It's interesting to look at this perspective of American's as the Christian Invaders. Reminds me of the three crusades, all lead to by so called Christians into the unholy land of the Muslims to fight over Jerusalem. While I was raised Christian, I do not consider myself one because I do not adhere to the beliefs of the Bible and its teachings. The problem with labeling the invaders as Christian is obvious, because they claim to be Christian themselves, but it is simply not the case. Every last person who has started a war, been involved in one, or used the title of Christian rights or whatever nonsense to kill/murder/rape/pillage another person and their land/culture is NOT a Christian. While I recognize that to the muslim communities overseas, this is not evident, but I will address that shortly. The issue at hand here is the bad rap this gives real Christians. Again, I do not consider myself one, but I do understand the religion and its principles very well. It saddens me to see any group of people, in this case the oil hungry war mongers, use Christianity to defend their evil deeds. None of these people are actually Christian. They use the Christian moniker to engender support, and use people with simple minds who are also false Christians follow their words. All of these people are unbelievers, they just have either deceived themselves into thinking they are (the simple minded followers) or they are evoking the name of God as a smoke screen as they get what they really want: power and money. These are not tenants of the Bible at all. What strikes me as odd is that there must be very very few real Christians, because this is being broadcast world wide as something that the Christians are doing. Why don't the real believers stop these false individuals and call them out for what they really are? The answer must be because so few actually exist, if any at all. If real Christians were to call out these fools, maybe the mass media would broadcast a different message and the Muslims wouldn't see us as Christian invaders. But it is not so. The flip side is probably also true from the Muslims. We (americans) only get a certain skewed view of what real Islam is like, and it would paint a much different picture than what the average American has. Just as our leaders and politicians and so called religious teachers use the word of God as a smoke screen for their own evil gains, so called followers of Islam and Allah's teachings use it as a smokescreen to hide their evil plans. The point is clear: most people are not true believers, because if they were, none of this would be an issue. It's all lies and deception so a small few can gain ultimate control and power over as much of the global population as allowed. It's sad but true.

Great shock topic, Dr. Richards, great indeed. This guy is really good at getting reactions out of people. If you haven't guessed or figured it out by now, he doesn't actually do, say, or mean everything he says. Trust me, the people involved more directly with the race relations project know this is very true - and a quick nod to those people for giving me some much needed perspective in this class. I'm going to call his comment about loving his wife's period and wanting to see it this very thing: bullshit. Sorry, I may be wrong, but hey, I calls em as I sees em. Look at this way, no matter how enlightened Sam is, he is still a man. We (men, yes, I am a man writing this) love sex. All women know this, and I'd venture more than we do in some ways - hell, if I could have multiple orgasms, I'd fuck all day long, but I digress. So I'm quite sure he isn't thrilled at the thought of his wife's period. Secondly, even if he was, as any number of you that have discovered something new that you liked, it loses its luster after awhile. So even if in some bizarre twist Sam had some period fetish (which I highly doubt), he would have been there, done that. So I'm gonna go ahead and stick with my original statement, that he, like America's favorite shock jock Howard Stern, likes to say crazy things to attract attention and get people talking. Nothing wrong with that, mind you, I have instigated a few conflicts on my own just to see what would happen. I just find it amusing that such strong debate over it really is going on. Oh, on an aside, I really doubt Mrs. Richards would think it was all that attractive that her husband was into that kind of thing, and let's face it, as men, we do what the women tell us to, cuz hey, we realllllyyyy like to stick things in your vagina's. Regardless, the issue of the social taboo against public talk on menstruation is fine by me. It has little to do with education, in my opinion, although many other posts would disagree. In my experience, female reproduction processes were discussed openly early on in elementary education, so many children know whats up long before they are sexually active anyways. I can only imagine the teachings are more in depth, and taught at ever younger ages these days. I feel that the social taboo is there one basic reason: the male gaze. As many psych and comm majors know, pretty much everything in industrialized society is suited to fit the male gaze. Since we like spreading our seed, shall we say, and the image of feminine cyclic discharge is a real killer for our lil' buddies, we don't discuss it. I also feel that women are mostly ok not discussing this as well, because they like feeling/looking sexy, if not for our (male) benefit, then for their own personal benefit. I know I like looking good, helps one's sense of self confidence, which certainly isn't a bad thing. So the topic of menstruation stays private, and probably for the better. Women don't need to put off men, and men don't have to think about it. It may sound archaic or backwards, but who are we kidding? Everyone does things for the opposite sex (minus the homosexual population I suppose, but thats not really the issue here). Men do, women do it, and everyone seems to be ok with it. Bottom-line, not talking publicly about periods serves both males and females just fine, I don't need to hear about it, they don't want talk about it, cool. Because hey, in the end, we all just really wanna get laid - why make it more complicated than it has to be?

Go Mississippi, way to show that not only are you still a racist state, but you are also blatantly prejudiced against homosexuals as well! Awesome! Keep thumping the bible or whatever excuse you use as your motivation for stopping people from being happy together. Distraction for other students' educational experience? My ass. Surprisingly, at least in my opinion, this was denied enen though the couple was female. Male homosexuals often suffer more prejudice in my opinion because of the so called male gaze, where-in everything is judged through the eyes of male viewers. I'm surprised that the crotchety old bastards running the school district didn't want to see two girls dancing together, I would imagine it would make them all sorts of randy. Regardless of the reasons behind it, the fact that they were denied permission to attend based on sexual orientation is silly. As the reports have shown, businesses are more and more likely to hire same sex/homosexual people into the business world. As everyone knows, the only color that really matter in the end is green, and if these people are able to work effectively, then they are hired, its that simple. This school should take heed to the precedent that is being set and get their collective rears in gear and join the 21st century. Even if you as a person, based on some religious or other silly beliefs think that being gay is wrong, that is your personal right, but you cannot be allowed to let that affect others around you. It is much like free speech insofar as it has been said I may not agree with what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. Why do people like this need to exist? Such foolish behavior should be outlawed, not the people that suffer because of them. I do hope that Miss McMillian will be able to win her lawsuit against this school district, and hopefully a precedent will be set and this type of behavior will no longer have to be dealt with by anyone ever again. This is no better than discriminating against black people, or interracial couples, or any other people group that is "different" from those in power. The audacity of those in power to assume that they are righteous in their actions and somehow know whats best for the students is stupid. The only distraction here is the idiots who made a big deal out of nothing and now have the entire world shaking their head in shame and wonder at their dumb actions. In time, I hope that people like this simply die out, and take their hatred and malcontent with them, for passing on such horrible thoughts to the next generation.

"I wanna go back to the days where black people were selling me my hot dogs and wiping my chair, I miss those nostalgic days" After I establish this, I'm moving south, establishing a farm, employing only black workers, making them live in shacks, not paying them, and beating them for not doing what I want. It's not racist, I'm just filling a niche; im sure there are some colored folk out there who fantasize about re-living the slave days. After all, it's just a niche business!" HAHA! This is what one of my best friends (who happens to be white - I am black) said after I showed him this atrocious piece of garbage. What utter nonsense to say that this "sport" is not racist against black people. Like the president of the NAACP said, if it looks, sounds, and walks like a duck, its a duck. This man is clearly insane. Not only is he crazy to think that he can get away with this, he is also a nut to think he is actually fulfilling any niche at all. There is a reason that professional basketball has the form it is in now. Yes, there are probably more black athletes on the court than white, but hey, maybe the white folks need to practice more? By saying there needs to be a slower paced game of basketball, played only the way that white folks know how, he is implying that black people are better at the sport. Saying that players carry guns and start trouble, he is obviously talking only about black players. I bet there are a few players that have acted out of line, but I also bet there have been a few white players to start trouble as well. He is making a fool out of himself and anyone that would join his potential league. He must be the dumbest racist ever! Imagine the recruitment posters! "Do you suck at basketball? Do you want to play anyway? Are you white? Come play anyways! It's the all white league, just for losers like you and me!" At least most racists try at assert themselves as better, this idiot wants to segregate because he can't compete with the better players! What a joke. Send this mockery of a man back to the slave days, he would clearly be happier there. Hopefully the media will quash this story and it will never be spoken of again. Or if all else fails, and somehow this dunder gets this sham up and running, everyone of all colors will boycott this nonsense and bankrupt him - I can only hope his loan provider is a black man!! Good for a laugh, though.

I remember this experiment from Psych 100 as well, but I youtubed it just as a refresher. It's really a shame that these types of schemas exist in our society to this day, while we pretend their is race equality and no one is better than anyone else. I wonder what it will take to de-condition ourselves as a society to accept all colors as equal and not judge someone based on something as asine as skin color. As a person of mixed race (black/white), and growing up with mother, who is white, it took me quite awhile to identify with the other side of my background. Growing up in a white, middle class area surrounded by other white folks, and being raised culturally to be white, even though my skin is dark (relatively) makes seeing the world at times difficult and easy. It is difficult because it took coming to college and identifying with people like me, and changing my viewpoints of the world. I always knew I was black, of course, but it was easier for me to identify with things that were white and white culture being the "norm" or acceptable way of living. I never thought being black was a bad thing, per say, but my previous contact with other black people was non-existant, and essentially all input was from the media, which tends to show black people doing bad things, shootings in the hood, gang violence, rap stars selling drugs, etc. I believe that mass media coloring the news and tv shows with poor/undereducated black people acting in negative way as the only way black people act is a main instigator of this negative viewpoint young black children can have about themselves. Early I said it was both difficult and easy to flow between cultures, and the easy part is simple. Being able to "speak white" with those in positions of power, who tend to be white, and being able to identify with the "problems" associated with being white, and any other part of white culture you can think of, being around white people has always been easy for me. Now that I have a more holistic viewpoint on my life and where I fit into society, I find dealing with both white and black people to be easy. I no longer see the skin color as a difference; in fact, the only real difference is how people are raised and brought up. With a big part of that maturation process involving mass media influences, now more than ever the importance of equal and positive coverage of events in black communities to match that of white communities is apparent. One can only hope with time this will become a reality.

I believe my grandmother and most of my family members would be appalled if they read this particular story. I know that my grandmother especially has read the Bible through its entirety at least 30 times, and I highly doubt she has ever read the good book in that light! All my early years were spent in church, telling me how to act, think, feel, and behave around the opposite sex, what I could do, what I couldn't, and everything else inbetween. I even remember a day in youth group where my pastor, trying to connect with the kids, especially us mid-teens sexually hypercharged males, told us that it was ok to masturbate, but it did come with a stipulation: only if we did it without thinking any "dirty" thoughts or looking at pornographic material, which he then said would probably be very difficult to do. I just laughed to myself, as there was no way I was going to stop doing what felt right and natural. Even then I thought to myself, why on Earth does this God character give us urges and desires, and then tell us we aren't supposed to act on them? Now, being older, I know better. It was never God, it was simply the will of the theocracy, the age old quest for power over others. The church decided that it was going with a certain interpretation, and that was that. Now I do not believe in the God of the Bible, although I am willing to entertain the idea of some type of supernatural being that sort of started everything in motion. That being said, I find it amusing that anyone takes it so seriously. We are who we are, it is that simple. We have desires, feelings, urges - this all impacts our behavior and attitude, why try and fight it? To have some book thousands of years old dictate ones life now is just silly. Perhaps we should re-institute medical bleedings from the early days of medicine if we are to listen to old texts? No, that wouldn't make much sense either. The author of this article makes a very strong case for the hypocrisy in all biblical teachings and pastoral preachings. It is simply all bogus. Perhaps as time continues, the world's religions will wise up and get with the times. Science is always pushing back the darkness that religion brings upon society, and I hope given enough time this sort of nonsense will not continue. I know for certain that unlike my early days, I will not subject my children to ill-thought ideas about procreation and sexuality, and I hope others follow suit. Getting rid of these strange biblical based ideas on sex and sexuality will do our society a great justice, and also give the gay community the rights they deserve, and perhaps our sexually repressed culture can come out of its own closet and enjoy a new found freedom.

After my laughter at this foolish comment subsided, I was taken aback at the absurdity of the whole situation. Here we have a supposedly distinguished gentlemen saying that welfare recipients are akin to animals like squirrels or birds. While it is shocking to hear in the public light, it begs the question of what really goes on behind closed doors? These politicians are always so careful as to not offend anyone, taking neutral, middle of the road lines on all sorts of issues, whether it be installing a new traffic light or going to war. I would bet that this particular incident is a nice little window into the dirty world of politics. The man's apology is only an attempt to save his career (politics as professions and not public service positions is a whole different issue entirely...). I would assume that he, his family, his friends, and his business associates all think the same way about the "vermin" on welfare. It is sad that such ignorant thoughts happen, but I for one am glad to know about it. While other republicans are quick to distance themselves from him and his statement, it is only out of political necessity, rather than actual human compassion. I personally feel that these people would put their own mothers on the street to die if it would advance their careers - power is just too strong an aphrodisiac. On a separate note, I was unaware of the welfare subsidies going to the rich. While i do understand the so called "K Street" lobbyists living a rich and extravagant lifestyle, I assumed it was was paid for by some government branch as representatives for increasing welfare to the poor or perhaps by big business trying to strip money away from welfare to subsidize what they do more, or something to that affect. I am curious as to exactly what Mr. Richards meant by other rich people receiving welfare monies. Did he mean that a rich person can sign up for welfare and receive a check? I doubt that is the case, but again I would like some clarification on to exactly how the rich get welfare money. Speaking on the silly comment by the lt. governor again, I wonder if he is aware that one can only receive welfare for a total of 24 months, or is it 30 months? I believe Obama increased the total length of time because of the recession. At any rate, only 30 months or so of welfare total in one's entire life. I also understand it to be on a per household basis, not per person, so that also decrease the total amount of money given out. Sure, their will always be those that try and work the system, but studies have proven that virtually everyone on welfare wants to get off it and have a job. That is because even the poorest of the poor have pride, pride enough to support themselves or their families without outside assistance.

Perhaps Hollywood should make a movie instead where the evil people in power of another country have to come to the United States and have to blend in to society to learn some super awesome secret. But the more they are here, the more they learn that our way of life is the best and they really want to subsume their culture for ours. In the end, everyone gets to be happy, as the once bad man changes his ways, leads his community in action against some nameless foe back home, and rides off into the sunset in the end. Would that better appease your sensibilities? So it's a white guy taking over shit, awesome. It works because that is us. Even though I am black, I am still the "white man" just as Africans sometimes refer to all people from America. I am ok with this, because we as a culture have set ourselves up as a cut above the rest. Perhaps its wrong, and maybe so. But everything that anyone has ever achieved for themselves as individuals or as a culture/country has been ahieved through some type of bloodshed. I'm not a warmonger, and maybe I'm off subject, but we as a culture have gotten soft. No one is willing to do what it takes to be the best of the best, because you might displace someone, or hurt someone's feelings. Blah blah blah - guess what, maybe your country sucks and couldnt get its shit together and handle its business. Maybe America would have been the dominated culture, inundated by Russia's culture or China's, or maybe some little shit country in the middle of nowhere, but we aren't. I don't really care if that's not PC, fuck being PC - I want to be the best, stay the best, and I'm willing to do just about anything to ensure that I (we) stay that way. Mankind will not evolve in any short order past our own tendencies. Everyone thinks their home country is the best, globalism and "enlightened thinking" be damned. We shouldn't oppress people, sure: maybe they should resist. They can't? I'm sure the British thought the same thing before they got jumped like an old lady by a street gang in the American Revolution. Messiah Complex can be damned, we have the Domination Complex, and I'm sure as hell glad to be on the giving end rather than the receiving end. But go on, be PC, sound shocked at my thoughts, say how much you want to help all those poor people, and how we should help those we have hurt or have been hurt by their own harsh government. Then look back and tell me how bad the Messiah Complex is - you have it my fellow mates. I'm used to hypocrisy, and half-assed measures, and lukewarm policies, and phony people who know how to talk the "good talk". It's all bullshit: bottom-line, we as Americans LIKE being on top, and we really don't give a flying fuck about anyone else. And guess what, they (the rest of the world) doesn't give a shit about us either (our "allies" in Europe don't care either, and it has nothing to do with Bush politics). We do what we do to stay on top, and protect your lifestyle. But let's try it everyone's PC way, and see how long you want to go without your nice four bedroom house, your three car garage, and that brand new car you were promised upon graduating from a very prestigious public university. Because that is what you will lose, your standard of living, when you pretend to actually give a fuck about someone other than your own people. It is as Thomas Hobbs (English philosopher 1588-1679) said, we are self-interested, self-serving individuals. When push comes to shove, we will do what it takes to save ourselves over someone else. Martyrdom only happens in movies, and you can bet your sweet PC ass that if someone comes for you or your shit, you'll let them know just how friendly and giving you really are.

I never knew that Europe never experienced a civil rights movement like we had hear in the States. As a black man myself, I am on one hand surprised and on the other, not surprised. Given my education, status as a black man, and location of living (United States), I assumed wrongly that the "civilized" nations, i.e. 1st world, post-industrial (whatever you want to call them) would have recognized that all men are indeed created equal and no one is better than another based on skin color. However, I can see why these actions are occurring and continue to do so. Europe had a huge influence on the slave trade. They were the first place that anyone put a name to the word "culture" or "ethnicity" and tried to define it. Given that it is a mostly white continent, it would follow that they would think their own color to be superior. Following this line of thinking, many European countries participated in the slave trade, Holland being among the most aggressive traders/slavers in all of Europe. Germany started 2 world wars, the second of which was based on racial superiority and hatred of all things non-white. Obviously the defeat of the Nazi's and Italian fascists was not enough to stop new hatred from brewing. The scope of racism is so blatant and stark it is almost laughable, in a very sad sort of way. Perhaps instead of letting Europe rebuild after WWII, America and Russia should simply have split the country on the same line as East and West Germany. At least then half of Europe would be as enlightened as we are over in America. Stories like these really make one take a step back and realize that this nation really is great. Prof Richards may disagree on that point, but the idea of America is better than any other country on the planet. We may have lost our way, and things certainly aren't as fantastic and utopian as they could be, but at least we try and learn from the past and grow as a culture. The melting pot mentality of this nation is what makes us so great. Just look at this video; it's as if the entire continent is one giant inbred hillbilly jerkwater of a cesspool, people not worth the land they live on. It's enough to make a man sick, or perhaps angry enough to say fuck globalism and re-embrace a policy where we produce all the goods we need domestically. These morons need a lesson in humility and competence. Instead of getting fined, they need to be put in stocks in the public square and have tomatoes thrown at them. What a bunch of assholes.

response