en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2415359 Comments by Kyle Stein http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/21/what-additional-question-would-you-ask-basum-if-you-could-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment144959992 I don't know if I would ask him any specific question, as most of those were asked about during class, but I would love to speak to him about his opinions on what is happening in Lbya and what his thoughts are on all of the recent uprisings throughout the Middle East. I think these events are some of the most influential and important clashes in regards to the United States' future that we have seen any time recently. While the United States has not been involved as much in the other uprising as we are currently in Libya, it would still be really interesting to see, from an Iraqi's perspective, insight into what the people most affected by the conflicts think about the United States' involvement. While it is controversial over here as well, it would be interesting to see if Iraqis or any other Middle Eastern countries' people find similarities between the current wars and in 2003. Since Basum mentioned just about every single person thinks (knows) the United States' involvement in Iraq was strictly about oil, I wonder what they are saying about our entrance into Libya? With our media we see very little coverage of the locals' perspectives, so being able to speak to somebody from that general region would be incredibly insightful. Also, I think speaking to people from this region in the world really “lets us in to their world.” We have very one sided views on all worldwide conflicts generally, but hopefully people that know the wars and uprisings better will allow us to better form our own opinions. Looking at everything from every possible perspective is something I challenge myself to do with everything, and my opinions on the Middle East are no different. The most important aspect of this conversation, as I touched on before, would definitely be how Middle Easterners see similarities and differences in the current conflict in Libya to the US invasion of 2003. I believe we would get very interesting responses in this discussion and be able to better understand how people feel about the US being involved in so many wars. As somebody who opposes war at all costs, and any violence for that matter, I also think it would be interesting to speak about his experiences with war first hand. Hearing people give personal testimonies to the violence and uprisings in certain areas brings us so much closer to the actual action (rather than hearing MSNBC or FOX News talk about it). Hearing personal testimonies is where I get my most informed opinions from, and I think listening to somebody who knows people involved in war and has access to the violent atmospheres could give me better insight to understand my opposition to violence ever more. In some ways I love hearing war stories, as they make me more and more passionate about the issues themselves. As somebody who opposes war at all costs, and any violence for that matter, I also think it would be itneresting to speak about his experiences with war first hand. Hearing people give personal testimonies to the violence and uprisings in certain areas brings us so much closer to the actual action (rather than hearing MSNBC or FOX News talk about it. Hearing eprsonal testimonies is where I get my views from, and I think lsitening to somebody who know people involved in war and has access to the violent atmospheres could give me better insight to understand my opposition to violence ever more. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:39:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/21/what-additional-question-would-you-ask-basum-if-you-could-and-why-119-blog/#IDComment144959992 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/why-did-the-white-students-tell-the-story-differently-than-the-mixed-or-black-students-119-blog/#IDComment143291674 I think there are two important factors to look at with this question. The first is that, while the stories may have been distorted by everyone involved slightly, we should first examine the general premise of the activity. The story was extremely long and parts were obviously going to not be remembered, left out, or skewed. The game is basically a more advanced version of the telephone game - the whole story was clearly not going to be the same at the end as it was when it started. That being said, it is definitely interesting to see the changes progress and notice how race may have had something to do with it. The first, and possibly most notable change to the story, was the "scuffle" change that the one white kid made to the story. It seems as if we, in general, want to in a way make everything a "battle." It was almost expected that the story would somehow be tweaked to include a "fight" between the two parties - regardless of race. I also think it is important to see how important it is that we, as a society, try to make everything very easy to understand and we tend to group things together for organization purposes. From a white students perspective, I feel like I am starting to notice more and more "us vs. them" mentalities between people. Stories start as simple black and white exchanges, then progress to white vs black stories highlighting the differences, not the similarities, between the groups. In part I believe this is because it becomes easiest to tell stories this way and they become more engaging, but I think race definitely has something to do with. To what extent, I'm not sure, but the stories would certainly not stay the same if it was between two groups of people of the same race. This isn't picking on white students though, I feel like everyone does the same thing. Stories change according to who is telling them, and they change to promote a sort of "shock value" that makes the story more interesting to the audience. Whether it be a white, black, asian, or hispanic, we all try to make stories easier to understand. Parts of the story get left out, according to what the audience thinks will be interesting, and unfortunately racial divides make stories more interesting to most people. Maybe this is because most people can relate to some sort of racial stereotype or because they can relate to it? I don't know the answer for sure, but it seems like racial divides make stories more interesting to a lot of people which could be a simple explanation for the example from class. Sat, 16 Apr 2011 03:37:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/why-did-the-white-students-tell-the-story-differently-than-the-mixed-or-black-students-119-blog/#IDComment143291674 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment139392043 I very rarely feel uncomfortable when I around people speaking other languages. I almost feel as it is self centered to feel that way - to see yourself as "above" those around you only because they are not speaking English. My assumption would be that 99.9% of the time those speaking other languages pose no threat to you in any way. To see them as a threat or feel uncomfortable is, to me at least, is just another way of immediately judging somebody as unequal to yourself. That being said, there are some instances when it is obvious that the person is talking about you, so in these instances I can understand the fear or sense of threat some people may feel. My viewpoint on this probably stems from my own experiences being the minority language speaker in a country. I traveled throughout Thailand for a few weeks this past summer by myself, and while there were many other backpackers in the same areas speaking all different languages, there were definitely many times where I was the only person speaking English around many Thais speaking their native tongue. When I think about people around me speaking other languages, I flashback to those time of myself speaking English and those around me not being able to understand what I was saying. I posed no threat to them and I would have been upset had they judged me for not speaking their language - which is probably the same way foreigners everywhere feel. I believe being able to experience this has put me in a great position to speak about it. I think we should honestly embrace the languages around us, as it shows people have traveled all the way to our country to visit and experience its beauty and its people. They spend thousands of dollars to live amongst us and should be commended for doing so - not ridiculed or judged. I actually love being around people speaking other languages – I just wish I knew what they were saying so I could join in the conversation! It almost makes me feel as if I am traveling yet staying home at the same time. Traveling has opened my eyes in so many ways, to the point that when I walk down a New York City street and I here a variety of languages it excites me and I become incredibly interested in where these people came from and what their stories are. The most important thing to take away from this conversation is that we all must realize that just because people are speaking other languages does not mean they are talking about you or trying to “hide” something. This is indeed a self centered view of the situation and it must be looked at by putting yourself in their shoes. My viewpoint on this probably stems from my own experiences being the minority language speaker in a country. I traveled throughout Thailand for a few weeks this past summer by myself, and while there were many other backpackers in the same areas speaking all different languages, there were definitely many times where I was the only person speaking English around many Thais speaking their native tongue. When I think about people around me speaking other languages, I flashback to those time of myself speaking English and those around me not being able to understand what I was saying. I posed no threat to them and I would have been upset had they judged me for not speaking their language - which is probably the same way foreigners everywhere feel. I believe being able to experience this has pt me in a great position to speak about it. I think we should honestly embrace the languages around us, as it shows people have traveled all the way to our country to visit and experience its beauty and its people. People spend thousands of dollars to live amongst us and should be commended for doing so - not ridiculed or judged. Sat, 2 Apr 2011 15:40:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment139392043 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137603507 This question has two important sides to it. On one hand, it makes me question myself and wonder why I have not ever really thought about dating somebody from a different race. I always told myself it was because of attraction - that I really wasn't attracted to people of opposite races - but honestly it could just be because of societal forces that are "outside of my control." I find it interesting that you asked towards the end of the question what our friends and family thought about our interracial relationship. In all honesty, I do not think my family would quite understand it. I feel as if they would think I was misguided, wierd, or just plain crazy. Not because they are particularly "racist," but rather because they have just never experienced interracial relationships in their respective immediate families. My father especially, who grew up poor and white in rural communities and never really experiences much of any other culture. My mom, on the other hand, I feel would be more accepting. She grew up poor in the heart of Pittsburgh right next to the projects, and who I am sure has seen interracial relationships. However, I still feel as if there is a stigma against it in my family. For example, a few months ago my brother and I went with my dad to visit another brother in Annapolis. When he came into my brother's place early one morning to wake us up to leave, there were four of us sleeping all over the floor and couches: Me, my brother, and two girls that were my older brothers friends - one black, one white. I couldn't help but notice the surprised expression on my dads face when he saw this black girl sleeping on the floor somewhat close to me - it was as if he thought something went terribly wrong the night before. When leaving he said, "I didn't know what to think when I came in and saw that black girl sleeping there." While this example is somewhat trivial, it still represents the stigma associated with interracial relationships in my dads view. I fully understand, however, that his situation is much different than mine. I am growing up in a much different generation surrounded by many more people who are open to these relationships. So am I truly not attracted to people of different races? I can't really say. I know for a fact that I would date people of different races, as I really do think a lot of non-white people are extraordinarily good looking and even better people. But I have to ask myself - do I tell people I am not attracted to black women? Do I hide the fact that I thought the middle eastern girl that passed was undeniably gorgeous? I try not to, but it depends on who I am with. I certainly don't have a problem with dating across racial barriers. I try to tell myself I could bring anybody home to meet my parents, but in the back of my mind I know I know the awkwardness that would come of it. But then again - its only awkward if we make it awkward. The only thing that has made me tell people I wasn't attracted to opposite races is the stigma associated with it. To me - its not any different than any other relationship, so I guess I really wouldn't care about the stigma associated with it. Love should be blind. Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:40:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/what-do-you-think-about-interracial-relationships-119-blog/#IDComment137603507 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135957664 I like to think that my own hard work and determination has got me to where I am today but I am 100% sure that is not all that has benefited me. I don't think it is possible to understand the true effects of white privilege because it literally affects every single aspect of our lives. Who I am friends with, the daily interactions I have with my professors, fellow students, family and friends, along with my thoughts and feelings towards those around me. While I'm not a somebody who thinks everything is drastically affected by the color of your skin, it is clear that it does affect just about every aspect of our lives, even if it is miniscule. While I don't have any definitive examples of white privilege in my own life that I can distinctly remember, I know there have most likely been times where my white skin has drastically helped me before I was aware of its privilege. Everything from applying to jobs in high school or encounters with either police or school administration has most likely been somewhat affected by my skin. Being white has allowed me to "slip by" common obstacles that others face. All it takes is one situation, one encounter that can drastically alter a life and fortunately I have not had one that has affected me as much as it may have if I had a different skin color from the "normal." Maybe if I were black I would have been arrested for petty crimes in high school that - because I knew the officers and could speak with them outside of the situation - I otherwise never would have thought of. As I said previously, I believe my skin color affects ever aspect of my life - no matter how small. I think every encounter I have with anybody, whether it be a store clerk or meeting a new friend, is somewhat affected by my skin. Sadly, first impressions are what matters most to just about everyone. People judge people for EVERYTHING, not possessing the ability to get to know somebody and realize they are the same - if not better - than we are. I know people who literally feel pity for every black person they see, which is terrible considering that their skin colors are the only aspect of the person my friend knows. They immediately judge and believe that person is either inferior, is "struggling," or is "dumb" and because of this they lack the understanding and education it takes to be aware of these false implications. The worst part about it, however, is that this judging and inability to understand it takes place on all levels of hundreds of millions of people's minds. We can't have an equal society until we are all viewed equally by everyone. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 02:04:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135957664 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment134350820 I honestly don't think it is possible to feel guilt about what freed slaves went through or where we are positioned today. Thats not to say we cannot do anything about the positions those less fortunate are today, but in terms of what happened a century ago I don't believe we should look back on it with concern. We should look at the situation realistically and realize that what happened is truly not our faults and being born in 1990 does not give us any chance to change or influence it. I just don't believe we can keep looking back on it with regret and expect to move on accordingly. I don't think the question should be necessarily do we feel guilt or not, but rather to what extent should we be involved in making the lives of those most affected by slavery in the past better today. As is the same with most of our nation's and the world in general's problems, everyone must do their part to make a change. I think we can each be involved somewhat, at least in our day to day lives, with helping those that are in a less fortunate situation or position to "make it" today. As I said before, I do not feel any guilt at all about the position I am in or the things I have but I certainly feel it is necessary to challenge myself day in and day out to understand why I am in the privileged state that I am in today. Yes, a lot of my situation today has to do with the fact that I am white, the fact that my entire family is white, and that I live in a predominantly white area outside of Pittsburgh. However, these are things I cannot change, and would not change, about myself and I don't believe anybody should dwell on any aspect of their lives that they have no control over. The most important thing that we can do is to be aware of our privileges and understand the implications they have on us and those around us today. Dwelling on the past will not allow us to move on, but learning from the past will. If we can find a way to be proactive about all aspects of race relations and in turn spread awareness of the difficulties of those still being affected by slavery in today's world - we can turn our guilt into positivity. If everyone was aware of the difficulties that slavery from the past still imposes on our minority populations today, only then can we begin to make a change for the better. I battle with myself over what my feelings should be towards my ancestors and those who did nothing to stop the human rights abuses that were happening. However, when I really try to think sociologically about the situation by putting myself in my ancestors shoes, I end up seeing how easy it would have been to "go along with the crowd" and support what was happening. We al have to ask ourselves, would I stand up for what is right and risk almost certain death? Would I even know what was actually "right?" When thinking about it this way, the lack of guilt becomes more clear. I think it is incredibly difficult to find myself feeling guilt for not only this reason, but for the fact first few reasons I stated as well. Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:22:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/02/do-people-feel-guilt-about-their-current-positions-when-knowing-about-the-disadvantages-of-the-freed-slaves-119-blog/#IDComment134350820 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/is-it-selfish-for-people-in-poverty-to-have-more-kids-because-of-their-lower-income-119-blog/#IDComment130634988 Everyone has different numbers of kids for many different reasons and it definitely depends on the situation. I think the best way to approach a rational answer to this question is to put yourself in the shoes of an impoverished person before they have the children and really attempt to understand their respective situation. However, I believe their are two aspects to analyze: the first being tangible reasons to have more children and the second intangible. The first, and probably most logical response, would be having children can have a profound effect on lessening the burden of "work." Especially in farming families, the amount of children one has can severely lessen the amount of work that needs to be done around the house, therefore technically making the lives of everybody easier. I think this was much more apparent in the past, as large families that "grow up on the farm" are much less conventional. Having more and more children can also bring many tax write offs and help from the government. It almost serves as a type of welfare in itself. The second, and what I believe is a very important,yet difficult, one to examine is the effect children have on the mindset of their parents. Children change lives in terms of motivation and may encourage parents to work more and make more money. What we see a lot with parents is that they want their children to have better lives than they have. Everyone wants the best for their children and by having more, it offers the best chance for your family to succeed and for at least one person to "make it." For someone that has nothing, more and more children bring opportunity into their lives along with structure and purpose. Newfound goals and incentives come about, and many parents may want to have children that live the lives they never had the opportunity to. Loneliness also becomes apparent in situations like these. More and more children brings increased family involvement, more connections, and more loved ones around each person. While i have never read studies on the topic, I believe companionship plays a major role in the reason to have increased number of children. Whether or not this is a selfish act I think entirely depends on the situation, as I do not believe this is a rational reason or response (although a popular one) to the reason to have kids and the opinion of the person examining the situation. I truly believe the second, intangible aspects are the most important ones if we were to put ourselves into others' shoes. Does anybody really believe that poor people only have children for government and money incentives? I believe that is a terrible view of our society and humanity, and I am not one willing to see our peers in that selfish way. There has to be underlying, unseen aspects to why people have large numbers of children that is much more in depth, intangible, and difficult to understand from an outsiders perspective. Fri, 25 Feb 2011 17:01:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/is-it-selfish-for-people-in-poverty-to-have-more-kids-because-of-their-lower-income-119-blog/#IDComment130634988 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-can-we-make-people-more-aware-of-the-slavery-that-is-still-going-on-119-blog/#IDComment128975862 Lets be honest, a large majority of people in the world, and especially in this country, have no idea what is happening outside the United States, let alone where and how the products they use on a daily basic are made. If you are, you are part of a select group that may actually see the world in a larger context. While this may be the case, I don't think it is necessarily a terrible thing that a lot of people aren't aware of slavery in the world (actually I do think it is terrible, but who's to blame?) In our culture, we aren't actually raised to be aware. In this country, the major focus of our educational system is to raise our children in a "you can do anything" viewpoint. Our assimilation does not include anything about the rest of the world, but rather focuses on our own success. We can't necessarily be upset about this, because it has been a philosophy that has allowed our country to stay atop the world. I don't have a cynical view of our values, but it is interesting to see that the percentage of people that are aware of slavery is incredibly low. I think the biggest problem isn't so much our education system as it is our university system. Our values are deeply imbedded into all the institutions in this country, so I don't think it is possible to change K-12 education to make international matters more important. Is the university system, however, I think the students have reached an age where we can and should have some sort of focus on international issues. While our minds develop and we are introduced to new ideas and philosophies, this time in our lives presents a perfect opportunity to gain international experience. A large majority of University students are in majors that de-emphasize international issues. I believe all the students in the country should have to take classes in international relations so we as a country can become more educated and more "worldly." I also think everyone should have to study abroad, so we can all gain international experience and learn different viewpoints from around the world. Although this is quite a large change to make, if we actually did it, we would be much better off. Too many people aren't exposed to any international issues and I truly think that with increased international experience and discussion, this would change. Lets hope some radical change is possible! Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:08:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/17/how-can-we-make-people-more-aware-of-the-slavery-that-is-still-going-on-119-blog/#IDComment128975862 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment126914955 I think it is interesting how many people may still believe that our own choices are what mostly influence where we are and what we deal with on a daily basis. I am somebody that truly did work hard throughout high school and into my college career. I graduated high school in the top 10% of my class, I played multiple sports, I was involved, I did all of my homework and and I got very good grades because of it. I made the right choices and hung out with the right people and became a very well rounded person. However, I also am aware that this is not what got me into Penn State or where I am today. I think a lot of it has to do with my family demographics: race, income level, religion, etc. What is important to look at in terms of free will vs. determinism is not necessarily which one you believe in but rather how appreciative you are of what cards you have been dealt. I grew up with a stay at home mom who pushed me to work hard while my dad made six figures at work. I am white and I went to high school in a predominantly white school that ranked well against others (not most other schools around me, but certainly better than many city schools). My dad graduated from Penn State and I knew all along I would be coming here, all it took was some studying in high school and a little involvement and I would be following in his footsteps. So essentially, the cards I have been dealt have had a significant impact on where i am today and what I have been able to do, and I am extremely aware and thankful for this. It is important to understand where we came from and how significant factors outside of our control play into our lives, but it is also important to be proud of where we have come from and not judge ourselves negatively for having it easier than others. Yeah, I had a relatively "easy" childhood in comparison to many, but I am not at all ashamed of that. I don't walk around bragging about it, because I think it is important to measure yourself in terms of degree of determinism. Shouldn't I be at Harvard right now? Shouldn't I be an engineering major? Shouldn't I be someone who wants to make a lot of money!? Well, I'm not those things, and I truly believe it is because I am aware of determinism and how much it has played into my life. I'm different than most people when it comes to being appreciative of where we've come from, but I'm certainly not ashamed about it. What questions arise though, is how do we look at others who may or may not have been dealt worse cards than us; do we judge all the white kids and say they had it easy? do we see all minorities as stereotypical "first generation college students"? The answer is obviously no, but it seems like the easy thing to do (as all stereotypes are). What I find interesting about determinism is that it has a direct relationship with judgements about others. I challenge everyone to really think about and understand how the cards they have been dealt affect their lives on a daily basis, and to find out about how others' past and present as well. Some people have incredible stories that will not only inspire us, but allow us to better understand how we measure ourselves. Get to know people! Everyone has a story to tell. Wed, 9 Feb 2011 14:27:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/how-have-the-choices-youve-made-and-determinism-affected-your-life-119-blog/#IDComment126914955 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment125337617 I think it largely depends on where you are and who you are talking to. For the most part, I would absolutely agree with you and do the same as you said. I believe, for the most part, that when most American's are asking you the question they are wondering about your actual heritage and thus what countries your lineage stems from. If a fellow American asked me what my heritage was or "what I was," I would tell him or her that I am almost 100% German. However, I guess it depends on the question. If I was asked where I was from (by an American) it would be assumed they were asking about what part of the country (which would also give insight into a person's background sometimes just as much as their heritage). That being said, it is definitely different in other countries but certainly depends on the situation. I lived in Australia for five months and backpacked through Thailand for a few weeks after. In Australia, not many people were ever really concerned with my heritage, but rather just where i was from (which most could tell by the accent anyway). In this instance, my response would be "America" and I would often have to give a more specific answer as most people inquired further. There was one particular instance though, where an Italian roommate of mine asked me what I was and actually was asking about my heritage. In this case, I told him that I was almost 100% German and we discussed heritage and how much Americans actually are attached to it for quite some time. However, as you said in the video, most people abroad are inquiring about your country of origin. I think the most important and most interesting part of being an American in another country though, is the conversations that rise about otherwise controversial topics here in America. Why are we at war? Do you like George Bush? Why are we all so ignorant? While some may shy away from these conversations, I actually loved having them. It gave me the chance to prove myself, my knowledge and patriotism, and remove the stigma associated with being "American" by setting an example. It almost makes me wonder, what if I had just told people I was German and that I live in the US? That being said, my experience in Thailand was quite different. Being tall, tan, and blonde did not allow me to really fly under the radar in a world of relatively small men and women with dark hair and asian ancestry. In every case I can remember, my response to who I was ended up in a conversation about being American, how I came to travel so far, and why I was by myself. I never encountered anyone asking about heritage, but did encounter many people that wanted to speak about what it was like in America. Not that Australians look down on America, but I was held to a much higher esteem in Thailand than anywhere else I have traveled to. In general, I would say I thoroughly enjoy telling people I am American, as we can't shy away from who we are and where we come from (even if there is stigma associated!) Wed, 2 Feb 2011 04:36:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/do-you-describe-yourself-differently-in-other-countries/#IDComment125337617 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124029026 I find it very odd that a lot of people seem to see similar people sticking together as annoying, weird, or as a mechanism of isolation from the majority population. If you think about it, it really is not that strange at all. There are many possibilities or reasons that could explain why groups of people do this. First of all, most people tend to enjoy the presence of those who are similar in thought, interests, and activities to themselves. If we all take a look at our own friends, you can usually assume that most are, generally, quite similar. Even if they are not similar in race, they are probably similar in culture and beliefs. Except in rare circumstances, it is not often you find a group of friends that are buddhist, muslim, christian, and atheist (or any other drastic difference for that matter, not limited to religion). When a particular ethnic group is seen together, it may not be that they do not want to branch out and find friends that are different, but rather they simply want to be surrounded by those that make them most comfortable and those that are most similar in attitudes and beliefs, which is generally the same for almost all of us. When concerning ethnic groups, not international students, I believe this is the case the majority of the time. When it comes time to analyze international students and their respective groups of friends, I believe they face a number of factors that prevent them from assimilating and branching out to a more diverse group. First, they face the same problem as the rest of us in that we naturally feel most comfortable when surrounded by those most similar to us. Second, I believe it is largely a structural problem. Having studied abroad myself and traveled outside the country independently, I understand the hardships in making valuable and long lasting friendships with locals. When I studied abroad, most Americans were placed into housing together, some of the same courses (depending on what you took and what kind of program you are on), and are offered many similar trips to sign up for and see the country together. Most Americans, with some exception obviously, ended up largely having close American friends and sticking together for the most part. It wasn't so much that they did not want to meet locals, but it was much easier and convenient to make American friends. At Penn State, this could be part of the reason that many international students stick together. Another possible explanation is obviously the language barrier. While the international population is not so prevalent in the College of Communications, I have encountered some students that simply do not speak English well. Again, the ease and convenience in sticking with those that are similar to you may take hold here, diminishing potential diversity. Therefore, there are many possibly reasons that international students and different ethnicities stick together, apart from the idea that they simply do not wish to assimilate. It may be only a matter of convenience and comfort associated with being around similar people. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 03:23:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124029026 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122382396 When I think of stereotypes and why we have them the first thing that comes to my mind is the idea that “we are all equal.” This ideology is pushed into us at a very young age from our parents, our school teachers, and those who socialize us. We must ask ourselves though, openly and honestly, are we all truly equal? Do we all have the same opportunity? Or do we just hide under the blanket that the phrase truly is? Just because we elected a black president, or just because we have integrated our school system over the last half-century, or just because affirmative action takes place on some levels, does not mean we are truly all equal. The phrase is exactly what it is, only a phrase. In my view, stereotypes are what allow this ideology to continue and remain unchallenged. Stereotypes negate the positive accomplishments and efforts of those who went against the social norm to “prove” that minorities are capable of the same “greatness” that the majority can accomplish. I think the reason they are still around, and still incredibly strong and supported by a large majority, is that there is nothing being done on the individual level to curb them. We hide under the blanket of the phrase “we are all equal” and do not see people as individuals, but rather as groups. We laugh at the phrase “towelheads” when our friends say it, albeit jokingly. We don’t mind that the word nigger is used in every unedited version of each popular music song on the radio (or at least we don’t do anything about it). The possible key to curbing stereotypes is getting individuals to look past the “we are equal” stage that we have grown accustomed to and actually take action against the little things. It’s the sly comments and accompanying laughter against racial jokes that drive the stereotypes themselves, and enforce the ideas in the jokes, even if they are truly that: only a joke. Unfortunately, we are not at the stage in society where we can ridicule our friend for making a racial comment or remark. We must laugh and accept it as being “not a big deal” in order to avoid ridicule against ourselves. Change must take place on an individual level, where each person is held accountable for the prejudice they place on others by those closest to them. We must not allow the sly jokes and laughter to continue, but rather take a stand and be against the little things that perpetuate stereotypes. If real change is going to happen, we cannot accept larger society’s downplaying of racial slurs and ideologies, but rather understand that every little thing that is said further prolongs the underlying inequality of opportunity for minorities. So next time a friend says something that was supposed to incite only laughter, respond in the way you actually feel about it. Don’t be afraid to take a stand. Only then can we as a society actually reach the potential that the phrase "we are all equal" has. Wed, 19 Jan 2011 23:10:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122382396 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cs%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment121376638 SOC119 Fri, 14 Jan 2011 22:18:36 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cs%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment121376638