en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3076895 Comments by ladylefty http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170371618 You bring up a good point. But, don't judge too quickly. I had my first child at the age of 18 and a second at 19. So, at the time of my employment I was a newly married mother of two infants. Just because someone is middle aged, doesn't mean their need is greater. I needed the job to help support my kids also. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 18:44:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170371618 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170304045 Unfortunately I agree. If the effort is made to hire more handicapped people for example, how can you tell if the person you hire is from a poor or wealthy family? I guess this is what Obama was speaking about. You have to look at both parts. Are they both underrepresented and economically repressed? I guess if both conditions are met, then maybe life can be made better for less fortunate people. But then again, we run into the problem of too much government. Where is the balance between helping someone make a life for themselves and giving someone a free ride. Quite a tough problem to solve. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 14:46:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170304045 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170299437 My brothers were in the school one day and decided it would be a great idea to burn their textbooks under the staircase. They were both expelled. With a last name of Kowaleviocz the teachers would know I was related to the trouble makers. So you can see the problem. My mother wanted to make sure there would be no ill will towards me and my education based on the reputations of my brothers. I grew up trying to distance myself from my brothers. They did NOTHING to make my life easier at any point. I can honestly say, I got every job that I had based on my merit. (my looks helped too, lol). So, I have benefited from both affirmative action and sexism. I don’t know how we can ever have a society where people are hired based strictly on their skills. Maybe part of this is because people can lie about what their skills are. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 14:27:36 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170299437 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170299317 It has been very difficult for me to get a job. Now, as you can see, I am in college. I am 42-years old. I have to get a degree so I can be marketable and get a job. Experience with no degree doesn’t account for much. After being employed for 12-years at the U.S. Post office I have to start all over again. I don’t mind though. I am hoping to get a job that is less stressful. When I was a teenager, I got my first job at Wendy’s. None of my friends or family had every applied or worked there. That is a blessing. Let me explain. I have two older brothers. These boys caused so much trouble in our town that I couldn’t even attend the local middle school after they had gone there. I was sent to private school. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 14:27:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170299317 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170299152 I found this weeks lesson very interesting. I had never realized that affirmative action benefited white women the most. I knew they did benefit from it but not to that degree. I believe that I have benefited from affirmative action in two ways. When I was hired by a bank at the age of 19, they told me that any employees that under the age of 21 are a plus for the company to hire because they get a tax break. So, I was hired because I was a woman and because I was under 21. On the other hand we have nepotism. I can honestly never say I was hired due to nepotism. On the contrary, since moving to Pennsylvania in 2007 it has been almost impossible for me to get a job due to the nepotism practiced in this state. I am serious. I have over 15-years of customer service experience (including retail sales) and I could not get hired by Wal-Mart or even any of the convenience stores in the area. Wed, 6 Jul 2011 14:26:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/30/week-8-%e2%80%93-lesson-14-affirmative-action/#IDComment170299152 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169193449 I am a non-traditional student at Penn State. For my major I had to complete the third level of Espanol! Let me tell you it was very hard. I made it through but I don't have any delusions that I am fluent in Spanish. I believe I would be able to carry on a conversation in Spanish but I bet the native speakers would laugh their butts of listening to me. I understand why it is that it takes a few generations for immigrants to learn English. After all, the English language has more exceptions to rules and words that are spelled different but pronounced the same and still have different meanings. Examples-- the rule that i comes before e except after c. Or, be and bee. And finally two, to and too. Not the easiest to learn as an adult I'm sure. So, I agree that as open-minded people, we should all try to be more tolerant with people who live with us. Sun, 3 Jul 2011 03:15:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169193449 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169191431 When my family came here, they for some reason split with members of their own family. I don’t know why this occurred. The way we spell the last name of my father’s family is Kowaleviocz. The correct spelling according to other relatives is Kowalevicz. Both of these family names are still present in the United States today. Why the name was changed on arrival into the USA, I will never know. What I do know is that my relatives came here with almost nothing. The boys all went to work as longshoremen at the Dundalk Marine Terminal in Maryland. Members of my family still work their to this very day. The work there is not easy, as a matter of fact, it cost my father his life at the age of 29. My mother was a widow with five kids. She worked two jobs most of her life to make a good life for me and my siblings. I guess my point is, if my people could make it here, others can too. What I don’t understand is the immigrants from Mexico who make their living selling drugs into the US. I know it is only a small percentage of them, but what benefit are those immigrants to our society? You can argue that if there was no demand for the drugs they couldn’t sell them here. But just as immigration will always be an issue, so will the battle with drugs. I don’t mind immigrants who come here to make a better life for them and their families, but I can’t abide those who come here to make a living illegally and kill to do so. Sun, 3 Jul 2011 03:04:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169191431 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169191387 This weeks lesson on immigration had some valid points. Sam keeps doing the “coming through the door to the USA” demonstration and the point is valid. As long as immigrants keep coming into America, there will always be people here who live in tight ethnic societies and who don’t speak English. It would be the same for any of us who had to move to another country. Sure, in an ideal world we would learn the language and customs of the new country before we moved there. However, that would take time that a lot of immigrants just don’t have when they leave their countries of origin. My family came here during WWII. I don’t know if my ancestors came here legally or illegally, but it is probably the latter. They came here from the Ukraine. My great-grandfather put his wife and four teenage sons on a ship and sent them to America. The Ukraine was being invaded and many villages were wiped out by the Nazi’s. My great-grandfather was a professor and feared for the safety of his family and sent them away. He was never heard from again. Sun, 3 Jul 2011 03:04:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-13-immigration/#IDComment169191387 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168148854 I agree with you, multiculturalism means that we accept all kinds of different cultures. In order for this type of society to flourish, we do need to come together and form a new society with rights for all people who call this country their home. I think that the LGBT lecture did shed some light on commonly misheld beliefs. While there are some truly flamboyant gay men, the vast majority are just like everyone else. Those who "flaunt" their gayness do it just to get a reaction. It's no wonder that this type of behavior gets so much attention in the social media. This just makes people who don't interact with gay or lesbian people feel like all people with different sexual viewpoints are over the top with their behavior. Education, once again, is the only way to open the eyes of people who have such limited views of the world. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:29:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168148854 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145992 Our women can go where they want anytime of the day or night. We can drive cars. We can hold jobs. These freedoms we have often get taken for granted. I do believe that immigrants who come here have the right to hold onto their heritage. But shouldn’t we have that same right? Respect is a two way street. The same rights that apply to immigrants should apply to the native people too. True equality means the same freedom and right are for ALL of the people who live in this country. So, when Sam asks if it matters what flag I “wrap myself” in, my answer is absolutely. I was born an American and I will die an American. Good, bad or indifferent, the USA is my country. Love it or leave it. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:14:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145992 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145895 I watched a foreign film titled Osama. This film told the tale of a young girl who lived in an area controlled by the Al Qaeda. The girl’s father was killed in a battle and the she lived with her mother and grandmother. Her mother worked at a hospital and without her husband, she had to disguise her daughter as a boy so that she could travel to and from work with “him” as her escort. Women in the country are not allowed to travel alone on the streets. To make a long story short, she gets recruited by the Al Qaeda where eventually they discover she is a girl. Her life is spared when an Al Qaeda leader chooses her to be his next wife. She was 13-years old. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:13:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145895 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145662 This weeks lectures brought up some points that have caused me to have conflicting issues. I am talking about the “wrap yourself in the Chinese flag” part of the lecture. I can’t help but think about all the times Sam stood in front of the class and opened the door and stepped through it. He has told us all time and time again how wrong it is to expect immigrants to step into the USA and leave behind their customs and culture. How than can our feelings of being American be wrong. I think it’s a two way street. If Americans should respect the heritage of immigrants, shouldn’t other countries respect our American customs and heritage as part of us? I don’t know how all of you feel, but I love the country that is the USA. I am grateful that the soil of this country is where I was born. I enjoy the freedom that all the soldiers who fought our wars died to preserve. If I want to be Jewish, Catholic, Baptist or Muslim it doesn’t matter. I have the freedom to believe what I want and to practice any religion I choose. This is not the case in every country. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 01:12:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/26/week-7-%e2%80%93-lesson-12-multiculturalism-lgbt/#IDComment168145662 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166019729 Yes! I also was very impacted by the children with the dolls. I am white and I feel how awful it must be to be a minority child and believe only white people are good. How can they come to this conclusion in such a short time? I contend that they have to be learning this not only from white society, but from their own individual societies. It is somewhat confusing to me though. If African-Americans are always bashing white people like we have been led to believe, wouldn't their children feel like white people are bad? It may be that things like the available toys, magazines, books and all other media are sending out this message and they receive it very easily. But where are their parents, teachers and religious leaders. Why aren't these people reinforcing in these children how valuable they truly are? To me, this is a BIG problem. Maybe one of the biggest. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:26:46 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166019729 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166016950 I was abused as a child starting at about the age of 6 or7. The abuse was sexual. As I grew up, this abuse was perpetuate against me again and again by not only the initial abuser but even a few others. I ended up in counseling very recently after being married to an abusive spouse for 17 years. I recall telling the counselor that I grew up feeling like I was never seen as a person, only a sexual object. So yes, I can speak about deep and awful pain. I still believe, however, no matter what lot you are handed in life; you can overcome it. It takes understanding that the violence perpetuated against you is not a definition of who you are. Knowing what makes you tick is key to achieving all you can be in this world. I want this for ALL people. After all, we are all in this together. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:12:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166016950 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166016870 Post 2 I have been at University Park for two semesters. I am continually struck with how all the minority groups are always sitting or walking together. I lived in Maryland and in my life, it was never like that. I question myself and find it odd to see. I do wish that the minority groups today had more trust of white people. There are some really awful bigots, plenty of whites walking in the middle ground but there are also quite a few who feel like I do. I believe with all my heart that every single person in this world deserves to life exactly the life they want to. I wouldn’t condone anyone who wants to be hateful or hurtful to others. Those people should be locked away. What a disgrace that the minority children feel so disvalued at such a young age. How can they ever get over that? I grew up with everyone telling me I could be whatever I wanted to be. Yes, I am white, but my life was far from easy. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:12:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166016870 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166016751 Post 1 This week’s lessons had one very disturbing moment for me. I really cried when I saw the little African-American children saying that the black baby doll was the bad one. What kind of childhood have these kids had? It is awful that they grow up feeling that white is good and black is bad. NO child deserves to feel like they are bad at such a basic level as their skin color. No wonder there is so much anger in the black communities. I am really having difficulty dealing with some issues in this class. This is because I truly believed the people of color I grew up with were really feeling equal to me and all the other white people in their lives. Were they not? I ache that this is the real case. Some of my happiest memories were playing all together at recess. Fri, 24 Jun 2011 03:11:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/22/week-6-%e2%80%93-lesson-10-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-people-of-color-stages-1-4/#IDComment166016751 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment164442962 Professor Richards, I made the mistake of posting all of my blogs under the lesson 9 page. If you look at them, you will see that one set was done before Wed. and one was done today, Sunday. Please don't dock me for putting lesson 8 blog comments under lesson 9. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:02:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-8-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-1-2/#IDComment164442962 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164441808 I struggle with the white guilt problem somewhat also. I may be older than most of the students in this class, but these struggles have no age limit. I understand slavery and I sympathize with the issues the slaves faced. I have cried a lot when I see shows or hear the African American’s talk about all the suffering they did at the hands of slave owners. I did not realize though that discrimination is still going on today to the degree that it is. I don’t think it’s because I haven’t been paying attention. I guess it’s because I have always had people of color living and working where I have been. I do believe that it is still going on and it needs to end. I too question what my role is in seeing that this happens in my lifetime. I do hope though, that all people will eventually have the same opportunities to advance in life. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:57:17 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164441808 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164439804 This guy was on the highway the same time I was. I worked night work and was on my way home. I noticed the car beside me was staying right next to me at the same speed. To see if it really was, I slowed down to 40 mph in a 55 mph zone. It as 5 a.m. Next, I speed up to 70 mph. At all speeds the car was still there beside me. I didn’t want to look at it, but I had to. When I did, I saw that the interior light was on and the guy in the car was staring directly at me. My blood turned to ice water. I took my exit and when I went to turn, I turned on the left turn signal and turned right. (away from my home) The car did the same thing. I drove very carefully to the police station. I turned in and he started to too, until he realized where I was and then he drove away as fast as he could. I learned that just like people make the mistake of thinking black people are bad, we can also make the mistake of trusting white people who are very dangerous. You have to be aware of a person’s behavior and make judgments about who is safe and who isn’t at a moments notice. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:48:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164439804 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164439717 My mother has had black friends for as long as I can remember.(just like me) She was born in Baltimore City and had also lived in the Baltimore projects. Her family was pretty poor. She got into a lot of trouble, had children very early and basically disrespected her parents every chance she got. She would probably be very angry knowing I told the class these things. My point is, we have lived both in the cities and in the suburbs. My parents helped instill in all of us children a sense of hard work and to judge people by their actions and not their color. I have been afraid of people of color sometimes. I was lost in the city and stopped at a convenience store to ask for directions. The clerk listened to where I was going and said, “You have come too far, turn around and go back and get out of here as fast as you can.” I left there feeling pretty scared. But I can say, the time I was most afraid in my life, it wasn’t a person of color who scared me. It as a white man. Mon, 20 Jun 2011 01:48:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/06/07/week-5-%e2%80%93-lesson-9-stages-of-racial-identity-%e2%80%93-white-people-stages-3-4/#IDComment164439717