Not to sound cheesy but the only way I can describe this letter is, beautiful. I was certainly changed after reading this letter and I am thankful to have the opportunity to read it. The situation the inmate describes is extremely compassionate but I was mostly struck by the articulation, class, insight, and intelligence demonstrated by the author. I will admit that I was not convinced when Sam first described his experience with “lifers” in prison. I held the same misconceptions and stereotypes that most people hold regarding convicted prisoners. Images of gang fights, violence, and fear come to mind. After listening to Sam’s experiences and reading this letter I have changed this opinion. I think back to Sam’s description of a “lifer” who was in prison after getting into a bar fight and the man fell backwards and landed on his head. I am not condoning fighting, but this was a horrible situation and could have turned out completely different. I also thought back to one of my discussion groups where the realization was made that, in any situation, people will do anything. Basically people do not know what they are capable of including violence until they are put in a certain situation. I am not making excuses for people who commit crimes, but rather offering my understanding and compassion. I do not believe I would ever commit a crime; however I have never been put in a situation where it was encouraged, needed, or necessary. This man’s words brought back these thoughts and I could relate to his situation and truly appreciate the beauty of his words, regardless of where they were written. These are the words of a brilliant man who understands the world more then most people who are actually free to walk around and it enjoy it. I wonder what this man would be like had he never been incarcerated? Would he have the same insight into the human spirit? I honestly think the answer is no. I believe this man has been infinitely changed by his time in prison. I guess with no hope of freedom, one looks internally. Obviously freedom is important part of life, but is it really everything? I think this man has benefited in a way only few would appreciate. He has developed a unique view of the world that few people share and most people will never understand. I believe he has truly lived. To me he is lucky. To me he his soul is beautiful. I do not forgive his actions, however I believe he is no longer the same person that committed that crime. He has changed, and changed for better. He has also changed those around him, and others who will read this letter.

I can honestly say that Thursday’s class impacted my values and beliefs more than any other lecture this semester. When Sam warned us that this class would have the most impact, I honestly shrugged him off. I never expected to change my opinions on such an important issue, nor did I think I could sympathize with Middle Eastern Muslims, with “terrorists”. I loved the way Sam set up his lecture, first by showing a propaganda piece on Muslim extremists, and then following it up with the same Christian extremism. As the class went on, my barriers slowly began to come down and I could actually relate to those people living in Iraq and Afghanistan. I could feel their pain, I could feel their fear. I think it should be mandatory that all Americans hear Sam’s lecture. I believe most reasonable people would change their minds about the “war on terrorism”, and would begin to relate to those unlike them. Thursday’s class was a strange experience for me, as I am sure it was for many of my classmates. Personally I am confident and at peace with most of my beliefs regarding race and international relations. I am in no way a conservative, or even a patriot. I do however feel a deep love for my country and my friends and family who reside in the United States. I also feel deeply for the men and women involved in the armed services. I do not however support wars of aggression or wars of hate. After watching the videos and listening to Sam’s lecture I am completely changed. I will not support hatred against Muslims and I actually understand where Muslim extremists are coming from. They are simply trying to protect their country, their assets, their land, their religion, and their families. I do no support their violence, or their hatred. I do however understand their plight, and their struggle. When I think of my own family and the love I feel for them, I can understand Muslim extremists who are simply trying to protect their family and their country. Americans live in a unique bubble, our law is king and the feeling of other countries does not mean anything. After class on Thursday, I can finally relate to these people and their feelings. They are just like us they might practice different religions and engage in different cultural practices but inevitably we are the same. We are exactly the same. We have different beliefs, we have different idols, besides that we are the same. It was difficult for me to accept but I am actually glad that I have. I am a changed person. I have altered my beliefs. I have changed my attitude towards the Middle East and “terrorists”.

So the question I am wondering, “Is this kid a racist who hasn’t changed his views”, or is this someone who simply racially “enlightened”. Frankly I think he is close minded. I will not call him a racist, since I do not know his specific opinions regarding race or his cultural background. I will say that he has not opened his mind to the idea Sam has been stressing the whole semester, “I do not want to change your mind…I just want you to start thinking”. I don’t understand how after weeks of sitting through a class with such startling facts and truths someone could not “change their mind” or at the very least get something out of it. After struggling with my own mixed race identity I can honestly say I am at the end of the race identity spectrum, leaning towards the side of racial enlightenment. I do not see color, I see people. I realize that everyone is different, no matter their race. I understand that race does not determine one’s intelligence or ability. The social structures around us do however shape and alter the type of opportunities offered to us. At this point in my life I find it hard to believe that someone could not be impacted by anything we have studied this semester. Are you “honestly” listening? Or are you influenced by your own self confirmation bias? Are you sitting through every class ignoring the facts that dispel your own opinions and only listening to the things that reaffirm your own stereotypes? My next question for this person would be, “Why did you even take this class?” “Why did you take a class on race relations if you are not interested in taking in this material?”
This blog response makes me consider the topic of intolerance. After four years of college I have reached a point of no return. After two sociology classes, a greater exposure to the black community, and numerous race relations project discussions, I am done with intolerance and close mindedness. I have absolutely no patience for it. I realize that not everyone has my unique background, however after attending a large public university and learning about the world, everyone should at least consider these ideas regarding race. Excuses like, “I don’t know any black people” just don’t work anymore. Racism and intolerance thrive on the unknown. They thrive on people’s preconceived notions and misguided stereotypes. It is only when people consider the unknown that they can become enlightened. Sitting through weeks of Soc. 119 would undoubtedly reveal many unknown facts and dispel many common stereotypes. The idea that these ideas have been completely ignored by some of my classmates is ridiculous and mostly disappointing. It is however, the reality of life at Penn State, of life in the United States.

Watching this video brought back an extremely painful memory, I too symbolically chose “the white doll”. As a child of mixed race, an African American father and an Irish mother, I experienced a very similar situation as a child that I didn’t even remember. Two years ago my mother casually told me how I used to tell my black cousins and my black grandmother, that I was white. I would push up my sleeves and say “see look I’m white, not black like you”. Apparently everyone thought this was cute and funny, since I was only four years old, I however was shocked and embarrassed at my actions. As soon as my mother told me this story I instantly burst into tears. I thought back to my loving grandmother and couldn’t imagine denying her race, denying her. Even at four years old I knew race, and I knew which race was considered “better”. An earlier response asked, “How can children that young know race”? I am almost certain that this person is white. As Sam described in class on Thursday, most white people do not think about race even as adults, they have no reason to. I have known race as far back as I can remember. I remember feeling different from my friends and not wanting my white friends to know that I was black. It was a self hated that crippled my self esteem and destroyed my sense of family pride and acceptance. It was only in college that I finally recovered from this self hatred. Meeting black friends and talking about race in forums like the race relations project finally allowed me to accept my heritage and finally embrace my black ethnicity. Sophomore year I even had the courage to perform a piece on my race issues in an art class. I let out all of my shame, frustration, and hate in this performance and to this day it was the most freeing experience of my life. Hating yourself is one of the worst feelings you can have; thankfully I had a strong and loving support system which helped me get through this period in my life. The hurt and pain expressed by these young girls is heartbreaking, I only hope they had people in their lives to help their own self confidence. This pain was also expressed by one of my classmates on Thursday. She described the pain about feeling less beautiful because of her dark skin. This pain is real and a real issue in the black community, one which I had experienced but never really discussed before. I think it is a real and shameful secret among black women, the secret of self hatred.

I agree with the response from my classmate, “who is finally getting it”. Personally I believe, “I am finally getting it”. As a person of mixed race, who is primarily perceived as a white woman, I am able to identify with both “teams”. Although I have grown up in a primarily white area, and attended a predominately white college, I have many black friends and identify whole heartedly with my black family members. I believe this gives me a unique perspective. This perspective has been reinforced by liberal media and throughout numerous racial debates. My view on race relations was steadfast and unwavering; this class however has changed that perspective. After learning about causes for inequality and the ways in which our society perpetuates its racist social structure, I am changed. I have also learned about the “white perspective”. As Sam mentioned in class, most white people do not acknowledge race relations or the issues surrounding the topic. For the first time I am considering what it must be like to come to the race table, as a white person. For the first time I am considering “white guilt”. Although I am half white, I have always identified with my black heritage when discussing race. I have always believing that establishing my race gives me credibility and clout when discussing race. Now I realize that everyone comes to the race table with just as many experiences as I have, and just as many opinions as I do. I can finally see others perspectives and have finally stepped out of myself and opened my eyes to new people and new ideas. I finally understand that not everyone has experienced what I have and at the end of the day, we are all human, and subject to the forces and factors around us.

On the topic of forces and factors I am frustrated and confused. In a capitalist world it is hard to grasp that everyone doesn’t have the same advantages or the same opportunities. I am a prime example of opportunity. I was fortunate enough to be born into a two parent, upper middle class family, in a thriving and safe neighborhood. I was lucky enough to attend a competitive high school and gain acceptance into a prestigious and well known university. Although I worked hard and achieved good grades, my entire future was set up before me. Who knows if I would have accomplished the same things, if I had been born into another family, or even into a different school district? My success is certainly attributed to my hard work but I must also consider the social institutions which got me there. The fact that everyone does not have the same opportunities as me, or the chance to succeed is honestly depressing. In a capitalist society, it is hard to imagine a life different from my own, however the poverty and suffering around me is impossible to ignore.

I wonder what they will even take away from the class, will they change or will they continue to perpetuate this unacceptable behavior? It’s sad when you think about it, the fact that racism is everywhere. Most people would never describe themselves as a racist, but most people do engage in racist behavior. What makes a racist then? Are racist’s only KKK members or Nazis? These groups display and embrace their hatefulness, however what makes them worse than it makes those people who engage in racist behavior, but are not “racists”. At least the KKK members are not hypocrites.

These actions are childish and immature. I was especially upset when a racial slur was expressed in our own class this Thursday. Texting “those niggs deserve what they get” was completely out of line. We are in a race relations class correct? It almost seems that nowhere is safe; moreover, there is no place, where racism doesn’t occur. I was disappointed and hurt by this display and it made me consider that even in a race relations course, most people are not as tolerant or mature as they seem. I wonder why anyone would take this course if they weren’t honestly interested in improving race relations and ending racism in our society and on our campus.

The situation at UCSD does not shock me at all. These types of things could happen here at Penn State and have happened here in the past. Last year vandals drew swastikas on a Menorah outside of Beta Sigma Beta. Although directed at a different group, the situation is the same, outright racism on college campuses. I can honestly say that racism is everywhere here at Penn State. Racial slurs and ethnic jokes are the most common but that does not make them any less hateful. Now I realize that many students come from small towns where racism and intolerance towards people of color is acceptable. I do however believe that as college educated young adults this behavior is unacceptable. Racism is not acceptable no matter where you come from or what your parents have taught you. It’s 2010 for god’s sake! Why are we still talking about these kinds of situations, when will our generation take responsibility for our actions and end this war? Whatever your personal feelings may be, keep them to yourself.

I can honestly say the first time I heard the term, “genocide” to describe the removal of Native Americans from their lands was from Sam. He touched on this topic in my Soc 4 class freshman year. I had never heard the word “genocide” regarding Native Americans in any history class, peer group, or even through mass media. This term is both significant and shocking. Now most people associate the term “genocide” with the holocaust. Personally the term conjures up images of Nazi concentration camps, far away in WWII Europe, never here on U.S. soil. Now in response to my classmate’s question, the reason people cannot connect to this issue is due to the situation described above, they are simply unaware. I remember learning about “The Indians” in third grade social studies. I can even remember the tribes, their geography, their trades, and cultural structure. However, I never learned about the injustice, violence, and utter genocide that occurred to these people across the country. When I think back on those lessons, nothing was ever said about the “Indians” current status. A mystical, mysterious portrait was painted of these people and was simply forgotten when my class moved on to lessons on the Oregon Trail. Now I am not advocating teaching third graders about this horrifying point in American history, however like Germany takes responsibility for the Nazi revolution, America must acknowledge its own wrongdoing. If American children are taught about the Holocaust, why shouldn’t they learn about the genocide that occurred in their own country? As many of my classmates suggest, we should not be blamed for the sins of our forefathers, however we are committing our own form of genocide by not admitting these sins and denying an entire race of American people. There is obvious hypocrisy in this country to believe that this nation was “new” land, it was not, and it was red land. Numerous outlets in our society are to blame for this hypocrisy. Mass media, secondary education, and historians, have all worked together to conceal and ignore the horrifying treatment of Native Americans at the hands of American settlers. Some may say that these people have a better life, living on reservations, with no laws and tax breaks. These people are ignorant to think that being forced from your land and given a trailer is just cause for these sins. It makes me sick to my stomach thinking about this genocide and therein lies another reason people do not know or choose to ignore this issue; they simply don’t want to face the truth. But ignorance is not bliss and we cannot simply ignore the murder, theft, and discrimination Native Americans have experienced in this country and continue to experience. We must acknowledge this fact and teach our children. We must take responsibility for the sins of our father and at the very least recognize their faults.

As moderate liberal I have always supported gay marriage. After Thursday’s class however, I cannot understand why any one, liberal, conservative, black or white can oppose two people’s right to marry. Sam cited his conservative view that personal responsibility rules and that government should not intervene in any way. It makes perfect sense. Why should the government tell any one who or who they cannot marry? The government does not tell straight people who they can marry and why should they? One can look to history when the government did interfere with Americans right to marry, in the form of interracial marriage. Personally I am the result of an interracial marriage and frankly the fact that no so long ago, my parents would not be allowed to marry, is shocking and disheartening. I remember my parents telling me how difficult their wedding was, a mere thirty five years ago. Their parish priest would not marry them and how my mother’s father initially refused to attend the ceremony. These are the very issues gay couples face today and will continue to face even after gay marriage is legalized in all the states. All of the arguments against gay marriage are also similar to those opposing interracial marriages and ultimately brings up the issue of adoption? Will the child have a normal life? Will the child face shame and ridicule? I can honestly say my own experience has been better then most children growing up in a “normal” or should I say traditional household. I was exposed to two different cultures which I believe has made me aware of others around me and also a more well -rounded person. I believe that children of gay parents will also have a similar experience. They will be more educated people having had such an atypical experience. I honestly believe that a couple can provide a stable and loving home just as easily as any straight couple. Sam also emphasized the fact that most of these gay couples truly desire to be parents and will most likely give their child more attention then a straight couple who “accidentally” become parents. I agree that gay couples should expose their children to members of their opposite sex, ie gay men should expose their children female role models. This however should not be the basis to deny them to adopt or even to marry. Someone’s sexual orientation, which almost any mildly intelligent person would agree, is not a choice. Why should something that is not a chosen attribute, this includes race as well, determine whether or not a person can marry another person. Anyone who opposes gay marriage should honestly oppose interracial marriage as well. When one looks at the argument in this manner it becomes silly and intolerant.