The news above simply gives me a sinking feeling. It does not empower me; make me feel persuaded, or even hopeful in any way. The message of this news is that our divisions are growing, anger is brewing, and development towards a more sustainable world is failing. Politics in this day and time seems extremely convoluted to me. I see the news and media portray a variety of different ideas. Who knows what they should believe. Who knows what you can believe. There is simply no truth in what happens on capital hill. Of course people get fed up and angry with both democrats and republicans over the years we have seen protests from both parties. The problem is that when people begin spouting names a sense of competition ensues. What ever are our distances hating will not fix the problem. Though I am relieved that we now have or are making steps towards a health care system that provides for those that need it and can’t afford it. I know personally that I don’t have health care, and I am at times nervous about breaking an arm, breaking a toe. Its simply seems very dangerous for many to not have access to healthcare, because a single visit to the hospital may require years of hard work to completely pay off. That is no way to live. We should have our basic human rights protected.

I know the other day in our intense debate groups we talked about how people do not stay on point for all of these blog responses. Well 450 words is a bit difficult when the world is so complicated. How could anyone unravel all that surrounds us. I mean the fact that people go to protest in Washington, what is the root cause of this? What is the point of thinking about all of the disturbing shit that happens out there. Sam shows us things in class what for? Is it to make us think? That is a noble goal, but for what reason. I suppose it really is true that we are all going to die. Is this me in the reversal stage? hah, Well I hope I am making my way either way. Even if I don’t know what the reason is for, I want to. I’m just sick of school right now. All of the money problems that I have and the amount of time that I will have to work to pay off all those loans. It can be hard to face. Easier to simply ignore the thought. Maybe that’s why I hate money, and want to live in a system where money does not grip us like a death like vice.

Soc 119 has proven to be a very thought provoking class. It has proven to teach me things that I was previously unaware of. Its strength as a course implies a certain responsibility. The responsibility comes from the influence that Soc 119 can have on a student, at times significant, it would be very unfortunate for Sam to confuse a student if lessons and examples or activities are in conflict.
I believe that this question stands as a possible example of a conflict such as I described above. We learned how it is pointless and even impossible to classify people by race. We learned that the term race was not even in the English language or dictionary until Europeans began exploring and exploiting other ethnicities.
Now my problem is that we do this all the time in soc 119. I understand that the race relations world in which we live is broken into different races. That we are studying these relations, and that classifying people with such broad categories is a typical or common practice, but the responsibility of this class is to be better than that. I mean at the very least allow for the ideas to build upon each other, make a disclaimer reminding the class of the reason that we use these terms in class. That we should focus on breaking down these barriers and mis-notions.
The blog responses to this article simply strengthen my point. It is a point of confusion.
I would simply hate to realize that by the end of this class people identified more closely with their race and less closely with those that differ from them. For the idea of race is false. Then again Sam Richards doesn’t care if we believe this or not, because we are all going to die. He doesn’t care and that’s why he is a teacher. He doesn’t care because he knows he can’t change our mind, but many students say that their minds are changed. Maybe Sam should start caring, or let people in on the secret that he actually does care. I just find some of his statements hypocritical. Teaching is a noble endeavor, a job that is a fundamental piece to our future. I hope that we have teachers who do care what our children get in school, that they do care what is learned and understood in class rooms. Then again we are going to die, so why does Sam teach, commit suicide is for there is no point “bro”.
I want to be taught by a teacher that does care, and I believe that Sam does, just don’t tell me that you don’t. This blog may seem a bit critical, but only because I feel strongly about the content and its potential.

Religion is such an interesting topic, the belief that people have. Its interesting to analyze. To me religion has been created by humans for humans. It’s the meaning to our existence, we of conscious thought have needs, we want to know why…

Maybe that’s why some question religion, and way why does religion exist. It all comes down to a certain type of faith. Maybe be that faith is in logic, maybe in God, maybe science, maybe family. Whatever it is; who knows if what we believe as fundamentally true, really is the truth. One day we may find a loop hole in gravity for that matter, or that the world isn’t flat, maybe paradox’s like time travel are really solvable, just as the notion of flight is as well.

So when I read this article, a moral critique on the bible and our society, I think of the hard on that the Sultan has in Disney’s Aladdin. I mean many argue that the porn industry is a critical driver to our economy and its evolution. It makes perfect sense to me that the individuals writing the bible were influenced by human nature, just as we see in our culture today. History is a slippery and subjective beast.

I sit here and write and wonder what people are thinking as they finish my entry above? I feel that doubt and skepticism may come readily to many. I probably would. I mean this is a complex world that we live in. There must be something that I am not thinking about. Most likely that’s the truth of it, but I also do believe that our society/culture informs what we believe and that anything that goes against the grain often has a reaction of doubt. This doubt is a reaction, a thought that often has not been thought through.

What if we grew up in a society that was centered upon a philosophy or religion with a foundation of questioning? What would our thoughts reflect? Either way I say that the bible is twisted, filled with sexual innuendos because our society worships the porn industry. From where I sit that isn’t a new thing either. I also realize that I may be wrong, but the beauty of it is that Im probably right in one sense or another, from one perspective or another, just as the bible is morally sound from certain perspectives and morally unsound from another. All is truth and all is a lie.

Free will or determinism, I’m sticking with determinism, then I dont have to be all anxious about how messed up the world is. I don’t feel all the weight of my life and the people that my actions effect, because I don’t have a choice.

Sam’s class was very energetic. He does has that personality that gets the class stirred up even if that is the cause of him bringing everyone to think they are fired up. Though in his defense, most of the classes that I am a part of are much different compared to his, but anyhow I thoroughly enjoyed Sam Richard’s class or lecture on Free Will vs. Determinism. I also find it troubling that he finds the wisdom that he imparts upon us as liquid gold. Consider the other perspectives, truths, and cultures that think differently or have an entire different concept of these two terms. I just want some acknowledgement. There is an attitude of superiority, and he defends that attitude with words, as he has in the past couple of classes at the beginning, but the message hasn’t seemed to change.

Though I find a lot oh honesty and truth in his statements. This class was one of the first instances where someone has so seamlessly laid out the difference between freewill and determinism. It gave me a new perspective on the terms and a better understanding. Also it allowed me to make the decision for myself rather than the media, politicians, my culture, etc…

I am still in some ways mixed as to what I really feel is right, what is just, what is correct in my own mind, when it comes to these ideas of free will and determinism. I mean when thinking about these ideas I also begin to think in a more varied manner. Considering religion, philosophy, my own life. For example, do we even have free will, is there a God who has granted us free will, are there angels without, or has he given us the false hope of free will and in reality has the entire thing (the cosmos) planned out? Let me guess its not that black and white. No shit? That’s what Im trying to get at I believe. Maybe not.

So you can see the types of ramblings that confound my head. I see such unfairness in my own country and other places that I have been. Such grave injustice, it is difficult for me to say that we should not all be equal, that we do not owe others anything, because I have seen so many instances where those who have the liberty to exploit a community/individual will do just that and do with no remorse. It pisses me off, and I seriously wish I could force them to eat feces. That doesn’t work, and making them give back doesn’t work either because in the end it hasn’t changed them or the way they will act when no ones around. So the bottom line is how do we right these injustices when free will provides us with the ability to fulfill our carnal, physical, monetary desires at the expense of others?

When I read Sam's blog comment, on a politician’s usage of the word "animals" in regards to the poor and those using welfare, thoughts of surprise, anger, astonishment, recognition, and thoughts of sympathy captured my thoughts. As I sit here and think about my reaction and the comment above, I ask myself "how and why would a politician do this?"

Does he really hate welfare users? Is he extremely disconnected from the world? What type of people does he surround himself with? All of these questions are difficult to answer without more information, but from my perspective any answer to these questions would in essence be ignorance.

I feel compelled to believe that this man is short sighted in the fact that he has failed to make connections between the different aspects of his life and the multitude of sources that inform what he thinks and believes. A society dictated and driven by the desire for wealth accumulation makes this desire one of the most important factors in many of the decisions that dictate the decisions that those of the upper echelon of our society are privileged to make.

This mentality leads to a society of winners and losers. Competition is a fundamental piece of capitalism, helping to dictate who has control over certain industries. Now in the US, certain demographics, on an average, have shown to have certain advantages over other demographics. This has been the result of systematic controls over the history of our USA. Those with fewer obstacles have proven to attain higher levels of monetary wealth. Welfare attempts to remove some of these obstacles.

It is extremely frustrating from my position in society. This ignorant politician, charged with upholding and protecting the rights of the US’s citizens, with the hope of a brighter future for all, has shown his hand. One that contradicts his role as a politician, his ignorance should ban him from further engagement in our political system. A travesty has occurred, though this does not come as a surprise to me. It does sadden me.

Though at one time I too could sympathize with racist sentiments, though that was coming from an understanding that was not informed. An understanding that was ignorant uncultured and selfish.

From the discussion that has ensued from Sam’s response, the next logical question in my mind is “do we take action?” Do we decide to share our distaste for this misguided individual? If anybody reads this feel free to contact me. Feel free to share your point of view. I would be interested on moving further, even to simply provide some feedback on a students perspective. Though would this change his views. Would it help inform the decisions that he makes. I doubt that it would.

I find it interesting that the census lends so much importance to our society. The census provides information and therefore data needed to help make decisions about our society and the evolution of the system in which we live. Information informs ideas, forming decisions, and changing the way in which we live. It seems very logical that the census and the information that it collects has an effect of society. Now, the question becomes what type of information should we be collecting and why. Should we be inquiring about race? Should we perpetuate the idea of race and all of its misconceptions? I would initially say no, the discussion about the usage of the term “negro” is a discussion that can be translated into a larger discussion on the pros and cons of including racial classifications on the census. I see the term “race” to be an outdated, convoluted, and in many ways ambiguous term. It provides more confusion than clarity. It also supports the idea that we are different because of our external features, this idea of difference has allowed for many groups of people, throughout our past, to be oppressed, marginalized, and violated. We are a melting pot of cultures; must we define what the ingredients are? We need to stop providing an avenue, for those who wish to benefit at another’s expense, for people to rationalize their unjust actions. Let their deeds be seen for what they are.
The argument can be made that sociologist need to have racial classifying information to study these cycles of oppression. Without information assumptions hold no weight, and it is difficult to build a case when no information is provided. Though, would these cycles of oppression be based on race, and studied by sociologists if we had never developed the term? I think not.
I think not, for without the creation of this term or idea, then it could not possibly be used by certain demographics as a point of rationalization for wealth creation. For instance, in the current paradigm of slavery, it is not based upon race but rather driven by greed. No longer are people able to live conscious free, by viewing different demographics as lesser beings, thereby enslaving them in a dignified manner. We see now that slavery is an atrocity, a blatant and comprehensive transgression on an individual’s fundamental human rights. Admittance or acknowledgment is the first step towards healing. We need to start this healing process. We need to actively take monumental steps towards ending the usage of race in the voices and thoughts of those with the power to oppress. Our history is riddled with stories and tales of horror, how is it possible that we still use similar ways of thought to this very day? Well maybe because the rhetoric hasn’t changed. What do I know, Sam Richards doesn’t seem to be trying to change the rhetoric in his class, maybe in the end its understanding and not rhetoric.

This whole situation is so frustrating. It is senseless ridiculous. The whole matter proves difficult to wrap ones head around. I mean I sit here thinking about racism, I imagine a time when I was really angry at someone. I take the time to remember how in high school my friends and I would tell black jokes in study hall.
My high school had very little diversity. I graduated with a class of about 90 students. Throughout my entire high school there were only two students who had darker skin. Both of those individuals were impaired in some way. Adding to this infection of racism in my home town included a very economically poor urban area with a majority of black residents. We saw their poverty; we saw their differences but not our own, we felt comfort in our feelings of supremacy and high standards of living. Of course we were better.
For me the problem is no communication. No understanding. Around the world the problem is a lack of communication and keeping an open mind. It can be a difficult thing to stop a violent cycle of retribution. One person commits a transgression of hubris, which is then retaliated. This has always been an aspect of humanity. For example, this theme of hubris is a driving force behind the plot of the ancient Greek story of Sophocles. That violent cycle is projected onto others of a similar race, and we all have realized the folly of that from the past few soc 119 classes.
Every single individual can fall in love with any other individual. It simply takes the time to understand that person. Why they are who they are, what are their hopes and fears. Often time those hopes and fears come out in people in certain environments or mental states. I feel that European governments need to create some environment or mental state in order to open communication between all different demographics of society.
We see how prevalent these viruses of hate are. I mean the fact that there are more slaves around the world today then 100 years ago stands as evidence for this fact. Racism has not died in the US or in Europe, two of the most developed regions in the world. What the hell is our problem? We need to stop punishing and rewarding people for racism and other violent prevalent cycles of hate, for this will only spur it on. We need to allow those with differences to love each other. Bring them together and allow for them to bring up their pasts, their futures, and their hopes their fears. There could be no greater service a government could provide then a situation where its people can break down those harmful cycles of violence, and bring us a step closer to a brighter tomorrow.

This comment is by Samuel Newman