en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/758511 Comments by liveyourlife89 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69386944 I have to commend the speaker of this video for really thinking about this issue. I don't think you are being a racist by thinking that Americans have more resources to help people in third world nations, and by these resources Americans will make more of an impact. I don't think that I am better than people in Haiti. I just think I have been dealt a different hand of cards than them. Just because I am fortunate enough to be in a better economic situation that allows me to help others as much as I can does not make me think that I am better than these people. These thoughts go along with Sam's lecture of luck, free will, and determinism. It is by luck and other factors throughout history that America has become the superpower it is. If similar circumstances would have happened to Haiti and not to the US, perhaps it would be Haitians who are contemplating this idea. Since America is such a wealthy nation I feel like it is our duty, to a degree, that we help out people who seek or help or who are in dire need of it (such as Haiti after the earthquake). Just because you are a citizen of a country with resources to that enable its fellow citizens to help people in unfortunate situations, I would not feel like a racist. To me, the definition of a racist is someone who thinks they are better than someone else based on the color of their skin. I think having more access to resources and being able to ultize those resources is in no way thinking your better than someone. Typically, the more resources one has, the more power they hold. Since America has a lot of resources, our country has a lot of power. Now the battle over resources has gotten America in a lot of trouble over the years, but the fact of the matter is the more resources a country has the more of an impact their people can make. You are not looking down upon them. Their economic plight was just the cards they were dealt. We in America, for the most part, were dealt with very favorable cards, and I think it is, to a degree, somewhat of our duty to help those in need. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 18:39:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69386944 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301715 I have said before that Sam can sometimes be repetitive and boring but today's lecture BLEW ME AWAY. Sam is doing his job when he is getting us to think about things differently. Just like I never thought about the whole Native American genocide here in the United States I guess I never put myself in a Muslim's shoes. I was terrified watching that "jihad" video Sam showed in the beginning of class. You are lying if you weren't even the tiniest bit scared of that video and the images. However it was images I was used too. The chaos, the blood- it's all I think about when I think of Islamic extremists. Previous to this lecture I've often thought, "why do Islamic extremists hate the USA so much?” Although my family has suffered the loss of a family friend in the Iraq War, and it was devastating to my family, after seeing today’s lecture I can somewhat sympathize with the Iraqis/Afghans and their plight, and a little of my anger towards them has gone away. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 05:43:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301715 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301786 I have said before that Sam can sometimes be repetitive and boring but today's lecture BLEW ME AWAY. Sam is doing his job when he is getting us to think about things differently. Just like I never thought about the whole Native American genocide here in the United States I guess I never put myself in a Muslim's shoes. I was terrified watching that "jihad" video Sam showed in the beginning of class. You are lying if you weren't even the tiniest bit scared of that video and the images. However it was images I was used too. The chaos, the blood- it's all I think about when I think of Islamic extremists. Previous to this lecture I've often thought, "why do Islamic extremists hate the USA so much?” Although my family has suffered the loss of a family friend in the Iraq War, and it was devastating to my family, after seeing today’s lecture I can somewhat sympathize with the Iraqis/Afghans and their plight, and a little of my anger towards them has gone away. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:43:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301786 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301758 I have said before that Sam can sometimes be repetitive and boring but today's lecture BLEW ME AWAY. Sam is doing his job when he is getting us to think about things differently. Just like I never thought about the whole Native American genocide here in the United States I guess I never put myself in a Muslim's shoes. I was terrified watching that "jihad" video Sam showed in the beginning of class. You are lying if you weren't even the tiniest bit scared of that video and the images. However it was images I was used too. The chaos, the blood- it's all I think about when I think of Islamic extremists. Previous to this lecture I've often thought, "why do Islamic extremists hate the USA so much?” Although my family has suffered the loss of a family friend in the Iraq War, and it was devastating to my family, after seeing today’s lecture I can somewhat sympathize with the Iraqis/Afghans and their plight, and a little of my anger towards them has gone away. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:42:59 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301758 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301730 As previously stated, I was sacred watching that “jihad” video so I can only imagine the fear Muslims face when they watch the news and internet about the US having 50% of the military spending funds or electing leaders who want to shove the "Muslims back into their caves". Again, I never really thought about a country coming into my homeland, stripping us of our natural resources, the people doing the invading living the good life and then leaving our country in ruins. As with what Sam stated, I do not agree with the insurgencies killing and harming people with bombs and suicide attacks, but Sam had a good presentation on both sides of the controversial issue. He made comments about how Americans feel and how the Muslims feel. From Sam’s presentation, I do not agree with their actions but I have a better understanding on their unrest. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 01:42:36 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/christian-invaders-the-turnaround__trashed/#IDComment68301730 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66693282 At the beginning of the semester I was thrilled with and loved Sam's class. After every class I was really questioning and thinking about what he had to say. After the classes on LGTBA issues, American Indian genocide, black Americans getting shut out of housing from the GI Bill, the "bleeding" class, my friend and I would have deep and insightful discussions on what Sam went over in class. Recently however, I have felt very bored with the repetitive nature of Sam's class until today. Sam was talking about slave labor and chocolate. I love chocolate. If you asked me for one food I could eat for the rest of my life it would be chocolate. I cannot get enough of it. However in today's lecture Sam showed us a video about slaves who work on coco fields and it was absolutely mortifying. I was almost reduced to tears watching this video. The part in the video that really moved me was at the end when one of the boys said, "when people eat chocolate they are eating my flesh". Sam gave us a piece of chocolate before the video started and the remaining taste in my mouth tasted like poison. I had absolutely NO IDEA that slave labor was used in the chocolate making process just like I really did not know how bad the American Indians suffered here in this country when the Europeans first came here. The boy in this video doesn't seem too impressed with Sam's lecture, and I will admit sometimes they can be quite repetitive and boring, but Sam is doing his job by getting us to think about issues we had no idea even existed or think about these issues in a new light. Sam showed us another slide about other foods that were made from slave labor and he even told us things he bought contained slave labor. However after the video was over Sam told us to eat the second piece of chocolate. I was confused, I said to myself "didn't you just watch that video?" Sam went on to make the point that it's not like you would never eat chocolate again in your life so why not just eat it. But then Sam alluded to the fact that God is watching our actions and that since we are aware of the slavery situation in the chocolate industry and don't do something about it we might be turned away at the Pearly Gates. I was confused with his logic, and I certainly wanted to get this cleared up because as a chocolate addict I was in a sticky situation. Every time I even think about chocolate now I will see these poor boy's faces from the video. However, as I was thinking about this and discussing it on the way home from class I came to the realization that Sam didn't show us that video for us to never eat chocolate again. He just wants to think. Even though Sam's class can get a little redundant after awhile he is really doing his job as sociologist because he is getting me to think. So to the boy in the video, yes I have definitely learned some interesting facts, views, and opinions from Sam's class. I can't say that they will change my own opinions but he is getting me to think, that is his job, and he is doing a great job of it. As for my chocolate dilemma, I will spread the word to others about the awful conditions of coco workers, I will research information on free trade chocolate (I did when I went home after class) and try to buy free-trade at whenever possible. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 01:14:05 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66693282 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64926276 I can remember people in high school making me feel guilty about not following everything the Church had to say or wearing/acting in ways that were not "Christian-like". Religion is such a big part of America, and I think that it contributes to some of the controlling aspects of the American culture. There is also such a controlling aspect of the media in America, and media is such a huge component of American culture. We also discussed in my discussion group why people love and religiously watch/check E! news and UsMagazine.com, but they barely know what is occuring in the world. Again, I am definately guilty of checking and LOVING these sites, but I want to be well versed tin world evenrts as well. However, some people are too extreme one side or the other. I guess what I am trying to say is listen to other people's comments, opinions, views, etc. and be open to them, but make your own decisions and live by your own code. Don't let religion, or others, or the media, or other prominent people sway you for your true views. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:58:12 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64926276 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64926179 Agreed, what is the big deal with the period thing? I think people just freaked out because he referred to his wife's period as "bleeding", and bleeding is normally associated with extreme intense, excruitating pain. Again, this is not saying the menstruation cycle is a walk in the park for women, but its not like were dying people. It is the means for creating life so everyone just chill out. Sam brings up a good point int the whole "waking up" aspect of things. I agree there is way too much controlling in what other people want others to think and believe. I truly believe that is why people get SO heated/frustrated/offended when we talk about religion. For instance, in our discussion group, some people didn't even want to discuss the concept, and I think people get so offended because in essence, religion tells you what to do and some people do not want others (the church, the followers) telling them what they are doing wrong. I believe in God, and I believe in certain aspects of the Catholic Church, but in no means do I follow the religion rule for rule. Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:57:21 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/flip-the-script-for-a-moment__trashed/#IDComment64926179 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64048390 I think the class was in such an uproar over Sam's comment about "bleeding" just because of the word. Although regular bleeding and menstrual bleeding are different, in a way no one likes to bleed. Bleeding usually results from someone injuring themselves and being in pain so of course everyone associates bleeding with a negative connotation. I mean I'll admit that I even cringed a little because "bleeding" make menstruation sound a lot of more painful than it can be. Granted, I am not saying that having your period is a cake walk, but calling it "bleeding", again, for me, makes it sounds like we are injured and in pain that is why were bleeding. Again, for some of that time you have your period you are in a lot of pain, but for me its never enough to warrant concern. However, even though the menstrual cycle is a normal thing, and a beautiful thing for the matter because God granted you the gift to have a baby, it is still a painful, long, and arduous process that I feel is really encouraged by society to keep very hush hush. Sam's comments on the matter reinforced this point. Every comment he made furthering this discussion on menstruation had more and more people leaving. I really began thinking why is this? If it was not for periods no one would be here. The vast majority of women in the world have their period, and guys to a degree know what is going on so again, why the big deal? We have been taught since about the 4th grade what a menstrual cycle does and still it is an extremely touchy subject. I feel like women even have to keep when they have their periods a secret. For instance when you are in need of a tampon or pad you have to find a girlfriend and quietly ask her. You couldn't just ask in a normal talking voice, it all has to be hush hush. Would so many of people left and groaned with disgust if sam was taking about some other bodily function or was it just because he was talking about menstruation? Why are we so grossed out by our own bodily functions? We should be glad that we are healthy enough to produce these things even if the things coming out of our bodies are not what society deems appropriate to discuss in public. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 15:21:24 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64048390 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62995119 I know some people in America are this open about their sexuality but in London I saw a lot more gay PDA, pride, shows, and bars and was not met with so much resistance like it is here in America. It is so hard in this life to find someone you are comptaible with, so if someone has found somebody who they romantically connect with I say more the power to you. Everyone wants to find love, and why should anyone deny LGBTA people the right to happiness? Everyone deserves a chance to be happy. EVERYONE. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:57:20 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62995119 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62995072 And also to the educators of ICAHS, when your so heavily sheltered students get out into the real world they are going to encounter, maybe even work with or live by gay people and how are they going to react to that. Are they going to tell their employers or landlords to fire/evict these people because THEY MAKE THEM FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE? No, you have to deal with it. Over in Europe, especially in London, it seems like LGTBA people are more accepted. I was at a restaurant in London and within the first 5 minutes of meeting my waiter, he told my table he was gay. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:57:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62995072 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62994987 I really feel like that is why there is so much unrest and unhappiness in the world because people do not allow other people to just BE THEMSELVES. Everyone, especially school settings, want everyone to be so damn politcally correct and conform to their standards. This is America people, if you want to date a person of the same sex you should be able to do that. IT IS YOUR CHOICE! What cracks me up about articles like this is that it is not like the girl asked if she could bring her long range rifle to prom or her boyfriend who just recently got out of jail for a horrid crime. ICAHS needs to realize that it is a new day in age for LGTBA students and their rights to be with whoeve they want to be with. And alright, maybe their attendance at the prom would make some students uncomfortable but guess what...many things in life/many situations in life are going to make someone feel uncomfortable for one reason or another. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:56:24 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62994987 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62994927 Articles like this annoy me to no end. The beautiful thing about America is that we have the freedom to choose what we want to do when we want to do it and with who. I know that last statement is confusing, long, probably not gramatically correct, and can be interpreted in a million different ways, but in America, theoretically, a person should be able to legally do whatever you want to do. I am sick and tired LGBTA people being treated like second class citizens. So Constance has a girlfriend and wants to wear a tuxedo, is she doing anything illegal? Or better yet, is she doing anything that will harm her fellow studetns at their prom? Unless her tuxedo has some kind of freak accident , and a button flies off and pokes someone's eye out, I think her wearing that tuxedo won't jeporidize anyone. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:55:58 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/prom-or-no-prom-just-dont-let-the-queer-students-dance-together__trashed/#IDComment62994927 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59789537 In the very diverse society we live in why are there not more diverse cast mates on these types of reality shows? These all white contestants surely do not represent our culture very well because our culture is quite diverse. I do have to applaud shows like MTV's "The Real World" because it they try to diversify the cast a little more, but by in no means is in completely diverse and there is always more white castmates. Another question that occurs with me while I am guilty watching these shows is why there are not more diverse people as the main characters looking for love? "Flavor of Love" and "Real Chance at Love" have diverse casts and diverse main characters but many times these I feel like these shows are not taken seriously, and that is demonstrated by the constant teasing of me by my friends when I watch them. "The Bachelor", in which no means is serious televelsion, always seems to be taken a little more seriously than the previously listed shows, and always has white people as the protagonist. I think it is time that other races get a shot at reality love shows that are taken more seriously. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:05:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59789537 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59789516 I think on all three seasons of the show there was one black girl and one half asian girl. These contestants never seemed to make it far, and I always felt like the producers felt as if they needed to put a person of color on the show just because. Perhaps Brett Michaels was automatically not attracted to these ethnic girls physically or personality wise, but there was always that nagging thought in my mind, "why is getting rid of them so soon? Is it just because of what they look like?" I guess I always felt like they were not given a fair chance by him, and not just Brett Michaels, but I feel like I have seen this on the other plethora of reality TV shows I have watched. . Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:05:20 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59789516 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59789452 I will be the first to admit, as will all my friends who tease me about it, I am sucker for these kind of trashy reality "find your soulmate" shows. Being an avid watcher, I do notice that the majority of these shows are not very multicultural at all, especially when the main character looking for love is white. On the other hand, when the main character is of a different race, the contestants seem to mirror different ethnicities as well. For instance, I think on this year's bachleor there was one asian woman who was eliminated in the first round. However I am sure the a large part of the decision to eliminate her was because she said to Jake The Bachelor, that "he could land his plane on her landing strip anytime". See I wasn't joking, I love these shows, and can fully re-cap to you what happened every week. Another show that never seems to have a very diverse group of contestants was Vh1's "Rock of Love" with Brett Michaels. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 21:04:45 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59789452 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58742927 My first thought when I saw you is "normal college kid". Only when you started pointing out some stereotypes that some people might think about black people is when I began to look at you through the "lenses" you described. I really feel as if when people look at other people they look at them through their own lenses. For instance, where I come from many people regardless of race, try to emulate and imitate "rap" style and culture and thus they dress and act like the rappers they see on TV or listen to. However, in no way shape or form did I think you looked like "thug" or a "threat" to anyone. To be honest, I judged you first on your appearance and what you were wearing before you even opened your mouth because people, myself included, have the awful tendency to judge people based on their clothes and outward appearance and judge them on that instead of a person’s intangible qualities such as the ones I listed previously. How can we stop judging people by their outside appearance? Our clothes and style personify and exemplify our personalities, and it is hard to ignore these outward physical signs when you first meet someone. There have been so many stereotypes associated with different kinds of dress and style that now it is almost impossible to separate stereotype from reality. For instance, many girls that dress well can almost automatically be judged as “rich, snotty, stuck-up, etc” when many times that is not the case. Judgments can be passed on many different people in a plethora of situations. I guess the ultimate lesson I am trying to stress is the age-old mantra of “don’t judge a book by its cover”. I know it is extremely hard to do, but in order to really appreciate people and understand them not a superficial level we need to look past the outward appearance to really appreciate the true person, and everyone needs to be given this chance. I hate to think that people are judging me on my outward appearance because I am so much more of a person that the clothes or I style I choose to adhere to. I wish and hope that everyone gives people the chance to prove to each other that people are so much more than the superficial physical things we place on our bodies, and in order to create true meaningful relationships and views of certain people we need to look past all these labels and stereotypes associated with style and clothes. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:50:27 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58742927 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57491690 My personal view of marriage is a union with TWO PEOPLE WHO LOVE EACH OTHER regardless if they are black, white, blue, men or women. If two people love each other very much, they should be able to get married and live happily ever after. Why are we prohibiting people from doing this? I really feel like many policies here in the US treat gay and lesbians like second class citizens sometimes. We are all in this life together regardless of skin color or sexual orientation, so why does there always need to be these huge divisions between the people of the world? Why can’t we accept each others differences? Differences make this place we call home, a unique and interesting place to live, and all these differences can cause us new and interesting things to learn to better ourselves. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:30:01 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57491690 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57491674 Like I previously stated, I think being a good parent comes from having a big heart filled with love, and I truly believe that love knows no gender or race. It does not matter if you are black, white, blue, man, woman, vegetable, or mineral, the love you give to others is on a strictly individual basis. When we prohibit gay and lesbian adoption, we are prohibiting someone from giving their love to another human being, and that is a sad thing. This world is a cruel place and we need people to give all the love to others that they can possibly provide. This issue not only deals with gay and lesbian adoption, but for gay and lesbian marriage too. What I don’t seem to understand from people who oppose these marriages is, if two people of the same sex get married, WHAT IS IT DOING TO YOU? IS IT HARMING YOU? IS IT PROHIBITING YOU FROM LOVING AND CARING ABOUT SOMEONE YOU LOVE? IS IT HARMING YOUR FAMILY AND OTHER LOVED ONES? ABSOLUTELY NOT. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:29:48 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57491674 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57491652 Sam brought up a very interesting point in class the other day about gay and lesbian adoption. The point he made was that if these couples are adopting children, they really want to have a child in their lives. Sam made the argument that heterosexual couples sometimes have unplanned children and with that unpreparedness comes feelings of resentment, guilt, and hate towards the child, causing for a melee of problems for the child and the parents later on in life. My personal definition of parenting is someone who wants to unconditionally support, love, and foster another human being. A parent can be one person of one certain gender, or it can be two people, regardless of gender, working as team to raise another human being the best they possibly can. I feel like good parenting is based on the amount of love in someone’s heart, and who are we to decide that gay and lesbians cannot share the love they have in their hearts with another human being. If we want a happier planet then we need happier citizens, and a lot of happiness comes from the love and caring feelings you receive from your main support system, and for many people that main support system is their family. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:29:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57491652