I don’t think that it has to do with racism or thinking that you are better than anyone else. I think it’s just stating the truth, that we as Americans have the ability to make an impact where as if you go to a 3rd world country you can see that it’s much harder for them to make an impact. I don’t necessarily think that that makes you think that you are better than anyone, just that you are more able and accessible that other people. The real question is, now that we’ve realized that we have this ability to make a difference, an ability that others obviously don’t have, what do we do with that. Is that where it ends? Do we realize that we have this ability and they don’t and then move on? That might make it a little racist. However, if we realize that we have this ability to create change and then we do something about it, how can that be racist or thinking that you are better than anyone, its using you’re eligibility and accessibility as a means of helping.
I feel that the problem lies in those who think they are more able people, more intelligent, more “gifted” than other people without taking into the fact that you are just more accessible. This accessibility in no way makes people better, just able to do more with what they have been given. It all depends on how we consider ourselves better cotenants to make a difference, and how we employ this advantage and ability to make a change and a difference.
That’s also where the whole “politically incorrect” thing comes into play. Just by saying that you believe you can make a bigger difference than people less able does not make you a racist, but obviously you question that motive due to political correctness. I agree that sometimes there is a fine line between what can be considered racist and what is not, and sometimes things are said incorrectly which can give them a racist undertone, but it’s all in the execution and the way people perceive what you are saying. Maybe that makes you even less of a racist that you go to these other countries, look at the conditions that people are in, and conclude that you have been lucky enough to have the ability to enforce change and make things better, maybe for the people who you feel more capable than. Its not a bad or racist thing to realize your potential and the risks and hardships that prevent other less capable of employing such change.
So basically, no I do not think that what you are saying makes you a racist. I understand that if I were said in a different way, or if you realized this ability and did nothing with it that it would possibly qualify as racist.

It's a difficult question but i think it just depends on how you say it, people are so touchy with political correctness. Knowing that you are able to make a change and that other people are less capable doesn’t make you a racist. Obviously some people have certain advantages and tools that allow them to make a change. The real question is are you going to do something about the fact that you are capable of change or are you just going to sit their, acknowledge your capabilities, and then do nothing. That can make it seem a little more racist because now it is like you know you are more capable of something and you judge other people for not being as capable.

Knowing that you are able to make a change and that other people are less capable doesn’t make you a racist. Obviously some people have certain advantages and tools that allow them to make a change. The real question is are you going to do something about the fact that you are capable of change or are you just going to sit their, acknowledge your capabilities, and then do nothing. That can make it seem a little more racist because now it is like you know you are more capable of something and you judge other people for not being as capable.

It’s no wonder that girl today have such little self esteem. We’re socially constructed by Hollywood and society to absolutely hate the way god made us. I wish that Hollywood would just stop setting such impossible standards for women. The fact that the average size in Hollywood is a size 4 is just disgusting. We pick up these magazines of women on the cover looking absolutely perfect, beautiful complextions, perfect bodies, amazing tans. But that’s not the way it really is. These women on the covers are MADE to look that way. They all have blemish’s, everyone has scars, they’re not all a size 0 with NO cellulite. Women have all these flaws, but its what makes us beautiful. We need to stop being such a superficial society and realize that beauty is skin deep, and that perfection does not exist.

I wish that Hollywood would just stop setting such impossible standards for women. The fact that the average size in Hollywood is a size 4 is just disgusting. We pick up these magazines of women on the cover looking absolutely perfect, beautiful complextions, perfect bodies, amazing tans. But that’s not the way it really is. These women on the covers are MADE to look that way. They all have blemish’s, everyone has scars, they’re not all a size 0 with NO cellulite. Women have all these flaws, but its what makes us beautiful. We need to stop being such a superficial society and realize that beauty is skin deep, and that perfection does not exist.

I think Hollywood makes it really hard to accept looking the way we do. Hollywood portrays women as always looking perfect, and the second you slip away from perfection you face utter shame. For instance, Jessica Simpson has always been known to be the very skinny small southern bell kind of girl. Recently she gained a little weight and it’s like all hell broke lose for her. She went from being “perfect” to being the star that let herself go. In the picture that is oh so famous of Jessica she is wearing some high cut jeans and it probably snagged the cover of over 20 magazines talking about how Jessica let herself go and how she’s fat. I have a lot of problems with people saying that but what a lot of people don’t realize is that the jeans she was wearing in that picture were a size 4!! I don’t think I’ve been a size four since I was a freshman in highschool and at that time I felt that I was awkward and skinny. However, according to Hollywood’s standards a size 4 is apparently considered fat. That makes me so sick. Why can’t we go back to a time where Maralyn Monroe was looked at as having the most beautiful body, she was a size 12, although a size 12 back then was technically a size 8 now, but even so, how often do we see size 8 women in Hollywood? Never. Its disgusting the way Hollywood portrays women and beauty today.
Without body image, I believe women have a very close bond. From birth I’ve always felt that I can connect to women. Although a lot of that im sure was socially constructed, I think that women share a beautiful bond. Just like certain races feel as though they are more socially connected, women also feel that bond with other women. Women go through the same things so I think they empathize with one another. I feel much more comfortable with women than I do with men, even if we come from very different backgrounds or we don’t share the same color skin, we automatically share something even more special. We share the bond of being women. We share the fact that we have a very oppressing history, the fact that we teamed together as a gender to overcome many hardships. It’s a beautiful thing to be a women, but it’s also not an easy thing.
With they way Hollywood portrays women, its not wonder that there are so many problems with self image. Its not wonder that women think they constantly need to surgically change their image. God gave us what we have for a reason. We’re all different and we’re all beautiful, some of us big, some small, some have red hair, some have no hair, either way we need to stop and realize that we are all beautiful because god made us the way he made us!

People can change their mind, the only issue is if people are truly willing to change their mind. I think people can defiantly take what Sam says seriously if they’re willing to do so. It takes a stubborn person to not let the opinions of others even help them realize a new opinion. I know that by listening to others I have changed opinions about very serious issues and have lost a lot of my stubbornness. Being naïve will really get you nowhere, and not accepting that people can have different opinions and that our opinions aren’t the final saying is so stupid. I am glad that I’m willing to listen to others and I vey regularly try and get other people to do so as well.

People can change their mind, the only issue is if people are truly willing to change their mind. I think people can defiantly take what Sam says seriously if they’re willing to do so. It takes a stubborn person to not let the opinions of others even help them realize a new opinion. I know that by listening to others I have changed opinions about very serious issues and have lost a lot of my stubbornness. Being naïve will really get you nowhere, and not accepting that people can have different opinions and that our opinions aren’t the final saying is so stupid. I am glad that I’m willing to listen to others and I vey regularly try and get other people to do so as well.

I think a lot of people probably took what same has said this semester and had it help shape their opinions. I don’t think sam tries to mold us to think a certain thought I think he just tries to help us realize that there are other opinions out there. He tries to open our minds and get us thinking about important issues on a whole new level. I don’t think any of my opinions have completely changed in class but he has definetly helped me open my mind up more and explore new opinions. I have always been a very open person so I enjoy hearing a lot of things that he says in class. I guess Im also not super strong in any particular opinions so im not set it my ways.
I think part of your problem is that maybe you’re a little too stubborn and naïve. It takes a very stubborn person to not take in the opinions of other people and stand so strongly on their own opinions. I don’t appreciate people that are so strongly set in their ways that before even really listening to the opinions of others they already are set in the fact that their opinion will not be changed. It’s people like that that make racism so prevalent in our society. Its 2010 and there are still people who act like it’s 1950, so set in their opinions its sick.
I understand feeling so strongly about something that it’s hard to change you’re opinion, but I think people should always be open to hearing the opinions of others. We need to be more of an accepting society not against listening to others and accepting that people will have different opinions.
Actually this is funny that this comes up now because I had a bit of an argument with a man last night that would not change his opinion about anything. He was so set in his ways that any time I would make any argument he would just laugh and ignore any possible sense that I was actually making. It is one of the most frustrating things when people are like that. Then, on top of being so set in his ways, he was just a complete racist asshole who used more racist terms and sexist jokes that it was disgusting. Instead of accepting any of the things I was saying, he mainly replied with “I’m not going to change my mind, this conversations going nowhere but you can’t walk away because you want to fuck me.” I have never been more disgusted than I was by this racist virgin. He claimed he still held his virginity tight because of his religion….i call bullshit. The truth is no one will sleep with a racist asshole who won’t accept the opinions of others and just already have this pre disposition about how white christians are the superior race…okay virgin Hitler.

i understand what you mean. i am hispanic as well but i have always been kind of confused how to identify myself because i am only half. whenever i say my last name people look a little confused because it is so hispanic and i do not look like it at all. my father is 100% mexican but have extremely fair skin, red-ish blonde hair and hazel eyes. i am the same way but with light brown hair. even though we are technically Mexican, even when we go to our house im Mexico people seem to be confused when we speak Spanish. it's always been hard to identify myself as one way or another, i've never really been able to do it so i usually try to just avoid it but i am not sure if that i necesarily the right thing to do. ignoring it does not get me anywhere.