en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2403922 Comments by saraa12 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/were-you-surprised-to-find-that-business-is-the-factor-that-shapes-immigration-policies-119-blog/#IDComment144865994 I am not surprised to hear that the business sector of America influences the rate and policies for immigration. The business world has a major influence on a variety of aspects of society. Business professionals have a lot of pull and say in politics. It is with this influence that they can change bills and set new laws and policies into action. With the job market in a constant change, we find that employment rates are always changing. With the diverse range of types of jobs, it is sometimes difficult to find people to work for low-end jobs. Typically immigrants take the jobs that other Americans are not willing to perform. When there is a need for workers in certain jobs, policies are made to allow more immigrants into the United States. This makes it easier for businesses to find cheap labor and hard workers. On the other hand, when there are not enough jobs for the number of immigrants, then policies and laws are reversed. By limiting the number of immigrants, employers are able to have a competitive labor market. With the competitive labor market, workers must compete to get the job. This means that the workers willing to receive the least amount of pay are hired. This saves businesses funds that would typically be used for employment wages. This increased influence of businesses makes me wonder what other aspects of government are being corrupted. We know that politicians are supposed to have the best interest of the people in mind. However, often we find those politicians that are able to get bills, laws, and policies passed, are working with high ranked businessmen. Policies may not be in the best interest for the people of the United States, but rather the best interest for an employer to save money on labor. Jobs are being given to the lowest wageworkers, which is typically to immigrant workers. Jobs that could have gone to American workers are now being given to immigrants. This saves the company money, but ends up potentially hurting the economy. This is because immigrants tend to send wages home to their families. That means that the money being made does not go into our economy. Under the table deals are most likely made, in addition to bribes, to make the policies be approved. With businesses working the immigration laws and policies, it will constantly be changing due to the changing economic status of the United States. Overall, I am in no way shocked that businessmen have the most influence on the immigration legislation's. They are making it possible for them to be a successful company and pay low wages to their workers. They will continue to influence immigration because they are the reason for immigrants to come into the United States. Thu, 21 Apr 2011 17:38:54 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/were-you-surprised-to-find-that-business-is-the-factor-that-shapes-immigration-policies-119-blog/#IDComment144865994 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142864820 Almost everyone in his or her life has been affected by nepotism. We form a lot of connections and relationships with people in the world. Since we know so many people, it is beneficial to the individual. In most cases we have a connection to a person in a business or career area that helps out. Everyone knows that they are most likely not the best candidate for a new job or opportunity. Most of the time, the wrong person is selected for the new opportunity because of someone they know that has an effect on the decision. In most cases, even if we are affected my nepotism, the individual feels they would have gotten the position anyhow. I do not think anyone would turn down an opportunity to get an advantage on the competition, unless they wanted to prove to themselves that they could do it without help. In some situations, nepotism may not be direct. Simply being associated with someone can change the decision of the person selecting an applicant. We may not agree with nepotism, but it can occur indirectly. If someone has a goal in life and they are dedicated to getting what they want, they will take advantage of nepotism. With everything in the world being so competitive and hard to obtain, it helps to secure your original desires by having someone of influence aid on your behalf. I believe that there are people and individuals that would not want to benefit from nepotism. I personally would like to know that I got ahead by being the best candidate. However, not wanting to benefit from nepotism and actively making sure that you do not are very different. It is very hard for someone to know exactly what indirect ways of nepotism that are occurring. Once someone has it in their head that the person is know or has a connection to a friend or important person, they cannot just forget about it. Under all of their decision making processes they are considering who they know. In addition, we as a society know that nepotism occurs. Therefore, those who are actively trying to not benefit from nepotism are hurting themselves in the long run. Even by attending Penn State we are contributing to nepotism. This is because Penn State has such a wide variety of connections and a status that comes along with going here. When in the job market, if we come across another Penn State alumni, we are more likely to get the position because of the pride and obligation towards the other person. Overall, I personally would not actively try to not benefit from nepotism, but at the same time, I would not try to promote it either. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 17:41:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/12/do-you-think-you-would-actively-try-to-not-benefit-from-nepotism-if-the-situation-presented-itself-119-blog/#IDComment142864820 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141102458 I think that by being placed in someone else’s shoes it opens up a broad array of opinions and thoughts that we may have never thought possible beforehand. After hearing about how the people in the Middle East look at the America, it has changed my views on everything. It just goes to show that you can never truly understand someone’s intent until you look at it from his or her perspective. As an individual and as a nation, we have to take a step back and look at what we are doing from all perspectives. Something that we may think is right and needed could be the complete opposite for someone else. After hearing about the way Middle Easterners look at the media and interpret the things we do in the world, it had a profound impact on me. It makes me wonder if all of the things we hear in the United States and how we react to them are just because of the way we interpret it. Everyone wants to believe that what they are doing is in the best interest of everyone, but rarely is this ever the case. We see what we are doing in the United States as being proud and heroic. In most cases this is true because we know all sides of the story and how sometimes the rule can be overshadowed by the exceptions. People of other nations and cultures may not understand the reasons behind our actions and see them as a malicious attack, but in reality they are seeing the exceptions and they do not have the full story. I believe that we should not judge or act in a rash manner until we know about all of the facts and information behind a decision. I think differently now about the War in Iraq after hearing this lecture. I have always known that people, depending on where they are and how they were raised, have different perceptions about what is occurring. I just never thought about how the people in the Middle East must feel until now. I was not thinking on a personal level, like I do here in the United States, but rather as an entire place. When you think of the individuals going through all of these trying times it makes you wonder why we are fighting about oil in the first place. Innocent lives of both the United States and Middle Easterners are being lost. We have to understand what these people see everyday is what we see. We see the enemy. However, this does not need to be the case. We should work at understanding one another so we can come up with a peaceful solution and save lives. Fri, 8 Apr 2011 22:19:20 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/05/did-putting-yourself-in-the-shoes-of-the-middle-easterners-change-your-views-on-the-war-in-iraq-119-blog/#IDComment141102458 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment139167849 In the changing world, there are always things that can make someone feel uncomfortable. This is because we are not used to the new situation or fear the unknown. This fear of the unknown is evident in so many situations in life. As for people that speak other languages, some people feel uncomfortable. If two people are speaking a different language and I am present, it is more interesting than uncomfortable. I am intrigued as to what they might be saying. I do, however, wonder if they are talking about someone because the other person may not understand. It makes me curious as to what may be being said. However, it is their culture, most likely, that they are demonstrating and I think that means a lot. For someone to move to a new area or even learn a new language, that is different than the social norm, means that they are not intimidated by the need to assimilate. I feel that individuals who know both the socially accepted language in the area and another language are remarkable. If I were to hear two people having a conversation, in another language, I would admire them. They would be holding true to their culture and ethnicity, even when it may be looked down upon. By speaking another language they would not be giving into pressure from others. As for me personally, I would not feel uncomfortable when walking by two or more people speaking a different language than my own. I may be curious as to what the subject of their conversation would be, but that is natural curiosity that we would have if two individuals, speaking the language I speak, were to whisper. Frankly, I would not give this much thought. I normally keep to myself and do not worry about gossip or inconsequential conversations that I am not personally involved in. If the individuals know how to speak another language, that is good for them. I think it is amazing that people can be so fluent in so many diverse languages. I took Spanish in high school and loved the idea that I could say the same exact thing in two different languages. Going back to hearing two people talking in a different language, I would not feel uncomfortable because I like to see the best in people. This meaning that I believe that the individuals were not plotting anything bad or making rude remarks in their language, just because another individual is most likely not going to understand. This also goes along with body language. Typically, it is not hard to judge a persons thoughts or feelings based on how they stand or use body language. I would not feel threatened or fear what they are saying, but embrace it and see it as the world becoming more diverse and accepting of other people. Fri, 1 Apr 2011 18:27:59 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/29/do-you-ever-feel-uncomfortable-around-two-or-more-people-speaking-another-language-119-blog/#IDComment139167849 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/would-you-point-out-the-people-of-your-own-race-who-make-racial-slurs-or-prejudice-comments-119-blog/#IDComment137290178 I think that people are blind to their own wrong doings. This means that as a society, we need to step up and inform them of their derogatory styles. For example, someone may say a racial slur or a prejudice comment, but they are not thinking of whom they are hurting. I am someone who lets it known what I am thinking. I would correct or comment on any person who makes racial comments, especially someone of my own race. In general, I feel people are more comfortable confronting someone of their same race or ethnicity. Also, normally if a person is willing to say a racial slur around you, then they are likely to feel comfortable around you. This means that they are close enough for you to tell them that it is not polite or nice to make derogatory comments. I think that unless the person is corrected, they may never know that they are doing something wrong. That or they may feel they can get away with it because no one has commented or corrected them in the past. If this occurs, then it probably becomes a regular occurrence, which needs to be stopped. I would not get angry, I would be upset with the person for judging people on stereotypes, which is what racial slurs and comments stem from. I would try to explain to them in a polite manner how their comments can hurt someone, maybe not physically, but emotionally. If people do not step up and take charge in changing these situations then we will never grow as a diverse society. We have to be courteous of everyone because we are all people. We should not judge or put down different races than us just because we do not know them well enough to see that they are good people. Therefore, I would be more willing to say something to a person of my own race because they are not being open minded and I can relate to them on a racial front. I would be less likely to correct another person on a racial comment. I would show my disapproval, but may not outright go up to them and correct them. This is because I do not know where their thought process is. For example, they could be using a term that I am not aware of the meaning and it is harder to say something about it. However, if I am in a setting were someone of any race is being derogatory, I will most likely say something. This is because I feel people need to be educated on how their choices effect others and learn how to be considerate of others and not judge a person based on stereotypes or prejudices. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 17:36:57 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/22/would-you-point-out-the-people-of-your-own-race-who-make-racial-slurs-or-prejudice-comments-119-blog/#IDComment137290178 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/is-it-hard-to-relearn-racial-ideas-119-blog/#IDComment135953389 I think racial ideas that are learned at a young age stay with us throughout our life unless we have a life changing experience. As we grow up we are constantly being shaped by our surroundings and experiences. It is how we react to these situations that shape our outlook on life itself. The ability to relearn something that has been practiced throughout your life is very difficult. Changing a person opinion or view of a situation takes time and effort. First, the person has to want to change or see the real aspect of what is occurring. Then, once they have accepted that they are set in their old ways they must act to make a change. As a human race, we fear the unknown and this includes everything that we have not be brought up to believe. As children we look up to our parents for advice and how to act in situations. Since this occurs there is a continues cycle that’s keeps the racial ideas the same. As children, we are able to learn lots of information over a short period of time. Children absorb information at alarming rates and are more willing to accept new information. The information we gain as children we are more willing to challenge the ideas. Children want to find out first hand if something seems to be true to them. However, as adults we have already tested out other theories and stand by our opinions, even if they are not true. Therefore, in the video about the children choosing their favorite doll between a black and white dolls we find that these preconceived notions are extremely prevalent. The children in the study have already been exposed to racial ideas about what is right and wrong or good and bad. In most situations, children are able to change their minds when they find something does not works out in their best interest. On the other hand, children do not have the knowledge that adults have about actual life scenarios. This is were it becomes difficult to determine if children or adults ideas can be relearned. Children are continuously learning so it is not a question of information being relearned, but rather learned in the first place. If children’s ideas change when they are young then they grow up with those ideas. When this happens those ideals become rooted in our individual personalities and how we see the world. As a society, we need to not pass on the stereotypes and racial ideals on to the next generation of children. We should teach them when they are young that black and white does not differentiate between good and bad. Overall, it is easier to change the thoughts of children when they are learning then trying to completely alter an adult’s view of life and racial ideas. Sat, 19 Mar 2011 01:36:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/18/is-it-hard-to-relearn-racial-ideas-119-blog/#IDComment135953389 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/#IDComment130733818 For people in poverty I think it is somewhat selfish to have multiple children. I am not sure if selfish is the right word for the action. When people who do not earn enough money to support a family, I do not think they should bring more children into the world. It is unfair for the children, the family, and society to have large numbers of kids. It is unfair for the children because they will not have a good lifestyle and will grow up in unsafe and harmful conditions. They will not have the benefits of other children and if there are multiple children in the same family, all of the assets will have to be spread across each of the children. If the family is on welfare, in some states, each child is considered and more money is received. That takes away money from other families that only have one child. It is unfair for the family as well. When the adults in the situation bring more children into the world they are making it harder on themselves. They will have to support even more children and have to find childcare. In order for the parents to work they have to find someone to watch their kids when they are younger. If they are not able to fins appropriate childcare then they are forced to stay at home or make different arrangements. It is selfish because they are not trying to better their kids lives and move themselves above the poverty line. I understand that they want to have a family, but at what expense? They need to be financially stable to take on more kids and in most cases they are not in lower income groups. It is also selfish to have more children because it hinders the economy. The children will most likely receive assistance through the government. This takes funding away from other families when one family has numerous children. I believe that the families who are having lots of kids, like in the movie that Tammy has 21 brothers and sisters, they should focus more on the family they have now instead of expanding it. With that many kids they are not able to focus on their children. As parents they cannot spend individual time and efforts on each child of the family. It depends on each individual family, as to whether it is seen as selfish to have lots of kids. However, with the lack of attention on each individual kid for being unique, they may get into trouble or feel unloved. I feel that each kid benefits from personalized attention and that it is selfish for a parent to have so many kids, when they are already struggling to make ends meet. I know that each situation is different, but it is unfair to bring so many kids into the world when you cannot support them and give them the best life possible. Sat, 26 Feb 2011 00:54:18 +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/#IDComment130733818 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/16/why-with-more-education-do-people-believe-that-success-is-mostly-a-result-of-hard-work-119-blog/#IDComment128747604 In the world we are all connected in some way or form. The question of whether higher education makes us believe that success is a result of hard work, is a combination. I believe that connections and who you known comes into play when searching for a job or getting ahead. However, I still believe that without hard work, these connections and requirements could never be met. We need to work hard and have the ability to complete tasks and be successful. The way to get through college and higher education is to work hard. But once we graduate and go to enter the work force a lot of emphasis is placed on whom you know. Without the connections to get you an interview or to be known when you enter the work force, you will not have the upper hand. People who have higher education most likely believe that hard work is a contributor to success because we are putting in the time, money, and effort in hopes of succeeding in life. We have not had to face the real world counterparts of the “king of the mountain.” We do not know about the reality that we will face in the job market and business deals and how hard it is to get through by just being hard working. Almost anyone who wants something enough will work hard, but the problem is there are too many people all working hard, that no one stands out. We have to be the best of the best and even then we may not be able to succeed because we have to get into the “business.” As a future elementary school teacher, the job market is very difficult in today’s society. Especially in Pennsylvania, there is a lack of jobs because the teachers are all young and not retiring. For those few job opportunities we need to know someone to get the job. For instance, if two people have the same qualifications, the same GPA, and the same work ethic, but one of the applicants knows someone in the district, they have the upper hand. That person may have their connection “put in a good word” or add extra information to the decision. They are able to vouch for the person’s character and help clarify any misinterpretations in the interview. Normally, without this inside connection, you are written off as another hard working kid who is the same as the thousands of other applicants. So in my opinion, we are taught that hard work is important and will get us far in life because we need to be able to compete with one another. However, connections and whom you know will open the door to opportunities that hard work could never get you. Fri, 18 Feb 2011 06:03:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/16/why-with-more-education-do-people-believe-that-success-is-mostly-a-result-of-hard-work-119-blog/#IDComment128747604 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/why-do-you-think-racism-continues-to-be-a-problem-throughout-the-world-119-blog/#IDComment127461680 Racism is still so prevalent in society and it is a major issue. However, everyone knows that racism is an issue, yet it is still happening around the world. It is anyone’s guess as to what causes this continued problem. In my opinion, I believe that racism and stereotypes go hand-in-hand and are both caused by fear. People of different ethnic backgrounds are subjected to crude remarks and unjust judgments. Fear is what fuels these acts of racism. We discussed in class about “King of the Hill.” In this scenario, the person on the top is the one who makes all of the rules. The reason that new rules are made is to ensure that no one takes their place. This is the fear of not being able to “be on top of the hill” again if someone knocks you off. This is the same with racism. Generally, people do not know a lot about other cultures and are not willing to learn. They figure that another person’s culture or background does not affect them. However, this is not true at all. It affects everyone when someone “pretends” or “claims” to have knowledge of another person or group, when they actually do not. I have found that we fear the “unknown” in life. This “unknown” includes people or things that are different from us. We may have an encounter with a person of a different race and then assume that everyone of that ethnicity is the same. This would be wrong and is what fuels racism. We come up with our own hypothesizes for the reasons things are the way they are. These may not be right, but we share our ideas, spreading the incorrect knowledge, thus forming stereotypes. The reason that racism has not stopped is because we have not taken a stance. We cannot possibly judge someone without knowing about the individual and their culture. We need to educate ourselves about the different populations of people around the world. We have to view each other as equals in society. We cannot let the color of someone’s skin, religious beliefs, stereotypes, or any other factor determine what we think of an individual. There are many forms of racism throughout society and it needs to stop. It is not okay to target a group or individual based on anything but the evidence at hand. Racism will continue to exist around the world because we justify our reasons of actions towards others unjustly. There is no reason for us to do this, but inner prejudices that have been developed throughout generations plays a role. As a nation and human population, we need to educate the youth of today to promote equality in society. Sat, 12 Feb 2011 02:59:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/08/why-do-you-think-racism-continues-to-be-a-problem-throughout-the-world-119-blog/#IDComment127461680 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/what-is-the-difference-between-a-colored-and-white-comedian-119-blog/#IDComment126037481 Around the world different actions are deemed acceptable or unacceptable. This comes into play when dealing with comedians. The question brought up was about the different levels of acceptability of a comedian based on their ethnicity. If a person of minority is the comedian we generally find their jokes more acceptable. However, if a white person would use the same joke or line, it would be social frowned upon. Why is there a double standard between different comedians of ethnic and racial backgrounds? I believe the answer is that minorities are more accepting of other minority groups than of the white majority. When a white person is a comedian and makes fun of other groups they are seen as degrading other cultures. Different groups may feel inferior or put down because of a comedian saying something. In addition, I think that it is worse coming from someone of another group than someone of the same ethnicity. As the clip shown in class demonstrated, the majority of the class was okay with his jokes and laughed. Had that been a white comedian, there may have been a different response. I think the reason for this is because we are not sure how others will react to a joke from a different culture. Comedians are constantly making fun of others differences or characteristics. People may feel less threatened if the joke or innuendo is from someone that is a minority. Another thing to think about when dealing with the different comedians is the audience. The major part of being a comedian is to make your audience laugh and have a good time. By changing the performance around the audience it changes the attitudes of the situation. People of the same cultural background may feel that they are entitled to making fun of another group or of their own faults. However, when there is a multi-racial group of people, feelings may get hurt. By equally criticizing different groups of people the comedian is seen as funny, but if he or she targets a specific group it can make people feel uncomfortable. I do not think that a white comedian always produces tension in the room. Tension can come from any aspect or person telling jokes. The tension comes from people not knowing what others will do and how to react without being disrespectful. An Asian comedian seems to be able to make fun of anyone, but this can still be a problem depending on the audience. Overall, I think that white comedians are capable of making jokes, at the expense of other groups, if they are creative in their approach and do not do it in a mean manner. If the goal is to spread entertainment then it is normally acceptable. Other ethnic comedians are also in the same position, but because they are not seen as the world power there is not as much of an issue. Sat, 5 Feb 2011 00:49:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/01/what-is-the-difference-between-a-colored-and-white-comedian-119-blog/#IDComment126037481 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/why-do-we-need-to-be-politically-correct-119-blog/#IDComment124472534 Political correctness is a question that people of every ethnicity and race are faced with. We do not want to offend other people, but we also do not know what they want to be called. Everyone has their own opinion, name, or term for different groups. The question is, what is acceptable? Why should we be politically correct instead of saying what comes to mind? I believe people should say what is on their mind. If someone is thinking about something, then they should share in a considerate way. This is the only way to know what people are actually thinking and to break down the walls people put up. We will never move forward in society and break through the stereotypes if we are not open. The problem about being open is someone is bound to be offended. Throughout society we want to be polite and considerate of others. Political correctness has its advantages when dealing with public figures and officials. As a society we look up to popular figures and expect them to lead by example. They use political correctness in their speeches and public appearances. In my opinion, it is hard to be politically correct now and days. The times are constantly changing. Something that would be appropriate in one area or time frame can change rapidly. So what is the point about being politically correct? We cant know what everyone wants to be called. Even if we ask different groups what they would like to be called, within the group peoples opinions would differ. I dont think derogatory terms should be used. The hard part is deciding what is not okay to say. This is where being politically correct can get confusing. I think it is necessary for political figures to be up to date with the current usage of words and names. But I do not think it is possible to be politically correct all of the time. In some instances it is beneficial to use other terms that are not considered politically correct to make a point. Throughout peoples lives they grow up in different areas and different things are acceptable. There is no way to know what is acceptable in different portions of the world. Not to mention, multiple words can be customary in one section of the world and derogatory in another. Overall there is a certain sense of unknown with being politically correct. Everyone has their own opinion of what word or category they would like to be described as. This can vary among any given group. I think that if someone does not mean a term in a rude or offensive way, then there should not be a problem, therefore political correctness is void. Sat, 29 Jan 2011 04:21:06 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/27/why-do-we-need-to-be-politically-correct-119-blog/#IDComment124472534 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/what-do-you-think-blog-2/#IDComment122902237 The class activity of separating people into different racial groups brings up a lot of questions. Some of the questions that I was faced with during the activity included: why do we place people in racial groups when supposedly race doesn't exist? Why is it so hard to change the stereotypes of racial groups? Does race really matter, when we are individually unique anyways? Why do people hold such an emphasis on differences? These questions, among others, made me think about the world we live in. The two students who were selected to divide the other students into groups were considered "smart" student because of their GPA. This leads me to believe that no matter what letter grade you may receive in a class, it does not prepare you for the changing world. The two students were not able to correctly identify what ethnicity particular students were. I was amazed that even my own assumptions were entirely wrong. I give the two students and the participants credit for standing up in front of the class and being put on the spot. It makes us consider how everyone cannot be placed into a "group" or "race" based on physical features. We learned in class that different features originated from our ancestors to adapt to our surroundings. So why is it the students were not able to correctly identify everyone into a group? The answer is with the diversity in the world today, certain traits are not only specific to particular group of people. With interracial marriages occurring more often, it combines traits and ethnicities from many generations. It can be confusing to try and place someone into a group. So the question is, why do we try? The world would be a better place, if people did not try to incorrectly identify someone and judge the individual. We have seen through this activity that the judgments we think are most often incorrect. People are so ignorant to believe in different races that we forget that we are all made up of numerous backgrounds. I don't pretend to know what ethnicity a person is by their physical appearance because I know I would be wrong. This exercise helps to make us "open our eyes" to the bigger picture. I believe that everyone is unique and cannot be subjected to a specific race. After all, race is just the perception someone came across many years ago. It is all based on inconsequential information. The stereotypes that people assign do not help to connect the world. This activity has had a big impact on how I view the world and the different types of ethnicity that make it up. Without the diversity from different cultures, we would not have the opportunities and advancements we do today. Sat, 22 Jan 2011 02:37:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/18/what-do-you-think-blog-2/#IDComment122902237 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cd%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122856087 soc119 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 21:58:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/01/10/last-name-%e2%80%9cd%e2%80%9d-%e2%80%93-intense-debate/#IDComment122856087