en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/762971 Comments by oliviak https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70018988 I also favor hard work over money becasue i come from a family of hard workers, and my family is not rich. We worked hard to get where we are in society. As with my father who came from South Africa and he and his family have made a very good life for themselves. They came here without anything, but with hard work and diligence they prospered in society. My father's side of the family relied on working hard in school and attaining degrees in order to make a name for themselves. Sadly, hard work is overruled in the end because in the end my dad's family wasn't noticed until they began to make money and a name for themselves. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:21:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70018988 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70018387 i agree money is everything. Since the immigrants are poor, they are more frowned upon. They are looked at as being worthless because people think they only take from the economy and don't build up the economy. If immigrants were rich white people who resided in Mexico, their presence would be more accepted in society and society would welcome them more openly. Also, the factor of race is incorporated, leaving the immigrants at the bad end of the stick and are not at liberty to travel into the Americas. Hard work overall should be enough to get someone to bulid a good life in America, but sadly it isn't and money and race overpowers this and that is where America fails. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 23:16:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70018387 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70010465 Let’s face it. We are not safe. Not only do the people across our waters risk our lives but also the people within our own country. There are people who literally live day by day without being known. While the obvious reaction should be regulation and the enforcement of our already standing borders, we literally almost fight for this threat in response to every action against it.The term “illegal immigration” itself has been torn apart, rejected, restructured and debated despite its simple reality: Our nation has a right to enforce everyone on our land is known about. The question of why it is so hard for Americans to realize knowing who calls our nation home is a factor of safety and not restriction must in a way baffle everyone. It seems that our nation is calmly accepting of internal dangers that people among us who are not identified posses. The girl who made the comment failed to realize that these people are not well to do individuals who just simply refuse to fill out some paper work to get into the US, they are poor, desolate and desperate for a better life. These people don’t think they can achieve a better life in the country they’re in whether they are in Mexico or and for that reason they try to come to the United States. Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime and therefore should not be treated as such. Further, the last ones to fall on the sword that is illegal immigration are the ones that lie on our borders. Arizona is a state that is very much in danger as it is one of the many lines between the United States and Mexico. Recently, a popular rancher named Robert Krentz was killed at a location that is known for illegal human trafficking. When their demands for assistance resulted with deaf ears they began to work within their own government. As a result of the current administration, illegal immigration becoming a state issue may be becoming a trend. Honestly, they are probably the ones who should be seen as experts in the field either way. They live with it day after day and feel the most negative results from crime rates to employment issues. Hence, instead of shunning legislation such as this we should be using it as a tool to see what is needed in order to keep our border states and in turn our nation safest. We are cutting off our own noses despite our face when we profile legislation that is obviously coming from fellow Americans crying out for help. Illegal immigrants, I believe if I they had the opportunity to come to America legally they would, but seeming as though they are often poor and down trodden, they have to do it illegally. The girl who made the comment was being insensitive, and is unaware of the actual situation. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 22:19:30 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-about-people-who-can-only-afford-hard-work__trashed/#IDComment70010465 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68427890 I think that Hollywood does try to make an attempt in portraying all women. But honestly I don't think it's Hollywood that's doing the "portraying" of anything. I think the women who are in Hollywood choose to look fit and beautiful. It's not a rule that states in order to stay in Hollywood you must be beautiful, if that were the case, actresses like Monique, Nikki Blonsky, Jennifer Hudson, Queen latifah, Raven Simone, Jordin Sparks, Jennifer Coolidge, and America Ferrara, would also be stick thin. I believe it's the choices of the women and gaining your acceptance, making a name for yourself and asserting yourself. We "small people" put these people on a pedestal. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:09:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68427890 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68427035 I feel this exact way. I get dressed almost every day religiously. People often question my motives in getting "so dressy" as they would put it, with questions like, "who are you trying to impress" or " are you going somewhere?" I am like ummm yeah, to class. I get dressed for myself and people find that hard to believe. It honestly makes me feel good and confident. I like putting on my clothes every day. I am not trying to impress anyone in particular; it's just been something I have done since I could dress myself. But i mean, the occasional compliment doesn't hurt either. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 21:02:06 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68427035 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68426367 i completely agree with you. I believe all women are the same, i mean come on, the only thing that differentiates most of us from each other are our races and our ethnicity. I think women need to learn to come to love themselves and stop comparing themselves to other women in a society. If women continue to focus on their outward appearances and need to learn to be grateful and thankful for their own unique qualities. I think the main reason women today aren't happy and content with their appearances because they try to live up to and try to attain the "ideal image' of the perfect woman according to America's standards. America has this cookie cutter image of what a woman is "supposed" to look like. Blonde hair, blue eyes, a small frame, and big boobs. Unfortunately, every woman America does not look like that. Which turns out to be fortunate for us. Think of how boring life and society would be if every woman looked alike. I mean that's what makes a society beautiful and unique: the myriad of different skin tones, figures, the different women in general. Moreover, different societies have started to try and find ttheir own perceptions of beauty. For example,in mainstream America, whih tends to be white Americans, the cookie cutter white woman with blonde hair, blue eyes, and a small figure is desired. This contrasts with the desired image in African American communities. In African American communities, a full-figured woman is desired. A woman who is desired most has curves in all of the right places, ie. the buttock, the breasts, and the hip area. Don't get me wrong, a fit women isn't frowned upon and cast away, but a woman with 'a little meat on her bones' is more preferred. The play was typical and told a typical tale of how women desire to fit a certain image in order to satisfy the men in a male dominated society. I wasn't impressed or taught a lesson. The play only instilled what i already summed about society. Especially since the ending was such a cliff hanger. The ending only left me questioning what happened to the other girl's aunt. I wasn't left questioning my womanhood and where i stand in society. Maybe that's because I'm so comfortable with myself, and I am not phased by what i see in magazines or on television.When i buy magazines, i only look at them for entertainment purposes only and to see what's the latest fashion, and to read the different editorials, which is what i thought you were supposed to do. But it seems that people are fixated on the images they see, and the ways they can conform to them. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:56:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/women__trashed/#IDComment68426367 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66874665 Personally, a lot of the things Sam has said has not changed my outlook on life, or my opinion on the different issues HE has discussed. I for one am very opinionated and i can not be swayed easily, especially when the person comes off a little bit irrational, or rash, and very biased, leaving him to be unable to see different spectrums. I feel as if Sam's lecture are soley opinion based and lack a lot of factual and sound founding. The class overall is entertaining at times, but that's really it. From the beginning of the class compared to now, my perception of Sam has altered. At first, he seemed like a normal guy who just wanted to educate his students on how society views and deals with the different aspects and issues of race, but as the the class has progressed, Sam's lectures have turned into rants and raves on how HE feels different races view eachother and how they deal with race issues and why they are still stuck in their ways. I think another reason why Sam's points can come off a litle wayward is because of his terminology. he uses words and phrases like, "the white team" and 'black and brown people". Like what?? What does that mean? I think those words he use only force people into different groups that have stifled us as a society that is bent on racial inequality and race related issues. Sam claims that he is comfortable with race and other ethnicities, but it seems that he is a little to comfortable with other races. He says things that can be deemed insensitive to African Americans. For example, when HE talked about the LL.Bean ad, and he said that the black people in the ad were "acting white" . "Acting white"? what was he trying to say? I mean are black not allowed to be seen or partaking in any events near the lake? are they not allowed to wear Dockers? Are they being fake? Are they not living up to their stereotype? I mean really. I wanted Sam to explain that more, but he didn't . He never really delved more into that subject, he just shyly laughed, the kind of laugh that wanted to invite his 'black and brown" people onto his side. He wanted them to "get where he was coming from", and laugh at the stereotype that has plagued "black and brown" people for years. I just found it questionable and awkward. Sam also left me puzzled when he discussed "our God" I felt disrespected when he kept referring God to "Your" God. I mean really? He made God out to be this manifested being who only exists. To answer your question, Sam's OPINIONS have made no difference to me, they have only made me think about his true motives and character. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 21:10:30 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66874665 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66870183 I agree with you that sam shares a lot of stories with us. But the facts part leaves me uneasy. Sam's facts to me should be taken with a grain of salt. His facts are all opinions to me. I also strongly agree with you when you say that Sam's lectures have only helped you to develop a stronger opinion on different issues. i listen to Sam's "Facts" and they only make me want to run with my own beliefs and opinions and lock them up. I listen to Sam's lectures and i am unphased, because i have heard alot of what he has said before in my life as not only a student, but also as a young African American female born in Haiti and growing up in the inner city in America. I mean , who knows more about you and your people than you? Fri, 9 Apr 2010 20:41:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66870183 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66869046 I can agree that it has opened my eyes. But that's where it stops. He has not changed my opinion in any way shape or form, but rather helped to instill my own beliefs and views. Sam is a colorful character who says he's not here to change our opinions, but I highly doubt that. That's just my opinion. I mean why do we talk, why do teachers teach? Sam's opions leave me uneasy and make me only hold onto my beliefs. He claims to be all for racial equality and how he is comfortable with ALL races, but his stories and different terminology makes me think otherwise. Fri, 9 Apr 2010 20:35:20 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66869046 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65623539 Jesse Jackson does not "hate" all other people, that notion is bogus. Although he is dedicated to uplifting "black and brown" people who have been oppressed for years, he does not hate other races. If he did have animosity it would be greatly justified, due to the horrible treatment he faced from white people while fighting for civil rights. He is for all people who voices can't be heard , overall he is for the underdog. He "loves his black brothers and sisters" because they have been unloved and unwelcome in American society for so long, and still somewhat today. He is looking out for the cause, give him a break. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 21:29:12 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65623539 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65621310 I feel that is the problem with society today. I think people have been so brainwashed and conformed to society that they put people in categories. We are trying to pull people out of the mindset that only a particular race is "supposed" to be seen in a particular light. And the LL.Bean ad for example, what is the big deal with African Americans being placed in the ad, are they too not Americans, I mean seriously? LL.Bean is an American brand, no? We need to open our minds and see past the typical image for a person, we cannot place people in categories. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 21:21:56 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65621310 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65619820 In response to the LL.Bean discussion, I feel as though Sam's comment about the black people in the photos acting in comparison to "white people", was one that was questionable. I mean what does he mean that that the black people were "acting white". What does it actually mean to "Act white?" I don't think that the black people were "acting white" I think they were acting more American than anything. I mean that's what they are Americans, as all of the people in the LL.Bean ads. LL.Bean depicts the American lifestyle, not the "white lifestyle" the only people who see the ads or interpret the ads as an issue of race are people who are enveloped in race issues, which kind of explains why Sam brought it up the issue of the black people "acting white". But someone looking from my perspective, just sees another American family. What? black people can't have a dog and play near lakes and wear dockers? Are those just aspects of life that are solely designated to white people? I mean come on, that was kind of silly. I think that for Sam to assume that the black people in the LL.Bean ad were acting out of character and acting white, is only showing his ignorance to black society. I mean if that where we belong and that we have no place in the woods or around lakes, where should we be placed? Would he feel more comfortable, or feel as though the black people would look better in an urban ad, with baggy clothes and guns and on the streets? I think the whole discussion has stereotypical undertones, that made me question Sam as not only a professor and sociologist, but as a person. With the discussion Jesse Jackson, I feel that was one of irrelevance. Jesse Jackson is for the "black and brown" people. he speaks up for them and their perils they face everyday. and on the point of him 'returning to his roots" how can return to what he has always been at and been for. He might have branched off to help other causes, but his main focus is on the "black and brown" people in the world. he is for us because we have been the oppressed peoples in American society. I mean he does tend to the aid of other oppressed people but he is most revered and known for coming to the aid and speaking up for the "black and brown" people. I feel Jesse Jackson "returns to his roots" in the words of Sam, because he has been dedicated to helping uplift a people, and black people in particular. There is nothing wrong with that when black people have been down trodden for all of these years. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 21:16:46 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/how-can-we-ever-win__trashed/#IDComment65619820 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64252526 Ha Ha! Your comment is too funny! I think that more girls should be more confident with them and should be more comfortable to talk about their periods. I mean it is a natural thing and it happens to almost every woman.I think we should be happy and embrace it, I mean we have our own personal built in pregnancy test. And on your comment on male masturbation, I agree, men talk freely about it and while women are left saying, "mum's the word" when it comes to "Bleeding". I think that can be posed to our society being male-dominated. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:32:06 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64252526 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64251847 I completely agree with you. I feel that the class was way to dramatic and made too much of a big deal over nothing. I think it was either the setting of the conversation, the speaker presenting the conversation, or the audience and the peers surrounding that made the conversation of 'bleeding" an uncomfortable one. Whatever the case i felt the whole "song and dance" session with the additional uproar was extremely uncalled for. I mean you would have thought we were an etiquette school in Great Britain, but no we're not, we're the the #1 Party school in the nation! Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:26:00 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64251847 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64250784 I think the class was so shocked about our talk, or rather, class discussion about "bleeding" or namely menstruation or period, because it is so taboo in today's society. Like Sam said, we are in a male dominated society and the anatomy of a woman is the last thing on anyone's mind, even that of a woman's own mind. Moreover bleeding has always had a negative connotation and we are in a society where people like to 'sugar coat" and find "big words" for the blatant and most simplest words. We like things to seem cleaner, nicer, and neater than what they really are, all in an effort to have to go through that "awkward" feeling in life, although it's obviously inevitable. My period for example, is horrible, the worst of the worst, the pits of hell, in fact, it's hell on steroids! I have the heaviest bleeding known to man, you would think i would die of blood lost. My period is so bad it has caused me to have health problems, such as Anemia. My Anemia, then causes me to get lightheaded, dizzy, fatigue, cold in warm temperatures, and a whole host of ill- nature symptoms. And as one might have guessed most of these symptoms are in parallel with the symptoms to the regular period. This is the exact cause of my ranting and raving, I have to deal with the symptoms of my period to the second power, with the addition of my Anemia. "Bleeding" , or one's menstrual cycle, or period, or when they are on "the rag" is a touchy topic and can make one comfortable, when talked about, but it is what it is: a simple act of nature taking its course. Which is the same as breathing, passing gas, blinking, and so forth. Sam's point was a good one, but one that was a little off. He asked what the big deal was about bleeding, and he compared it to bleeding from one's finger. I see where he was trying to go with the comparison, but he failed to look at, or further, he didn't care about the fact that one's finger and one's genital area are to vastly different things. When bleeding comes from the finger it is looked at as a normal thing, because it happens to both men and women alike. Like Sam has stated , we are in a "male-dominated" society, where males don't have the same genital parts as women. So when we hear about 'bleeding' coming from a seemingly uncommon or minority, we tend to look at it sideways, with our jaws agape. We act as if we are surprised and unbeknown to the fact that women go through these changes "down there" This is funny compared to the amount of male impotency and male prostate commercials that are in heavy rotation on television today. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 21:16:40 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64250784 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63044190 The rudeness in my opinion stretches both ways. The comments made by the white students were ignorant, stereotypical, and plain racist. This is also the case with the comments made by the black students. I'm not saying that it is right or just for one or the other racial groups to act racist to another, or that it is safe to say or fair for African American students to speak out racially against white students, but when one of the races in this equation is responsible for much of the race tensions and the implementation of the racist stereotypes and derogatory statements, then I feel the other race is much obliged to get more defensive the other. In this case it is the white race who has implemented the racist stereotypes and unfair images we have about African Americans. The white race has implemented these ideas through years of oppression as the result of slavery and subjugation. So to answer why there was not as much of an "uproar” from white students when the African America students made racist comments because white people don't have the same defense system when it comes to the touchy issue of race. White Americans don't know how it feels to judge based on the color of your skin, and people may say that this isn't so, and that this judgment left with the eradication of slavery, but we cannot just sit here and say that black people need to get over everything. And on to Sam's solution to dealing with issues of racist comments, I feel as if quieting white people when black people make racist comments only intensifies the situation of race relations issues. Why should one be quiet when they are being racially bashed? It only makes the white people of today take the blame for what the white people of the past did to Africans Americans. I feel when white people are told to be quiet and sit back and take the racist comments made by African Americans; they are just proving African Americans right. In actuality, I think that white Americans should do the exact opposite of being quiet, and they should voice their feelings on being racially degraded. They should also explain to African Americans that they are not always the culprits in race relations issues. Although African Americans were oppressed and were the first one to receive the racist blow in this racially charged fight, they do not have the right to continue this battle with racist jabs at white Americans. This only stifles and hurts race relations. White Americans should be able to voice their opinions as well as African Americans, although African Americans may seem to have more leeway than white Americans. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:48:16 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63044190 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/is-anyone-else-getting-this-stuff__trashed/#IDComment63034604 i feel people should stop being afraid on stepping on another's toes. That's how we learn what is correct or impolite to say to another person of a different race from our own, everything we say is not going to be politically correct. That's why we learn from others. Of course we don't know about other races in depth as much as we wish we could without hurting anyone' feelings, but that simply isn't the case, that's why we feed off of eachother. If a person takes offense to what another oblivious person says about his or her race, that person isn't secure within himself, or just being close-minded and pig headed. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:57:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/is-anyone-else-getting-this-stuff__trashed/#IDComment63034604 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/is-anyone-else-getting-this-stuff__trashed/#IDComment63033989 i agree with you. I feel as if it would be more natural to go off of your own intuition in these kinds of things. Why does one have to be conditioned first to be able to talk about race issues. Why should one have to be sensitive to others feelings, when others are so insensitive. If that was the case, why aren't children taught how to be racially aware and sensitive in school. We are learned the basics by our schools and families. You know everyone is equal and just like you, treat everyone with respect. The meetings are cover-ups and badges that read, "I know your pain, I can relate" when in all actuality you just sat through a seminar and bounced race ideas off one another, that doesn't change a person who has years of outside influences. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:52:07 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/is-anyone-else-getting-this-stuff__trashed/#IDComment63033989 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59778659 That's the thing! The Real World is intentionally trying to garner the "misfits" from a society, you know, the "taboo", and the abnormal people, and put them under one roof. It's more of an experiment. If the producers of the Real World had to cast a show just about young people in America, the cast would definitely be comprised of white people. The other shows such as the "Bachelor" The producers are just going off first instinct: "White People!" They aren't trying to create a mosh-posh of different cast members, such as the Real World; they are going with the "flow" of America and upholding its "image". Thu, 4 Mar 2010 19:32:01 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59778659 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59777824 I agree, and I never really looked at this in your perspective. Maybe reality television shows are trying to prevent inter racial relationships, though far fetched it may actually be true. Or maybe, it is the notion that America image of inter racial is so taboo, as gay Marriage, it's so abnormal and obscene, that it conflicts with the "image" of America. The television shows don't want to offend their "white" watchers. These television are trying to uphold an image for America, and make the majority happy. Moreover, the producers are most likely to be white, and are more likely to cast white cast members. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 19:24:24 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59777824