I believe society is biased towards a certain type of immigrant. People in the United States’ present society hold more prejudice towards Mexican immigrants. I think this is the case because they believe that these immigrants are taking away jobs from Americans. The fact of the matter is that many American workers are not willing to do the work that these other people will do, for less money too. Mexican immigrants are just another group of people that others in the United States choose to discriminate against. Immigration is the introduction of new people into a habitat or population. Isn’t it a good thing getting more people assimilated into American culture? I think if more people came who were willing to do the work others were willing to do, then more companies could expand and have the need to hire even more people. The thing many Americans probably get angry about is the fact that these people are working here “illegally”, but I think that even using the word “illegal” when describing an undocumented immigrant is unfair. Crossing the border without papers is not a criminal violation, however it is a civil one. People usually overlook this fact. Although I do not agree with the negative portrayal of immigrants, I think that people must take responsibility for their actions. This means that if you come to America, you should abide by our laws and pay taxes. I know that the process is difficult, but I think that the process is what needs to be reformed. If the process to become a citizen of America was easier or less complicated, there would probably be significantly less undocumented immigrants in the United States.
I was very surprised when I heard that people who have already immigrated to the United States do not want any others to come here, although I guess I should not have been. Historically, this has always been the case. After every generation that has come to America, there has always been the feeling of “other”, when the next wave of immigrants arrive. America has discriminated on all types of immigrants including: Eastern and Southern Europeans, Asians, and people from Southern America.
Immigrants built America, and most of today’s workers in the United States are descendants of immigrants. Many people do not take into account the fact that they are here because their relatives were, in fact, immigrants. Yet, all of the new immigrants that come into the United States are thought to be unnecessary. America is the melting pot of the world. We need to embrace immigrants that come to the United States, especially if they come legitimately. Immigration is what makes America what it is. They are just portrayed badly because Americans always want someone to blame for their own problems.

Before the last sociology class, I did not know the meaning of nepotism. Now that I know, it completely changed my perspective on affirmative action. I have always been against certain aspects of affirmative action, especially quotas. Quotas discriminate against both the minority and the majority. It allows people of color and women to not strive for a higher level of achievement. If people are able to get a job just because they are a woman or person of color, that is completely unfair and more people will be unqualified. I definitely agree with recruitment of qualified minorities. Recruiting more people of color or women who strive to achieve excellence is great because it adds diversity. Also, it gives minorities a chance to be a position they may not have been considered for based on appearance or how their name sounds. It always shocks me in class to see the disparity between white people and other minorities, especially black people. I just don’t get why people will judge you based on what you look like. I know that racism still exists, but it is just people being ignorant.
I believe that nepotism and affirmative action are quite similar. Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives or friends regardless of merit. Affirmative action refers to policies that take factors including race, color, religion, gender, or national origin into consideration in order to benefit an underrepresented group, usually as a means to counter the effects of a history of discrimination. Both nepotism and affirmative action benefit some person over another. I don’t think either thing is necessarily wrong, so it makes me wonder why many people complain about how affirmative action is unfair. Affirmative action does benefit minorities. However, many people in employment have benefitted from nepotism. People generally favor people who look like them, so since many people of power are white males, more white males will benefit from nepotism. Most people have or will benefit from nepotism, including me. For example, my godfather created a job for me at his company so I could work over the summer to save money for college. The fact that people will move their friends or relatives ahead over others, who may be more qualified, is controversial. With affirmative action, the right types at least, the people benefiting are qualified individuals. The fact that they are a minority is only a factor because of either past discrimination or to add diversity.
My standards of affirmative action are not lowered from my newly formed idea of nepotism. Actually, I think I may think more highly of affirmative action now. I never really thought about the fact that many people move up in the ranks because of favors. “It’s who you know, not what you know” is kind of depressing. I think that people should mainly look at skill.

Putting myself in the shoes of the Middle Easterners definitely changed my view on the war in Iraq. I have always been pretty skeptical of this “war on terrorism” and I have never supported the war. However, being in the shoes of the Middle Easterners gave me so much more compassion for the people and anger to what is going on there. When the war first began, the former president George W. Bush talked of weapons of mass destruction. Ignoring the UN, he decided to invade. No weapons of such destruction have ever been found, yet Americans are still in Iraq and several other countries.
At the beginning of the class, I knew that the lecture would be about something that Americans have done to another country. The example of China taking our resources really put in to perspective the fact that the United States is over stepping their boundaries in Iraq. The fact that these “Christian Invaders” are using their religion as justification to kill people is disgusting. I am Agnostic, leaning closer towards Atheism every day. When I hear of people manipulating sacred texts, it makes it more apparent that people are using a “god” to justify their actions. Americans need to take responsibility for their own actions. When people who are leaders, or who look that way to people in other countries, are saying that this war is “God’s will”, they are beyond disbelief. How can Christians preach of a kind and loving God, yet claim that He wants to murder and take land away from people who are weaker than them. I know that it is not really said this way, but this is actually what they are doing.
I now see why many Middle Easterners are hostile towards the United States. We have invaded their country, killed and humiliated their people, and taken their oil. I would be scared, angry, and a whole wide range of emotions if I saw foreign peoples plundering my land and murdering my peers.
Towards the end of class when the ratio of innocent civilians to bad guys that needed to be killed shocked me. First, I do not understand why so many civilians are allowed to be killed just to murder one “bad” guy. These people are just like us: college students, mothers, businessmen, etc. There is no justification for the slaughtering of these people. Personally, no number of innocent people killed is right just to kill one other person.
I think the people of the United States need a reality check. Everyone needs to put themselves in the shoes of the people we do not understand. We, as Americans, need to understand why they are doing acts of terror in the first place.

I think it will be a long time before white people become a minority, longer than the time projected by scientists. Scientists projected that white people will reach minority status by 2050, then later predicted that it would be sooner. In class, white people as the minority is classified as 49.9%. This doesn’t necessarily mean they will be a minority when their population reaches this percentage. Other percentages of different races are not accounted for. Also, all of the other races will still be lower than the total percentage of white people. So, even with only 49.9% of the total population, white people will still be the majority. When white people do become the minority, I think it will take a long time for them to actually feel like the minority. I honestly believe that white people will still hold many positions of power, so they will still hold more jobs than people of color. This will most likely occur because historically white people will have been in these positions and they will be more likely to help advance others who look like them. I think that this is true for many races, as well. I wonder how the shift from the “dominant position” will affect white people with racist views towards minorities. When they become the minority, will they still hold these views? Or will they adjust them? I believe when racist white people become the minority, their views will only be strengthened. White people who have these particular views will probably feel angry or like they have had their power taken away.

When white people become the true minority, I think America will be at a place where people are comfortable with race, not all people but most of them. I believe that this is true because in order for white people to actually become the minority, people will have to engage in interracial relationships. To be a in a relationship with someone who is not the same race or ethnicity as you requires a certain level of comfort. Also, the family of both parties will most likely have a certain comfort level too.
When white people become the minority, I believe that I will be treated the same way I am treated now. I haven’t yet experienced racism, although I am a mixed female; I am black and Native American. I think I will be treated the same as I am now because there will be many others like me in various socio-economic classes. People will be more comfortable with race and ethnicity. Many stereotypes will be broken because there will be more integration between races. In the most mixed parts of the country, I think people will be treated equal.

Growing up, I have always been attracted to guys of several different races. However, I have only ever dated within my own race. I am a mixed female, half black and half Native American, but mostly I identify with my black heritage because I have only recently (last summer) found out that I was Native American. Many white guys have been interested in me, but I have only really ever dated black guys. Actually guys of every race have been interested in me. My family is mainly black, but there is definitely a lot of diversity. For example, my father’s side is black, but many of his brothers married white women; therefore, their kids are mixed. On my mother’s side, there is much more diversity. She technically has two families, adopted and biological. Her adoptive family is entirely black. However, my biological grandma and grandpa are a mixture of white, Native American, and black. I think that I could definitely see myself in an interracial relationship. There are certain types of people who I could not see myself with, yet this does not indicate race. Stereotypes of race are what most likely keep certain people away from pursuing a relationship with a certain race. For example, I don’t think I could see myself dating an Asian man. This is probably based on a stereotype because I believe that they might not be my “type”. My “type” is somewhat aggressive yet compassionate and they have to be taller than me. I think I need to be more open to every single type of race, though, because maybe my soul mate will be someone I could never expect.
My experiences with interracial relationships have always been positive because of the way my family portrays them. Many of my family members are in interracial relationships, and my mother is actually currently involved in one. My mother identifies as black because she was adopted into a black family, but she is actually Native American. Her boyfriend, Brian, is Irish-American. To the world, they are seen as a black woman and white man. My mom likes to teach Brian many “black” terms that he sometimes uses hilariously. She also calls black women with white men “blite” couples, and white women with black men “wack” couples. I think this kid of plays into the whole “black women hate to see black men date white women” ordeal, however my mom just jokes abut it. Although I have never been in an interracial relationship, I believe my family will be comfortable with any person I decide to date, no matter their race. It would be hypocritical of my family to criticize my choice of a significant other because of all the diversity of my family members choices.

Honestly, I have never experienced guilt just because of my particular race. I am of mixed race. However, I only recently discovered this fact. I had always previously considered myself black only. My mother did as well because she was adopted at birth into a black family and has very tan skin. This summer my mom met her birth mother. At this meeting my mom found out that she isn’t actually black, she’s Native America. This knowledge has given me a totally new perspective on race and ethnicity. I think it is exciting to find out that I am not really what I thought I was. An interesting fact that I learned is that my great uncle is the chief of the Meherrin tribe. Learning that I am of some Native American descent has instilled in me a kind of anger towards white people that I never really felt before. I know that being black, slavery was a huge issue in the past that directly affects me. However, slavery has been abolished in America, and society is at least working toward equality. When colonists came to America, they literally stole the Native Americans’ land and systematically murdered many of them. This act is genocide. It is appalling, even in today’s society, the conditions that Native Americans continue to endure on the land that was originally theirs. Therefore, I believe that your environment and experiences are the factors that determine how you feel about your race. Also, how you are raised will inevitable influence the emotions you feel toward yourself and your ethnic group. For example, I feel no guilt being a black person because I have lived in an environment where I am able to accept my heritage. Also, the history of black people in America is not something generally that people feel guilty of; often the emotion felt is anger. The same goes for the history of all the other minorities in the United States. I believe white people in America will tend to feel the most guilt because their ancestors have been the ones known to be the most racist. Slavery, segregation, internment camps, reservations, immigration laws, and so much more are all ways that white people have discriminated on all minorities. Growing up, white people begin to see that they have been the most privileged because they learn about what their ancestors have done. This is probably learned in school in their history classes. I think this awareness definitely leads to guilt, but this is not always the best thing. When someone feels guilt, especially for something that they cannot prevent or do anything about, this can lead to anger towards those that make them feel guilty in the first place.

I think that concept of offering scholarships to white males only is a controversial topic. Some people could believe that this notion is racist. Others, probably mainly white people, could believe that this is a fair concept. The fact of the matter is that it is just not right to allow every other race offer exclusive race based scholarships, but not permit them to a certain racial group. I believe that offering scholarships to only white people is fair, if it is done in a certain way. It is unfair that white people, although they are the majority group, cannot get scholarships for being “white”, especially if they are poor. I think that scholarships that are aimed only for white people should be class based, not just because they are a white person. In the case of many scholarships that are for people of different races or ethnicities, the recipients must meet certain requirements. These requirements could include: grade point average, socio-economic class, religion, or skills. This should apply to “white-only” scholarships also. When gender comes into play, this subject becomes even more of a hot topic. There are many scholarships that are for only women, as well as many scholarships for men only. I don’t think that there could ever be a scholarship for white males only that will not be considered racist by society. White males have and continue to dominate in the worlds of politics and business. These two fields are major forces in society and people who are in them make decisions that ultimately shape how things work, what people buy and/or consume, and who gets what. Since, historically, white males rule business and politics, it makes people uneasy when they are allowed yet another advantage in having exclusive scholarships. The past of America is the reason why people do not think it’s okay for there to be even greater advantages for only white males. Slavery, internment camps, and many other things that white people, mostly men, have done in the past show that they already have a great advantage over minorities in America. In considering students for admissions in college, race should never be a factor. I think that skills should be the major factor that is taken into account in admissions and employment. However, many people are prejudiced. White privilege is something, I have come to learn, that is a major problem in the United States. Many people who are in positions of power allow people who are like them to rise to power more easily. Since white people are the majority group, they are more often in positions of power, so more often white people are able to rise to positions of power. The cycle continues and repeats constantly. So, if there were white male only scholarships, there needs to be restrictions and requirements that do not discriminate on anyone.

I have had a lot of experience with affirmative action. It was my topic of choice for my pros and cons paper in English in high school. Also, I did several speeches on it in my speech class here ate Penn State last semester. I have always taken a neutral opinion on it, sometimes even thinking against affirmative action policies. I think many people do not know what it means or what it entails. Affirmative action has come to mean positive steps taken to increase the representation of women and minorities in areas of employment, education, and business from which they have been historically excluded. While this is what it claims, often times quotas or other unfair policies are put into place. I believe in equality for all. However, being in Sam’s class has persuaded me to have a different view of affirmative action. The disparities between races, especially black and white, are shocking. I don’t know how people or society can claim that there is equality when there is still so much prejudice against minorities in every aspect of life. When it is as easy for a white felon to get a job as it is for a qualified black man, there is a huge problem. The lectures have shown me that there is not equality in the United States. Affirmative action policies are definitely still needed today. Until there is a representative amount of races in genders in the workplace, American society is not equal. I believe white people think they are doing minorities a favor by doing all of the things that think they do “for us”. Sam was right on when he said that white people wonder why “you people” complain about inequality and racism still. Well it should be apparent from the statistics why we complain. The amount of ignorance of white people, even minorities, is shameful. I think people need to be more educated about the disparities between races. Also, we should learn more about what affirmative action policies actually do. They are needed, but they should not be unfair or discriminatory, which is hard to achieve. The fact is that many white people are very ignorant about race issues, especially at Penn State. I am sometimes insulted when I hear students behind me comment on certain things in class. For example, one time this white girl who was sitting behind me said to her friend that “black people are more gangster, so that’s why they get arrested more.” How is that even logical? The original gangsters were, in fact, white. Another time, a student behind me wanted to text “I hate niggers” in response to the question last class. The worst part about it is that the student was actually black. Ignorance is not always bliss.

I believe white privilege greatly affects my age group. White privilege refers to the advantages that white people have in society ranging from economical to psychological. There are an overwhelming number of examples of racism against all people that are not the majority, which are white people. These examples include the incarceration imbalance, income imbalance, and living conditions. Although I haven’t experienced much racism towards myself, as a black female I really identify with the statistics about minorities doing less drugs yet getting arrested more. I was shocked by the fact that so many more black people are in jail than white people, even though white people more often do drugs. I was really annoyed in class when people thought that maybe they didn’t get arrested because they are doing legal, prescription drugs. Do people really fail to realize that if you aren’t prescribed the medicine, it is illegal to take or sell it? I hate that everyone in class, even black people, stereotype black people to be drug dealers. I know way more white people than minorities who take and sell drugs. When you are white, you basically have more of a chance to succeed. Black people are 18 times more likely to go on to prison than white people who commit the same crime; this can be nothing but racism. White people complain about affirmative action policies and other things like that, but if there were no prejudice against minorities then these policies wouldn’t be needed. Income disparities are also pretty frustrating, but not as shocking to me. I don’t like that many black people don’t take responsibility to do more for themselves. Sometimes minorities blame society or circumstances, which are valid arguments, but people have to fight for their equality. I’ve never been in a situation where I felt discriminated against, but I’m sure my mother has. She is a successful career woman in a male dominated field, plus she is attractive. Also, she is a single mother who makes more than the median income of America. These facts may break the stereotype, but it doesn’t change the fact that this isn’t a normal circumstance. White privilege is what keeps “air head” secretaries in jobs, rather than a qualified minority. Urban areas are almost always considered “black,” and suburban areas are almost always thought of as “white”. I don’t understand why this is the case. Places shouldn’t be described as a race. An interesting fact I read when I searched for the actual definition of “white privilege was that white people don’t usually list “white” as a descriptive term when describing themselves. Minorities, however, almost always use their race as a descriptor. I believe that since white people are the majority, they probably feel as if it is a given that they are white when describing themselves and only those that are “other” need to say which type of race they are. I think that white people take advantage of their privilege by claiming that other races aren’t trying hard enough to succeed and things like that. Well, maybe if we were white, other white people wouldn’t discriminate against us.

During the beginning of class when Sam told us to vote on whether he was conservative or liberal, I voted that he leaned more towards liberalism. I should have known, however, that he would be more conservative because he always likes to try to trick the class. I am quite liberal in my views. I even took a “how liberal or conservative are you?” Well, the results were that I was 15% conservative and 85% liberal overall. On social issues, I am 25% conservative and 75% liberal. On fiscal issues, I am also 25% conservative and 75% liberal. On the topic of ethics, I am 0% conservative and 100% liberal. On defense and crime, I am also 0% conservative and 100% liberal. I wasn’t shocked at these results because I had already considered myself liberal. Some of the questions asked, though, I thought that Sam would definitely have had a liberal view on. Some topics asked about on the quiz included: marijuana legalization, the death penalty, abortion, the war in Iraq, the environment, and gay marriage. I believe marijuana should be legal. Hemp is considered a cash crop, and could make billions of dollars a year. If it were taxed, it could greatly decrease the deficit and national debt of America. I think that the death penalty is wrong because we shouldn’t kill people who kill people to teach people that killing is wrong. I believe that the war in Iraq was unjustified and has gone on way too long. I think the government should take more of an interest in the environment and the problem of global warming. We only have one world to live in and we must take care of it. I believe that gay marriage should be legal. Marriage allows many benefits to a couple and it is unfair to deny them this right because government and religion are supposed to be separate. Usually, liberals believe in government action to achieve equal opportunity and equality for all. Also, they believe that it is the duty of the government to alleviate social ills and to protect civil liberties and individual and human rights. Liberal policies generally emphasize the need for the government to solve problems. I agree with this to a certain extent. Since, people vote for representatives in government ant chose a democracy, I believe it is the government’s role and duty to help the people with their problems. Conservatives generally believe in personal responsibility, limited government, free markets, individual liberty, traditional American values and a strong national defense. They believe the role of government should be to provide people the freedom necessary to pursue their own goals. Conservative policies generally emphasize empowerment of the individual to solve problems. I also agree with this view to a certain extent. People are free to make their own decisions and have the ability to succeed. However, sometimes circumstances or prejudices can hold a person back from achieving their goals.