If I witnessed something as blatantly offensive as the bakery cashier in the video, I would say something, however I do not think I would do it immediately. I think I would observe the conversation and contemplate about what I would do. The reason why I would be hesitant is because I, like most people, would not want to cause a scene. In my discussion group, we said that in order to be able to stand up against someone, you have to have courage, which is easier said than done. It means putting yourself out there and risk now being directly involved in the conflict. I think it would take me a few minutes to get the courage to say something. Honestly, I think I would be going back in forth in my head deciding whether or not I want to take action. In my discussion group, we also talked about another factor that would influence our decision to act, and that is relevance. In the video, the people that spoke out the most were the two young women, one of which is white and the other Muslim. The white woman felt particularly adamant about the situation because her friend was Muslim. Some students in my discussion group said that the chances of someone sticking up for another person increase when they have something in common, for example, the same ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation. I think that I would be inclined to help someone out if I related to them. Another factor that we discussed was how long the encounter was. For example, some of us reasoned that if someone made a rude comment in passing, like on the street, most people would probably not go out of their way to hunt that person down and let them know how they feel. In the video, the encounter not only lasted for a long time, but was to the point that it was so exaggerated that it would seem unrealistic if I was actually a customer at that bakery. Another person, however, mentioned that behavior like that was not completely uncommon in places like Texas. Out of the people that agreed with the cashier, I recall that one man said that the cashier had the right to not serve the Muslim woman because he was an employee. He compared it to not serving someone without a shirt or shoes. However, I think we can all agree that those two scenarios are two completely different things. The cashier was not judging the woman because he disapproved of her outfit, but because she did not like American in his opinion. But really, what classified us as looking American? I think that that is open to interpretation and also is different is you are an outsider.

If I witnessed something as blatantly offensive as the bakery cashier in the video, I would say something, however I do not think I would do it immediately. I think I would observe the conversation and contemplate about what I would do. The reason why I would be hesitant is because I, like most people, would not want to cause a scene. In my discussion group, we said that in order to be able to stand up against someone, you have to have courage, which is easier said than done. It means putting yourself out there and risk now being directly involved in the conflict. I think it would take me a few minutes to get the courage to say something. Honestly, I think I would be going back in forth in my head deciding whether or not I want to take action. In my discussion group, we also talked about another factor that would influence our decision to act, and that is relevance. In the video, the people that spoke out the most were the two young women, one of which is white and the other Muslim. The white woman felt particularly adamant about the situation because her friend was Muslim. Some students in my discussion group said that the chances of someone sticking up for another person increase when they have something in common, for example, the same ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation. I think that I would be inclined to help someone out if I related to them. Another factor that we discussed was how long the encounter was. For example, some of us reasoned that if someone made a rude comment in passing, like on the street, most people would probably not go out of their way to hunt that person down and let them know how they feel. In the video, the encounter not only lasted for a long time, but was to the point that it was so exaggerated that it would seem unrealistic if I was actually a customer at that bakery. Another person, however, mentioned that behavior like that was not completely uncommon in places like Texas. Out of the people that agreed with the cashier, I recall that one man said that the cashier had the right to not serve the Muslim woman because he was an employee. He compared it to not serving someone without a shirt or shoes. However, I think we can all agree that those two scenarios are two completely different things. The cashier was not judging the woman because he disapproved of her outfit, but because she did not like American in his opinion. But really, what classified us as looking American? I think that that is open to interpretation and also is different is you are an outsider.

If I witnessed something as blatantly offensive as the bakery cashier in the video, I would say something, however I do not think I would do it immediately. I think I would observe the conversation and contemplate about what I would do. The reason why I would be hesitant is because I, like most people, would not want to cause a scene. In my discussion group, we said that in order to be able to stand up against someone, you have to have courage, which is easier said than done. It means putting yourself out there and risk now being directly involved in the conflict. I think it would take me a few minutes to get the courage to say something. Honestly, I think I would be going back in forth in my head deciding whether or not I want to take action. In my discussion group, we also talked about another factor that would influence our decision to act, and that is relevance. In the video, the people that spoke out the most were the two young women, one of which is white and the other Muslim. The white woman felt particularly adamant about the situation because her friend was Muslim. Some students in my discussion group said that the chances of someone sticking up for another person increase when they have something in common, for example, the same ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation. I think that I would be inclined to help someone out if I related to them. Another factor that we discussed was how long the encounter was. For example, some of us reasoned that if someone made a rude comment in passing, like on the street, most people would probably not go out of their way to hunt that person down and let them know how they feel. In the video, the encounter not only lasted for a long time, but was to the point that it was so exaggerated that it would seem unrealistic if I was actually a customer at that bakery. Another person, however, mentioned that behavior like that was not completely uncommon in places like Texas. Out of the people that agreed with the cashier, I recall that one man said that the cashier had the right to not serve the Muslim woman because he was an employee. He compared it to not serving someone without a shirt or shoes. However, I think we can all agree that those two scenarios are two completely different things. The cashier was not judging the woman because he disapproved of her outfit, but because she did not like American in his opinion. But really, what classified us as looking American? I think that that is open to interpretation and also is different is you are an outsider.

There are several pros and cons to dealing with racial issues at an earlier age. Children are often blind to color when they meet people at school. Criteria for friendship is innocent. For example, a child will befriend someone who has similar hobbies and interests, despite the fact that they may have different ethnicities, genders, socio-economic statuses, etc. Color does not affect how they judge and treat others. Instead, they judge and treat people on the basis of their actions. Perhaps, you chose not to befriend someone because they are a bully and treat you or other people poorly. Viewing people not through the lens of color allows you to see them for who they really are. Dealing with racial issues allows you to deal with other discrimination issues such as that of gender, religion, sexuality, etc. However, a con of this is that as you get older, you may be shocked to find out about prejudice and racism. Up until the third grade, I grew up in Astoria Queens, New York. Because Queens is such a diverse neighborhood, I had friends of all different ethnicities, religions, etc. I had friends with disabilities and who lived in divorced or single parent households. When I was in third grade, I moved to Bergenfield, New Jersey, another diverse town. In fact, the majority of the population is my ethnicity, Filipino. Aside from the occasional Asian/Filipino joke, I never really experienced racism. However, my freshman year of college, I went to a Filipino conference at Drexel University Philadelphia. I traveled with a group of about 25 Filipino students. After the conference, we went to Denny’s for a late night dinner. We overheard the staff ask each other why there were so many Asian people at their restaurant and received glares from other customers. I was affected by it as it was the first time I experienced racism firsthand, however, it did not bother some people in our group because they were used to it. My friend is from Philadelphia said that that type of thing happens all the time where he is from and so it did not affect him. I think being exposed to racial issues at an earlier age allows you to better deal with it, however, that can be interpreted as a good or bad thing. While not being phased by prejudice and racism may show that you are a strong person, it is not something you should accept. You should try to change the way people perceive you as a result of your ethnicity. You should encourage people to be open-minded and refrain from judgment until they actually get to know a person. You should not accept injustice whether it is toward you or someone else.

In regards to the comment made by the couple in the photo, I do not think that they did this to get attention. I am sure neither of them expected each other´s reactions when they first saw each other, and I think that their reaction was completely normal for two people that have not seen each other in a long time. If you have seen other pictures or watched videos of military homecomings, this is how they typically are. When I meet up with someone that I have not seen in a while, sometimes I will run and jump into their arms (or vice versa) out of excitement. The reason why this particular photo is getting a lot of attention is because many people are uncomfortable with public displays of affection among gay people. The Asian commentator was saying that it would have been acceptable if they just kissed or hugged, but because one of the men wrapped his legs around the other man´s hips, it became sexual. I honestly think that they did not mean it to be sexual, the man could have been just been trying to hold his upper body up by gripping his legs around the other man´s hips. I also think that it would have been different if it was a male and female couple. The woman commentator asked the Asian commentator if he has ever been to a club because that is the type of thing you always see there. The woman commentator made a valid point that it also depends on the context. The commentators mentioned that if the male and female couple they knew, Jake and Wendy, reacted that way, it would not be acceptable because they live with each other and see each other every day. However, the couple in the photo have gone through many deployments and long periods without seeing each other. In that context, I think that it is acceptable to act in the way they did. The female commentator makes another valid point that if she feels uneasy, she will just look away. The Asian commentor responds that even though he can look away, because he already saw it, he is grossed out. But even if he is disgusted for a short period of time, I doubt that it is going to ruin his day. People need to see more of these images so, as the black commentator said, they will one day be acceptable and people will not be asked for their reactions to them. If we are exposed to these images more often, seeing them in the future will not evoke such a strong reaction from more conservative people. Regardless if you have children, I do not think that there is anything wrong with PDA, especially in this situation, a homecoming of the men and women that serve our country so we can enjoy our freedom – they should be able to enjoy it, as well.

After Sam posted this question to us in class, I heard a female student behind me saying that she does not think that viewing Asians as intelligent and intellectual is a negative stereotype. Although this stereotype may not be as offensive as those directed toward other groups, it still has detrimental effects. Not only do Asian students get bullied the most in school, Asians are also abused in other places, for example, the military. A New York Times article described the suicide of an Army private named Danny Chen, the son of Chinese immigrants. After forgetting to turn off the water heater after taking a shower, soldiers pulled Private Chen out of bed and dragged him across the floor. They then forced him to crawl on the ground as they threw rocks at him and used racial slurs. Afterwards, they told him to do pull-ups with water in his mouth without spitting the water out. Private Chen later committed suicide. Unfortunately Private Chen’s case is only one out of the many atrocities against Asian Americans in the military. In a journal that he kept, as well as letters that he wrote, Private Chen said that other soldiers would tease him because of his ethnicity. “People crack jokes about Chinese people all the time; I’m running out of jokes to come back at them,” he wrote in one letter. Therein lies the problem, as Sam described it, “the myth of model minority.” As an Asian American myself, I have often been stereotyped as smart just because of my ethnicity. Because Asians are viewed as intelligent and intellectual, many people think that it is acceptable then to tease us because they think that we are capable of handling it. As Sam said, there is the assumption that “Asians will be fine and do not need any help.” Because we are viewed as superior to others, we are expected to not be affected by racial slurs, bullying and other offensive behavior. This is incredibly dangerous because it puts pressure on Asian Americans to act like they are fine when they are not. The worst-case scenario is the case of Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech shooter who killed 33 people including himself. Cho was bullied throughout middle school because he was Asian. Students made fun of him because of his accent and told him to go back to China. Everyone, however, knew that he was one of the smartest students in his class. Because of all the resentment that he built up from being bullied over the years, Cho went on a killing rampage and then took his own life. People need to remove this notion that it is acceptable to bully Asian Americans because they are viewed as superior. Even though we may be intelligent or intellectual, we are still human beings.

I think white people do avoid race because it is a taboo topic among them. Even though their ancestors were the ones that oppressed others, there is definitely still a lot of guilt involved. I remember when I first participated in the Race Relations project, I noticed that the white students were hesitant to talk, particularly when the minorities would talk about their negative experiences with race. I noticed that they would put their heads down and not maintain eye contact. I agree with Sam that one of the reasons they do not talk about race is that they have been preconditioned to avoid talking about the subject. I think many of them were raised to not look at people for their race or the color of their skin, which I think why it was so difficult for the female student to point out the darkest person in the room during the pilot filming class. I am sure she has never been asked to do that, which is why it made her so uncomfortable. I understand why she reacted the way she did after, being afraid that she would get beaten up, because as Sam said, none of the black people wanted to be chosen. Even though they embrace their skin color, I do not think they wanted to be called out for it. I think a common misconception about white people is that they do not want to talk about race because they are “ignorant.” I think the real reason why they do not want to talk about it is not because they are ignorant, but because they do not know enough about the topic. As Sam said in class, the worst insult to a white person is being called a racist. I think it is the ultimate offense because there is a feeling of guilt, but it is something they cannot control. They feel like they have to carry the burden of what their ancestors did in the past. I also agree with Sam that when minorities condescend white people for saying something about race, they are essentially telling them to keep their opinions to themselves, which prevents progress. I think being politically correct is also important for white people so as to not offend anyone. I think it is important for all people to be able to discuss such a sensitive topic because it is needed. I think that be being open, people will be more comfortable talking about the subject, breaking barriers and stigmas. Both white people and minorities will learn more about each other if white people were not so afraid of speaking up and if minorities were not so defensive. This would open up more conversation, therefore more progress.

I think one important thing to note is that illegal immigrants are not the only people that speak their native languages. Many immigrants, including those that are here legally and know how to speak English, choose to speak in their native tongue, especially those with families. In an effort to preserve their culture, many parents will speak to their children in their native languages around the house. They will learn how to speak English at school so teaching them how to speak in their native languages will allow them to become fluent in more than one language. I was born in another country but came here when I was only three years old. Although my parents are fluent in our native language, I can only understand it and not speak because they rarely spoke to me in that language. I was surprised to find out later on that I was once fluent in our native language when we lived in that country, but lost my speaking skills once we came to America and my parents spoke in English to me. I wish they had spoken in our native language more so I could be fluent and pass it on to my children. Unfortunately, I will not be able to teach my children how to speak the language of their ethnicity because I did not retain it growing up.
Also, many people that are not necessarily immigrants but have a different ethnic background than their peers prefer to speak in their native language. One student in my discussion group said that she got in trouble for speaking in Spanish with her friends. They all knew how to speak English, but chose to speak in Spanish because they still understood each other and everyone around them did not. Also, a common misconception about international students (who I also consider immigrants, but are only here temporarily for their studies) is that they do not know how to speak English because they speak in their own language in public. However, in order to study in America, they must be proficient in English. In order to address the problem of illegal immigration, it is important to clarify that not all illegal immigrants speak their native language and refuse to learn English, but that some immigrants that are here legally and know how to speak English still prefer to speak their native tongues. Those that want to make America an “English only” country will argue that because immigrants come here, we should expect them to assimilate and learn the dominant language. In other words, we expect them to conform. However, if that is true, then we should learn Spanish since minorities will soon become the majority. We should have to adjust to the changing population demographics.

Non-U.S. citizens embrace the American Dream more than U.S. citizens. They are much more hopeful to move to a new place in search of a better life and look forward to starting over. My family came to this country because it was the land of opportunity. They wanted to escape the problems of living in a third world country such as rampant poverty, corruption, etc. Most importantly, they wanted their children to have limitless possibilities. As an immigrant, I have come to appreciate the sacrifices my parents have made for me. They have instilled in me a strong work ethic, and so I am more motivated to achieve the American Dream more than my peers because I know that it was not easy for my parents to come to this country. I think Americans take living in America for granted because they have not experienced an alternative. They are fortunate to be granted certain freedoms and rights that people living in other nations do not have. Americans are lucky to not live in a war zone. They are fortunate to not live in a country plagued by disease, unsanitary living conditions and famine. I do not think the American Dream has lost its value, it is just less defined. We still strive to obtain it, but think of it more as just making our lives better. The American Dream does not just pertain to Americans, but is universal. Everyone wants security. They want to know that their families will be safe and supported. The idea of “rags to riches” is also universal. In the movie “Slumdog Millionaire” a poor young man living in the streets of India ends up on the television show, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire,” and winning the grand prize. Similarly, everyone wants to achieve success. They know that with hard work and dedication, they can accomplish anything. We know we have achieved the American Dream when we have obtained happiness and are genuinely content with our way of living. The American Dream has evolved to be more ambitious. Whereas people before aspired to have a house with a white picket fence, people now strive for a mansion. Although it may seem that our society has become more materialistic, I do not view it as a negative thing. People have realized that goals that may have seemed unrealistic are now within their reach. They can be promoted and climb the corporate ladder if they perform well enough. An American is someone that lives in this country and exemplifies its ideals. It is someone who does not expect things to be given to them, but who works hard for everything they have. They value freedom and democracy and do not tolerate injustice. They are patriotic and support their country even if they disagree with some of the decisions it makes.