I’m going to be completely honest, questions like this annoy the hell out of me. Why would it ever be said that only white people hold “theme parties?” This literally sounds like a black girl that is completely uninformed about white people, and consequently makes ridiculous generalizations. I am a white male that has engaged in my share of parties over the four years that I have been at Penn State and not one time have I ever engaged in a “racist theme party.” The theme parties I have attended are as follows, white trash party (racist to impoverished whites if anything), CEO’s and tennis hoes, black light party, anything but clothes, toga party, costume party, strippers and nitrous, none of which are racist and/or bigoted. In fact the problem that exists is a lack of equality. People need to think of the repercussions of such accusations. I don’t think tat caucasians act a certain way toward parties and I certainly do not think that whites try to be racist when having theme parties. I am thoroughly disappointed by such accusations as I believe in a world of equality. I understand that at PSU, people are extremely cliqueish and so most times it turns out that blacks party with blacks and whites party with whites. Obviously there will be a few at each party, but when it comes to the majority the colors will remain the same. To take this information and assume that only whites have “racist” and “themed” parties is just absolutely ignorant. As I said before, I have never attended a racist party? The thought of it is absolutely ridiculous. I think that saying theme parties are only done by white kids and they are usually geared towards race is a small perception of what a theme party actually is. In my opinion, theme parties don’t have anything to do with racial issues. If you think about it, Christmas parties, thanksgiving parties, St. patty day parties are all holiday parties which are themed to that holiday but that doesn’t mean Christmas parties make fun of Santa Claus, or Germans. The reason why race relations gets so convoluted is because people see these kinds of parties and things going on in the world and make assumptions. Racial issues follow us everywhere but that doesn’t mean we can turn every little thing into a race issue. Themed parties in particular are just a silly way to make a party more interesting- like Halloween. We enjoy dressing up for the pure fun of it. I don’t think there is any malicious intent with a themed party. To make this jump and say themed parties are just white kids making fun of other races is just ridiculous.

I think that this question goes much deeper than what it may seem on the surface. Who says that lesbians are "more accepted" than gay men? Without putting much thought into this question I may have instantly agreed with you, but after further deliberation it seems I have come upon a grey area. When you look at the mainstream media, such as network television and cable programming, most programs involving a gay character seem to go about it with a gay man rather than a gay woman. Check this link out, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_television_s... it is a list of all of the TV programs with LGBT characters in them with all of the character names. It seems to me that the gay male characters heavily outweigh the gay woman characters. If what you were saying was true, this statistic would be completely reversed.
I think that you may be taking the "lesbian fantasy" too much into account when asking why gay woman are more accepted than gay men. What I mean by this, is that the people more likely to openly and outwardly condemn a gay man and embrace the "thought" of gay women are uninhibited men. These men, in my opinion, would rather imagine the thought of two woman in bed together (they probably already have a fantasized view of this, from porn) than imagine two gay men in bed together.
Not only that, but I couldn't even tell you how many girls I know that have a "gay best friend" that they absolutely adore. Do you think I am talking about the (girl) friend that was completely inseparable from them growing up and since turned gay, but their new found identity did not phase them because its now just their "gay best friend?" No. I am talking about the gay GUY that they hang out with and shop with and treat as just another "girlfriend". Among the girls I know, if they do not have one, they want one! How many guys do I know, though, that have a "gay best friend" that they talk about when referring to the lesbian that they drink with and golf with and treat as if she was just another one of the guys? Lets just say I would be hard pressed to discover such a phenomenon.
On the surface, this question can be very misleading. It can make people feel as though gay woman are embraced by society whereas gay men are kicked to the curb. If anything, this seems to be the trending opposite.

This is a very interesting article as well as a very interesting concept. As I initially approached the thought of losing a language, I immediately wondered if that meant that all of the human beings belonging to that certain culture had died. It was as if BBC and others cared more about spurring thoughts about losing a language rather than spurring thoughts about why all of these people were dying off. I quickly came to realize that I was mistaken in my thoughts and that, in fact, these people were living to very old ages. Why then were they the last person to speak the language? Did they not have children? Grandchildren? This also did not seem to be the case. What I then realized was that these losses of languages were a direct result of the extreme globalization of human beings over the past 10-15 years. Being 22 years old and growing up alongside of the internet, I do not really know how the world used to operate. I do know, though, that at any time throughout the day I can communicate with people from China, Africa, or even Iraq thanks to the far reaching hand of the world wide web. Thinking of the world in this way really makes you wonder how truly surprising it is that languages are dying off. Languages, although beautifully tied into the rich essence of culture, are mechanisms that were utilized to communicate and survive. Many of these “dead” languages were never spoken outside of small villages or communities. If descendents of these villages are now integrated into communities where English, Spanish, Mandarin, or any other mainstream language are used by the majority, then their need for the language of their ancestors is very little. As the need for these languages diminish, as does the amount of people who regularly speak it. As Johnny Hill, Jr of the Chemehuevi tribe said, “There's nobody left to talk to, all the elders have passed on, so I talk to myself... that's just how it is." Aside from being very sad, this quote really sums it all up. If the need for the language is gone, it is inevitably going to fizzle away.
One thing I want you to remember is that I find this situation to be very sad and unfortunate. As is the situation of technology and complete globalization which, in a way, inevitably strips human beings of their culture and identity. With globalization and the rapid advancement of technology, humans are no longer reliant on one-on-one contact with other humans, which to me is the real tragedy. The loss of languages is simply a small, early side effect.

I read this response randomly and felt the need to respond. I understand the sentiment that you are trying to look past the colors of people's skin and basically give people the choice of what race they "identify" with but that is a horrible idea for things such as the United States census. In no way does the census further perpetuate stereotypes and racism in America, that statement is absolutely absurd. I mean, seriously think about it. The US Census Bureau's mission statement says that it "serves as the leading source of quality data about the nations people and economy." Therefore, how is them asking to identify themselves by their race, (their race!), racist? Identification and classifications is necessary, and if not, natural. People consistently are anxious to offer that they do not see the color of someone's skin. These types of people are too anxious to make themselves seem as though they are impervious to classifications. People see color. It is factual because these are the literal colors that people are. It is impossible to NOT see the color that one person’s skin is. Simply, that is fact. The races that make up a country that is so great that it transcends the normal constraints of classifications are not invalidated, because peoples origins mold not only who an individual is, but who their descendants will be. Racism is not begotten from people’s recognition of difference, but the perceptions of superiority associated with that difference. Further, it is embarrassing that people make that direct association. The distinction has to be drawn back to the original discomfort between races and the discord that people felt around another individualized group of people. But the argument that such divisions are inherently racist is ridiculous, because it is merely putting people in a non-offensive category that groups them in a specific group. Further, such accusations and besmirching of this movement or advancement can little be considered or looked at as more than a display of some type of “white guilt” or shame for being the descendants of a repressive people. Racism in America will exist regardless of governmental documentation, which separates groups of people. Racism lives on because people find a personal upper hand in the group with which they associate, and therefore the one they choose to brandish as their own sect. The census is a good, venerable, appropriate documentation and it would be irresponsible to consider any significant changes to it, especially in the name of sensitivity. This very quality, while distinctly appropriate and important in it’s own circumstance and time, is one that can be over-judiciously prescribed and handed down in an attempt to appease the masses. Rather than doing this, we should have an eye on the issue itself, and make a personal commitment to NOT being racist or prejudice on our own and not falling into the traps that are laid out and forecasted by any predecessors of the same mindset.

This video was absolutely appalling to say the least. I was completely blown away at the fact that people still behaved in such a thoughtless and bigoted manner. That, of course, is what I think after 22 years of life in the United States. I can still remember, though, when I was only a 4th grader at Greenberg Elementary School, a public grade school in Philadelphia. Going to Greenberg was a wonderful experience, it was rich with culture due to the several ethnicities that populated the school. The distinct memory I have from 4th grade involved an Indian peer. For the most part we were friends, but on this day we got in a fight during recess. We were pushing and insulting each other, pretty harmless at the time. After a while we were broken up and to make sure I got the last word in about the situation, I said to him, “Go back to your own country!” He simply responded, “This is my country.” At that time in the United States, political correctness was not as widespread and forceful as it is now, but I still think about that moment as if it happened yesterday. Through my next few years, I experienced a wealth of different cultures, forged many friendships with those who were different from me, and was simply educated to the ways of the world.
To watch this video after all that I’ve experienced and learned in my life was disturbing and saddening. In the United States, it is very typical for fans of one team to despise the players of an opposing team. In the US, though, this contempt rarely escalates to anything too serious. I simply cannot understand how “fans” of a sport can victimize other human beings even when these people are on the team they are rooting for. I am a white male, and I completely recognize and realize that. I have a black roommate who has an Indian girlfriend. I can honestly say that I do not see them as a black person and an Indian person, I simply see them as people. The fact that these people cannot see past the color of someone’s skin and use that as fuel to harass and taunt them simply shows me that they are poorly educated. I am not trying to act as if I am the most cultured fellow in the world, because I’m not, but you do not have to be cultured to realize that all people are living, breathing, emotional beings. Everyone laughs, everyone cries, everyone feels. The fact that grown men and women cannot understand that sickens me. My only hope is that FIFA sticks to their guns and has a zero tolerance policy when it comes time for the World Cup.

This story actually gave me a slight sense of comfort amidst all of the absolutely absurd events that have been taking place around the world. Since 9/11, the entire nation has been introduced to an evil force called “terrorism” and the willingly suicidal numbskulls that orchestrate and carry it out, called “terrorists.” Before that infamous date, I had no idea that such a concept even existed. I was young and naïve at the time, but the thought of people killing themselves and others in order to be higher regarded in their religion and combat western civilization was absolutely not even in the realm of possibility. Even if the thought would have been introduced to me, I would shot it down saying that no one could be that stupid or that entranced in a way of thinking. Yet, ten years of extensive media coverage and increasing attacks around the world has changed our mode of thinking. It has made it semi-acceptable. When you hear about a hijacker, you are hardly ever surprised anymore, why? Why is it that society as a whole has changed their mindset so radically that it is now not even startling that people act in such radical and irrational way? Not to say we accept that it happens, but we almost accept the fact that “its just their religion” and “that is what they are taught.”
So yes, I am glad that the flight attendant acted in such a way to ensure the safety of not only the passengers, but of herself. From reading the article, I kind of got the feeling that this kid was a completely oblivious. Although it is now 9 years after those terrible attacks, the stench of terrorism still lingers. He should have had enough common sense to at least ask permission of the surrounding passengers or flight attendants before “strapping himself up” to pray. It is simply mind boggling that people can be so aloof in such a sensitive and recently wounded society. If you are aware of the fact that not even other jews know this practice exists, let alone the rest of society, and it can be mistaken for an act of violence or diabolical, suicidal plotting WHY WOULD YOU DO IT ON AN AIRPLANE!?!?!?! Simply unbelievable to me.
This story is a funny one to me though, because just recently I had a discussion with a friend regarding religion. I expressed the fact that religion serves as a medium to bring people together and unite the oppressed. In this union, they can find strength in hope and in their congregation. To me, this is the main function and purpose of religion. My friend disagreed though, saying that religion tears people apart and is the reason for all of the wars that have ever occurred. My response was that some people simply take religion too far and it is because of these radicals, misunderstandings take place and escalate into larger events. This could have been one of those examples.

unfuckwithable

My 22nd birthday is on Monday, which I completely forgot until one day ago when my girlfriend so politely asked me what restaurant I would prefer for my birthday dinner. This uncharacteristic slip up put a lot of things in perspective for me. Just a year ago, I was strategically planning out my strategy for the perfect night to ring in the precious 21st year of my life. My key to alcoholic freedom and utter independence in current society. This semester is actually going to be my last ever at Penn State University. For some reason, the true meaning of that fact never hit me until it actually arrived. Suddenly friendships and everyday luxuries become more than what they were originally perceived to be. You realize that the decisions you will make will affect the very way your life will go. Every decision suddenly seems as if you have come upon a fork in the road and must choose the next land to venture. Suddenly you begin to view how girlfriends would seem as wives and mothers of your children..this is a very odd reality of this age.
I have found myself taking an interest in the lives of those around me, such as my younger brother and older sister. Suddenly I see them as the two people who will have the greatest grasp of my past as I begin to age…another terribly odd reality of this age.
I have began valuing my parents and all of the sacrifices they have made for me throughout my life, beginning to realize that I must take the reigns of my life and steer them in a direction that will benefit them in a way proportional of the way they have benefited me.