War with us, do you know what we would do? We would kill every single one of the people involved and then we would go as far to bomb their entire country. So, what is wrong with the people in Iraq being pissed and trying to fight back. Nothing. We would do the same exact thing they are doing. They know that we are the most powerful country, and they know that we could wipe them away in a second, but if I were living in Iraq I would rather die fighting then die doing nothing at all. Just because you are Christian does not mean that you want to do what other Christians are doing. Just because someone jumps off a bridge, does not mean you are going to do it too. Some Christians are going to Hell despite the fact that they pray to God. Sun, 18 Apr 2010 19:17:29 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68732952 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66410067 To be completely honest, I do believe that the things that Sam has said has changed my opinions. Yes, I knew about inequality, but I think I was simply naive to the inequality in the United States. I know that I talk about this class every time I leave. I talk to my roommates about the things that Sam talks about, and I talk about how I am astounded that I have had no idea about some of these issues. Maybe its because I was in the pre-awakening stage before this class, or maybe it is because I simply was not worried about inequality or the problems in this world because I have had the luck of being born into an upper class white family and have had the opportunities to be in the best public schools. All of the schools I attended from pre-school have been pretty much 98 percent white. I have been sheltered in a suburban society and have been surrounded by people who are exactly like myself. As much as I thought I was not sheltered because I live close to Philadelphia, after going to Sam's class this semester, I realize that I have taken for granted a lot of the things that I have received in my life. I have had the ability to get anything I want without my parents worrying about money. I do not pay for any of my expenses including my apartment rent, my gas, my tuition, my car, my clothes, and pretty much everything that I use I have not bought with my own money. The only money that I do have my parents have made me save for the future, and the only reason why I got this money was from my graduation party. I know this makes me sound like a complete spoiled brat, which I am in most peoples' eyes, but I have worked since I was 15 years old, and I have done nothing that would make me undeserving of my parents helping me out. I know that if my parents did not have the money to pay for these things, I would not have anything that I have right now, but I also know that I would work my ass off to still get the things that I have now. I think that Sam's class has really made me put my life in perspective and realize that the entire world does not have all the advantages that I have, and to be honest, it makes me feel bad that I have taken everything I have had for granted for the past 20 years. I think this class has been a real eye opener not just about myself but also about other issues outside of my own life. I was really fascinated and also disturbed after reading the book Disposable People. I had no clue that slavery existed as much as it does. I knew that there were problems with slavery, but I was unaware how prevalent and horrible it is today. I think that maybe this person is too stuck in his own thoughts to actually think about what Sam is talking about. He told us from day one that he was not trying to change our opinions or make us think like he does, but to simply think. Thinking about the world and our own issues is something that most teachers don't allow us to do. I think that maybe this student should think about the reasons why this class has not done anything to him, and maybe he should reevaluate the things that Sam is really talking about. I am not trying to bash this student at all, I just think that even if you haven't learned or taken anything from all of Sam's lectures, maybe you should think about the underlying issues that Sam is describing. Wed, 7 Apr 2010 15:59:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66410067 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64393692 After watching this video in class on Thursday, I was really disturbed that most of the black children chose the white doll instead of the black doll. I thought that most of the black children would have chosen the black doll simply for that fact that it looks like them, but I was completely surprised that this was not true. Being that I am white, I am simply ignorant to the fact that young children are affected by race so much at such a young age. I remember when I was young I was definitely in the pre-awakening stage and I did not see color at all. I saw all of my peers in elementary school as the same as me. I never thought anything about the problems of race, but merely the fact that we looked different, but that never affected who I decided to be friends with or who I thought was a good person. I find it very sad that children think that the skin color white means good and the skin color black means bad. It was also very sad to me that they also attributed nice with the white skin and mean with the black skin. It is very troublesome that the differences between skin color is so apparent to these black children and that they have these thoughts ingrained in their minds before they even are very aware of racial issues. While watching, I sat there in disbelief and almost in tears. I do not know what we can do to try to change this. Especially after hearing some of the students in class express their opinions that the black culture can make children feel this way, I do not know how we could change these assumptions. The students in class described that in black culture have dark skin is looked at as unattractive, and that lighter skinned black people are looked at with beauty. I also found it disturbing that some families begin to use skin whiteners on their children and themselves at very early ages. Simply because the white race is the majority, does that make the definition of beauty to be a white person? Beauty should be within each person, and does not always mean outer appearances. As a society (after searching beauty on google), the media makes everyone believe that the typical Barbie doll is what defines beauty. This not only has a detrimental factor on white people but mostly on people of color. We need to teach our children that beauty is within, and our outer appearances only attribute to little of our own beings. It is important that our children understand that life is not all about color and beauty is not all about color. We should be helping our children understand the beauties that we all possess and make them see that everyone is beautiful in their own ways. Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:02:25 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64393692 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment63912630 First of all, the topic of periods is not only uncomfortable for guys but it is also uncomfortable for girls. Not necessarily girls talking to other girls because all girls have periods, but I would not go up to some random girl for the pure fact that she is a girl and start talking about my period. Yes, if I was in desperate need for a tampon I would randomly ask a girl and if I had something on my pants I would appreciate another girl coming up to me and telling me, but I am not going to strike a conversation with a random girl about how my cramps are so bad and that I am bloated. Also, even around my best girl friends we do not sit there and talk about about periods all the time when we have them. We might say, "aww man I just got my period", but never anything like, "do you want to see what mine looks like?". I just feel that some things should be kept private and that is the menstrual cycle. I would never ever feel comfortable talking about my period to a guy let alone my best guy friends. I am uncomfortable even if a guys sees tampons in my purse, or I am in class and a tampon happens to fall out of my backpack. Actually, just recently my roommate was talking about how her tampon fell out of her bag in class, and she was so embarrassed that she pretended like it was even heres. I know some people could give two shits if a tampon fell out because all girls do have their periods, but I just feel very uncomfortable when it comes the fact of strangers knowing I have my period. I just feel that it is a topic that should be left alone, and not worried about. It sucks enough that we have to have them let alone dwell and think about the in's and out's of each woman's menstrual cycle. Do not get my wrong I am happy that I have my period solely for the fact that it means that I can have kids, but who even knows. With so many people who take birth control, who knows if I will have a harder time becoming pregnant for the fact that I have been on birth control for so many years. And also, just because I have my period does not mean that I am free from complications with pregnancy. On the other hand, I have been with my boyfriend for 4 years. Him and I are absolutely best friends, and obviously when I have my period he knows. He has seen it and he has dealt with many many weeks of pms, so naturally he is comfortable with it after so many years. Still, I am not completely comfortable with him looking in the toilet after me going to the bathroom. I mean I know he has seen what it looks like and all that stuff throughout the years, but both of us are kind of grossed out by the aspect so we try to avoid it as much as possible. I am not trying to say that women should not be able to talk about it. That is not what I mean, but I am just saying that it is not the most comfortable topic for the simple reason that only women get it. It is another thing on the woman's list to worry about, and I would rather only deal with it when I get it. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:56:31 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment63912630 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment63028379 I think it is a huge problem in America that we teach our kids certain things and conveniently leave others out. It is very interesting that she says if we change our history books would things be different? I definitely think they would be a whole lot different if we knew what really happened instead of being brainwashed from an early age. We have always been taught about our founding fathers and how they were great men to start this country and overcome the oppressive British. They leave out the fact that this was basically treason, that Thomas Jefferson slept with his slaves, the fact that we even had slaves when in our Declaration of Independence said that all men were created equal. It is not surprising that kids don’t know what really happened because how would they know any better if they were not taught. When it comes to the idea of guilt, I believe that I do not have a reason to feel guilty. Personally, I did not contribute to the horrible things that happened in the past. By saying I do not feel guilty does not mean that I do not feel bad, because I do. I realize that being white I do have a kind of unearned privilege. Again, I do not feel guilty about this because I did not personally do anything to gain this “superiority”. I also do not walk around with the belief that I am better than other people of different races. I do believe that everything that happened in the past was very wrong and the consequences are completely unfair. Based on how I see things, the concept of changing history books to eliminate white guilt is iffy. It's difficult to achieve awareness of racial issues without triggering white guilt, since it's a natural reaction. But I don't think changing history books to include the genocide of Native Americans would do much for race relations today, because white guilt still exists in response to black oppression in our nation's history which has been included in books for decades, for all I know. I think the process of confronting white guilt is more advanced; the fact that college students and adults still have trouble with it shows it is a task that even fully matured minds struggle with. Bottom line is, some things cannot be taught to developing minds... they more so are learned through experience in life. History is not a tall tale that can be told by anyone. History is told through facts that explain what happened. Granted at a young age, telling kids American’s committed a genocide isn’t a good idea, but to put it out there that it wasn’t all fun and games until they mature a bit to learn what exactly happened. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:14:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment63028379 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59665401 In my opinion, I am extremely confused about this idea that theme parties are mostly thrown by white people, and also the fact that these theme parties are racist against black people. First of all, if you have never been to a theme party then would not understand why they are so fun. Second of all, maybe many white people host theme parties, but I think it is an outrageous statement to say that only white people hold theme parties. If you are speaking of just Penn State specifically, it is probably heavily seen that most white people hold theme parties because a lot of the Greek Life is white. A theme party is a way to make the act of drinking "more fun." I, personally, would feel extremely uncomfortable going to a themed party that would be considered racist towards black people. Even though some theme parties may seem to relate to black racial stereotypes, isn't it true to say that some stereotypes of black people some white people fit as well? I also find it amusing that it was stated that the racial stereotypes are mostly geared towards black people.The only theme parties that I have heard of that could be geared towards black stereotypes are "40's and blunts" and "Pimps and Hoes." Although this may appear to be just geared towards black stereotypes, why can it not just be geared towards city culture? There are plenty of white people that dress with their pants sagged, their flat brimmed hats, and "bling". Also, there are themed parties that are geared towards other racial stereotypes such as: "Cowboys and Indians" and "Mexican Hoes and Border Patrol." But in the large scheme of things, these theme parties are nothing compared to the amount of theme parties that happen, even just on the Penn State Campus. I also find that it is surprising that what was stated in the video said nothing about the theme parties that are geared toward white racial stereotypes. These theme parties include: "White trash", "Biker Hoes and Bicycle Bros", "Viagra and Sweatpants", or "Catholic School Girl". What I am trying to say is, what is the big deal? Just because themed parties are "thrown by white people" does not mean that white people are getting together to commit racist acts. Yes, maybe if you wanted to argue that it is unfair for us to have any themed parties that could be deemed as geared to other racial stereotypes than the white race, then I would understand. But, what I wonder is that if black people were to have more themed parties what would their theme parties look like? Take Dave Chappelle for example. He does many picks that include him acting like a white person dressed in a suit and tie and white powder all over his face. Since I am a white person, am I offended by this? No, I actually think it is absolutely hysterical, especially when he does the twist. Even though I am only one white person out of the whole country, I think I am safe in saying that white people would not be offended or surprised for that matter if we found out that black people have parties with white racial stereotypes. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 07:00:12 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59665401 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58585471 According to Tuesday's class, Sam said that if we viewed the genocide of the Native Americans with the seriousness that it deserves, "America would have no soul." If most people agreed that this statement is true, I feel that we have not come far at all with the disgrace that was placed on America for the genocide to the Native Americans. Isn't it time that we, Americans, realize that we have come a long road away from the times the United States first began. Our morals, values, and actions are nothing compared to those of the times before. Like a student had stated in a comment above, we teach our children about slavery and the wrongdoings of the American people throughout this time. Although slavery was not a mass killing of innocent people, the idea of America being a disgrace during this time is still an issue. I feel that it is important that we learn about the mistakes that people have made, be it our own people or people from other countries, in order for all of us to grow as people, not just Americans. First of all, the people who now reside in America have had nothing to do with the situations that occurred. We are talking about generations ago, and we are supposed to continue to hold our heads low just for living in America, a country that did not start as ours, because of what our founders whom we don't even know decided was a good idea. Yes, they were our founders. Yes, it was the greatest genocide to people known to man, and it is completely disturbing and upsetting that we have founded our country based on someone else's land and then murdered them "to get what's ours", but that does not mean that we should be uneducated. What I am trying to say is that feel that we have every right to teach our children the truth. Children are taught that dishonesty is wrong, and that moral person always tell the truth. Aren't we being dishonest people for lying to our children in saying that one day called Thanksgiving we met in peace with the Indians. That is all I remember learning in elementary school. I was never taught that there was any fighting or anything wrong with the meeting between us and the Indians. In fact, I thought that we just shared the land. Considering that is completely far from the truth, I am upset that I had that assumption. I am not saying that I think we should give gory details and explicit events that occurred during this time. Although, I feel that there should be a way that teachers explain the situation of our founders in a different way. I am studying to be an elementary school teacher. I will be one of the teachers who someday may have to explain the situations of time America began. I feel that it is a tough subject no matter what, but it is necessary that students learn that this event was not all positive. If students learn in elementary school that there were negative aspects to this time, then when students go to middle school and high school, they will learn the more specific, detailed information about this event. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:25:22 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58585471 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/the-xxx-bible-who-wouldve-thought__trashed/#IDComment57012252 I have definitely thought about this topic many times before. These types of topics have come up many times with my friends and family, as my questioning about religion continues to grow bigger. I was raised as a Lutheran, and I was baptized and confirmed in my church. My mother was somewhat strict about us going to church, but she never made us read the Bible, and to be honest I do not really know much about the Bible. After I was confirmed, we became the family that only goes to church on holidays. I never really took my learning about Lutheranism very seriously either, for that matter I kind of half assed all of the "assignments" we were supposed to have completed. I have always been very curious when it comes to the Bible and its teachings through my own rationality. I never could truly just believe that the stories I was learning actually took place, considering we learn in school that most of the things that supposedly occurred in the Bible are proven to be impossible. I am not trying to say that I do not believe in God. I have very spiritual beliefs in afterlife and a higher power, but I am not quite sure if I believe in organized religion. As Sam stated above, how could God be whispering in someone's ear telling him what to say and what to write down? I feel that maybe some of the teachings in the Bible are meant to be metaphors for ways to live life, but I feel that those metaphors are outdated. We have grown into completely different people since the time the Bible was written. We live life in a completely different way, and because we live differently, I do not feel that that means we are all going to Hell. Therefore, I do not believe that it is realistic to strictly abide by the teachings in the Bible. While reading the article from above, I was kind of laughing at how true the things the author says are. Although I am not a Bible specialist, I can see how there can be many things within the Bible that people just graze pass and believe that they mean something else. According to the article "Adam's Family Jewels", Tibor Krausz states, "Notwithstanding Bible-thumping puritans who claim scriptural authority for their censorious prudery, the Good Book is replete with lewd metaphors, sexual innuendo, and outright obscenities, often starring some of the Bible’s most famous characters." I traveled to Italy this summer, and when I had a private tour through the Sistine Chapel, our tour guide explained to us that all of the art done by Michaelangelo was originally all nude. The priest in turn made him cover the figures up. If the Bible explains about nudity and sexual aspects, why were/are people who are religious so concerned about sexuality? I also learned that even some of the men had boy lovers, which continues to confuse me. I believe that the stories in the Bible are meant to help people, and I believe that all religions should be taken seriously, but I have not found whether or not I can take something seriously that has much controversy. Tue, 16 Feb 2010 01:48:22 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/the-xxx-bible-who-wouldve-thought__trashed/#IDComment57012252 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/swinging-past-the-other-end-of-the-ideological-spectrum-on-the-way-to-the-intellectual-gray__trashed/#IDComment56264982 I completely agree with this post. One, Sam did an excellent job of explaining freedom versus determinism, and I must say that I was thoroughly enjoying the class and all of the examples that were given to further explain the topic. I guess I never thought about these ideas so concretely. I have always had the intellectual idea of being "in the middle" and that has always been my own philosophy on life, but I was never introduced to these ideas in school. I feel that these ideas are very important when it comes to race issues and obviously sociological issues as a whole. Like the student above, I also have had the privileges of being able to skate through life. I come from a white, middle to upper class family that has allowed me to live in a community with high ranked public education throughout elementary to high school and be able to afford (my parents afford) undergraduate education at Penn State. I am the exact stereotype of the person that Sam described in class as having no obstacles. My parents bought me a new car before I started college, they pay for my groceries, all of my living expenses, and I get a weekly allowance to spend however I please. Although I sound like a complete spoiled brat, which in that case I may be because I do take a lot of the things I have for granted, it does not mean that I do not work my butt off in school for my own sake and my parents sake. Just because I have been spoiled most of my life does not mean that I have relied on my parents to use their connections to get me into school or to get every job for me that I apply for. I have been a very self-disciplined person when it comes to education from the time I can remember and have gotten great grades since I can remember. I have earned all of the grades I have received since elementary school on my own, and I never needed my parents to tell me to study or to clean my room. I have made those decisions all by myself to get good grades. I could have chosen to be lazy about school and not take the advantages I had growing up for my own benefit, but I did. I have chosen to respect the fact that I have these opportunities and that I should embrace them rather than sit back and watch people do things for me. On the other hand, I have also been blessed with the socio-economic enablements that have set me on this obstacle-free path. Therefore, I stay in the middle. From looking at my own life, I am hoping to be a successful person in the future because of my own decisions and the socio-economic advantages I have had. Although obviously not everyone has had the same advantages as I have had in life, but I feel that in my future obstacles will come up, and since I have used my decision making throughout my life to benefit myself, I will continue to be able to work through obstacles that are thrown at me. Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:20:55 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/swinging-past-the-other-end-of-the-ideological-spectrum-on-the-way-to-the-intellectual-gray__trashed/#IDComment56264982 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55247534 I did see the movie Avatar, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. I enjoyed the movie for obvious reasons: the 3D was amazing, the graphics were fantastic, and the entire idea of the movie I found interesting. Despite the graphics of the movie, the movie was very long and very predictable. Although I do agree with many of the things that David Brooks points out in his article, "The Messiah Complex", I do not agree with absolutely everything stated. I agree that this plot seems as if it has been done many many times before, and it can seem very redundant. I, however, feel that there are different aspects about the major theme of this movie that makes Avatar different from all of the other Messiah Complex movies. First of all, the so called "white Messiah" is disabled and for one an outcast of the society. The movie explains that they would not have taken this man to be the main fighter but rather his brother. Through specific circumstances, his brother died in battle, and therefore will be unable to serve the time. I feel that in all of the other Messiah Complex movies one in particular, Pocohantas, the Messiah is displayed as this more than able man who is representative as the "manly-man". This is untrue for Avatar. When the main character changes into his avatar, he finally feels like the man that he has not been and that is how he relates to the culture and opens his eyes to the nature and people. Rather than just being changed by the most beautiful girl in the native community, he is changed also because of himself. I feel that this plays a major role in one choosing whether or not this film is necessarily an exact Messiah Complex. While watching the movie, I felt that it sent a very strong message one that Brooks had not stated. I felt that this message was simply that we are taking advantage of our environment and that just because a mineral could give us x amount of money does not mean that it is moral to knock peoples' cultures out of the water. Yes, I might be naive in thinking this, but I felt very strongly about this while watching the movie, and I never once thought about the Messiah Complex until reading David Brooks' article. Even though I had never thought about the aspect, what David Brooks says is very convincing. "This is the oft-repeated story about a manly young adventurer who goes into the wilderness in search of thrills and profit. But, once there, he meets the native people and finds that they are noble and spiritual and pure. And so he emerges as their Messiah, leading them on a righteous crusade against his own rotten civilization." This very beginning quote that David Brooks states is very convincing, mainly because it is the exact plot of the movie. Despite the fact that David Brooks is correct in his arguments, I believe that it is important to think for yourself and to notice the subtle differences in this film from others. Wed, 3 Feb 2010 22:53:22 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55247534 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54135471 After watching the video on the racism and discrimination going on in the European soccer games, I am truly disgusted. I think I am a very naive person when it comes to the issues of race because I never realized that such horrible things could be even tolerated or allowed for that matter. I feel so badly for the players who have worked so hard throughout their lives to become such great soccer players only to get attacked at their own games. I understand that fans become rowdy during sports events especially because of alcohol, but there is no excuse for fans to be tormenting talented players for no reason. Yes, Penn State fans would tell a Michigan fan that they suck, but in no way shape or form would any of us fans go so far to directly discriminate players for their race. It is called sportsmanship, and there is a clear lack of sportsmanship going on in Europe. Although I am understanding of the fact that people are still racist in America and outside of America, but I was unaware that humans still can be so cruel to other human beings. One thing that really took me off guard was the comment from the Spanish coach. I think that his comments in defense of what happened was completely ridiculous. He stated that he was simply trying to pump up the player. I think that it is entirely inappropriate that a coach condones racist comments, and for that matter does it himself! It is a coaches job to display sportsmanship to his team members. The coach is supposed to encourage and support his team members as well as being respectful of his opponents. A coach who demonstrates that racist comments are fine within his team is a coach who should no longer be allowed to be in charge of a professional team. As for the changes that the president of FIFA says he is making, I do not think that change will be coming anytime soon. Seeing that racism is so prominent in the European soccer teams and fans it will take much more than just a simple rule to stop the discrimination in the stadiums. I think that the president needs to take this issue more seriously in order to see a change in the future. I also think that if more soccer players stand up for themselves and use the media to gain attention on this issue, the problem will have a better chance of being solved. I think it was very brave of the soccer player to stand up for himself, and I think his commercial is a very good idea at implementing a change for the soccer games. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:16:30 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54135471 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-m__trashed/#IDComment54001145 hello Wed, 27 Jan 2010 04:39:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-m__trashed/#IDComment54001145 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/clubbing-the-bejesus-out-of-rationality__trashed/#IDComment53096154 I also am still continuing to find my way through religion. I have been going to a Lutheran church since the time I can remember, but I have never really had that moment where I all of a sudden felt God on my shoulder. I have questioned my Christianity because of many things, but one of the main things that has hindered me from seeking out God are people like Pat Robertson. I do not feel that religion is something that needs to be pressed on other peoples' lives to make him or her feel bad about themselves. I know that people who are seriously religious would not agree with some of the aspects of my life, but because I am a sinner I would still like to believe that my thoughts of God will bring me to Heaven. Pat Robertson is the kind of person who feels that because he is a "man of God" he has the right to say whatever he feels whether it be good or bad. His absurd and astonishing view on the earthquake in Haiti is down right disgusting. Despite his so-called title in the religious world, realistically speaking his belief that Haiti made a pack with the Devil years and years ago still does not make them or anyone deserving of a complete and horrible disaster such as this. I think that in times like these the people you are supposed to turn to are religious leaders, like Robertson, but how is someone like myself, who is on the fence with Christianity, supposed to remain faithful when idiots like him are roaming throughout the Earth? Like you have stated previously, no one is perfect, and I think that Robertson definitely has done many things wrong in his life leaving him no credibility what so ever to even give an opinion about an issue this serious. I would like to believe that I have the ability to resort to my religion when things in my life or my surroundings do not work out as planned, but with the media allowing people like Pat Robertson to invade our television screens with nonsensical beliefs that may be supported by other Christians, I find it hard to grow through religion. I also agree with you on the fact that living in a world of color is detrimental to our society, and that in times like these peoples' true colors come about. I think that it is time to set aside politics and differences of opinions and all work together to help people in need. I feel that some people take too much advantage of that fact with growing media attention about a country will allow him or her to gain attention on politics. Now is the time to help people, not hurt people. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:19:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/clubbing-the-bejesus-out-of-rationality__trashed/#IDComment53096154