en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/763036 Comments by l2ichlvl https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69816126 Obviously if you think that you can do more to help people you should not be feeling bad about it unless of course you are actually doing nothing. I do think the worst thing to do is waste a gift and by having the gift of being able to help, inaction is the worst action. Personally with the Haiti topic, the only thing I really did was help raise money but then I think that is all I really could do. If I could have gone to Haiti and thought I would make a difference I probably would have but Haiti right now needs a miracle more than a body. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:10:01 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69816126 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69815447 300,000 people is not something just to overlook but she said it herself, people don’t think it directly affects us. When something happens that doesn’t affect us, what are we supposed to do? We have been doing everything to help like donating money. Personally I cannot travel to the disaster site because of school and other commitments unless I took off and went to help. If she is saying we should be doing that then I might have to agree but I feel like I cannot do anything that I haven’t already done to help. There is only so much someone can do. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 21:05:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69815447 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69803881 He killed someone. He took someone’s life that did not deserve to be taken way before his time. Now he is in jail and repaying society for the injustice he committed. To be honest, the letter he wrote has nothing to do with his crime which I wish he could have talked about. The letter itself is very well written, especially considering that he didn’t even graduate high school but again that doesn’t have to do with anything other than he knows that you cannot end a sentence with a preposition. Congratulations to him for being well educated, probably self educated, but he still killed a man. The letter itself, again I will say, was very well written and does make you think about humanity and how all people can feel compassion for others. The man whose son died in the car crash you have to feel extremely saddened for, but he is in jail as well. I am not saying he deserves this grief, because I honestly do believe he deserves to be able to call his family and at least offer words of encouragement or receive them, but he is in jail for a reason and is repaying his debt to society. It is a sad thing to not be able to see your family because of a bad choice you made, but he made his choice earlier in his life and is doing what he can now to finish out the miserable existence he currently is living. Are people in jail human beings? Of course. Do they deserve to be treated like animals? Of course not. Do they deserve to be treated the same as the rest of society? Absolutely not. When Sam was talking about how he was in a room full of lifers and how he felt bad for them, I could not see his point of view at all. To be honest, If I was a lifer, I would either try to escape and make it out alive or be killed in the process. Either way it is a much better option to me than having to wake up everyday and realize you will never again be able to have a real life. These men who have committed the horrible crimes to have them locked up forever without even the chance of parole, I do not feel bad for one bit. They are bad people, they were bad people, they will continue to be bad people. Remorse, forgiveness; these are emotions reserved for people either nicer and kinder than me or for people who did not take the life of another person. As soon as you do something like that, you forfeit the right to be free, to have me feel bad for you, and to live a normal life. They will eventually rot in the ground like us all, but at least for me, I am not rotting above the soil as well. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:42:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69803881 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-might-be-the-second-step__trashed/#IDComment68074443 Sam always says he just wants you to feel something but in my opinion there is no point of a feeling if there is no action that comes of it. In this case step one is feeling something but I would agree with Sam that you have to purchase only fair trade chocolate if you really feel passionate about it. Many people, and I am one of them, feel that they are too small to change anything permanently but hopefully in the future there is a viable option. If I think of it, I will only buy fair trade chocolate but having it not be present in my daily life, it is much harder to think about constantly. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:23:30 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-might-be-the-second-step__trashed/#IDComment68074443 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-are-we-doing-here-really__trashed/#IDComment68074027 I think the goal for humans and the only reason we are here on this earth is to enjoy ourselves and have sustainable relationships to do that. Personally I don’t believe in god or an afterlife so I live for the moment but that doesn’t mean doing stupid things because that could potentially ruin the rest of your life and all the time you have in this world. Being a good person and helping other people enjoy this life is also something that people should do because without having fun or having relationships, what is the point? Live for the moment, plan for the future. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:20:11 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-are-we-doing-here-really__trashed/#IDComment68074027 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68073350 In a simple answer, I’d say everybody conforms to society in ways or else we would be ostracized. What I mean is that it is normal to conform to fit in because humans need social interaction so there is a reason why we do it. In a longer answer, I would say no, men do not conform to society in the same ways as women do, but we do have to act the “manly” part at times. Men have to conform in different ways other than our looks and our facebook comments such as our knowledge of cars or going to strip clubs when asked by friends. In my opinion, I think women are more insecure in general and therefore conform much more to the way people act, talk, and dress much more than men. For the same reason that women don’t like farting around friends or talking about periods, they will act like each other so as not to stand out. At the same time, it is commonly accepted for guys to do these things that women don’t do just because everyone else does it as well; however, there are things that some guys are not comfortable with and these things are the ones that society may tell us not to approach. One example, sorry if you’re uncomfortable with it but I don’t care, is having sex while a girl is on her period. Some people are completely grossed out and never want to see the blood let alone go near it in that way so they will just not have sex during this time. The only thing I think about in this situation is not getting the blood on anything and staining it so having sex in the shower is the logical option other than a week of abstinence. Now I guarantee someone will read what I just said and ask themselves what is this kid thinking, but that’s exactly what I mean. Just because some people are uncomfortable with an idea doesn’t mean that everyone is and for that example I am obviously fine with it. Now society tells me that if some people don’t like it but I have no problem then I should not do it. This is where I think men do not conform as women do, because I am sure that there is no girl in this class that would have wrote what I just did. Maybe there are though and they are the special few who I am not talking about because they, just as I, do not care what other people think about this. Who cares if someone doesn’t like something? Life is all about what you care about and enjoy. Now who wants to get clean? Wed, 14 Apr 2010 20:14:30 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68073350 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66508483 This game is ridiculous. But then again, when people look at Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty nobody says anything about it when it’s all about killing people. This is just another case of something going to the edge and pushing the line of what is and what isn’t acceptable a bit further. At some point, there will have to be a stop to this but who is going to do it. Any time there is someone with an imagination there will be something to satisfy it. Really you just have to make sure this kind of thing doesn’t encourage acceptance of raping but I could make the argument I’m not likely to kill anyone any more after playing a war game than I was before so I think we will survive. Thu, 8 Apr 2010 03:24:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66508483 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66507740 I have changed my thoughts on some things, mainly the talk about homosexuality, since the beginning of the semester. I have also thought about things in a way I have not previously done which is a great thing. When he talked about the black people being just as, if not more, racist than whites, that made me think pretty hard and I realized it from that point on that all people really are equally even in their vices. I don’t know how anybody can sit through that class and not think of alternatives; if you don’t then maybe you need to wake the hell up. Thu, 8 Apr 2010 03:18:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66507740 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment64960370 I don’t know about the accuracy of the 2050 projection of white minorities but it is certainly feasible that it might happen. Honestly, I cannot imagine our country where I am in the minority but it is not a bad thing, just a different thing. Change is good and if it happens there are more humans with dark color skin than light color skin, it just means suntan lotion will have to be discounted because nobody will be buying it anymore. The one thing I cannot wait for though is to not get a job and then get to say, “Is it Cause im white?!” Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:59:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment64960370 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment64960053 This is just another one of those things that a news report can stir up for Americans to argue about. Seriously who cares if there are people who are offended by some of the wording? I guarantee there are more people who have a problem with the fact the US Census Bureau spent $300 M on advertising because some people are too lazy to remember to mail it back on time. There will be people offended it is written on blue paper instead of white because they have poor eyesight and it is tougher to read. Really people, let’s not give these people who just want an argument the power they currently have. Get over it. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:56:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment64960053 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64959714 Children are the people who are supposed to be unbiased and not see things like color as actually mattering. They are born clean slates that are going to have society transform them before they die and probably before they know how to read or write as this video indicates. It is a very sad thing when children can look at a doll of two different races and want to choose one based on the color of its skin because they think one looks better. In my head, the black child should want to choose the black doll because it can identify with it and the white girl chooses the white doll for the same reason. Some will argue that the color should not matter at all but I will say to this that when a kid looks in the mirror and sees white, it will usually want to emulate this with a doll. The whole point of having dolls or action figures is to use your imagination and I know for me, I would pretend to be a GI Joe and shoot all the “enemy” tanks. I am sure it is the same with girls that they can look at a doll and pretend to be it and want to dress it up and have that hot red convertible. The fact that the kids choose dolls of different colors really doesn’t bother me until it is asked which one is clean or which one is the good doll. When little kids have it in their mind that the white is the good one, it will stay that way for the rest of their life. Hollywood does a good job too of brainwashing kids with the black and white symbolism representing good and evil. Our whole society now has this thought and it will be nearly impossible to break in the future because it is engrained into our heads from such an early age. So people, what can we do? The answer right now is nothing other than educate young kids that they are exactly the same regardless of skin color. When people have it in their heads that there is even a possibility of a difference in people because of external appearances, they will run with the idea and then it is firmly implanted in their brains. We need to teach every kid, black, brown, white, yellow, purple that it really is what’s on the inside that counts and straight or curly hair means absolutely nothing. If we can teach kindergartners that all people have an equal chance in this world, it will hopefully catch on as the self fulfilling prophecy and come true. When we have an entire generation believe they can do anything, they will educate their young and it will be a trend and possibly change society. Wed, 31 Mar 2010 04:53:11 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64959714 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/native-hawaiians-ever-think-of-them__trashed/#IDComment63945461 I honestly have never thought about the Native Hawaiians in my life until Sam posed this question. After reading the article, it is clear that there were injustices done and it is the government’s duty to make sure its people are being taken care of. This reminds me of Native Americans who our government gave land to but are still having much hardship. I am not sure how much giving the natives land will do for them but it is something I feel we need to try. If they are happy and everything works out then that is fine but we as a people should not overlook the fact that Hawaiians deserve their fair share too. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:18:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/native-hawaiians-ever-think-of-them__trashed/#IDComment63945461 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment63944724 That is a good question. Although it is true you should not judge anyone before getting to know them, people will think about whatever their stereotype is for that group. Specifically for Asians, for better or worse, I will always think of them as being smart in math (because I have found it to be true so many times), dedicated to their families, and at Penn State, hanging out in big groups of only other Asians. Like I said you should not judge people but when your stereotypes are reinforced so many times, you feel like you know a person before knowing them. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:10:45 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment63944724 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment63944166 I think it is pretty obvious why men don’t know more about menstrual cycles with women: because it doesn’t happen to us and why should we? I could ask how many women would know how to change a flat tire and I guarantee less women can do that then the number of men who are educated in the women’s menstrual cycle. To further my point, changing a tire is a gender neutral event that all people should know how to do before getting a driver’s license whereas a cycle is gender specific and men really never need to worry about it. Another reason men are not educated or seen as educated is because of the fact we don’t talk about it. First of all, girls are the ones who don’t like talking about anything with the human body. This applies to going to the bathroom, both ways, and farting, again normal human things that are usually not talked about with women. In fact, when they are talked about, most girls are either grossed out and I have heard on more than one occasion that girls simply do not poop. Obviously a joke but it goes to show the difference in mentality that men and women have toward these normal human actions. Men will not hide a fart, maybe unless on a date, and will often times actually call more attention to himself when it happens. The girl posing the question asked what would the world be like if men had menstrual cycles too. I am one hundred percent sure that it would be joked about more, talked about in classes, and would be the target of plenty of jokes. Because it is only women who have to deal with it, they are not as open about things that are seen as “un-ladylike” although I don’t know what could be more ladylike than something that physically only happens to that sex. I do not know what she meant when asking if tampons would be free, but if both sexes had periods then I would expect the prices to rise because everyone in the world would need them and Lady Gaga twice. If women could stop trying to be so perfect, and I am including needing to do hair perfect, go tanning, in addition to talking about things that actually matter or are normal things for humans to do, then the taboo would be lifted and things would get discussed. Because of the norm for women to just keep their mouths closed when it comes to their “disgusting” behaviors, it perpetuates the cycle for people not to say anything and will continue to stay dormant. Maybe we should have another race relations session but only talk about gender differences. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 02:05:17 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment63944166 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63129712 I completely agree that whit people need to censor themselves when it comes to race issues such as these. Sam always talks about being completely honest when he talks in groups with other races but the fact is that if this was the case, people who talked about race issues seriously would not be liked by people of the opposite race for reasons that they feel would be racist. If I said the same thing about white people acting differently around black people they would handle it a certain way compared to black people handling it differently around whit people. Political correctness has ruined the truth and we need to get it back. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:19:36 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63129712 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63129172 I agree that when we saw the things in class said by white people it was kind of a shock to us other white people, especially when that comment was said about the black people in the library. If the opposite happened I feel like it would not have been a big deal and the other white people in the class would not have thought anything of it. It is true in my mind that white people just ignore when they are called bigots or something of that matter because it is expected but black people can get away with murder when it comes to this category. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:13:09 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63129172 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment62951576 I think it is a huge problem in America that we teach our kids certain things and conveniently leave others out. It is very interesting that she says if we change our history books would things be different? I definitely think they would be a whole lot different if we knew what really happened instead of being brainwashed from an early age. We have always been taught about our founding fathers and how they were great men to start this country and overcome the oppressive British. They leave out the fact that this was basically treason, that Thomas Jefferson slept with his slaves, the fact that we even had slaves when in our Declaration of Independence said that all men were created equal. It is not surprising that kids don’t know what really happened because how would they know any better if they were not taught. The problem with not knowing about Native Americans, or maybe knowing about them but not the full story, is that it is a nationwide ignorance that cannot be solved by ignoring it. I knew full well that the white people took the land from the Indians and basically kicked them off their land. Sam mentioned, however, that it is the largest genocide in our nation’s history and when it is said like that, it has a whole new meaning. When people think about taking land from another group, I think of Alexander the Great who amassed a great area and then included the people he took over in his population. Native Americans, on the other hand, were conquered and then systematically forced off the land that had been theirs for who knows how long. Kids learn about how Columbus came over and made peace with the natives and they had their nice big Thanksgiving feast and everyone learned how to make corn. What ensues when the whites kick the Indians off their land and the brutality that went with it is not taught and is in fact avoided at all costs. Is it that teachers don’t think that young children can handle the facts? If that is the case then we need to do something about it. If kids are taught early on the truth it helps them down the road in many ways. For one, they know the facts plain and simple. Two, they can do something about a situation if it is unjust and knowing what really happened is important. Lastly, as a people we can all face what really happened together and it will be talked about which is the first step in achieving inner peace with ourselves. However, by continuing to ignore what happened, it perpetuates the cycle that is American ignorance. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 12:20:10 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-to-do-about-white-guilt__trashed/#IDComment62951576 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59620262 I think you are exactly right when you say that demographics has everything to do with the selection of the bachelors and bachelorettes. It is true that the ideals of having a white man with a white woman were very strong up until about the 90’s so the older generations are not willing to accept anything else. The other networks that have had other races as their main figure for the show are directed towards younger people with an open mind. As we said in class, society is moving towards acceptance of other cultures other than what we have been typically “comfortable” with so I do see this trend continuing and maybe even ABC will come around in the near future. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:16:18 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59620262 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59619351 I see what you are talking about, especially with those pictures posted. It is not right for a television station to select people to be on their program based on race but you also have to take into account what the bachelor’s preferences are. There is a good chance that if you have a white man on the show, he will select a white woman, especially in today’s culture where interracial couples are sparse. I think ABC should include other demographics but if they think that it will decrease the interest of the show because not as many “pretty and typical blondes,” they will choose money over anything else. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:13:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59619351 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59617897 I agree that most themed parties are hosted by white people but I think that’s the simple fact that there are many more white people here than any other race. That means there are more parties thrown by white people, especially in fraternities where there is a very large difference between the number of whites verses blacks. With so many white people throwing parties, there is certainly going to be a small percent of them that are themed parties; however, I have been to 2 themed parties that were organized by black people which were no different than the themes white people came up with. Now that I established why I think there are more of these festivities by white people in State College, I will address the themes themselves. Most themed parties are definitely either making fun of a profession or a culture but they usually are not intended to hurt feelings. There are the typical toga parties which obviously are copying the style of the ancient Greeks but I personally don’t think that is making fun of them. Other types of parties I’ve seen are CEOs and corporate hoes, golf pros and tennis hoes, and Hawaiian theme. These are not in any way making fun of anyone or any culture, just emulating it. If anything, this is making fun of how girls dress in any of the situations which can go across any race or culture. By taking the race factor out of the discussion, I think we can all agree that these parties are just intended on having fun. Then of course there are the parties that have to do with a certain culture. Jersey Shore parties, which were very common last semester with the show airing on MTV, was poking fun at the guido culture. Now you can say that this is stereotyping but that is exactly what people are trying to do. I don’t think anyone will disagree with me when I say that it is more fun to go to a party where you get to act like someone different for a night, especially when you are just going to party after party that are all the same and you want a change. I really don’t think you can say that any of the parties people throw are intentionally trying to hurt the image of a certain race, especially the black culture as the person in the video said. I have actually never seen a party that was making fun of the black culture so I don’t know how you can say that this is the intention of the white people who have these types of parties. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but I just don’t see what she is talking about. If someone can correct me, please do. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 20:08:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59617897