en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4266105 Comments by pennstatekel http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343880750 I think it is crazy that people who are in love cannot get married. All of the homosexual couples I have been around seem so much happier than most straight couples, who end up getting divorced. I hope that these laws change soon, because it is not fair at all. Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:36:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343880750 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343880570 I think it is interesting that no one in my family is in an interracial relationship, but I have two second cousins, that I do not see often, who are homosexual. I believe they grew up with a rough home life, so we do not see that side of the family very often. Both of those cousins were married with children before they came out of the closet. I spoke to one of their children a few years ago and she told me that she hated her mother for leaving their family, and she never sees her. I did not ask about if she was mad about her mother being a lesbian, or if it was a different reason that they do not get along. When it comes to my children, I hope that I encourage them to follow their heart. I would want them to be in a relationship that makes them happy, so if it is someone who is in a different race, or the same sex as them, that would be okay. Luckily there is growing support for the gay community in our society. Most states are starting to recognize them as a couple, which is great. They have opportunites to adopt and to create a happy family. What more could you ask for? Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:36:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343880570 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343880407 This is a good question. As we have talked about in our discussion group, many of us have parents who are open to accepting our choices when it comes to our significant others. The majority of us are lucky to grow up with such accepting viewpoints, so we in turn are also a more accepting and understanding generation in whole. Our parents did not have such luxuries. Our grandparents' generations were not as accepting in whole. It would cause a great controversy if our parents were in an interracial relationship. I think it would be less of a controversy to be in a homosexual relationship. Because my parents are really accepting of people from other cultures and races, I think it would cause a bigger controversy if I was in a homosexual relationship. I think this is because my family is not usually around people who are homosexual, so it would be more of a uncomfortable situation for my family. On the other hand, my brothers and I have had many friends who are from different races and cultures, so I do not think it would be a big deal if I was in an interracial relationship. Sat, 21 Apr 2012 02:36:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/20/voices-from-the-classroom-156/#IDComment343880407 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-146/#IDComment338601273 Attempting to understand and learn another culture means so much to a person. We were talking in our discussion group about the difference between blending into a culture and being sensitive and accepting to a culture. We need to try to accept other cultures, but at the same time we need other cultures to accept us as well. But as I previously mentioned, we only have control over ourselves and our own actions. We need to take the lead by accepting other cultures so that they will accept us in return. It is a two way street. But things need to change, they are not okay the way they are. There is racism all over the world, humans killing eachother because they do not understand other cultures. But we can make things right, there is hope for change. Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:27:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-146/#IDComment338601273 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-146/#IDComment338601056 The same thing happened to the Penn State community last semester. The media was focusing on Joe Paterno instead of Sandusky. We all know that Jerry Sandusky was at fault, but the world would have not reacted the way they did unless the media used Joe Paterno's name. I think the take away message is to only believe stories that you are involved with first hand. Be the best person you can be and act only kind to the people around you, regardless of what they look like and what they do. You can only be the best person you can be. Behind the media, there are only people trying to make money. We can not get worked up or upset about things we can not control. We only have control over ourselves. As a take away message from this class, we have to be an advocator of change. We need to be informed about other cultures, and we need to make it so other people understand each other in this world. The wars, the hatred, all comes down to miscommunication. We need to understand eachother. Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:26:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-146/#IDComment338601056 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-146/#IDComment338600885 One of the main things I have learned over the years is to be a cynic when it comes to the news. It is hard for me to believe any headline or front page story in the newspaper. There job is to get our attention, to question our reality and to force us to want to read their story. This has no effect on the truth in our society. They blow up stories to make them seem like a scandal, just so we will get worked up about it and read or watch their organization/ news cast. Race is poorly portrayed in the media. Inter-racial volience is inappropriately covered in the media. They think that their speech has be telegraphed so that their audience is going to want to read their story. It makes me upset that stories about a Hispanic man brutally killing an African American boy turns into the media saying a white man kills black kid. They completely change the story to make people react to what they are saying. Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:26:34 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/10/voices-from-the-classroom-146/#IDComment338600885 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498870 I am very happy how this class has opened my mind. Instead of just understanding one perspective and accepting other perspectives, now I am learning how to understand all kinds of perspectives. I think that is a really cool skill to have, and something important to know how to do in life. It is something that no one can take away from me, and I think it will help me be a better person. Sat, 7 Apr 2012 01:27:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498870 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498504 But there is another side to it. Instead of looking at an American woman and thinking that they are relying on their bodies to gain attention, you can also understand them as feeling confident in their body. I can see those woman as being comfortable with who they are, showing off their body instead of being embarrassed about it. I think that is really great because now woman can be too self conscious about their bodies. They feel less superior compared to the super models. Instead of hiding behind heavy layers of clothing, these woman are embracing who they are, and will defend themselves if it comes down to it. You can see how women who dress in revealing clothing can also be confident, they just have a different perspective on how to present themselves. Maybe they want to challenge the stereotype on woman, so they embrace that they are a woman and they can still show their male peers that they are talented and confident as well. And they will not settle for someone who is only attracted to their body, because they want to be taken seriously, like any woman should be treated. Sat, 7 Apr 2012 01:27:29 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498504 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498356 They feel confident in their abilities and their strength so that they do not need to use their bodies to get attention from boys. Their winning personality and confidence will gain the attention of their peers. I never understood this thinking until I took this class. I did not understand the perspective of a Muslim woman. I think it is really awesome to be able to understand how they see American woman. Sat, 7 Apr 2012 01:27:14 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498356 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498033 I was really interested in this question. As we know, being an American woman is very different from being a woman in different parts of the world. Especially in modern America, women have more rights than they ever have. I think what a woman wears tells us a lot about her. Women that wear very conservative clothing makes them seem very professional. They do not use their body to get attention, instead they use their personality and business skills do most of the talking. After saying that, you would think that a woman wearing revealing clothes would be less confident. They think they have to use their body to their advantage or to get ahead in their career. I think this is how Muslim woman feel. Sat, 7 Apr 2012 01:26:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-141/#IDComment333498033 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189859 Where you go to school does not define who you are. If you want to be smart and you want to succeed, you need to take the initiative and teach yourself, if your teachers are not doing that for you. And if you want to go somewhere in life, stay away from drugs and people who will not be a positive influence on your life. Life is all about decisions. Yes, it sucks how society is inconsistent and unfair, but you are not helping yourself by just complaining about it. You need to be the bigger person and get past what people think about you, and start giving them a reason to think about you in a positive way. Let them see you for who you are. Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:50:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189859 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189766 I was always annoyed when people would consider a private school education better than a public school education. There was no way to defend myself to my peers. If I raise my children in a bad neighborhood, where there is a lot of crime, and I have the money to pay for a private school education, I might. But the annoying thing to me was that we live in a good area, with not a lot of crime, so I never understood why my friends parents chose to send them to a private school. One of my friends who went to an extremely wealthy all boys school did not get into Penn State, while the same year I did, and I went to a public school for free. At the end of the day, you control your own destiny. If you try really hard in high school, you will get into a good college, regardless of the school you go to. And if you choose to lower yourself to the stereotype or follow what everyone thinks of you, you are just ruining your own life. Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:50:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189766 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189607 There were many things that I experienced that my friends who went to private school did not. I would see drug- sniffing dogs raiding the lockers about once a month. I would see police officers intercepting fights and watch my peers get escorted out of school in handcuffs. Even though my friends did not see this stuff, they would see their peers doing drugs, just as much as I did. My friends would still go to underage drinking parties, but when my friends got in trouble, not many people would find out. The parents at the private schools would try to keep the problem under the radar. But when my friends and I would get in trouble, the incident would be in the newspaper and people would talk about it. Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:49:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189607 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189467 It is very unfair how our education system is divided. I think the system is not divided over race, rather over the difference between private schools and the public school system. Rich people send their children to weathly, private schools because they believe that their son or daughter is not only getting a better education, but to get their child away from the problems that occur they feel occur in a public school. I went to a public school my entire life, since I was in Kindergarten and I had friends that transferred to private schools and other friends who went to school with me. Sat, 31 Mar 2012 01:49:33 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/29/voices-from-the-classroom-139/#IDComment328189467 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/22/voices-from-the-classroom-128/#IDComment323116701 Regardless of the color of the person doing the action or the color of the victim in the situation. Just like every person in modern society should feel, I feel upset if an innocent black person is killed unfairly. The same is true if an innocent Middle Eastern person is killed, or a person from any other race. It is sad that black people do not have the comfort I mentioned earlier. If one of their friends, neighbors or family members is killed unfairly, they do not have the comfort or ease of mind knowing that the evil person will pay for the horrible crime they committed. They do not get that comfort, which must be a terrible feeling. They must live in constant fear for their loved ones. No one deserves that now in America. It is 2012. Justice should always be served. Unfortunately that is not the case in every situation. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:26:01 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/22/voices-from-the-classroom-128/#IDComment323116701 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/22/voices-from-the-classroom-128/#IDComment323116524 When you think about it, we can not control what we look like. We were born this way. So it was just by luck that I am white. What if I was born a different nationality? How would my perception of race be different, or better yet how would I be different? Just a simple change in background, something we have no control over, can completely change our perception of people. I wonder what I would think of America or white people in general. I wonder if there are some white people who find comfort in this statement. Who find comfort in the fact that if a Black person killed one of their friends, neighbors or family members, then that person will pay for that crime. I can sort of understand this feeling, but I hope that if anyone in my life, regardless of their color, is killed unfairly, i hope that the person who did that evil would have to pay for it. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:25:36 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/22/voices-from-the-classroom-128/#IDComment323116524 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/22/voices-from-the-classroom-128/#IDComment323116355 "When the shooter is Black and the victim is White, the shooter will always go to jail." That is a very strong and powerful statement. As a white person, that statement makes me feel embarressed and upset. I hoped that society was better than that by now. But as this class has showed me, racism is still very much alive. I am embarressed for our country as a whole. It makes me really upset when people are ignorant about different cultures. This class has really taught me that education is the best way to spread peace. People need to learn about the culture of their neighbors, but unfortunately we cannot force people to listen. Some how, one day, the person has to individually decide to open their mind. It is not an easy decision, but every so often we have to take ourselves out of our comfort zone and put us in someone else's shoes for a day. See what it is like being a different race in America. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:25:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/22/voices-from-the-classroom-128/#IDComment323116355 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317979756 It was very hard to watch those videos about soldiers from the United States abusing their power because these people represent our country and the people that live in this country. It made me disappointed to see that these people represent our country and feel that it is okay to treat others inappropriately. But seeing those videoes makes me understand how Iraqis and other Muslim people felt about the terrorist attacks on September 11th; they felt that the people of the United States were controlling them and abusing the power that had been given to them by the United States government. They also were probably upset to see those people who sort of represented their country act so maliciously towards the United States and vice versa. It is really sad and difficult to sympathize and understand the perspective of a Middle Eastern during this war time; I understand both sides and that makes it even harder to figure out what my actual perspective is. Even though I know it is selfish, I have never considered the perspective of a Middle Eastern person. I have always supported the United States government blindly. Those videos made me upset because I had no control over the actions of those soldiers; there was no way I could change the choices and decisions they chose to make during their time as soldiers. I like to think that I would have never abused my power the way those soldiers did. As we talked about in class, you cannot worry about the actions of others, you can only control your own actions. Because of this, I cannot let myself get too worked up about the actions of the United States soldiers. Instead, I need to think of ways to represent the United States to other countries so they can see a more positive side of our country. Even though it may take a lot of effort it can defenitely pay off in the long run. We need other countries to see us how we are in a positive light, and we also need to understand that people in other countries are just like us. This class has opened my eyes to other cultures and showed me how racist I was, even though I never thought I was. I would judge other cultures without getting to understand the way they lived and why they may choose to live this way. I am disappointed in myself for never trying to understand other peoples' way of life. Since I am in this class, I have a good understanding about learning about other cultures and being more accepting. Instead of getting annoyed or upset with people from other cultures, I understand how to sympatize with others, be more forgiving, and understanding and accept people the way they are and how they choose to live. Sat, 17 Mar 2012 01:33:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317979756 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/29/what-more-do-you-want-to-think-about/#IDComment306743109 There are many topics I would enjoy contuining conversation on. I would like to hear more about issues that college students face, who are members of a minority. I have lived in a sheltered world my entire life, so I want to be more understanding when it comes to helping people who are parts of the minorities. It can be relating to religion, race, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. I feel like learning more about their perspective will help me be a more aware citizen in a diverse society. Sat, 3 Mar 2012 02:55:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/29/what-more-do-you-want-to-think-about/#IDComment306743109 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/29/what-more-do-you-want-to-think-about/#IDComment306742961 Another topic that interested me was a debate in class that two students had. One white male believed that he was at a disadvantage when applying for college because he is the typical barrier- white male. He felt that if he belonged to some sort of minority group, he would have had a better chance at getting into different colleges around the country. Maybe I understand this perspective because I had a very similar thought when applying for schools. The African American student mentioned that Penn State is only 4.1% African American, but doesn't that still mean you have a better shot getting into college being a minority. I guess I just never understood the other side of this argument. Sat, 3 Mar 2012 02:54:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/29/what-more-do-you-want-to-think-about/#IDComment306742961