en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2431015 Comments by rsamuels13 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/21/if-prison-has-taken-anything-away-from-me/#IDComment145156806 This letter really sad to read and depressing because it sounded so helpless. It makes me appreciate all the things in my life. All the letters we’ve read have not always been uplifting but show a little bit of hope and talk of all the positive things learned in jail and how they are still learning and growing as a person. They speak of their situation as one of the most empowering and learning experiences of their life. They speak of how prison saved their life because if they weren’t in there they would have been dead by now. This letter takes the opposite stance. This inmate discusses the hopeless of his situation and instead of how it teaches or forces him to reflect it is an awful experience he no longer has physical or mental freedom. His free time is not spent doing things that he enjoys but thinking of how his situation sucks and how he will never be free or never escape. He tries keeping himself busy because he doesn’t want to have to think of his awful situation. When I hear about people in prison like this I feel kind of bad because in this situation prison is not serving as a correctional facility but rather a place to hold people not worthy of receiving any benefits. Then again people do not go to jail for participating in positive acts for the world. They aren’t winning community service awards or changing peoples lives for the better. It is hard to think that someone deserves this kind of life, but then again what did they do to get here. He states “I want to pluck out my eyes so not to see what little my life has been reduced to. Such a meaningless existence.” This statement is so graphic and really shows how absolutely miserable he is. The worse was “If prison has taken anything away from me it is the chance to love and to be loved.” It is so said that he has no family support or anyone around him who loves him. It is also hard to have sympathy because if he is in jail for murdering for example, he took away someone else loved one. Does he deserve love if he took it away? People are put into jail for a reason and while it must be awful to have to sit alone and do meaningless work for no reason sometimes the punishment fits the crime and you have to accept the consequences of your action. I think it is so hard to watch the families of prisoners suffer watching your loved one in an awful place with no hope and there is nothing you can do to help their situation. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 16:34:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/21/if-prison-has-taken-anything-away-from-me/#IDComment145156806 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/what-do-you-think-about-the-telephone-game-and-why-does-information-travel-that-way-119-blog/#IDComment143157655 I think that the telephone game shows that you cannot always believe what you hear and that gossip is how many people learn their facts. It was very interesting to see how badly the story got distorted when passed along. I also think it began badly because the story was way too long for anyone to understand and I think it is pretty much knowing your going fail before you even begin. Our society abbreviates and concise stories in every day speaking and this story show what the results of not telling the correct full story. Having the story go through 6 people was going to be difficult to begin with but then when he showed the length of the story it was pretty much impossible. The last person got such a distorted story. It was interesting to see how miscommunication is a big problem in such an easy task. It makes me think that sometimes as a society we have just gotten lazy or just stop listening to people, which is sad to think that our society no longer cares. Our society today usually embellishes and exaggerates stories or simply miss tell them to make them better or more entertaining which eventually leads to bad news and a false story or accusation. I think the telephone game was a great example of the effects of miscommunication in today’s world. We all at one time or another have been involved in gossiping a false story and it is almost impossible to escape it in today’s world. I believe it is just the lack of listening during a conversation. Technology is a huge reason why I think people’s communication skills are not as sharp. Texting has ruined the English language because people abbreviate everything and grammar is thrown out the window. We no longer have to rely on face-to-face communication to talk to one another, which is why miscommunication takes place. Our society has created so many shortcuts instead of meeting up with people and listening to what they have to say. People are always constantly multi tasking as well so their attention is never fully on what a person is saying. People read emails, cook dinner, or are running errands while talking to people so they never give 100% of their attention. I think texting and instant messaging on the computer is a huge downfall of our society and I am scared to see what the next generations of kids are going to be raised like and how they will communicate. It is important to take this lesson we learned in class and realize that taking time and having lunch with friends or meeting up with people for coffee is important instead of hearing everything word of mouth. Fri, 15 Apr 2011 16:42:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/14/what-do-you-think-about-the-telephone-game-and-why-does-information-travel-that-way-119-blog/#IDComment143157655 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment139773173 I think I would be willing to learn a new language for a job if I was working in something to do with international relations. When I graduate I want to get a job in production. For example if I worked at ESPN and they wanted me to work on the world cup and it was being held in Spain so they required me to learn Spanish. I definitely would. I am going to be out of the country and want to form a good relationship with the people of Spain, so I think it is necessary for me to learn Spanish. I also want to know what is going on over there at all times so I can be prepared for any situation. I think it is important to not be hung up on everyone speaking English because sometimes if English is people’s second language important information can get lost in translation. It also shows that Americans are willing to immerse themselves in another culture when necessary and are not so ethnocentric and refuse to learn about other cultures and their language. I however would not learn Spanish or French to try and communicate with people in the United States who were not willing to learn English. I understand that it is difficult that as people get older it is harder to pick up another language but I think it is a key to success to be willing to learn and try hard at something even if it is difficult. I do not think it is fair to make others learn a new language because of others unwillingness to try. There has to be a middle ground and if you are in a country where the primary language is English you should have a desire to learn it so you can be successful and communicate with all people. It would be very stressful always needing someone else to translate for you and not being able to be independent because you do not understand the language. If most of the signs in the Untied States are in English then I think people should learn English. I went to France and if you didn’t speak to people in French they were rude and standoffish. I do not understand why the French are allowed to act that way, but we as Americans are expected to learn other people’s language. I think it depends on the situation whether I would learn another language for it. I think it really depends on how badly I want something. If I wanted a job or something really badly I would do whatever it takes to attain my goal. I think that is the same for most people. Mon, 4 Apr 2011 02:14:07 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/would-you-be-willing-to-learn-a-new-language-for-a-job-119-blog/#IDComment139773173 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138852974 If you are ok with being perceived that way then I do not think it should matter what others think of you. I know that for some people it is natural to speak in their native language because that is what they have grown up with. I don’t think that it is a problem when people speak their native dialect. I have a problem when they speak it in certain situation that gives people the wrong impression. It leaves their conversation open for interpretation and if people around you are wondering what you are saying it is probably an inappropriate time to do it then. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:11:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138852974 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138852960 I also feel that when people speak in a language other than English they talk louder and don’t follow certain polite rules because not many people can understand them. In the library I often hear Asians speaking extremely loudly to each other or on the phone. It is an unwritten rule that you whisper in the library, but since no one understands them they feel they have the right to speak loud and disrupt students studying. I think it makes me so uncomfortable when two people are speaking another language around me because I think it is rude and personally I assume that they are talking about bad things. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that Iranians speaking in Farsi are talking about terrorist attacks it is not that kind of concern for me. It is more that they are speaking negatively about other people. I do not respect people who talk behind other people back. If you are going to say it say it to their face in English so they can understand it. Speaking in another language hear in America is making yourself part of an exclusive group that not everyone can join. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:11:17 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138852960 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138852916 I do feel uncomfortable when two people are speaking another language around me. I assume that if they are not speaking English then they are talking about things they don’t want people to hear. I think it is so rude when you go to a nail salon and Asian women will speak English to you, but then to their coworkers they speak in their native language. I always feel self-conscious that they are discussing how gross my nails or feet are. I do not think it is fair for them to have an upper hand like that. One of my friends was taking mandarin Chinese in school and could pick up on some of the conversation that her pedicurist was saying and in fact she was talking about her feet. If you would not say it in English, what makes it right to say it in your native language. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:10:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment138852916 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137257137 This would play a role in my decision even if I say that I make the final decision. I think it is all about who you share common interests with and who you can create a future with and I don’t think that dating a black guy would fit into my religion and culture. It is in the same way that many black people won’t date white people because of the culture clashes. You can still have tons of friends who are black and just not be attracted to them and want to date them. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:55:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137257137 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137257122 I was raised in a predominantly Jewish town with everyone around me just like me. I think if I dated a black guy their perfect image of my life would be changed and they would not know how to respond. It is also a completely different culture from mine so I am not sure if we would find a lot of common interests. Then again sometimes you cannot choose who you fall in love with and I know that at the end of the day my parents want me to be happy. They would definitely try to persuade me to rethink my choice. However, at the end of the day it is my life and my choices so if I fall in love with a black guy and want to marry him I am going to do it with or without my parent’s approval. It would make me sad though if they did not like the guy I was dating or who I wanted to marry. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:55:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137257122 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137257084 I would honestly never date a black guy not because of my own personal beliefs but more because of my parents. My parents expect me to marry a Jewish man and they are not very open to any other types of guys. I think it is part of the Jewish religion to marry other Jewish people and as observant Jews they expect me to follow the religion. At this point in college I do not see the point of dating people and calling them your boyfriend if you know that you do not see yourself having a future with them. I think that the main reason that Jewish people want Jews to marry other Jews is because that the holocaust wiped out six million Jewish people and if we want to build and grow our religion we need to have more Jewish couples creating Jewish babies. I think it also has to do with how my parents were raised. When they were growing up there was very few or none at all where they lived interracial couples so it is something completely foreign to them. They want me to have the life of comfort that they lived and that is being raised in a Jewish community surrounded by people similar to me. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:55:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/for-the-white-females-would-you-ever-date-a-black-guy-119-blog/#IDComment137257084 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135606823 I think it is hard for me to answer the question of do I have any experience with white privilege because it is all that I have ever been exposed to. I have always gotten an opportunity because of my race it has never inhibited me, so in that case I have experienced a lot of white privilege. I also have never been stared at on an airplane or suspected as a possible terrorist for the way I look. I don’t know if that is white privilege though or if the ignorance of others makes whites have more advantages. Reading the book, really made me sad listening to other races tell their stories on subjects I was completely unaware of. I was mad at the United States for the way they treated Muslims after 9/11. I couldn’t believe the disrespect and mistreatment they receive. I feel that I have experienced white privilege in relation to this because I was living in a completely different world where all the white people around me were unaware of this because it did not have a direct impact on us. I cannot believe that the police and government who knew this was going on supported it. It makes me sad to think that I think we have come so far in accepting other races and embracing the melting pot that is United States, but then something so recent as 9/11 still shows extreme racism and the feeling that whites are better than other races. It is also scary to think that something so huge as what was happening to Arabs and Muslims after 9/11 can be pushed under the radar by whites. I think that is an example of white privilege. Having the power to deport and jail thousands of Americans without many people knowing is a privileged that is definitely special to whites. I cannot imagine having someone be ripped away from my family for no reason and not knowing where they are or what is going to happen to them. It also surprises me that this happened because after white people threw Japanese Americans into internment camps and suffered so much humiliation and embarrassment from that, that we still have not learned our lesson and continue to think that we have power over other races. It now makes me constantly question what the government is doing behind our backs and trying to keep a secret. I think that because we elected a black president this should help with some of the oppression on minorities but you never know. I think that I have experienced a lot of white privilege without even realizing it. I think not being aware of others suffering and living in a bubble where everything is always working out for you is definitely white privilege. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:32:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/15/what-is-your-view-and-experience-with-white-privilege-119-blog/#IDComment135606823 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/is-it-selfish-for-people-in-poverty-to-have-more-kids-because-of-their-lower-income-119-blog/#IDComment133265805 I definitely think it is selfish for people of lower income to have a large amount of children. You always hear the saying that parents want better for their children. They want everything that they can’t have. I think it is setting your kids up for failure when you are raising them in an environment where they are not able to be set up for success because there are too many kids and not enough resources. Having a child is an investment and definitely an expensive one. I think their should be a great deal of planning before you choose to have a child and having five or six kids when you are on welfare is really inconsiderate to the child. You are not giving them a fair chance to be on an equal playing field. Being one of a lot of other siblings also brings about other problems. The older siblings usually for go their childhood and become like a third parent and help raise the younger child and have to get jobs at a young age to try and help support the family. I think that kids should remain kids for as long as possible and keep their youth and innocence. It is unfair for parents to put their burdens on their kids and expect them to help out and be a third caregiver. I think kids should be taught responsibilities and given chores and tasks to be responsible for, but there is responsibilities of parents that should solely be the parents responsibilities. It breaks my heart when there are nine kids and not enough food on the table to feed them. If there is not enough food then there should not be nine kids. It also seems irresponsible because by the fifth or sixth kids a parent should know what their financial situation is and if they can afford to have more. It seems irresponsible and rude to continue having children when you know it is only hurting you’re other kids and family. I think it is so selfish for parents to neglect their other kids for things they want when they know it is not a good idea. As a girl who plans to be a mother I know that I want to be able to give my kids everything and not being able to clothe them, feed them, or educate them properly would make me feel unfit to be parent. I think there should be set incomes that a person has to be making to have a large amount of children. Love is not enough to survive in this world and religion should not trump the safety and well being of a child. Each child deserves a fair shot when they come into this world they should not already be disadvantaged. Tue, 8 Mar 2011 03:31:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/is-it-selfish-for-people-in-poverty-to-have-more-kids-because-of-their-lower-income-119-blog/#IDComment133265805 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-are-white-people-so-reluctant-to-admit-to-having-discriminations-119-blog/#IDComment130212128 I think that white people don’t like to admit that they have prejudices and discrimination because they are trying to avoid the stereotype that all white people are racist and prejudice. White people have been pin pointed for so long as people filled with hate and having ignorance for other races that they do not want to feed into the stereotype. I’ve noticed that in discussion groups sometimes I am afraid to say what I am really thinking because I do not want people to judge me or lose respect for me for the opinions I have. I think that white people want to portray the image of being accepting of everyone and therefore try and hold in a lot of the feelings and opinions they have. I do not see this, as a bad thing because I don’t think people should share their opinions if they are going to be offensive. I think that when people do not share their opinions they realize that they are wrong thoughts and the more they see themselves catching themselves for not saying it the more they will become more open to other ideas and lose those racist thoughts. I think it is also a respect thing that white people hold in some of their discriminations. We are all Americans in this country and while people may have some ignorance about other races at the end of the day all Americans deserve respect. I think it is also more noticed that white people try hiding their discrimination because white people are usually pinpointed as racist and since whites are the majority in the country it is noticed more when you see a white person holding back. People like to assume the worse in people. I think it also has something to do with white people not understand what minorities go through on a day-to-day basis. Minorities look for something in white people that they can pick out and be angry about because white people have no clue what it is like to not have everything handed to them and be so easy. It is a different world for black people, Latinas, and Mexicans compared to white people. Many whites choose to ignore the hardships of others because if it is not happening to them then it doesn’t affect them and they do not care to become informed on the problem. I am sure many white people are unaware that for some minorities it is very difficult to buy a house just based on the color of their skin. I think that it shows growth in our country that white people hold back some of the discrimination they feel because not too long ago segregation was very prominent in our country and whites would say vulgar things to black people that were completely out of line and racist. I think it shows that our country is taking steps in the right direction. Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:54:31 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/23/why-are-white-people-so-reluctant-to-admit-to-having-discriminations-119-blog/#IDComment130212128 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/09/4092/#IDComment127781679 I found the reflection Remember very moving. It made me think about second chances and redemption. To me you kill someone you deserve life in jail no questions asked. This poem definitely made me think about giving seconds chances. I am still conflicted over the issue because Kevin, the man he killed, will never get a second chance. His life ended way too soon over a stupid fight. Is it fair to give someone a second chance if they take away that opportunity for someone else? He lost his whole support system and everything he was accustomed to when he killed a man. While this sounds awful he also took that away from someone and inflicted unspeakable amount of pain and hurt on a family. He caused so much damage that while he realizes what he did was wrong and he regrets it, he committed the act and has to live with the consequences. I think it is interesting that in his poem he chooses to include the word drunk because that definitely makes me think of his situation differently. Being intoxicated is your choice one hundred percent but you definitely are not the same person drunk as you are sober. From the poem it sounds like he would definitely not make that same mistake sober, so that is why I question whether he deserves to be let free. On the other hand he knows what he is like drunk and he chose to go out drinking that night so he has to face the consequences of what he acts like when he is drunk. I think it is also hard to tell what a man is going to be like after jail until you set him free and let him experience life again. It is heartbreaking to hear men and women who are bailed out and set free from jail and then turn right back into the lifestyle they had before jail and kill someone else. I cannot imagine the guilt judges live with after setting someone free only to see them back in the system for killing another person. I think after reasoning with both sides killing is wrong and is inexcusable. I do not think anybody who kills another human should be let out of jail. I think it is good for this man to come to the realization that what he did was wrong and come to terms with god forgiving him. But in the end that is not enough and he must pay for his mistakes forever. The kid he killed was so young and still had so much life to live and I think there is no amount of remorse that would make me wants to let him out of jail. He committed the action and now he has to pay for his mistake. Sun, 13 Feb 2011 22:08:25 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/09/4092/#IDComment127781679 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/how-can-we-make-major-decisions-so-quickly-119-blog/#IDComment127407422 I think people change their mind so quickly because Sam is presenting so much new information to people that they have never been exposed to so they are constantly having their eyes opened and agreeing with the new information. Sam is definitely making people think and because people are seeing things in a new light and want to change there view point. If this is information that has been constantly thrown at us then we would have our opinion set. People have stances on underage drinking, illegal immigrants, and if marijuana should be legal. These are topics that people have been exposed to for a while and have had time to form a strong opinion on. Race is something that is usually not talked about because it is uncomfortable for people to talk about. There is also no set law that makes you commit to one idea. People can change their mind a million times and as long as you have reasons to back up your new opinion it doesn’t matter. I think that there is so much information out in the world that it is a good thing that people can constantly change their mind. Sometimes it is the split second decisions that are the best decisions because they are decisions that are your first thoughts and instinct. I think that people are also unsure about certain topics so they constantly change their mind. Many arguments have valid points for both sides so people are constantly changing their mind and making impulse decisions because both sides in different ways make sense to the person. I don’t think that believing in both sides should be looked at as a bad thing. Being open to both sides of an argument is a good thing because you are giving both sides a change and being fair and looking at the whole side. I think it is a bad thing when people choose one side and are so close-minded to hearing the others side argument and learning and being open to changing your mind. I think it also depends on the person presenting the information. People constantly change their mind on the information Sam presents because they are sitting in a classroom where Sam is constantly saying he is going to open the classes mind to new information. He is also an older teacher with experience and knowledge in the topic so people are more likely to believe what he is going to say. He also has a lot of stories and information to back up his claims, which make people constantly believing everything, he says. People are always changing their mind and if they have good reason to switch I do not think it should be looked at as a bad thing. There is no set rule that makes people stick to one set of beliefs for their whole entire life. Fri, 11 Feb 2011 21:09:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/10/how-can-we-make-major-decisions-so-quickly-119-blog/#IDComment127407422 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/03/do-you-think-race-can-stop-being-an-issue-in-the-future-119-blog/#IDComment126039202 I think race will never stop being an issue. There will never stop being conflict between two groups. For example many people did not have a problem with Muslims or Arabs before September 11, but now many people instantly judge them and assume they’re terrorists. Because of a few ignorant people, that group of people gets clumped together as all being that way an entire ethnicity and race of people are stereotyped. Immediately when Arabs or people who cover their heads board a plane people begin to worry and assume the worse. I think this is a perfect example of how race will never stop being an issue because there is constantly going to be people who do something wrong and then others group all those type of people into one group. Even today after slavery ahs was abolished for over one hundred years people are still racist and stereotype the black community and culture. If it has taken our world this long to treat black people with respect then other issues will definitely take the same amount of time. Our country also has a problem with illegal immigrant crossing into our country without the correct paperwork. The number is growing and people are getting mad and grouping all Mexicans and Latinas for example as illegal immigrants. Just because people choose to speak a different language does not make anything wrong with them. Some Americans are mad that they are taking jobs away from U.S citizens, which only further promotes hate and racism. If things aren’t going people’s way then they look for an outlet to blame. Blaming a race of people who is different from you is an easy escape and target. I think that any time things get difficult for people they want to put the blame on someone else and race is an easy answer because it has been a problem in our country for so long! It is easy to rally people similar to you in all aspects of life against a different group that has different looks, beliefs, and a different culture. When people stop blaming others and accepting the problems in their life and taking responsibilities for their actions, then I think racism and prejudice can go away. However, I do not believe this will ever happen. People always learn from their parents and as long as parents are putting racist ideas into their kids heads. Racism will always exist! Because America is such a large melting pot it is easy to pick out others differences from your own. In countries like China where many people look the same it is hard to point people out automatically and group them into one stereotypical category. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 00:54:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/03/do-you-think-race-can-stop-being-an-issue-in-the-future-119-blog/#IDComment126039202 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124139911 I think people of the same ethnicity and race hang out with each other because it is safe and it keeps people in their comfort zone. Explaining to new people your customs and backgrounds can be nerve wrecking and scary especially when you are not sure of people’s reactions. Rejection is a big fear that holds people back from pursuing things they want to. It is easy for the international students to hang out with people from their country because then they can practice the custom and lifestyle they know without having to learn a whole new culture. It is also probably extremely difficult to leave everything you know behind for a new country and new life so hanging out with people who are going through the same thing that you are is comforting and makes the transition easier. I always did notice though that especially in high school people of the same race hung out together and sat at the same lunch table. The blacks sat together, the Asians sat together and then obviously the whites being the majority all sat together. We had a mix it up day where you were given a color and had to sit with an entirely new group of people different from the friends you sat with every day and it failed miserably. People refused to participate. For one day high school students did not think that they could step out of their comfort zone and talk to different people for an hour. They said that lunch was their free time and shouldn’t have to be forced to sit with people they do not know when lunch is their only break from the day! I think this also all goes back to how your parents raised you. When you were younger it was always your parents who arranged “play dates” for you. Your parents arranged play dates usually based on who they were friends with who had kids your age. Therefore white parents hung out with other white parents and Asian parents hung out with other Asian parents so naturally their kids would play together. It is hard to break down barriers when for your whole life you did not even realize that you were hanging out with people all similar to you. I think that our generation has a huge responsibility to future generations because we are learning at a young age where we can affect future generations and raise them differently to be more tolerant and accepting. We have to do better than out parents did because we are more aware than the generations before us. It is easy to stay in your comfort zone and hang out with people just like you but you won’t learn about other cultures and races if you never break out of your shell and take a leap of faith. People usually respect people who are daring and courageous and do not reject them. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 16:53:17 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/26/why-do-we-associate-with-people-of-the-same-race-and-ethnicity-as-ourselves-119-blog/#IDComment124139911 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122613157 Part 3: I think this goes back to your parents and families having the most influence on you. My parents chose to raise me in a town where I would be surrounded and comfortable with people like myself. I was not raised in the inner city or down south where Jewish people are the minorities. I came to college comfortable with my background and being Jewish because I grew up never having to be ashamed or hide who I was. People need to step outside of their safety box and take the chance to form their own opinions and conclusions separate from their parents. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:34:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122613157 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122613134 Part 2: I grew up in a predominantly Jewish town, where for a good portion of my life did not realize the stereotypes and prejudice against Jewish people because I was surrounded by people just like me. It was normal for me to be the majority in my class and all of my friends were Jewish too. Coming to college was a huge eye opener for me because many of my friends have never seen a Jewish person. For the first time in my life I was a minority. I immediately got bombarded with questions and asked on multiple occasions why I didn’t have a large nose. I was shocked to see my classmates’ ignorance especially in 2010. I had always been surrounded by people who were exactly like me and from the same background that I never thought people were not informed about Judaism like I was. Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:33:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122613134 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122613031 Part 1: I think that people still have stereotypes because of ignorance surrounding them from their upbringing. Our parents and family members have a huge influence on us in our adolescence years. People believe what they want to believe and then they pass those beliefs down from generation to generation. If more people keep hearing the wrong assumptions it eventually is accepted as true. Society is comfortable staying in their safety zone and does not want to have to accept information that is new and foreign to them. Many people choose to ignore problems that are going on because it is easier to pretend that everything seems perfect. People choose to believe what they want to and can block out information that does not fit into their comfort zone. Children and adolescents look up to their parents and believe that everything they tell them is correct so if you are being fed different information at school and at home, some may choose to go with people they know and can trust which is usually their family. While I do not consider my family to be racist or ignorant many of the information Sam said in class was new to me and that is because my parents are unaware of a lot of issues facing our world today Thu, 20 Jan 2011 23:33:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/14/why-do-we-still-have-stereotypes-blog-1/#IDComment122613031 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cs%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122094025 soc119 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 15:40:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cs%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122094025