en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/763014 Comments by robin_tilley https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69307288 I was amazed to see how well the tent city was running. Obviously it could be improved and people are still not doing well, but for the magnitude of the earthquake and how much it destroyed, I was very happy to see that some things could be salvaged enough to start new little businesses. I think more of this needs to happen to get the town running again (which won’t be any time soon), like Ian and Sam said in class yesterday. Instead of people and nonprofits just going and handing out water and rice and goods, the Haitians need to use whatever resources they have and sell things themselves. I knew that whatever electricity Haiti still had was gone after the earthquake, at least I assumed it was so in most parts of the country, but I hadn’t even thought of the fact that Haitians had cell phones they couldn’t charge anymore. I think that’s a great idea for a business – to use a generator to charge people’s phones for a small fee. The nail salon was very endearing to me. The two teenage girls getting pedicures kind of hit a soft spot for me, since I can obviously relate age-wise. The fact that they were still wearing cute clothes and were laughing and giggling like normal teen girls, in the midst of a complete disaster, amazed me. And, they were getting pedicures only to step down and walk right back out onto the dirt and dust. It breaks my heart to know that Haitians will mostly likely live in tents like this for years to come, but it is heartening to see that they really are doing their best to fend for themselves and grow economically. It’s going to be a snail-paced growth, but it’s something. When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, I remember thousands of people took shelter in the Superdome stadium. Although obviously there are many, many more homeless victims in Haiti, I just feel that in America, or any very developed country, we’d provide the quick fix – just giving everyone shelter. But then what? I don’t know much about Katrina (partly because no one talks about it anymore), but I’m pretty sure there’s still a LOT to be fixed and rebuilt, and a lot of people are still homeless. I think it’s really valiant that the people in Haiti are fending for themselves and not waiting for someone to swoop in and try to make everything better. As we talked about in class, though, certain nonprofits have the wrong idea, and could possibly be halting development. You can’t just go hand out goods to people, because then the little “Uni-Mart” type grocery stores are out of business. Not to mention that eventually resources will run out if people are just taking as much as they can get. A very simple solution is for a nonprofit to go and help start a new business, hiring a bunch of Haitians. The resources should come from Haiti as much as possible, and more Haitians would have jobs and stimulate the economy that much more. It’s going to be a slow process no matter what. As much as seeing that video hit hard and was sad, I still can’t believe the morale these people have. They just lost EVERYTHING (or at least 98% of everything they had) and they probably lost a lot of people close to them. Seeing them smile really says something about them…I just can’t imagine the same situation in America. Wed, 21 Apr 2010 14:27:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/tent-cities-in-haiti__trashed/#IDComment69307288 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/want-to-learn-chinese__trashed/#IDComment67841882 I have been hearing for several years now that learning Chinese (Mandarin) would be beneficial for students going into business related fields. While I do not know much about the professional business world, it does seem important that more American students learn the language. I know of a handful of Penn State students who have had internships in Shanghai and Beijing, and I can tell big cities in China are becoming more popular for study abroad and short-term jobs and internships. The year after I graduated from high school, I learned that Chinese would be incorporated into the language program in the whole district. In my district, the program started in eighth grade; the school year was organized into four marking periods, so for each marking period, we had a “sneak peak” of a language. It was called our “language survey” class. We learned Spanish, French, Latin and German. Those were the four languages offered the next year in high school, so the goal was we would decide which language we wanted to learn in high school. Now, they’ve added Chinese to the mix. From what I understand, since there are still only four marking periods in middle school, students can choose between Latin and Chinese for one. I think this tells a lot – Latin is a “dead” language, and though many people think it’s beneficial to learn for SAT’s and such, apparently it’s slowly being phased out and replaced with Chinese, a much more relevant language now. I took Spanish all through high school and it is now one of my minors. I always thought it would be most beneficial to learn since the U.S. is becoming more and more Spanish-speaking, and I’m not going into business – I’m in public relations. I always pictured myself being able to write publications, news releases, news stories, or anything in both English AND Spanish, making me more marketable (hopefully I’m right). And from what I can tell – I haven’t done any research – Spanish-speaking countries are still by far the most popular destinations for study abroad programs. So, while learning Spanish does give students an edge because of the language growth in our country, I think learning Chinese (Mandarin) gives business students a much bigger edge, because these language learners are much more rare than Spanish learners. Maybe the fact that more people are learning Spanish is better for our futures in America, but learning Chinese will do much more for the futures of Americans in OTHER countries and international relations. By the way… that video was hilarious. I would be willing to learn Mandarin just for kicks if I could learn it all through videos like that! I wish I could have learned Chinese in middle school, at the least. I’d love to study a language that actually uses a different set of symbols in its writing. I think it would make any person more cultured. And who knows, if I would have loved it in middle school, I could have gone on to take it in high school. And maybe, it would give me an edge in the public relations field. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:39:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/want-to-learn-chinese__trashed/#IDComment67841882 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66402140 I don’t know how taking this class could NOT change someone’s opinion about at least something. To say that taking this class has not changed the way you think about anything at all does not only seem impossible to me, but it seems arrogant. It’s like you are saying you know everything already and you think you are right about everything. It means you are completely closed minded and black and white. What is the point of coming to the college, or of taking this class, if not to learn and open your mind to new ideas? This class is opening my eyes in so many ways I never thought possible. Every day, I leave pondering a new subject and really trying to look inside myself to see where I am in the world – either on the racial stage spectrum or just where I fit and how I allow others to fit in my world. I have always believed myself to be open minded and very welcoming to new ideas and people, but since this class started, I feel like I have changed drastically. I was always open and pro-equality, but the main things I have learned in this class are how to deal with race issues. Not how I feel about them, but how to deal with them and how other people of other races deal with them. There are so many misunderstandings between different racial groups that many of us take the wrong way, as hostility. We need to be sensitive to these other groups and how THEY feel about things. This has made me realize that I never really thought about that, I never really put myself in someone else’s shoes and imagined how they saw the world, or how they were treated and how they felt about it. I have grown up white, and although I have considered myself open-minded, I now realize I have been walking through a narrow tunnel. I don’t just need to open my mind, but I need to open my EYES. I enjoy coming to this class every day. Not only is it fun and interesting and exciting, but I literally learn something and see something in a new light every single class. I can not say that about any other class I have taken. I always say this in my discussion group, but I wish everyone at Penn State (and in other schools) was required to take this course. It’s so essential to learn the reasons of our racial differences and how to deal with them more sensitively – I think a lot would be different if everyone had the same education Sam is giving us. I do not understand how any one person can take this class and not get anything from it. Maybe you’re not paying attention. Maybe you’re not opening your eyes. Maybe, somehow, you don’t see Sam’s passion, and how much he loves to teach us. Wed, 7 Apr 2010 14:59:58 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66402140 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64223381 I never actually put much thought into the issue of why we can not talk about periods comfortably in our society, or maybe in any society. I have censored myself to not bring up the topic around guys, because I know they squirm and tell me to stop talking before they throw up. My 23 year old brother is included, and all of my guy friends. I have never actually been around a guy who does not get uncomfortable talking about it if it comes up. I guess I always understood for some reason; they made me think it was a “taboo” topic and women should never bring it up, so I don’t – unless I am trying to be funny and want to make them a little uncomfortable. Really, though, it is kind of a gross thing to talk about. At least, that’s what I always thought, until Sam started to put it into perspective. We bleed, and a lot. Sam made the comparison that it’s basically no different than if someone’s thumb were bleeding into the toilet. And as much as I wanted to agree with him, I do think it’s different… and I see why guys think so, too. Blood coming from a woman’s vagina, the body part that men fantasize about and sometimes worship, perhaps, sort of ruins the whole fantasy. To add to it, guys can’t have sex with a girl while she is on her period, so it just adds to their discomfort. I can see why they aren’t a fan or don’t like to talk about it. But it is natural, and it’s certainly not our fault. What if guys had a period? What if humans had evolved so men had ovaries and a uterus and a vagina and women had the opposite? (Well, that’s unrealistic, because then they’d have the estrogen and we’d have the testosterone… but you get the point) It’s not like we choose to go through this monthly hell (yes, guys, even if we put up a good front, most of us are enduring PAINFUL cramps and lower back pains and constantly worrying about if we are leaking or if there is a bathroom nearby). It is natural, and we deal with it. Guys don’t have to deal with anything similar, so the least they can do is be willing to talk about it. As Laurie said, we shouldn’t have to hide the fact that we are women. We should be able to freely talk about it. I don’t personally think this is going to make any major change in the near future, and I don’t think guys are going to suddenly be comfortable talking about it, but I think down the line in the future we’ll make some steps toward it, just like we have with other “off-limits” topics, like racism. Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:30:38 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/in-her-own-words__trashed/#IDComment64223381 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment62802299 If the question is does rudeness go both ways, then absolutely yes it does. As a white person, I cringed and was almost even embarrassed when white people said rude, cruel things about black people up on the texting board. I wanted to punch them in the face! But, black people also said some rude and cruel things about white people. I can’t remember what exactly was said, but I know there were some white stereotypes mentioned. Some I actually think are funny, and I usually do not get offended by white stereotypes. I realize that this is because I am in the majority, and if I were in the minority, I would most likely be offended (as a Jewish person, I have dealt with the ridicule before and have definitely been offended). I remember on that web site we looked at that was something about “things white people do” and I thought it was pretty funny. But when Sam said he didn’t think it was funny, it kind of made me realize that maybe I should be a little offended. I’m kind of at a loss as to how to feel about it. The question that this student asked was why didn’t anyone say anything when black people made comments about white people on the board… but I think people did say something? Especially Sam. He said he didn’t think it was funny… I thought I remembered it being addressed, so I’m not sure where the question came from. Thinking back, though, it probably wasn’t addressed or made as big of an issue as the reverse situation, when white people made awful comments about black people. Anyway, the point is that the rudeness DOES go both ways. “Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.” That goes to people of ANY racial or ethnic group. But I think, more often than not, it’s the black people that get the most offended if white people make stereotypical remarks… but if they get offended, then they certainly should not do the same thing to white people. It makes no sense, there can not be a double standard. I think there is a double standard too often in race relations, and that’s one of the main problems in this generation. Also, a big part of the “rudeness” we experienced in class was due to immaturity. People think it is funny to make rude comments like that for the whole class to see. They might not even agree with what they are saying, but people like to get laughs and get a rise out of people. It’s a little juvenile. I thought we graduated middle school! That’s also a big part of the racial “jokes” that go around today… people may not agree with what they are saying, but they like to get a rise and a laugh out of people. It needs to stop! Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:25:44 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment62802299 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59457948 I am very confused about these so-called "racist theme parties." While I have seen parties geared toward "Jersey Shore" where people dress like "guidos," which I realize some people of Italian-American descent would take offense to, I have never in my life seen a theme party geared toward (or against) black people, held by white people. Am I missing something? Has anyone else been to these, or seen people dressed for these or anything on the streets? I never have. I'd like to know what this student is referring to, because either she's misinformed, or I need to be enlightened. I have seen theme parties for holidays, like State Patty's Day, Christmas parties (ugly Christmas sweater parties or just holiday themed in general), Halloween parties, Purim parties, "golf pros and tennis hoes," and so on, but never in my three year Penn State career, or 20 years of life, have I seen a party such as what this student described. If I had seen or witnessed such a party, I would have been livid. Whoever would hold a party with the purpose of being racist toward black people (whether they were admittedly racist or not) is absolutely ignorant and offensive. Other people have mentioned that they have seen or been to "white trash parties," too, and while I have never been to or been invited to one, I suppose I have heard of these parties. And while I believe that these parties are held by white people, that does not mean they are not racist -- they are. They're degrading a certain group in society, which can sometimes be overlapped with or related to people's idea of "rednecks." I think it's degrading and "racist" no matter what group of people they're making fun of and no matter what the race of the party givers are. So while I don't think that people would be above holding a theme party against black people, I personally have never seen it done or even heard about it. Maybe this student was referring to parties she's seen somewhere else and not at Penn State; maybe I live in this bubble or am stuck in my "box," as Laurie Mulvey would put it. If these parties are happening, I am ashamed of the people who would hold them and think that it's simply funny and not offensive. Some people, no matter WHAT race, are simply immature and have the complete wrong idea about what humor is. If something hurts someone, it's not funny. I think everyone needs to take this class and read these books for a little taste of reality. Racism is everywhere, and there are so many things that are simple to put an end to that would help the fight against racism even the tiniest bit. But instead, things like these parties, if they occur, are just fueling the fire. And the worst part is, if you asked these people if they are racist, they would probably say no, and believe it. Wed, 3 Mar 2010 01:53:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59457948 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-two__trashed/#IDComment58584727 I don't think Sam meant that we need to individually take the blame for what Americans did to the Native Americans. Obviously, none of us had anything to do with it, and especially those who immigrated to the U.S. after this all happened. Sam wasn't blaming us or saying we should go to confession about it or anything. I think that his point was that we need to at least acknowledge the fact that this IS what happened. Remember what we always learned in grade school? We used to draw pictures of the pilgrims eating a big feast with the "Indians" and sharing. They were BFF's. In my preschool, we had a Thanksgiving costume day where half of us dressed as Pilgrims and half of us dressed as "Indians." We were all friends and everything was just jolly. So yeah, when I first learned (actually just a couple years ago, I think) the REAL story, I was shocked! It was ingrained into our heads for years and years about how Columbus and his peeps came here and made friends with the Native Americans. Um, false. And it makes so much more sense; people were relentless and cruel and violent back then, and there were no guidelines and sometimes no humanity. We wanted this land to be ours when we "discovered" it, so we did whatever we could to make it ours. I use the term "we" loosely; I just mean we as Americans -- again, we had nothing to do with what happened. That would be like me getting blamed for killing Jesus, which, as a young Jewish girl, I was actually accused of a number of times. Anyway, a part of me does feel guilty, not for committing the act of the genocide, but for being so unaware of the truth and going through most of my life thus far believing that I belong to a completely innocent people. We don't. As a Jewish girl, I have always assumed that the Holocaust was the biggest genocide in history. But it wasn't, and that blows my mind! A whole section of our history has been covered up from us. It reminds me of a Family Guy episode when Stewie and Brian are touring Germany, and their tour brochure skips over the years of 1939-1945. When Brian asks why World War II and the Holocaust aren't included, the tour guide says "It never happened! We were all on vacation!" That's basically what we've done all these years. Well, not us, but our authorities and our teachers. As I'm sure we've all learned since we've gotten to college, Americans have a lot of corruption going around that most people turn their heads from. I think awareness and acknowledgment are important, if nothing else just to make us seem like less of ass holes for insisting we are a perfect and innocent people. We have blood on our hands; not us personally, but our people. I think being aware should make us more apt to proving we are different nowadays. We can counteract all of the bad we've learned about our people. If our generation is more aware of our past, we can change our present and our future. I think THAT was Sam's point. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:22:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-two__trashed/#IDComment58584727 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57383938 I don't think there is much of a difference between two men raising a child and two women raising a child. I have only been exposed to families of two female parents, and I do notice generally that there are more families of this structure, but I don't know if it would make much of a difference for two fathers to raise a child. My cousin Lisa has had two separate same-sex families. She's much older than I am (our parents are siblings with large age differences), so she's had the chance to settle down, and twice already. She was first with a woman named Christine, and they had a boy named Nathan (with a sperm donor and Christine's genetics). I don't remember Christine much because I was still young when they separated, but I still see Nathan from time to time. He is kind of closed off, shy, and unique from what I can tell, but I'm not sure it has anything to do with how he was raised. He has long hair -- but he is very masculine, kind of a skater type. So, as we talked about in class, I don't think he is any more likely to be gay because he was raised by gay parents. However, his shyness could be a result of being ridiculed for having two mothers -- though I don't know him well enough to know if he was made fun of. Now, Lisa is married to her partner Mary, and they had a boy named Aidan six years ago. (Sidenote - this time, it was Lisa's turn to have the baby, since her ex-partner did last time and her current wife has two grown children of her own, because she used to be married to a man... as Sam mentioned is quite common. Her husband died, and Lisa, a friend at the time, was her moral support while he was ill. Mary's husband saw what was happening between them and how their relationship was forming, and he gave them his blessing before he died. I love that story, though it's sad that he passed. I am just fascinated by it. Anyway, Aidan is now six, and I actually HAVE noticed that he seems a little "wussy." Maybe not feminine or gay, but he seems scared often and throws tantrums when he feels threatened. Again, I don't know if that is just his character or if it's a product of his parents. I know plenty of gay male couples, but none that have children. Is that a function of gay relationships? Maybe lesbians, since they have the motherly instinct, just have the desire to have children in general, and maybe men don't get that feeling as often. From my experience, that's my guess. Also, lesbians could have that desire doubled and would probably both naturally make good mothers. But, again, I can't say whether or not there are differences between two men raising a children and two women doing the same -- I do imagine that the process of raising children with two gay parents in general would be somewhat different than a heterosexual couple, because the child could arguably only learn one perspective of life, as far as gender. Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:15:03 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-one__trashed/#IDComment57383938 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/swinging-past-the-other-end-of-the-ideological-spectrum-on-the-way-to-the-intellectual-gray__trashed/#IDComment56445154 Sam's class Tuesday, which was "hands down the most important class this semester and that we'll ever take," really did get me thinking, even moreso than all his other classes. Freedom vs. determinism is a topic so fundamental to everything we as humans do, yet I had never really put thought into it. I mean, yes, I understood that different people from different parts of the world have less opportunities, and I have actually always been thankful that I live in the United States. I have understood (at least somewhat) and appreciated my freedom and how lucky I am that I happened to be born here since I was old enough to think past 2 x 2 = 4. And I know that I come from a very supportive family - both emotionally and monetarily - and I've always appreciated that, because I have many friends that aren't getting as much help with school and money as I am. I also appreciate, especially over the past few years, just the conditions in the United States compared to countries like Haiti that most of us ignore. I guess all the things Sam has taught us I knew deep inside, but I never would have gotten myself to think about it so much if not for him and his passion about it. Am I where I am - a student at Penn State from an upper middle class family and an internship with Clear Channel under my belt - because of the hard work I did, or because of my family and what they've done for me? I know it's a combination of both. Without their help, I can't imagine attending Penn State and supporting myself... I know people do it, but I can't imagine it. But as much as they have helped me with money... my rent, groceries, tuition... I wouldn't have accomplished everything I have without my own hard work - good grades, a senior reporting job on the Collegian, being involved with THON. I have always been a very hard worker and somewhat of an overachiever, and that's because of me. I can contrast myself with my older brother, who hated school, didn't finish, and has worked at an entry-level job at a car dealership for the past several years... he grew up with the same exact support I did. So, I know that part of my "situation" is because I have worked hard. But again, as Sam demonstrated by standing on his chair, rather than the floor or the top of the desk, I wouldn't have the same opportunities at ALL if I lived in a third world country or were raised by a poor family. I have had all the opportunities I have because of location, money and freedom. Sam changed my views on determinism vs. freedom - I used to think it was almost all freedom, and now, I'm on the other side of the spectrum. With everything we've talked about, he's really put it into perspective - I now think most people's success and situations are due to determinism: how and where they grew up. And, like Sam said, it's just the luck of the draw. I will always appreciate where I was born and raised. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 05:12:00 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/swinging-past-the-other-end-of-the-ideological-spectrum-on-the-way-to-the-intellectual-gray__trashed/#IDComment56445154 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55104465 I saw Avatar over winter break, in large part because about 546 people told me it was the best movie ever made. While I didn't agree completely, I did thoroughly enjoy it. Of those that did not like it, from what I hear, they were just kind of opposed to science - fictiony stuff, and I'm open to that. I like new ideas, and it's really hard to be original these days with movies (although apparently the story was stolen from the 1957 book "Call Me Joe," but that's a different story, I guess). Anyway, I didn't really think about the whole "Messiah Complex" when I saw the movie. Well, I did, I mean it's obvious that's how the story goes; guy goes to foreign planet, guy gets accepted into their civilization, guy saves them. But I guess what I didn't think about is the fact that he's white, and I didn't think enough to compare this story to all the other similar ones. Now, it's obvious. Pocahontas was one that really caught my attention... Avatar is basically a more futuristic and innovative version of that. In Pocahontas, John Smith is Mr. White Messiah (and seriously... how much more White American can you get-- JOHN SMITH.) John Smith = Jake Sully. In Pocahontas, the American Indians are a peace-loving people, similar to the Na'vi (I had to look up that word and Jake's name... I'm not that much of a nerd). John falls in love with Pocahontas. Jake falls in love with sexy blue giant. It's all the same! Okay, so they took away Jake Sully's legs... boohoo. Sympathy factor? Nah... he ends up with a superhuman body and abilities. James Cameron, not only did you quite possibly steal your idea from a 50 year old book, but you seem to have stolen one of the most basic movie plot concepts out there. But hey, power to you... I'm still in awe of you and your career. I wonder, though, why all the actors and military characters in the movie are automatically white. Well at least most of them. I suppose Cameron sticks to what he knows, as too many of us do. One thing about the movie that I really did like, though, was that it didn't end up with the foreign people becoming just like the white people. The white people did not take over or win. As much as it was a "white supremacist" story, the white people were defeated. The audience actually came to despise the white people because of how they were portrayed in the movie, and we came to love the Na'vi people because of their peace, tranquility and fairness. That is different than many other movies out there, so I do applaud Cameron for that. Jake Sully ended up "transferring" to a different body, a different species and a different planet because he was so against the white people (not in general necessarily, but at least the military in the movie). I found it refreshing. Wed, 3 Feb 2010 00:46:26 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55104465 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54163267 I know that there are parts of the world that are still very racist, and people in every country, including our own people in the United States. But I honestly had no idea that Europeans were still so racist. I guess it’s because I live in a bubble in the United States and have had no real exposure to Europe, but I realize there is a completely different world and mindset over there, at least for sports fans. Don’t get me wrong; I am well aware of “hooliganism” and soccer (football) fans’ antics at games in Europe — and I’ve always thought it was ridiculous. But, that’s their culture, and it always has been. I don’t think that makes it acceptable… but I’m just an American. But monkey chants? Signs degrading black people? Bananas thrown on the field? I’ve never seen something so ridiculous, and if I ever saw that in real life, I would probably cry. One of the worst parts is that there are children all around in the stands while this is going on, listening to their parents and relatives scream these derogatory chants… and I am sure they are learning through osmosis to join in and repeat what they hear. It’s really a shame, and this is obviously how these behaviors are passed on over and over — parents pass it on to their children, and so on. There were two black soccer players in that video that almost walked off the field because they couldn’t take the chants anymore; I don’t blame them! They probably dealt with it for much, much longer than most people, including myself, would have been able to. There is NO reason that any black person, or anyone of a different race than white, in the world should have to go through that in this day and age. I thought Europeans were so ahead of the game and modern, but apparently, they’re stuck in the past. Way in the past. I feel better about my own country now. The coach that was caught on tape saying awful things about Thierry Henry (not sure if I spelled that right) should be punched in the face repeatedly by every black person he offended. He should hang his head in shame and go hide from the world. I would hate to be his offspring. I get worked up about these things because I am the complete opposite of racist. My older relatives sometimes make racist comments (I come from a white family), and it has always bugged me. I usually just brush it off, though, because especially for my grandparents, I know that sadly they probably don’t know anything different. But again, it’s 2010, people (even if the video was four years old, it makes no difference). Leave it in the 60’s — that era is done for a reason. I just will never understand. What the hell does the color of a person’s skin matter? What does it change? If these racist people were blind, they could very well be best friends with black people and never know. I don’t get it; people are ignorant. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:14:27 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/racism-looks-pretty-good-on-this-side-of-the-atlantic__trashed/#IDComment54163267 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-t__trashed/#IDComment53866654 B.I.G. Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:33:51 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-t__trashed/#IDComment53866654 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/clubbing-the-bejesus-out-of-rationality__trashed/#IDComment53111169 What Pat Robertson said is honestly comparable to the "Willard Preacher" or any of the psychotic, mentally ill "preachers" downtown and around campus. I am apalled; I knew there was a reason I got annoyed every time I see The 700 Club on TV. Does that make him feel better? To place the blame on the poor, helpless, innocent Haitian VICTIMS? How can he say he is a person of God, of religion, of value and morals? Not to mention, he just sounds stupid. "A deal with the devil." Really? If he has any values or heart, he should spend his time and his resources HELPING the Haitian victims--not BLAMING them. If he weren't hidden behind a television screen, he would be stoned and beaten. I am a big fan of Olbermann's response, or should I say attack; if HE were speaking live, he'd receive cheers. He said what everyone else wishes they could to Robertson. Also... I'm anti-Limbaugh, so the part damning him to Hell made me chuckle, too. I completely agree with Sam that the most dangerous place to be is surrounded by only people of your own beliefs--this makes you very black and white, closed-minded, and seemingly ignorant, and it can get a person in a lot of trouble. People need to be open minded; that's an important opinion I have about the general population. My conservative father would call it Liberal, but I keep my mind open, I'm accepting of anyone who means well, and I am always open to listening to other people's opinions. In fact, I love having conversations about certain controversial subjects with people; I like to compare ideas and opinions, rather than preach mine and shut every other option out. Richardson, as well as all the crazy preachers out there, are stuck in their psycho ways and probably only associate with people of their own viewpoints--at least, they're only accepting of them, they've made that clear. Buttt, now I'm acting like the people that Sam is talking about. Perhaps I look at these people and think that I'm superior, and write them off as crazy. In fact, I know I do... and I just wrote about being open minded and accepting. While I know this is hypocritical, I also can't help but stay angry at Richardson. While I should probably stay "open" to the idea of the "Devil," I can't fathom the Devil making a deal with the country of Haiti-- who agreed to "serve" the Devil if he freed them from the control of the French. Okay, so does "serving" the Devil mean sacrificing thousands of innocent, poor people generations later? For Richardson to even suggest that Haitian people would make such a deal is to speak extremely poorly of them and their character. Either way, he's placing blame on a country of people that have just gone through their biggest crisis in Haiti's history--the last thing they need is undue criticism from some schmuck. So I guess I'm sticking to my guns on this one; call me a hypocrite. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:53:49 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/clubbing-the-bejesus-out-of-rationality__trashed/#IDComment53111169