en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/764156 Comments by rmm5243 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69807096 I have mixed feelings about this article. After reading it, I am initially blown away. It is an extremely eloquent, thoughtful, and well written letter, especially when told it is by a ‘lifer.’ It shows a side of prison life and prison thoughts that we rarely ever see. Since I do not personally know any lifers, or have never actually been to a jail or prison, this may be the first real insight into prison life that I have ever had. It is incredible to see the viewpoint of someone who knows that they will never see the light of day again. For the most part, the only time we see jail in our lives is in movies or television shows. Prisoners are most always depicted as hard core, dirty, tough, and scary (except for the main character, who is always usually bright, good looking, and smart.) So it is pretty awesome and eye opening to see that these people actually can be bright and can think for themselves and are not just violent murderers and rapists. The movies and tv shows have in a way desensitized our society to really just forget these prisoners; in the case of America, out of sight is out mind. We seem to just forget about these people, and in turn forget about the fact that they have lives, feelings, emotions, children, wives, and souls. These letter hits home because it serves to remind the public that prisoners too are people, and can read and write and think. It also shows that these lifers have a different sort of awakening, knowing that they will never, ever be free. They are contained in small cells eating shitty food and wasting away. That’s how perceive them at least. But this letter serves to show us that they are so much more, donating blood, and helping others. While all this may be true, I still have mixed feelings. I don’t care how much Sam and Laurie love these prisoners, or think they are Gods gift to the world because they know how to write a letter, they are still convicted murderers. They have all taken lives and destroyed families. Yes, in a sense we forget about these people and generalize against them, BUT THEY ARE ON DEATH ROW FOR A REASON. I feel like no matter how worldly or wise they are, no matter how many nice, thoughtful letters they write, it doesn’t change what they did. Now this may be mean, and certainly not Christian, but I doubt Sam would be this excited or thrilled about these convicts if they had raped and killed his wife. This is why this letter is so confusing; on one hand you have a beautiful letter written that makes us feel good and feel bad for the prisoners; but on the other hand, these men are violent, they are convicted, and they have taken life, and need to pay for there transgressions. GO PHILS Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:08:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69807096 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/creating-terrorists__trashed/#IDComment68424108 This is an incredibly interesting article to me. After watching the graphic intense bloody video, we are supposed to look back and say that I personally would not do anything like the 80 year old man or woman did. However, like stated in an above article, I do not live in the Middle East, I do not know what it is like to live anywhere ebesides the United States, and I have no idea how I would react to a situation like this. In my lifetime, I have only really witnessed one act of terror in 9/11. While it is one horrific terrible and bloody act of terrorism, it is not something that impacted me majorly, or something that I deal with on a daily basis. In fact, while there is a lot of hype and worry from some Americans, we live in a very safe place in regards to attacks and safety. If I was confronted with a situation like the one with 80 years old man, where he lost everything he cared about on earth, im not sure I would act different. This does not make me a violent person or terroritst or anything, but I love my family. I argue that just about anyone on earth would become equally distressed and angry and pissed off if confronted with the situation. We would all want to get revenge and make other people suffer. To be honest, we never really know how we will act unless we are confronted with a situation. Another valid point is how suicide bombers are viewed differently in America than in other place. In some places, they are glorified and appear noble, but in America they are always always condemned and seen as terrible horrible maniacs. In no way shape or form am I saying that suicide bombers are just or right or even close to justified, but I can in some ways understand what they do. Maybe in their anguish and pain they are so angry that to them it seems right. To be honest, I have no idea what they feel or what is going through their heads because I have never had family members killed or anything of the sort, and have never even though of doing a horrific act like that. I guess in the end it is a hard situation. Killign others and committing horrible acts does not bring loved ones back. But at the same time it is hard for a person like me to ever understand what is going through someones head who is faced with death and murder and pain every single day, untl they are fed up and at their breaking point and have no other options. Go Phillies. Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:36:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/creating-terrorists__trashed/#IDComment68424108 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63070888 Before this class, I knew that there was white people and people of different races, and that I shouldn’t be a racist. But now everything is so confusing, and I don’t know if I am bveing correct when I speak, or if I am being a racist. I know deep down that I am definitely not a racist, but still hope I am never confused as one. I know that America as a whole has gotten so much better in regards to racism and freedom, but I honestly wonder if anything is ever going to be equal. It feels that whites will always be the supposed victims and people of color will always complain about white. I guess at this point I am just mildly confused and not sure as to what I think. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:52:11 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63070888 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63070861 However, everyone is just so blatantly immature and racist and childish. I understand cracking jokes and saying funny things, but it really bothers me when people say such derogatory things. This is supposed to be college, not middle school, and I really hope people grow up soon. There were so many racist comments and I think that anyone who writes comments like that on the board is a coward. One of the oldest and most cliché comments my mom has ever taught me was, “if you cant say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.” That being said, I know its off topic, but it really pisses me off how immature and cowardly students are here. I guess I’m just pretty confused with the whole political correctness idea and learning how to be fair to everyone. It seems like the more I come to class and interact, the less I know about race relations. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:51:52 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63070861 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63070759 I was wondering the same exact thing I was sitting in class. It seemed as if when the white people were told to say what they thought about being white, the black and brown people got very mad and pissed off at our comments. However, when they had the turn to say things about white people, although they said a few okay things, the majority of the comments were negative. They also began to laugh and clap their hands when things such as “white people are spoiled” or “white people are lazy” came onto the board. I feel like this is such an obvious double standard. If I, a white lower middle class white, had laughed when the white people trashed black people, then I would easily be labeled a racist. However, for some reason it is okay for blacks to laugh out loud at us. Now me, I have always worked hard, am not lazy, am definitely not spoiled, or anything like that. That in mind, I am extremely disappointed so far in the text board technology. I think that its such a great idea and tool for class, especially one like Soc 119. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:51:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63070759 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55103024 I thought that this was a particularly interesting article. The author had numerous excellent points which do two things: has a lot of truth and pisses people off. There’s nothing that bothers white people more than when you tell them they are being racist or doing something wrong. We are so conditioned and taught to be politically correct and to not be racist, so when we hear that a movie that we all like and have seen is just another 'racist' movie, it really bugs us. That being said, i believe that his article has many valid points. I saw this movie twice, the first time not knowing what to expect. I was blown away afterwards: incredible graphics, a great plot, and a setting in which you never want to leave. I could not help but noticing that this story, to me, was basically that of Pocahontas in space, with a little mixing in of Fern Gully. In essence, I basically stated that article before I even left the movie. It is basically the story of Pocahontas, with the marine being John Smith. He is sent by the vicious white men to infiltrate the native system, but ends up falling in love with the prettiest and smartest of all the women. He then learns their ways, gains their respect, and becomes a member, ultimately fighting his own people in an epic last battle. The story is so similar that I actually think it’s strange. In this way I can perfectly see how the argument can be made of the White Messiah. This doesn’t just have to deal with Avatar, but the fact that our movie system has made so many of the films. While the white people are the bad guys in Avatar, symbolizing white culture and American greed, Jake Sully ultimately saves the Natives. This plays into the theme that while the indigenous people are always athletic and natural and one with the earth, in the end they always need a white man to come and save them. While all this may seem like a heavy dose of Avatar bashing, in the end, I am still a huge fan of the movie. The graphics and cinematography of the film are outstanding. For whatever reason one decides to go, I still thoroughly recommend seeing the movie, especially before it exits the big screen for good. I think that Brooks is bringing up many good points, and merely doing his job as a movie critic; however I don’t think this is some huge white plot founded by James Cameron to put down the Natives and raise white power. Consequently, I believe that most viewers leave the movie feeling uplifted, but concerned about how realistic this scenario could be, and how the militarization and rush for ‘unobtanium’ is eerily similar to that of oil in the middle east. Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:35:12 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55103024 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54432184 While this may seem backward, in reality Europe is a completely different place with different cultures and ideas. As an American, i am born to be extremely set on my ideals, for better or worse, so when i see this, I am immediately diguested. I dont understand how this is permitted to happen in this current ay and age. But before i jump to conclusions and call europe racist, i have to realize that every culture is different, and doesnt share the same viewpoints as we do in America. Although we are definitely not perfect, the civil rights movement and such have led us in a direction towards equality. While we asre not there yet, we have made signicant progress to the point where such blatant acts, especially in the public sphere, would not be tolerated in this country. I think that this point in general is a great point, one that we as Americans should celebrate as a push in the right direction regarding racism. We understand that is unfair, hurtful, degrading, and wrong, and are moving in the right direction towards equality. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:34:09 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54432184 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54432014 If nothing else, this was an incredible and eye opening video about racism in the 'beautiful' sport. What I think is so special about this article is that it deals with sports and racism. Racism is undoubtedly one of the ugliest and most hurtful things on the planet, and is always ahrd to deal with, touchy, and very controversial. What i love, however, is that sports transcend racism and bring humans, both the players and fans, together in ways that arent normal. It is a bridge between old and youn, black and white, rich and poor. ESPN has evolved into not just a sports channel for guys and sports geeks, but into a prominent news channel that tackles tough topics, like racism, in ways that other mediums cant. This was an extrmemly powerful and eye opening article because it is something that we are not familiar with. Although racism is definitely in America, it is never as blatant as in Europe. I cant even imagine if fans for the NFL or NBA treated atheletes the way that Europeans treat their own players. I know that racism exists, but living in America it is hard to see such blatant and public racism. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:32:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54432014 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54429351 This however is the perfect indicatior of the times we live in today. We are extremely sensitive, always on nerve, and fearful of the next big terrorist attack. This Jewish teenager did not do anything illegal, and was unfairly judged and trated unfairly as a result of being a faithful Jew. Although this was unfair, embarassing, and certainly a hassle for all involved, in the end, i think this was an understandable mixup. This is an unknown tradition that few know of, including myself. By strapping himself up in tape, it easily could be mistaken as a bomb. Because of the times we live in, this is a situation where it is better safe than sorry. The man did little to explain to the passengers his procedue, and as a result scared many passengers. This is not to say it should not be allowed, but that the flight crew airing on the side of caution is understandable. They are only doing there jobs and making sure that safety is the very first priority. In reality, I probably would have said something to this man if i was on the plane. I am not racist, or a bigot, or anything close: however, if family or friends were on board i would want them to be safe. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:58:39 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54429351 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54429301 This article was very interesting, at least to me. Being raised as an Irish Catholic, i dont really know much about the Jewish relgion. I was raised in a semi-religious family who went to church every sunday. I was never educated on anything about Judaism or any of the other relgions. Sure, i know the basic ideas and a few of the basic holidays, but other than that, I dont know much. However, it brings up the point that, in all actuallity, I probably know more abnout Judaism then I do about any other relgion. I dont know anything about Hinduism, Buddhism, or even Islam. The fact that i can live in a world where there are so many prominent religions but still so know so little about all of them in this current modern world is a little unsettling. There are so many unfair stereotypes for each religion that we feel and use everyday, but in reality, we, including myself, have no real knowledge of this religion in the first place. This article talks about a Jewish boy who was praying on a plane during a flight and was stopped. I have never heard of this tradition, and from reading this post, many Jews are even aware of this tradition. Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:58:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54429301 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-m__trashed/#IDComment54128547 holler Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:54:08 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-m__trashed/#IDComment54128547