en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/759551 Comments by leah528 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69844402 Wow… I must say, I am shocked at this man and how he is talking about prison. Not only that, but I am amazed at the compassion that is shown by some people in prison, even people who are lifers. I am thankful for this man’s letter to our class, for it helped me be able to look at people in a different way. Just because someone did something horrible in the past doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be forgiven in the future. As I read this, I realized that I often hold grudges against people for little things, but then there are people in prison for committing murder who forgive each other and comfort each other all the time. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:28:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69844402 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment69843553 Another quote I found interesting was the one about Iraq being to Americans like a toy store is to children. Wow. Great quote right there. It seems to me as if some Americans really need to watch what they say. Looking at it from a Muslim’s point of view, this quote would’ve made me angry just like the one by Bush did. The quote makes it seem as if the only reason that the Americans invaded is because they want what is ours. They want what is on our land. How can they live with themselves for stealing what is ours? At the beginning of class, Sam told us that he would be telling us a tale of patriotic defenders against invaders and thieves and killers. I didn’t think that he would have us look at the situation how he did. In my opinion, it was shocking. At the end of class, I will admit that I raised my hand. If I were in the Muslim’s place, I would fight against the American soldiers. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:20:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment69843553 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment69843527 One thing that shocked me was Bush’s quote about this war being a crusade. Could he have picked a worse word? I will say something for the man though, since I am not a fan of his. Perhaps he just didn’t think clearly about what he was saying beforehand. In my opinion, however, that was a huge mistake. When dealing with war, especially one that I believe he jumped into prematurely, maybe he should’ve taken a look in a dictionary before he went and opened his mouth. Since we were supposed to be taking in this whole lecture as if we were Muslims, I thought about it. If the leader of another country said this when launching a war against my country, I would be really angry. Why would I be angry, you may ask? Well maybe because this Christian thinks he is better than us. Maybe he wants to convert us. Or maybe, just maybe, he might want all of our resources. Our oil. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:19:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment69843527 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment69843493 Personally, I think that this is the best lecture I have attended at Penn State so far. I mean, I am only a freshman, but I don’t think many lectures I will sit through in the future will compare to this one either. Sam really challenged us to imagine what the other side was feeling, and I think that his approach was brilliant. Looking at it from a Muslim’s perspective was completely mind blowing. Then the videos he had us watch were pretty interesting. How about the one of the US soldiers running over a civilian’s car? Or the one where the US soldiers ran a civilian off the road for no reason? In these cases, I would say that the soldiers were completely unprovoked. In these cases, I would agree that the soldiers are indeed Christian Invaders. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:19:29 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment69843493 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66852483 In my opinion, these games are even worse than games like grand theft auto. In grand theft auto, you basically just steal cars and beat people up. I mean yeah, both are horrible things, but I don’t consider them to be nearly as horrible as raping women. It is just as if men are looking for yet another way to elevate themselves over the women around them .It is just a matter of dominance, which in my opinion, is pathetic. If a video game where the main goal is raping a woman who fires you is something you want to play, then perhaps you just have a problem with women having authority over you, and raping the video game character is just your way of putting yourself back on top, no matter how pathetic that is. Overall though, I must say I am just disappointed in any person who would choose to play this game. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:45:09 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66852483 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66852450 I just find myself wondering, will men get pleasure out of video games in which they rape women just as much as they get pleasure from watching porn? And if so, will they then just associate rape with an activity that brings pleasure? If so, then this type of video games could actually make rape more prominent, which is definitely a bad thing. I think that the Japanese government needs to take this into consideration, then make regulations for video games. They shouldn’t just wait and hope that video game companies do something, because then they’d be waiting forever. Instead, they should just put a stop to the insanity as soon as possible. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:44:56 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66852450 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66852312 Wow. I must say, I am kind of in shock after watching this video. It is disturbing that some people really think that these types of video games are ok. It isn’t right to rape women in real life, so what makes it acceptable in a video game? I think that the only men who would play these games would be men who are too pathetic to get a girl in real life. I mean seriously, why the hell would you play a game where the main objective is to rape a woman? A bit pathetic, don’t you think? Also, it is just sickening that men would even think to make these games. How can they not be ashamed of themselves for creating pornographic video games? Although I am disturbed by these video games, I can’t say I’m really surprised that they exist. Actually, I’m surprised that they have not come to the surface any sooner. I mean, men watch porn all the time. Also, rape isn’t that uncommon, unfortunately. I mean, in an ideal world it wouldn’t happen, but humans obviously aren’t perfect. Video games would of course be one of the next places where pornographic ideas arise. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:44:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66852312 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66848185 Personally, I don’t think many of my opinions have changed as a result of the things that Sam talks about in class. However, a lot of the topics we discuss make me think about people more than I have before. So, no, the class has not made me change my opinions. But the class has made a difference to me. It has made me look deeper inside of myself in an attempt to find the answers to questions brought up in class that bother me. For example, I have really thought a lot about the baby doll experiment, because the results if it bothered me. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 18:19:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66848185 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-about-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment65579820 Personally, I think that this student should identify himself as Hispanic. Just from looking at him, I wouldn’t classify him as white. His skin tone is too dark, and even his hair makes him look as if he is Hispanic. Plus, he said himself that his mother is Hispanic, and that he grew up with his mother’s side of the family more. So isn’t it kind of common sense for him to call himself Hispanic as opposed to white, like his father? For all mixed race people, I think that they should just refer to themselves at whatever race they look like. For example, even if a dark skinned person had a white parent, I would still call that person black. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 17:29:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-about-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment65579820 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment65578500 I think that it is ridiculous that some black people are getting offended by the fact that the word negro is used on the census. One of my roommates is black, and I have asked her before what she would want to be called, and she never seems to have an answer. She just jumps around the answer, never really getting to the point. Since many black people are like this, and can’t decide what they want to be called, then how can white people know what to call them? If the word negro wasn’t included on the census, I’m sure that some people would be offended by that as well. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 17:18:10 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/nothing-about-the-census-is-easy__trashed/#IDComment65578500 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65571058 On the other hand, even though my cousin was young and didn’t really know any better, I think it would be nice if children were educated about people who are different from them at a young age. Then, perhaps whenever they get older, they will not be so judgmental when it comes to skin color. Even though this is a great thought, I think it would be something very hard to accomplish just because a lot of people, whether they admit it or not, are a little racist. Therefore, perhaps they would not want to educate their children about different races. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 16:15:42 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65571058 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65571030 An example of black people being more foreign to white children is a story my aunt once told me about when my cousin was little. They went to a store together, and my cousin asked my aunt why one of the ladies in the store was so dirty. The lady, of course, was black, and my cousin had not seen many black people before, as our whole family is white. The lady then began to flip out on my aunt, telling her that she should have taught my cousin better. In all actuality, I don’t think my cousin was in the wrong at all, and that the lady shouldn’t have gotten angry with her or my aunt. My cousin was just a little kid, and being so, was innocent in her questioning and didn’t mean any harm. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 16:15:27 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65571030 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65570995 This video shocked me the first time we watched it in class. Then when Sam had us watch through it again, I was still shocked. Seriously, what kind of messed up society do we live in where there are little black kids saying that a doll is bad because it is black? You'd think that they would say the doll that is most like them is the good doll, but instead it is the opposite most of the time. The one that got to me the most was the last little girl. When asked what doll looked like her, she looked over at the white doll and touched it, then glanced over at the black doll before pushing it toward the person conducting the experiment. It was as if the little girl was ashamed of the fact that the black doll is the one that she looks like. I find it sad that black children think that their color is evil, while white children are good. If the same experiment were conducted with white children, there is no doubt in my mind that a solid majority of the white children would choose the black doll. In fact, I don’t think that any of them would choose the black doll, just because it would be more foreign to them. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 16:15:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment65570995 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64225683 I suppose that I find it awkward because in a way, it is strange to me. I usually don't hear men talking about periods, so it was just something new. Heck, usually I don't even hear many girls bringing up the topic of periods. Perhaps I still would've found it less awkward if your wife had been in class that day, and you had told stories about her then. Because in that case, your wife would have been able to comment on what you were saying as well, to say whether or not she agreed with the way that you were talking about her and her "bleeding." Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:52:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64225683 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64123171 Whenever Sam brought up periods in class, at first I was a little bit surprised by the reaction of the class. I mean, I didn't expect it to be an easy topic to talk about, but I had not expected people to get up and start moving toward the exits. I was a little shocked at Sam's choice of topic, but I just sat there and said nothing. As Sam continued talking, I began to think, what the heck does he think he is doing talking about periods? He doesn't know what it is like to have one. Then I realized that that was the point. That was the whole reason he brought the topic up in the first place. Even though that was the whole point, I didn't really like the fact that Sam was talking about his wife's period. I would have found it much less awkward if his wife had been talking about it, since they were her experiences and not his. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:59:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64123171 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64122635 Whenever Sam mentioned bleeding in class, I was surprised at the reaction it caused. I immediately noticed several girls standing up and moving towards the exits, even though we still had several minutes of class left. Then again, I was not so pleased with Sam's word choice either. When he said today that he actually got the term from his wife, I was surprised once again. I had never before heard someone refer to their period or menstrual cycle as "bleeding," even though that is exactly what it is. As Sam continued to talk about his wife's period, I sat there in disbelief. I mean, this was a race relations class. When I signed up, I never would have imagined that we would talk about the menstrual cycle in class. It actually took me a while to get the connection that Sam was making between race and "bleeding," as he calls it. I do find it kind of strange that men usually seem to be grossed out by the idea of women getting their period. As the girl in the video said, periods are actually a good thing, as they prove that women are fertile and are able to reproduce. If I am with a bunch of my friends who are girls, sometimes the topic of periods is brought up. Usually, no one seems to get uncomfortable. We all know what it is like to experience a period, so no one questions the topic. However, if you mention it in front of some guys, they seem to just freeze up. Is a period really such a bad thing, that it causes guys to freak out? What is wrong with talking about it. Then again, some guys will not freak out about this topic. Actually, as I was typing this, I asked my boyfriend what he thought about talking about periods. He just shrugged and said that they are natural, so he doesn't really have any problem talking about them. I was actually surprised by his answer, especially considering the reaction of all of the people in our class the other day. Maybe the gender of the people discussing periods doesn't really matter, but rather, the maturity of the people. Some guys just seem to think that periods are unnatural, when in reality, they are just as natural as any other bodily function. Just because this function is restricted only to girls doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with it. On another note, I didn't really appreciate the way Sam was talking about periods. I mean, I didn't really mind him talking about it, but I just minded the way that he was talking about it. No offense, but I really don't care about his wife sitting on the toilet, or how bad her cramps get or anything like that. If Sam's wife had been the one bringing this topic up, I don't think I would've cared, because it is her experience to talk about, not Sam's. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:54:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64122635 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58916161 If I would have been a part of that experiment, I will admit that before I watched this video, I would not have said anything in the defense of the poor Muslim girl. I would have been afraid to be judged by the other people who were also in the store at the time. I would have been one of those 22 cowardly people who were afraid to stand up for their beliefs, one way or the other. But now, however, after watching the video, I would like to believe that I would be braver, and would actually stand up for the girl. It really amazed me that the one man, whose son had served in Iraq, actually stood up for the Muslim. Out of all of the people in the video, I believe that he would have the most reason to hate the girl just for being who she was. However, he surprised me, and I only wish more people could be like that. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:14:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58916161 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58916140 In the video, I was shocked at the reaction of the one man who gave the clerk not just one thumbs up, but two. Then he told the host of the experiment that he himself was “un-American.” I do not understand what this man was thinking, that he would assist in degrading a person who he did not even know. In my opinion, this is extremely rude. The Muslim girl never did anything to deserve the harsh treatment she was given by a stranger, even if it was just for the sake of the experiment. Also, I believe that the number of people who chose to stick up for the girl was shockingly low. I would like to believe that Americans would be more accepting of people, especially when they are entitled to their chance at the “American dream” just as much as anyone else. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:13:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58916140 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58916111 I believe that Thursday’s class was very interesting. Although I did not agree with many of Sam’s points, such as when he said affirmative action benefitted white men more than anyone else, I still thought that the lecture as a whole was worthwhile. I especially thought that the video we watched toward the end of class was especially interesting. The study as a whole was a pretty good idea, and the results were actually kind of shocking, in my opinion. I did not think that 6 people would actually support the clerk as he attacked the Muslim girl for absolutely no reason at all. To me, that number is too high. In America, I think that we should not judge people just by their beliefs. This is unfair, as they have a right to lead a good life, just as white people do. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:13:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58916111 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/question-on-discrimination__trashed/#IDComment58910093 I believe that colored people, when conducting an interview and then hiring people, would tend to hire other colored people. I do not believe that they would instead hire white people for the job. I believe this because in my opinion, people will tend to have more of a connection with people who are more like them. For instance, if a black man were conducting an interview, I believe that he would hire other black people for the position, as opposed to white people. I'll admit that even though I have no problem with black people, if I were in the position where I had to hire people, I would definitely hire whites instead. Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:07:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/question-on-discrimination__trashed/#IDComment58910093