en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/765399 Comments by mdonof5 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69055861 I agree with you thought that everyone has a little bit of racism in them. I know I do and even people who claim they don’t are full of crap. Stereotypes are the simplest form of racism and there is no doubt ever one acknowledges stereotypes. I like your openness to admit you think you are better than some people because I think subconsciously we are all superior to other people whether we want to admit it or not. I know I also openly admit I believe I am superior to some people, not in a bragging way, but it a muffled subtle way that I really only feel. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:51:25 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69055861 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69055479 I agree with you when you claim that there is a difference in thinking that you are better than someone in a developing country than thinking your race is superior because quite frankly it’s a complete individual idea and not necessarily everyone thinks like this. Like I previously said in another post, sometimes you subconsciously believe you are superior to people living in third world countries and you don’t even recognize it. I believe that thinking your race is superior is much worse because of the implications it has here in the United States and the potential feathers you could ruffle on American soil. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:48:27 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69055479 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69054873 Coming from the wealthiest nation in the world, it is easy to simply blow off third world and developing countries and their problems. I admit that many times I do this and don’t really think twice about the issues facing these third world countries. Yet now that this video post has come up I have thought a little differently about why I don’t think about these third world countries and the issues they face. I know it’s a combination of many things. Maybe I subconsciously feel as if I am superior to the citizens in these third world countries. Maybe I feel as if a 19 year old college student in State College, PA can’t really make a difference that can truly affect people hundreds of miles away. Or maybe it’s the fact that I simply don’t care because their situation and issues don’t directly affect me. I don’t consider myself racist, but yet again who does. I truly believed that I am so removed from third world country issues that I really don’t know how to react to them because I truly do believe I really can’t do much to truly affect the outcome. I never really thought of thinking of myself as superior to people living in third world and developing countries until this post. I guess you can’t compare a person from the U.S. and a person living in let’s say Ethiopia because the lifestyle, customs, and culture is so distinctly different. What I’m trying to get at is that people in Ethiopia might consider themselves superior to Americans, not in the fact of possessions, but in the idea of more enriched in their cultures. People living in Ethiopia might think that internal awareness of culture is more important than material goods. Obviously they defiantly need more materials goods to live, but Americans might consider themselves superior to those citizens of third world countries because we simply posses more tangible objects. I believe that there is a very broad line regarding the difference between people who are racist and people who consider themselves superior to people of third world countries. People, who are racist, completely consciously degrade other human beings because of their skin color. People who feel as if they are superior to others in third world countries might do so in a subconscious way. Like I’ve previously stated this wall post has opened my eyes regarding people in third world countries. I never really thought of myself being superior to them, but I guess I subconsciously do. And it’s not even that I feel superior to them, it’s as if I really don’t even recognize people actually live in these countries as weird as that might sound. When people raise money for 3rd world countries, now that I think of it, I really don’t even realize that money is going to help people who live in those countries. Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:43:56 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/how-am-i-not-a-racist__trashed/#IDComment69054873 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68424221 I feel as men don't need to conform to society because men have been quite frankly been able to do as they please and had been able to make it acceptable. Men with beer bellies are viewed as normal while girls who are a little chubby are viewed as fat and ugly. Men are the exact opposite of conforming. It is almost as if men do as they please without really thinking about the possible ramifications that could come into effect. It is basically the nature of men to do as they please Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:37:06 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-the-men__trashed/#IDComment68424221 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68423350 Hey listen I'm all about that all women are beautiful. I do agree all women has a distinct characteristic about them that separates them all other women. Some all beautiful, some are smart, while some are funny. However, I believe that it has come to a point where women overuse this cliche statement in nearly all possible situations. I feel as if women always use this term as a defense mechanism whenever they possibly can. You never hear men saying "All men are beautiful." Maybe it goes back to the fact that women are still discriminated against and still feel the need to possible team up and use this common phrase to always insist why women are beautiful. But honestly, you have to love women though. Your mom brings you into this world and to some degree everyone is a momma's boy. You are naturally attracted to a woman's caring and nurturing ways. My grandmother, mother, aunts all show the love that truly display why women are beautiful. In my words women are beautiful because of this characteristic. There is always a safe zone when it comes to talking to women that even the menliest men need every now and again. There is defiantly something beautiful about that characteristic. I keep referencing this idea that beauty is more of an emotional thing that a physical or characteristic thing. Everyone needs someone to go to and talk to in a time in need, and women are that person you can go to. Granted some women are physically beautiful but the best part about women who are "beautiful" is that they are opening and loving and caring. Also in relation to the topic on women being beautiful, I believe some of it has to do with the miracle of birth. We all know the miracle of birth is a beautiful thing and since women are the delivers of the miracle they are the beautiful thing, thus making all women beautiful. So as I believe women can be beautiful is several ways but the most important ways is relating to beautiful i the loving and caring nature of women and the beautiful miracle of life a women performs every time they give birth. As a guy, I want to know why not all men are beautiful though? Why aren't men considered "handsome" or something of that nature? Is it because men typically have thicker and tougher skin and can take criticisms or is it because of the reputation the society of America portrays on men. Regardless, we all know men and women are always held to different standards with most everything in life, but when it comes to "beauty" I will agree that women are more beautiful. There is no doubt that all women are beautiful, and there is the common bond between women and the unbelievable ability to Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:29:10 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68423350 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66945754 I agree with you here. After this class is over, I will continue my class the exact same as I did before I took this class. Granted I’ll keep some of Sam’s thought in my mind, but I won’t stop buying clothes or foods because they have some slavery links down the production line. I also won’t view people any different than I do now. It’s not arrogance; it’s just that I feel as if it really doesn’t matter I do. I’ll always be polite and political correct and do the right things, but I will not change the way how I live my life. Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:54:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66945754 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65569061 Let’s all be honest and claim that when you see black people in an LL Bean catalog it really doesn’t catch your eye, but when you really think about how many black people do you really see wearing LL Bean? I just feel that people in place to make decisions regarding publications are always wrong. If they put black people in TV shows, black people complain they the black actors are “2nd grade characters or depict criminals.” Yet, when black people are not put in ads or shows, people complain and the NAACP is calling for a federal investigation. I just feel as if lets forget about what is politically correct, and attempt to portray real life as best as possible. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 15:58:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65569061 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/revisioning-the-revisioning-stage__trashed/#IDComment65568590 I actually am the complete opposite. I criticize my hometown for being strictly white. I went to my public high school which was home to students, 92% of which were white. I always claim that in a way I wished I went to school with more diversity. Granted my high school has outstanding academics and was voted #1 high school in Hartford county, but sometimes academics isn’t all about life. One needs to interact with diversity so they can be prepared for the real world, because I know 92% of people in the world isn’t white. I may never be put in a situation where white isn’t the majority, but I do wish I grew up in a more diverse community. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 15:54:39 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/revisioning-the-revisioning-stage__trashed/#IDComment65568590 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-about-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment65567777 I could understand where the confusion is amongst how to categorize yourself. As, the son of a white mother and white father, I consider myself 100% white and never really thought about how people who have parents of different races categorize themselves. In my opinion, I would put you on the white team. First off, you are the son of a white father and a Latino mother. I don’t see any variable in that equation that would insinuate either of your parents are of black or brown descent. Yet, it is also my view that Latinos or Hispanics shouldn’t be categorized in the black or brown portion of the population. Although their skin is darker than whites, I don’t believe they are as black or brown as other minorities groups. Thus , I acknowledge the fact that Latinos are a minority, but I wouldn’t go to claim them in them in the black or brown race. Now, since your father is white and each parent comprises 50% of your “genetics”, I would consider you white before black or brown. It is interesting however that you grew up with the Latino culture as opposed to your father’s family. I’ve noticed that when an inter racial couple gets married and have children; the children will usually grow up and be around the white family more often. I don’t the complete story behind your family, but it is rather unusual that you can identify yourself as Latino because you grew up around your mother’s side more than your father’s side. I say this because you essentially are 50% and 50% when it comes to Latino and white, but you identify yourself as Latino. If I had to categorize you, like I already stated I would racially but you in the Caucasian category. However, this is the difference between race and ethnicity that we discussed about in class earlier in the year. Race in the biological and physical characteristics that determine what category you’re in, but ethnicity is essentially determined by the person. As you’ve stated you probably would identify yourself Latino in a ethnicity sense. The debate will wage on until the end of time, and with globalization growing exponentially every year on how do we classify people. Every time someone takes their SATs, its necessary for them to fill out a race section in which you circle the category that best fits you. But what happens when you’re bi-racial? Are you forced to circle the ever popular “other” section, even though you know you’re both black and white? The argument just creates a large circle of arguing because every point just returns to its original starting point. Bottom line, I would categorize you as white because your skin is clearly more white than it is brown Fri, 2 Apr 2010 15:48:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-about-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment65567777 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment63896167 Even though I’m a male I appreciate her thoughts. Bleeding is something naturally just like a bunch of other things in our world. For her to dispel the immense amount of” tabooness” about bleeding is what needs to happen more often. Obviously, some people will be offended by topics such as bleeding, but as far as I’m considered bleeding is just as naturally as going to the bathroom or eating. Granted it’s not #1 on the list on topics to talk about, but I mean we all learned about it in 5th grade so why should it matter anymore. I give this girl props for openly putting her face on the camera and saying some of the stuff she did. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:51:11 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment63896167 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment63895496 If men could menstruate I don’t think tampons would be free. Only men have to wear condoms and those aren’t free. Only men wear boxers and those aren’t free. You’ve turned the idea of the “bleeding” concept and have turned it against the whole male race. You right men don’t know 100% about bleeding, but we attempt to make light of the situation to lighten the mood. Plus, when Sam is able to talk openly about this matter shouldn’t be considered taboo or offensive. I think it’s awesome Sam can talk about it and even better than Sam’s wife allows him to talk about things like bleeding. Don’t get so upset about a natural thing that everyone in society knows about and certainly don’t turn it against men. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:46:28 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment63895496 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment63895024 As a white individual I will admit that I view different racial groups. When I say these I mean I pay more attention to racial groups I have more familiarity with. Since I am white, I tend to focus in on white people and their physical attributes a little more attentively than those of other groups. I distinguish random physical characteristics about different people. I can usually tell which white people have Italian heritage (darker skin, dark features) compared to those who have Swiss heritage (lighter skin, blond hair). However, I don’t recognize these difference on let’s say black or brown people; specifically Asian Americans and African Americans. I know I’m not the only one who believes this but I truly think all Asians and Blacks look the same. Obviously they, just like Caucasians, have very different physical features, but since I am not around them as much as white people, I cannot easily distinguish these differences. However, I am able to recognize the African Americans who are first generation Africans in the United States. Their physical characteristics are a little different than those of third or fourth generation African Americans. Asians, on the other hand, look completely identical to each other. Whether they’re Korean, Chinese, or Japanese, I really can’t tell the difference. Not only can I not tell the difference, but I don’t even know where to begin to look. I don’t know if it’s the shade of skin color, the slight of their eyes, or the color of their hair. I don’t think it’s really an uncommon thing for people who mostly hang out with people of their own race to not be able to distinguish the characteristics of other races. I remember one day in class this semester, a black student said he couldn’t distinguish the differences between white people. I almost passed out in my chair from disbelief. What I’m trying to say is that although Blacks are difficult to distinguish differences between, I guess they’re easier than Asians. In my opinion Asians look completely identical. Blacks have more of distinguishable characteristics; hair type, darkness of skin, and body type. However it seems as if all Asians stand 5’10”, have black hair, and all have the same type of facial makeup. It’s not insulting them in any way, but it concludes my idea that when you truly don’t hang out with people of opposite races, it is very difficult to determine what makes them different. Since, I’m white and hang out with white kids, I know what the differences are between them. I take this knowledge and take it with me to when I see or meet other white kids. I don’t believe it’s a discrimination thing, but it just happens because its convenient. Wed, 24 Mar 2010 19:42:37 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment63895024 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment62782474 I think the ability to say your thoughts in front of 700 people only affects the white people though. I believe this because colored people attack white when they say something borderline racist, yet when white as much tell a joke concerning a colored person they outcry for discrimination. I think colored people would have no trouble going in front of the class and speaking their mind about white people. Primarily because they know they won’t get much of a reaction, but secondly because they know that they can say whatever they want, but it really won’t change the mindset on white people about themselves. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:45:00 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment62782474 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-happens-to-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment62782098 I’m all for Soc 199 and all its topics of conversation, but I think we have belabored the point regarding how you classify yourself pertaining to skin color. In my opinion it’s quite simply, with you’re white, black, Hispanic, Asian American, Native American, or other. Whether you’re 100% or 50/50 something; you classify yourself as something. I don’t care how you do it, but I’m getting irritated about how much we talk about “what do you consider yourself?” For 95% of the kids in the class it’s a easy answer, for those other 5% they might have a little trouble, but trust me they don’t lose sleep over it. Let’s just talk about something other than what we consider ourselves. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:41:45 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-happens-to-multiracial-people__trashed/#IDComment62782098 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment62781380 This is a rather in depth response, but the reason I feel that black people are much more offended by derogatory comments by whites than vice versa goes deep into the idea of the current situation. It is my opinion that many black and colored people believe that they are constantly being discriminated against regardless of the actually situation. It is almost as if they look for the smallest possible things to than have the ability to have an outcry of discrimination. For example, the other day in class when the comment “inferior” rose up on the screen, there was a little bit of a reaction from the black students. Yet, when black and colored students wrote “ignorant” on the screen there was no reaction from the white students. It is the idea that black and colored people feel as if they are constantly getting discriminated against and when they see words like ignorant they feel the need to react and cry for this discrimination. I also noticed that many times black and colored people never make fun of their own race. When Sam posed the question about white people many white and colored people acknowledge some stereotypes (i.e. “benchwarmers”, “can’t jump”, “Ugg Boots”). Quite frankly I thought these were funny and many of the white students chuckled at these comments. However when stereotypes are made amongst black or colored people they view it once again as a form of discrimination. When comments are said regarding black people and their stereotypes, there is an outrage and the NAACP launches a Supreme Court case. I’m not trying to provoke controversy and I really get on tangents and end up writing malarkey, but it seems to me that black and colored people have thinner skin than white people and need to learn how to take a joke. During Dave Chapelle’s standup routine the other day in class, he imitated a white person’s voice. Obviously 1 out of 10,000 white people speak how he sounded, but we laugh at it. If a white person tries to imitate a black person with their lingo, some colored people try to fight this stereotype by revolted and saying “not all black people talk like this” I’m not trying to start a race war or anything of this nature, but perhaps colored people just need to take a chill pill and don’t get in attack mode as soon as a stereotype or humorous comment comes out of a white person’s mouth. Whites don’t attack when they are called “whitey”, let’s just realize many times when people say certain comments they aren’t intentionally trying to offend you, and don’t take it to heart. People need to realize that stereotypes exist partially because they are true and I do agree that colored people occasionally look for something to call discrimination just to further their argument that racism and discrimination still exists today. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:35:50 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment62781380 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59773993 I don’t think that comment could be any further from the truth. Theme parties weren’t initiated to make fun of people, it was simply to add to the atmosphere of a party and to get people excited about what they would wear instead of the same old. What party have you heard of that makes fun of black people? Maybe a “gangster” party, but that doesn’t even directly hinder the black people’s image, it is fact that most black’s exert their “gangsterism” as rappers, actors, and other public figure are always in the public eye acting like gangsters, it is not the fault of the party throwing for insulting the black race, if that is what you think they are trying to do. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:52:05 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59773993 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/question-on-discrimination__trashed/#IDComment59773266 I think that people of color who work in the college acceptance offices across the nation aren’t specifically looking for colored people and white people aren’t looking for white students. When they are in the job position they are in, Im sure that has been properly educated by the university to pick the student that would fit best at the university, but not because of their skin color. With that being said I’m sure some “sweeping under the rug” still occurs in which maybe a person of a specific race will pick a student of a specific race without fully reviewing their credentials in order to ensure the race gets their fair share in the university’s enroll numbers. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:45:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/question-on-discrimination__trashed/#IDComment59773266 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-this-racist-really__trashed/#IDComment59772674 Let me just start out my saying I absolutely love the idea. I’m not saying I would pay to go see a game in this “exclusively white” basketball league, but I give Lewis kudos for trying to spread his idea of white man’s basketball. Amidst all the criticisms, this idea does make sense. Think about whenever turn on a NBA game of TV. For the most part, 9 out of the 10 players that are on the court are black. I’m not saying it deters anyone from watching, but it has come to the point where whenever you see a white man on a basketball court, you immediately thing “What’s he doing out there?” or “He must be a good shooter” (mainly because white guys that make it to the NBA nowadays are lights out from 3 point range.) Also it has come to the point where if a white man succeeds in the game it is as if a miracle had occurred. This is where one must take a step back and look at how white man can laugh at himself. Every white man makes comments referring to the limited amount of white people in the NBA and pokes fun at the restricted amount of athletic ability in those white players in the NBA. I will fully support Lewis’ attempt to start an exclusively white man basketball league. Agreed that is seems a bit racist, but think about the spectators at any given NBA game. It’s obvious that 90 % of the players are black, but 90% of the spectators are white. That is simply because many minorities cant afford expensive ticket prices that the wealthy white men can. Thus, if Lewis capitalizes on having an all white basketball league, I predict the fans will follow. Of course many people still would go to NBA games because players such as Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade are irreplaceable, but think about the mass market it would attract. It would be a more pure style of game play with more focus put on shooting, boxing out, and tight defense; not the bullshit that the NBA has adopted in “street ball” offensive schemes paired with a absolutely pathetic desire to play defense. This new league would mostly attract men probably from 40 and above, as when they played, many of the NBA players at the time were white. All I’m saying is that is Lewis can find enough support and an adequate amount of funds to supply his new idea, I say why not. We’ve all seen that crazier ideas, that were once thought to be ridiculous, have gone on to thrive and become rather sufficient money making schemes. I say he goes for it and maybe one days ill be watching white man shoot, defend, and try to jump their way to a title. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 18:40:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-this-racist-really__trashed/#IDComment59772674 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-comment__trashed/#IDComment58226138 I don’t agree with the idea that once you get in trouble and perhaps go to jail it is tough to climb out of the hole, because you have to look at the infinite number of repeat offenders who claimed the first time was a mistake and they would learn from it. I feel as if jail sentences aren’t as feared as they should be, primarily because for some criminals, living in jail is a better life than they previously had before incarceration, especially homeless criminals. Once a criminal is released from jail, it has got nothing to do with their past whether they want to change their lifestyle. They served their time in jail and should have learned from it, if they want to sob and claim they’re in a whole, then they’re quitting on themselves. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:27:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-comment__trashed/#IDComment58226138 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58225156 I must admit a fault in my day to day thought processes. Here at Penn State where diversity barely exists, whenever I see a black student, I immediately think athlete and try to guess the sport they play. Many times these kids don’t play a sport and often times are actually probably more unathletic than a majority of the white students. However, it is my perception, good or bad, that whenever I see a black person on the Penn State campus I’m thinking to myself that he or she is an athlete. Maybe it’s because Penn State is overwhelmingly white or maybe because the athletes on our sports teams are overwhelming black, regardless when I see black at Penn State I’ll usually think athlete. Mon, 22 Feb 2010 17:17:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/inequality-class-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58225156