Haha... This country is absolutely wonderful in everything. We have a way of life and work ethic that is far different from any country, and I'm proud to be an American. But I swear to God there are some absolutely stupid people living here. This includes every person who is a member of the Tea Party, blazing liberal hipsters, against gay marriage, or is against illegal immigration (in some cases these people are in several of these groups at the same time). We are a country of equal opportunity, and welcoming to everyone. Isn't that the premise of the message on the Statue of Liberty? Or are we all illegal immigrants? Doesn't this land belong to the Native Americans? As Sam as said in class, we are living and consuming on Red land. This country does not belong to us. As a white guy who is a first generation born in the U.S. from a French family, I have come to terms with the fact that the land that I live my life does not belong to me. On the other hand, I feel like a dick about it. But that's another topic. Personally I think immigrants are the fuel that supports the engine of ideas. There is nothing different about them than with us, it's just they are from a different country with a different culture. Maybe they have something to contribute to this country instead of bitching about them being here like most white people do. But I do have to admit that I understand why the bitching is happening. Illegal immigrants are stealing American jobs and taking advantage of the American economy. But at the same time, the people bitching are fucking morons. Why don't they go take the jobs the illegal immigrants have? Or if they really give a rats ass, they go call Border Patrol and they deport them. Really, they're pissed off because they know the illegal immigrants are better than they are. It's basic human nature, but they're still being morons.

What a great song. Not only is Dave Matthews a very talented musician, but he also writes very moving, powerful, and sometimes humorous lyrics. In this case he wrote some very real and powerful lyrics. It shows the hypocrisy of this country and the shame it hides. I remember when I visited an American history museum with my dad and my brother there was an exhibit about the treatment of the Native Americans and the Trail of Tears. My dad pointed out to me that I wasn't learning about it in school. I thought about it for a minute and he was right. His main point to me was that the genocide of the American Indian is an event in history in which America was the bad guy. We didn't know it then, but now we know that what we did to an entire RACE was a cruel, disgusting act of complete evil. We're not particularly proud of this part of our history, which is why we don't teach it in schools. Why are we doing this? This goes in the opposite direction of where we need to go. Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it, and the youth could be heading down the same path. In the comment above they talk about the Holocaust. They bring up a very good point that schools go through great lengths to teach us about the Holocaust. We were not the bad guy during the Holocaust. In fact we were the good guy trying to stop it by fighting in WWII. The point is that America's youth need to know EVERYTHING that happened in history. Even the ugly events in which America was the bad guy. Dave Matthews brings back the events of what we did to the Native Americans and portrays them in a very moving way that should shake the soul of every American that listens to it. It certainly shook mine. Even though I'm a first generation member of my family that was born in America I feel some sort of responsibility for this. I wish I was friends with kids with some serious Native American blood in them. It would be interesting to hear their take on this. Back when this genocide occurred the white guys were the minority in America compared to the Native Americans. The white man thought the reds were less intelligent than them because they didn't have the sophisticated clothing or tools that the white man had (when in fact the native Americans were actually very intelligent). Hate, and malice were what the white man was thinking. They needed the resources that the Native Americans had and the only thing standing in their way was the Native Americans themselves. It's quite sad, but life moves on.

Let me first start off by saying wow. What a class! This was by far the best college class session I have had at Penn State. It was a topic that before I was somewhat curious about, and I learned about the feelings of sex and the opposite sex. It was really interesting for me because I've been having steady sex with the same girl for two and a half years now (yes she is my wonderful girlfriend). That also means I'm in a serious long-term relationship with someone I truly care about. She is my life partner, my intimate lover, my counselor, and my best friend. Sex with her is a bonus to the relationship (and it's fucking awesome). But sex with someone that you're in a serious relationship with and the "smash and dash" sex with a complete stranger are two very different things. The smash and dash sex is usually alcohol fueled, but not all the time. You eye up that one hot chick standing on the other side in the basement of the fraternity you're partying in. To make a long story short, you two are fucking horny and want to get it on and you do. Usually no foreplay happens, and she doesn't normally orgasm because the guy has a small wiener. Sex with an intimate love partner is a much more complex thing, and before Sam's lecture I was treating it the wrong way. I used to always get irritated and frustrated when my lady didn't want to get it on. Sometimes I felt like it was my fault that she didn't want to do it. It really enlightened me at the lecture that there's a lot more complex things going on down under. And that I need to respect that. On the other hand for females, they need to know what they're heading into. I felt this part of the lecture was most appropriately spoken by Sam's wife, Lorie. Women (especially my girlfriend) need to know what territory they're diving into before they bat that one eye that will set a guy loose. My girlfriend always used to stroke her fingers through my hair while we're hanging out, or put her legs up on my lap while we're sitting down. This usually sets me off, and she's oblivious to that. I asked her why she does it because it gets me ready, and she said that it's comfortable to her. Sometimes it's women acting what feels safe and right to them, and sometimes it's the exact opposite. It's different with "girlfriend" girls" than with "smash and dash" girls. I'm usually a lot more tolerant of my girlfriend's flirtatious behavior towards me, but other guys might not be so kind when a complete stranger girl is being flirtatious to them.
Guys just need to be more respectful and control their dong, and girls need to wake the fuck up and quit wearing those low cut shirts and mini skirts that set a guy loose. What happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom, except for herpes. That shit will come back with you.

Why don't white bros date black chicks? Very interesting and difficult question to ask. I never really thought about why that doesn't happen. The thing that I've always seen (and most of you as well) is black dudes dating white chicks. Most people see that as more acceptable than a black girl and white dude in a relationship. But why? Is there something about black girls that turns white guys away, or just guys in general? It's quite sad if you think about it.
In class one statistic that Sam told us that didn't surprise me was the groups of people who are in last place for being in a relationship. Black women and Asian men. And as I ponder this statistic, I think I've come to the conclusion of why those groups of people never get any action, and ultimately why black girls and white dudes aren't usually in a relationship with each other.
First, lets just look at the dirty, raw stereotypes of each group here. Specifically we'll look at the physical features. Black girls are stereotyped to being bitchy, mean, sassy, dirty, and/or obnoxious. I've met several black girls who qualify for that stereotype, but some of the coolest women I've ever met have been black. And for Asian men, I think we can guess what it is. We all shy away from this stereotype because of it's inappropriateness but it needs to be brought up. Asian men are stereotyped to being spineless, boring, and having small wieners. I'm not sure if I've met any Asian men with large dongs, but I'm not looking to find out anytime soon. So when one looks at those stereotypes of those two groups of people, who would want to date them? It's stupid and sad the way some people judge others based on stereotypes.
My girlfriend right now is a hot, petite Italian and Japanese girl. I mean come on, you don't get any better than that. So I can safely say I'm dating outside of my race, but it's not quite the same magnitude of a black girl and a white guy dating. This means I can't safely say what it's like to date a black girl, but I'll try my hardest to figure this out. But I think what's turning white guys off is fear, and uncertainty. White guys think black girls will try to bite their heads off (you know which head I mean) and treat them like shit. Plenty of white girls do that, but for black girls it's different. White guys feel they can't do anything about it, and they'll just not have a good time. The way I see it, most white guys are pussies.
I can't really experiment in other girls because I'm already in a relationship, but for all of the white guys who are still single, try something different than that blond hoe with huge tits mingling in the corner. Approach women, or people in general, with more open-mindedness. Just try different things, because you might like them. And if you don't, you can safely say you tried.

This speech really touched me in a deep way. During my 18 years of existence I was raised to respect everyone of different races, cultures, and sexual orientation. And I still do. My homosexual friends are some of the most brave and smart people I know. They are not afraid of the ridicule that they get, and what they will eventually get in a situation like this. Personally, I think it's not very logical to not let gay couples legally marry. How would you feel if the State Government said you were not allowed to marry and live with your girlfriend? Would you feel ashamed? Angry? Confused? That's what these gay couples go through every single day. And one would expect these couples to retaliate with violence or propaganda. But they don't. All they ask for is the respect that straight couples get. Is that too much to ask? Are you afraid that the world will end if gay couples marry? Do you really think it would affect you that badly to straight-up disallow gay couples to marry? If you do then I still respect you (because that wouldn't make me any better than you) but I really hope you sit down and rethink your morals and values.
Like Zach, I have a very good friend of mine who was raised by two women. I have not met his step-mom, but his biological mom is one of the coolest women I've every met. He does have a father that his mom was married to, so you could say he did have a father figure in his life but for the majority of the time he was raised by two women. Again like Zach it had no effect on the content of his character. I also think it's very inspiring to hear Zach's accomplishments he's made throughout his life. He's probably accomplished more things than any kid who had straight parents.
In conclusion I'm trying to say respect those around you, and you will get some back. Especially the gay community.

For me, the word "retard" has several different meanings. One is that it's a derogatory word to describe people who are mentally challenged. Some examples of this is saying that something is retarded when describing it as being different, difficult, or cumbersome. The other is a simple musical term. In musical notation, it is written as Rit. for the Italian word retardando. It means to slow down the tempo of the music and watch the conductor to see how fast he or she wants to music to be. These two meanings have one distinct similarity. They both describe someone or something that is slow. And that is true. Mentally challenged individuals are slow when it comes to thought and intelligence. They can't carry out simple tasks easily like normal functioning people do. And to see people use their condition (that will never heal and will be with them for the rest of their life) in a derogatory way is quite sad. And yes, I am a hypocritical douche at the moment. I have used retard and retarded many times and I still do it. My mom yells at me every time I say it because she is a special ed teacher. She does not take kindly to that kind of humor and language. However she is one of the few people who I know of who looks after these people not because of a family member who is mentally challenged. Most people who stick up for these individuals are people who have family members who are mentally challenged. And you have to ask yourself, would they feel the same way if they didn't have any family members who are mentally challenged? It's a tough thing to ask yourself. I can't answer it because I have no fucking clue. My mom however is an exception. So who are the hypocrites? I have no clue at all. Just next time you get pissed, refrain from using retard. It makes you seem like a douche.

As Sam said in earlier lectures and this more recent one, I didn't really think much of the rural poor white society. I didn't really think that they have nothing to fall back on when ridiculed and that the mantra of modern society is that it's okay to ridicule this group of people. Which is quite sad if you think about it. I lived in central Pennsylvania for about half my life so far and believe me, there is a completely different world just a couple miles outside of the modern, progressive concentration of people known as State College. I'm friends with a couple of kids who live out there and they don't have the higher end education that State College has. And most of them are poorer than the average family living in State College.
As far as compassion goes, I feel empathy for those who deserve it, no matter which race. Seriously. And as far as poor white people, I am in that group of people who doesn't think much of them. Most of them are douchebags, and stupid. They have many opportunities to succeed but they waste them away because they're lazy, and they can't swallow their own pride that they need help. For example, when we watched the video on Tammy I didn't feel one ounce of compassion for her. Not one bit. Now before you all think I suck, just look at her. She walks ten miles to work at a fucking burger king, and doesn't accept welfare. That tells me she has no initiative and doesn't try hard enough to look for a car, and she's too stuck up and blue collar to accept help. That right there is why she deserves everything she gets and lives. However I felt compassion for her son. It seemed like he was sick of living the way he was and was really determined to make something of himself and to achieve a better life. It seemed like his mother was holding him back by thinking it's a diss to her for him going the extra mile to achieve success. Does she honestly want her son to live the way she does? If she does then she has no place in this world.
And it doesn't matter which race in the hole of poverty. I feel compassion for anyone who deserves it. It doesn't matter if it's a black family living in the inner city struggling to make money so they can send their kids or themselves to college, or if it's a white family who are farmers and they get up at the crack of dawn to fend for their animals and harvest their crops to create a living to support their kids and to educate them. And if those people are struggling, then I feel the most compassion for them because they are doing everything in their power to get a better life. I didn't see that at all in Tammy's behavior. Unless she changes her way of thinking, she has no place in this world. And I wish the best of luck to her son in is quest to go to college.

I think why people don't know about slavery is because we are in a trance right now. What I mean is people don't go and look to see what is going on the world, and when they watch or listen to the news, they don't talk about that kind of stuff. One thing that Fox News, MSNBC, and CNN all have in common is that they don't talk about slavery. I think this unawareness happens in our early scholastic years of elementary, and middle school. I remember learning about the Civil War and how there was slavery happening. I learned about Harriet Tubman, and the Underground Railroad. I also remember singing African-American spirituals in choir about the turmoils of slavery in the southern plantations. What we remember learning is because the Union won the war, and because of Abraham Lincoln that slavery was abolished forever. And we all think "Yay! There's no slavery in the world!) I guess the teachers didn't think young kids were old enough to understand the more complex realm of modern slavery. My first glimpse of slavery was when I watched a documentary on how Nike was making their products by means of sweatshops. At the time, Phil Knight, the CEO and founder of Nike, was unaware of such shenanigans. I also remember seeing in the news on how Knight did put a stop to the Nike sweatshops. But more importantly about this subject, is that the modern news world doesn't tell us about slavery. They talk about the economy, the war in Afghanistan, how Obama is black, etc. But they don't talk about the kind of slavery that we saw in class about the cocoa. The closest the news has come to that is talking about the genocide in Sudan. After watching the bit of slavery in class, I'm going to have to rethink myself in terms of what I choose to buy and my morals doing so. Should I buy fair-trade products while emptying my wallet, or should I save money at the cost of knowing that the products I'm buying were made by slaves. I'm going to have to think about that.

There has only been four stages in my political position in my eight teen years of existence. The first one started when I was a lost little puppy in the middle of Pennsylvania in 3rd grade and didn't know anything about nothing. All I knew was that there was a big election between some guy named Bush and Al Gore. My parents liked Gore, but all my other classmates seemed to like Bush (giggity). Then as I got older I understood more things. Of course I was influenced by the opinions of my parents. Both of them are true blue democrats so I turned to the spectrum of the blazing liberal who thinks global warming and homelessness are the worst tragedies to happen to America. This was in the time of Bush's "glory days" when everyone hated him. I stayed like until we elected our latest president, Barackisha Obamaniqua. And as I started to delve into the workings that occur inside congress and I disagreed with what was happening. It wasn't the opinions I hated, it was contrastness of both sides. There was not enough agreement, or compromising in congress. It started with the tea-baggers saying no to everything because they believe in the "divine power of Jesus". Then it was the pot-smoking hippie liberals passing the huge bill of healthcare (which was the biggest tragedy in America because I've never seen so much disagreement ever.) So that really put me in a rut in terms of where I stand politically. Technically I'm a registered Democrat, but at heart I'm independent. The fourth and final stage is I'm in the middle. I think the government should provide its people with basic necessities, like healthcare. But people need to take responsibility for themselves. I'm a firm believer in people getting what they deserve. So if a single mom with 3 kids living in a shitty apartment in Philly with no education and she's addicted to meth and is a prostitute, they do not deserve anything from the government like food stamps or welfare. But if it's a homeless man or woman who was addicted to drugs and is trying to turn their life around by scrounging for money to go back to school, they still don't deserve anything from the government. This is a moral battle here, because no government can help you turn your life around, only you can. That's one opinion that I didn't have before. So do I think marijuana should be legalized? Yes. Do I think all people (who deserve it) should get free healthcare from the government? Yes. Do I think abortion is right? What would Jesus do? :) I don't want to lean one way or the other, so I won't. I'm neither liberal or conservative, I'm what you call someone who is in the middle. People get what they deserve.

One great lesson I learned from my father when I was a kid is to know how to be funny. Some of the best kind of humor is making fun of yourself in some way. When people see that, they see you being a person who doesn't take themselves too seriously and generally a nice person. If you start cracking jokes about other people, then it starts to get sketchy and you look like an asshole. This is because when you start t-bagging the other people, then you don't have anything funny to say about yourself because you're a stuck up prick. I think this is what we're seeing here in the comedy issue. Look at Sarah Silverman. I hate her, and you should too. She makes fun of basically every group of people out there, but not white females like herself. But I could forgive all of that, if she was actually funny. Next, look at Seth Rogan. Hilarious man! I remember watching him on the movie Funny People and he's making fun of himself on there and it's "piss-your-pants" funny. Sometimes you can related to what he's talking about too because he talks about normal stuff, but makes them funny. But I don't think I'm getting to the point I want to make here. It really comes down to who is telling the jokes. I'm not sure of any race-shatting Asian comedians (I'm not being a typical ignorant American, I just haven't discovered anyone yet. I'll get on it). But I understand the situation the guy is talking about. It's a lot easier to laugh at someone who's background and race have gone through a lot of turmoil and hardship over the years and when we see them mock it, us white folk think it's okizzay to laugh at it. But then here comes in a white guy. And he's making fun of black people, or Asians, or Arabs, or better yet, the Jews. And there's the tenseness in the ambiance and the air feels gray that the guy is talking about. We're thinking this guy is an asshole because he doesn't have anything to back up himself with because he's white! But hey, what the hell do I know? This is my take, I'll see you all next week.

P.S.: Go Steelers