I am a Catholic student who is serious about his religion. One common misconception is that the Catholic Church hates homosexuals and does not accept them. This is far from being true as the Catholic Church accepts everyone into the Church. People should never forget that Jesus’ disciples included all people including those who were excluded from society for being different. One of Jesus’ closest disciples is Mary Magdalene who was known to be a prostitute. The Catholic Church teaches that God does love everyone regardless of who you are. I believe that God made everyone for a reason and purposely made some homosexuals and others straight. My views after this class have not changed as I never judged homosexuals and I never disliked them. I was taught to accept all people and sexuality is only a part of a person, it does not make them who they are. People often see homosexuals as child rapists or bad people, but that is far from true. If adults and parents are not mature enough to see that they are people too then that fear and discrimination is passed down to their children. I can only imagine all that they go through on a daily basis just because their sexuality is different from others. I think this is a way for God to test how accepting we are in our society. Many people say that they respect other religions and other people but they do not accept or respect homosexuals. That is a very hypocritical thing to say and do because homosexuals are people too. I understand that many people are scared when they see homosexuals because they are different from the average person. I know that many people fail to realize that they are actually very similar to straight people except that they have a natural attraction to their own sex. The Catholic Church understands this and does not condone people just for being born different. I also think that people should stop saying such negative and demeaning words and phrases such as, “That’s gay”. Society today is becoming more and more accepting of homosexuals and I think that is a good thing. People need to become more accepting of all different kind of people because that is when we will start making exponential progress as a society. If we become more accepting and more respectful then we will stop seeing television shows degrading homosexuals and we will stop hearing music that makes fun of homosexuals. If the United States became more accepting of homosexuals then other countries would see the progress and the strides that we are making as a society and they would follow our footsteps. I think that we should follow the footsteps of the Catholic Church and become more accepting. Homosexuals in other countries would no longer have to be in fear of being killed just because they were born different.

Choosing who to save would be one of the toughest decisions that I would ever have to make in my life. I know before I even make the decision that I would make sure that if possible that I stay and my child, wife, and mother be saved. I know that my mom would have a difficult time getting over my death but I know that she would be a great help and give lots of wisdom to my wife. She would take care of them and help them with whatever they need. It does not matter who I choose because I know that the memories of the others would haunt me for the rest of my life. My mother is the one person that I look up to a lot because of her kindness and dedication to her children. She would constantly remind me that when I bring a child into the world, the child should come before anything except God. That is one thing that she would always remind me and so I know that she would completely understand and support my decision to leave her if I were to save one person. This decision would not be easy and I know that it would scar the rest of my life. Losing a family member is a very hard thing in any person’s life. Losing a family member when you could have done something to save them is something that will haunt someone for the rest of their lives. I know that my mom will want me to put my child’s life first and to protect it, just as she has done for me. Leaving my wife would be something that I would also have a very difficult time doing. Some people during class were saying that they could always find another wife. I know that if I were to leave my wife knowing that I could have saved her, I would have a very hard time recovering. I know that my wife would understand because we would both want the best for our child. One thing that came to my mind while thinking this was that my child would also be severely scarred from this whole ordeal. Having to lose your mother and grandmother all at once would be something very dramatic and hard on a child’s life. I hope that I never have to be in such a situation because I know that it would not be a decision that I could make without regrets. I know that my child will have trouble understanding why it was him or her who was saved and not the mother. I also thought to myself that my child might end up hating me because he would be angry that I let his mother and grandmother die. It would be a very difficult topic for all of us and it would take a long time before he could understand my actions on that day.

I understand why the Eastern culture can sometimes see the Western women as though they do not respect themselves. I know that most Muslims follow their religion and they take it very seriously. They are raised their whole lives learning about their religion and that they should not show their skin. When they see an eastern woman in a bikini they are immediately mortified because they are doing everything contrary to what they were taught. This is where the problem comes in because they are immediately seen as disrespectful and careless. They are seen as women who do not take care of themselves because they are wearing very little clothing. It is true that sometimes women wear little clothing because they are trying to seem more beautiful. Television shows also support these stereotypes because they show American women as very easy and dumb. Other countries see this and think that American women are all promiscuous and careless when it comes to their bodies. Just because a girl is wearing a bikini does not mean she does not care about her body. If a girl walks around on a daily basis with very little clothing or clothing that is provocative, then most people will see that and think that she does not have respect for her body. I think girls should be able to wear anything that they want as long as it is not provocative. Girls sometimes think that they can wear whatever they want regardless of how provocative it is. They should realize the danger that they are putting themselves in and how they are seen by others. Girls who wear little clothing can be seen as vulnerable and easy because they already have little clothes on. They should realize that it could also attract sexual predators because they could see them as vulnerable. If girls walk around with very little clothing then one would assume that they have very little respect for themselves and thus would be given very little respect by others. Western women should realize that just because a woman is wearing little clothing does not mean that she does not respect herself. They need to realize that in our culture small shorts and a shirt are common every day clothing that most girls wear. I do have great respect for the Muslim women who wear their head scarves because that must take a lot of devotion and commitment because they wear it regardless of the weather and regardless of what people say about it. I know that they respect their bodies and that is one of the reasons that they wear it, but I also want them to realize that just because a woman is not covered does not mean she does not respect herself.

Racial stereotypes that are said with anger are completely wrong and lead to more anger. That is why I get mad at racial slurs that I hear even if they do not apply to me. I think to myself, “what if that person said that racial comment against people of my race?” and I get angry. I understand that sometimes people state stereotypes to try to be funny but sometimes they say it with malicious intent. That is when I get really angry and disappointed that people out there actually think this way. Both my parents are Bolivian and I lived in South America, and I do get annoyed at times when people tell me that I love to eat tacos and spicy foods. I find this statement very ignorant and annoying because Bolivian culture is rich in foods and my parents rarely make tacos and burritos. I personally do enjoy tacos and burritos but there are so many other foods in our culture that I get annoyed that they use tacos and burritos as a stereotype. I get especially offended when I know that someone is telling me that I love tacos and burritos to attack not only me, but my culture. I personally do not like spicy foods either and I have heard the statement, “What kind of Hispanic are you if you do not like spicy foods?” one too many times. The truth that people need to realize is no one person of the same race is exactly identical so most stereotypes are pointless and not true. That is one of the reasons that I get annoyed when other races are targeted because of the foods that they eat. I have heard people say jokes about black people liking watermelon and fried chicken and I sometimes get uncomfortable because I know that it would probably bother me if I someone told me such a statement. I sometimes believe that people use certain things to attack other race because they are jealous. One phrase that I have heard often is “He’s good at basketball because he’s black” and it sometimes bothers me because I still get similar comments today. I still get comments like, “You are good at soccer because you are South American,” and, “Oh, you are Hispanic? That’s why you’re good at soccer”. This comment can bother me very much because I feel like it is a very ignorant comment. They do not realize all the hard work and time that I had to put to get to the level that I am in today. I feel like they are completely overlooking that and trying to put me down. That is why I get mad when races are attacked for having a certain skill. I know that this skill had to be perfected through constant practice and it is not fair or just to overlook the immense effort that they had to go through.

There are positives as well as negatives that young minority children have to face. First of all, I do not think that it is fair that children that age should be worrying about being treated different because of their skin color. They are the victims of our problems and they did not ask for it. Being a minority I always knew that I was different. My first day of school in second grade was very difficult for me as I did not speak any English. I did not enjoy the foods that most other kids found delicious nor did I know any of their sports heroes. As I grew up I realized that sometimes I was treated differently and it took me a while to figure out that it was because of my skin color. Not everyone treated me differently, but there were certain people that did and it was very discouraging and made me feel less significant at that age. Going to a new friend’s house was not always the greatest experience as sometimes they would treat me different and I knew that they did not approve that their child was friends with me. They judged me without even knowing me. But I feel that the biggest positive that I got from this whole experience was that I knew that I had to work harder to get to my goals. I would help my parents translate whenever it was necessary and I got a lot of real world experience. My family was very close as it was necessary to overcome all the obstacles that we faced in our daily lives. I had to do jobs that most kids my age would not have done such as translate to my dad’s customers. My childhood was great and I would not change it one bit. I do think that being a minority has helped my drive to succeed. I know that I have work hard and that the opportunities are small but I am willing to work hard. I do believe that it is not fair thought that young children have to go through these experiences just because they are minorities. It is no easy task and can be very traumatizing having to go through experiences like mine. They can make you feel as though you are inferior. The reason that I was able to come out not being resentful was because I had so much help and support from my family. They have always been there for and understood my problems. My mom tried to be very involved in my school when I was younger so she could keep an eye for any issues. I learned not to hate others because they made fun of me or treated me different because I am a minority. I believe most people who say racist comments do not realize how insulting and hurtful their jokes and comments are. I do believe that we can do something about this issue so that children do not have to go through these experiences but it will take the combined efforts of everyone.

I am a person that is and always has been against war. It is difficult to see whether any war is justified. As a world power it is the United States job to protect and help countries that are in need. The problem lies when there are different reasons for a country to go to war. Entering a war for personal reasons will never have a positive outcome because thousands will die on both sides. I always believed that wars should be avoided at all possible costs. I understand that there could be situations when a country feels so oppressed that it cannot be avoided. But even during those situations, I still believe that the war should avoid killing the least number of people possible. The problem with war is that when a country loses it feels humiliated and can feel like revenge is the only solution. This is similar to what happened with Germany’s loss in World War I. They were humiliated and that was one of the causes for World War II. My belief about war will never change as I believe that it is the cause for many of today’s problem. If countries stopped having to worry about spending on weapons for war and military they would have much more money and time to focus on their people and the poor. The problem with war is that a lot of times governments have personal reasons that they go to war for and the citizens are not informed of these reasons. Another problem is that one side sees the other side as the enemy and not as human. They have trouble understanding that the other side is going to war to protect their family and their future as well. I believe that killing is completely against human nature and going to war is completely against our nature. It is almost impossible to go back after war and be the same person you once were. We have to understand that the people that we are sending to war will not come back the same. We also should take into account the time and money that people will spend on reconstruction after the war. In the long run not even the winner of the war will end up victorious. As a powerful country I think that we should be an example to others and begin to stop spending so much on military weapons and instead begin helping those in need more. This will set a standard for other countries and they will begin doing the same. A question that I often struggle with is, “why do we go to war?” We have so many past experiences from history that show how war due to personal desires have led to violence and instability yet people still urge to go to war. I know that it will take the combined efforts of everyone to completely stop wars for selfish reasons from occurring and I believe that it is possible to end wars that happen for selfish reasons.

I found Sociology 119 a very interesting class where I learned a lot about race discrimination and became more educated in problems occurring in today’s society. The thing I found most striking is the discrimination that Native Americans get. It was very disturbing to me to see that they live in such poor conditions and they don’t receive the help that they deserve. Before this class I believed that African Americans and Hispanic immigrants were the ones that received the most discrimination. Now after hearing and reading about the tough lives that Native Americans have to live, I realize that they are the ones that should be helped first. They were here first and they have received the most discrimination. What I learned is that I should be helping others learn about this discrimination that Native Americans get because it is not their fault and they are just people trying to succeed in life just like all of us. I was shocked at how uninformed I was when it came to Native Americans in the United States. It was discouraging to see how they are publicly put down in our society and there are not many people who would stand up for them. What struck me the most was how poorly they lived and the statistics that Sam Richards showed us in regards to Native American living was just appalling. It was disturbing to see how high their suicide rate is. Even if people are shown these statistics, I don’t think that it will change their attitude much. What the Native Americans need is someone who will stand up for them in Congress and will stand up for them in the media so that everyone can see the poor conditions that they live in and the struggles that they have to go through every year. Seeing this changed my mind about who in society needs the most help. I am still wrestling with how people can just watch this happen and not do anything about it. I believe that they are the group that is suffering and has suffered for a very long time. They are just trying to maintain their traditions in a world that changes quickly and our society can be very judgmental. I can only imagine what it would be like living in a reservation where I know that if I were to go to a school outside my reservation I would be made fun of because of my culture and tradition. This starts with media because they are the ones who publicly poke fun at Native Americans through movies and television shows. The media needs to do a better job of representing the Native American population and teaching society the truth about their culture. What I want to know in class is how we, as a class, can raise awareness about the Native Americans and their mistreatments. I want to get more involved and help the Native American people because I know that some of them must be going through some very difficult times and I know that seeing people helping them will instill hope.

It is important to realize that not all races are the same. I am not saying that one is better than the other or that one is inferior to another. I am saying that each race has different qualities and different cultures. We all have the same worth and we are all humans. The difference in skin color, height, hair, and other physical features can be attributed to the fact that people’s body adapt to different weather and terrain. I have brown skin and I believe that the reason for my skin being this color is because my ancestors are from Bolivia and they adapted to the harsh sun. People need to realize that it is not wrong to see that each race is different but they cannot discriminate in any way because of these differences. No race is superior to another just as no race is inferior to the race. We each have different qualities that make us special. My brown skin, curly hair, and dark eyes are some traits that make me different from others and they are traits that are special to me and I would never change them. Any person regardless of race can be helped if someone puts time, effort, and money to help them. It is true that the differences in income are a big factor because someone who is well of will be able to give their children a better education than someone who is poor. The only way to completely end all differences is to end stereotyping and racism. Sam Richards stated that stating your race before an exam has an effect on minorities and this is very true. I personally have felt it many times and throughout my life. I know that the window for opportunity being a minority is not the same as it is for white people. I have accepted this fact and that is why I push myself to do better. Sam is correct when he says that I should not accept this as it is an extra heavy pressure in my life. It is something that I am reminded of every day. The school systems should just stop discrimination as it is very important because teachers play an important role in the life of students and young children. I believe that the new generation will be more accepting. This is because there are more international students and minorities in schools and universities. The American culture should learn from other cultures just as other cultures should learn from the American culture. Each culture has their own amazing and special qualities that have helped them survive for so many years and that knowledge should be passed to everyone as it will benefit everyone. I believe that if we stop discriminating and being racism we will achieve great communication between cultures.

I believe that God created the world and that is a belief that I will never change. I do believe that there are other life forms out there in the world. I think that with time we will make contact other life on different planets. This universe is so large that I think that it is impossible for us to be alone in this world. I do not really understand how people believe that this world and the universe came to be by coincidence. There is evidence that evolution occurred but I believe that God had a part with that also. I do not believe in coincidences and I know everything happens for a reason. There is so much that we do not know about this universe and yet we are making assumptions and we are making theories seem like rules. The world is constantly changing and we should also realize that our world is not the only changing. There is so much going on constantly and things are working the way that they should. The planets are spinning, stars are being born, and people die, and people are born. I do not think that these amazing events are all products of chance. Looking around and seeing all the faces around me, it amazes me how every single person is different. They all have a different look, different hair, and even different personalities. It is amazing to think that I live in a world with so many different people and not one of them is the same as me and no one in the past, present, or future will ever be the same as me. Once again, this cannot be a product of chance. I have never been around many atheist people as I grew up in a Catholic environment, but I know about what atheist beliefs are. I respect all other religions and people and I know that it is not easy to convert someone who is so passionate and believes in their religion so deeply. I know that if someone right now would try and covert me I would not budge one bit. I understand atheists believe in evolution and theories such as the big bang theory. As a Catholic, I too believe that creatures and people evolve and adapt to certain conditions. I still strongly believe that God created the world and that He is still in control and taking part of everything that is going on. My parents did have an influence on my religion but there comes a time where I had to make a choice to keep my religion or to change. It was my decision to keep it and my parents had nothing to do with that. I want to tell atheist people to look around and see all the wonderful things that occur and to ask themselves if all of this, including oneself, could just be a coincidence. To me, the answer is no, I was made by God for a purpose and so was everyone and everything else and that is what I will always believe in.

I feel that people put too much emphasis on their race and their background. The truth of the matter is that we are all people. The color of one’s skin does not radically change their personality or who they are. It is important to have pride in your culture and it is something that you cannot ignore. No matter what you do or where you go, your culture will stay the same. Skin color should play no factor in how people treat you and instead of being afraid of someone with a different skin color they should be welcoming and curious about their culture. My parents are both Bolivian and I lived in Bolivia for a couple of years. I came to this country when I was seven years old and have lived here since. I have lived with the American culture for most of my life and yet I consider myself Hispanic. I grew up with the Bolivian culture but it was modified a bit because we were no longer in our home country. I truly love the Bolivian culture but I am also very fond of the American culture. Being in between both cultures has made me who I am today. I have been able to pick the good qualities and mix them together. I believe I we did not make so many barriers between cultures we would learn so much from each other. Each culture is unique and has its own great qualities that have been passed down for many years. Destroying, putting down, or ignoring a culture is something that we cannot afford to do as each has many valuable traits that are very useful. Each culture has different views on different issues and I believe that this can cause problems between cultures. It is important for everyone to realize that everyone has a different background and that affects their view on things. I believe that your culture depends on where you were born and what culture you were brought up in. Where you were born in a crucial factor but more importantly, the people who raise you will have a great impact on your views in life and how you act. Your parent’s culture will have a great impact on you no matter where you are born. I lived most of my life in America but because I was raised by Bolivian parents I have many of the same customs as they do. Skin color can be very misleading in determining cultures. I believe that everyone should be grateful with the skin color that they have. The skin color is a gift from God and it is something that everyone should be proud of. It is not wrong to be from a different culture or to be a different color, it is a blessing. I believe that everyone should be open-minded about different cultures and they should realize that there is much to learn from them.