en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/762382 Comments by slimshady62 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69844117 I thought it was cool that this was posted because in itself it has nothing to do with race. But, I think the topic of "lifers" is a very interesting one that people fail to think about very often. Its such a tough thing to try and relate to these people because although they seem so normal in writing or maybe even in person, they have committed the worst of sins. I myself know I have committed several sins already by the ripe age of 22, and I definitely feel guilty about some of them. But imagine what some of the men in prison have to deal with EVERY DAY. I am by no means condoning their actions but i mean I know for a fact Ive gotten in trouble before and the toughest part if the shame you feel and the inability to really do anything about it. Imagine now that times 1000 for these men. It is such a shame that an act they all wish they probably could have taken back will cause them to live the rest of their lives out behind bars but i guess its a heavy price to pay for such an evil action. I guess when you are at the point you are at as a lifer, you have to try and find something to keep you going in life or otherwise life is meaningless. I hope the lifers who regret their actions can find that something, even if it is in prison. Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:25:17 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69844117 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69842862 I think its really though when something like this hits such an already-poor country. Its like if conditions weren’t crappy enough now they have to deal with one of the worst natural disasters of all time that has devastated Haiti’s infrastructure, economy, and many other facets. I really enjoyed last class when Ian came in and talked about his personal experience there. The fact that stuck with me well after class was over was that the United States gives the most money but as a percentage of our GDP it is among the least amount given. Personally, I think this is really quite a travesty and another misstep on the part of the US government. And, yes, I know we’ve been going through a recession recently and God knows I’m no business or finance major, but are you telling me the United States can’t give as much of our GDP as Portugal? Really? Sure the recession sucks, but some people without jobs is a little better than people dying without shelter, food and water, and an even close to stable economy. And I don’t feel like anytime a country screws up their economy or something and they need more money we should just go in and pick them up. But Haiti was in a sense a pedestrian that got run over and now they need help with the hospital bills. Being in a country that is so plentiful we can go to the grocery store and choose from 17 different pasta sauces and 100 cereals, I really hope that our government isn’t being as cheap as they seem. I was also thinking a lot about what Sam said the other night about his philosophy that those who have more should help the people with less. I totally agree with this, and I feel my opinion wouldn’t change whether I was rich or poor. The fact of the matter is that money may not be able to buy “happiness” in the sense of making your life instantly more satisfying (when it sucked before), but it sure can do a lot for a nation full of poverty. And even at a lower level, I always feel athletes and celebrities should be giving a large portion of their salaries to charities. They are already ridiculously overpaid (Big Ben making $102 mil over 8 years=WTF), and it is part of their obligation as professionals and role models to give to charities, and I sense that overall, not that many athletes do and that is a shame. In a sense this is what Sam has been hinting at the whole year with the King of the Hill stuff. The people with the money are at the top of the hill and they make the decisions. If they want, they could give some of their enormous wealth to help some others get up the hill or they can just use it themselves to push themselves further and further up the summit.... Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:13:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/300000-whats-it-mean-to-us__trashed/#IDComment69842862 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-are-we-doing-here-really__trashed/#IDComment67895556 I don't know if this question has one single answer because the end goal for everyone is going to be different. Some people will have gone into this class close-minded and leave the same exact way. They will try to brush off the facts when they are presented or make excuses for reasons why these issues don't matter. For others, they will have learned about a few harsh realities that many minorities face in our country and it will move them to at the very least THINK about these issues. I think some of the info and data has been so moving to some that they are already actively trying to find ways to combat the racism. I know personally I feel a sense of guilt and shame when I hear some of the wrongdoings, as well as when I realize how lucky I am every single day to even be going to a college like PSU and have an apartment to live in. So, if nothing else, even if someone may not take any actual steps themselves to try to fix the injustice we hear about every SOC 119 class, I think just feeling different or weird about something after this class is a good step for many people as it will show itself eventually. What I mean is that, whether unconsciously or not, just thinking about these issues might cause us to speak out against racism in the future or vote politically for policies that will help minorities. Or maybe we will unknowingly bring up these race issues when talking with others which helps to spread the information to the masses. Who knows. The point is that Sam has been giving us gold (as he likes to say) and it is up to us individually to decide whether we want to act to make a different end goal than what it might have been before. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 05:01:50 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/what-are-we-doing-here-really__trashed/#IDComment67895556 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66290841 Video games have only been getting more and more violent and racy through the years, and I think the real question is when do you cross the line. You can run people over in the road and beat old ladies with bats in GTA, you can walk into an airport and gun down HUNDREDS of innocent people, and now you can rape Japanese women and their families. At some point, video games are going to become so lifelike and real it will be basically Virtual Reality like you see in the old sci-fi movies. Can you even imagine what it will be like in 10-20 years? Okay so take a game filled with gunning down people, violent rape, and running families over on the sidewalk and add to it an advanced Wii-type of control where you do all the motions yourself and you have yourself young kids that can do some really messed up things, anytime they choose to play. This is obviously completely insane and there is going to have to be a push for some sort of restriction on content in the near future or society is going to be a really, really F'd up place.... Tue, 6 Apr 2010 23:18:06 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment66290841 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66288429 I am neither offended by or against what the kid in this video is asking, and I don’t see why anyone else would. Sam told us from the get-go that he wasn’t trying to change anyone’s mind about anything but instead try and make us look at issues differently and question why they are a certain way today regarding race relations. I would certainly agree with some of the people that have noticed how the last few weeks of class have dragged on for seemingly an eternity, and I would hope Sam would recognize that the whole 6 stages stuff is getting a little repetitive. I think some of the most thoughtful and interesting classes have been ones more extreme and free-flowing (rather than just reading off PowerPoint’s for an hour). The LGBT class was sick, the class about racism in the drug/jail system, and even the infamous “bleeding” classes were the most important in my mind. Why? They caused the most uproar/discussion/anger, etc. Otherwise, the class seems like a normal sociology class complete with note-taking and memorization. Either way, there have been a lot of information statistically that has stuck with me this year, and I find myself thinking a lot at the very least about the numbers. I still cant get over the study that showed a white guy with a felony is more likely to get a job over a black guy with no criminal record even though they both have IDENTIAL credentials. Also, the Native American stuff is really mind-blowing. We don’t even stop to think about how much these people have lost. As for the guy that asked this question, why does anyone care what he thinks? And I’m not even saying he’s wrong or anything. It’s just that this class is structured so that people can get whatever they want out of it. You can come to class, play on your phone, sign in, and leave early- and that’s fine. Or you can choose to actually think about some of the issues and open your mind a little bit. Both are still optional though. There are some classes I have thought about a lot and others that went through one ear and out the other before I even left class. However, there is certainly good stuff to get out of it, and I think Sam has given us some important information to use at our desire. I guess the only one thing that aggravates me about the class is that we learn about so much disparity, racism, and financial inequality that still go on, and yet, I feel I have NO IDEA how anything will ever get solved. Or maybe there is no way to solve any of the issues. But if this was the case than why even bring them up? It’s all really troubling and no one has the answers, even Sam. But maybe he’s just putting out the information because he knows eventually with enough knowledge of how things really are, some day in the future, stuff might change for the better. Tue, 6 Apr 2010 22:58:26 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/i-really-want-to-know-also__trashed/#IDComment66288429 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/revisioning-the-revisioning-stage__trashed/#IDComment65625885 I agree with what a lot of people are posting about how where you grow up makes a huge difference as to how you view people of color as a young adult (and eventually through your adult years). I didn't necessarily grow up in a city but my town was fairly diverse and my high school had plenty of black and brown people. Through middle school and high school my best friend was black and I had other black friends that I hung out with a lot, although looking back I can honestly say a large part of that had to do with me being on the sports team and being able to have that exposure. I think its important that black and brown people really consider the fact that as young whites growing up in this generation, things have changed substantially since our white parents were around, and I think overall the racial thought process is not nearly as offensive as it used to be. I think unfortunately black and brown people try to assume while growing up that white people just innately arent going to like them or want to hang out with them as much and thats simply NOT the case. The kids in our high school that were racist were not only not popular but disliked by not just black/brown people but most of the other white population as well. Fri, 2 Apr 2010 21:37:04 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/revisioning-the-revisioning-stage__trashed/#IDComment65625885 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment64278193 I go along with some of the people commenting on this blog who are questioning why asians don't get talked about enough in class. Interestingly, I feel they are prejudiced to a high degree and, especially in the college age, have a lot of trouble assimilating socially. Is this because they have a high average income if they are from overseas? Is it because they are generally stereotyped in a more or less positive way (i.e. ridiculously smart, quiet, etc.) I mean they really all get grouped as "Asians" regardless if they are Korean, Chinese, Japanese, or something else. But really just because they arent as financially-handicapped as other groups like latinos or native americans doesn't mean they dont have to deal with stuff everyday that white people do not. I am surprised Sam hasnt spent a day or two on Asians as he has with Native Americans or Middle Easterners for example. Sat, 27 Mar 2010 01:08:54 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/what-are-all-of-you-thinking-about-asians__trashed/#IDComment64278193 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64277185 Man the part of this video that shows the little black children choosing the white dolls consistently is really sad. Especially after the researcher asks them who is the "bad" doll and they still choose the black doll. I am white myself and I really cannot relate to or understand why the little kids would do this. It must be some innate or early-learned fact that white children (or people in general) are just better than whites. Which seems weird for black parents to teach their black kids but maybe they want them to see the stereotypes they will face growing up? Maybe if they are taught early on that white children are better it will cause them to try and make more of themselves? I really cannot figure it out but its really a sad thing and I would be very upset if I were a black person seeing this in class after Sam has shown us the obvious racism found, for example, in trying to find jobs. And these little children are taught early on that black children are literally "worse" than white ones. What a shame... Sat, 27 Mar 2010 00:57:52 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/those-damn-dolls__trashed/#IDComment64277185 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment64084374 To start out with, I thought Tuesday's class was both funny and bewildering. Although I admit I'm not exactly quivering in excitement to be posting on this blog about menstruation of all things, I really do not see why all those people in class got all riled up and a few people left. Seriously? Sam actually proved his point right there in class when all of those kids became all shocked and upset. Why could he (and I believe hes already mentioned his affinity to it) talk about masturbation or taking a shit for guys, and i guarantee NO ONE would have left but he brings up a girl's period and people starting taking off? It is a natural human process. It's just blood people. If you dont want to talk about it yourself I guess its your own choice, but it really might help women as a whole if the topic wasn't so taboo in society. I would openly say I would definitely prefer if my g/f never had to have a period (for both obvious reasons as well as for her own sake), but it helps that I am close enough to a female that I can understand the process and a little bit of emotionally what shes going through. I think overall maybe guys would be more understanding and considerate if they openly knew and talked about menstruation with females. They could be more helpful and caring when it came that time of the month. Either way, doesn't this issue epitomize the whole point of our Soc class? Sam wants us to bring up different topics and discuss and think about them. This is the only way things ever change: for people to try to look at things in different ways and come up with reasons why we do these things and ways we could maybe do them better. I am not even a girl myself, and I can clearly see the benefit of bringing more awareness to a woman's period. Today its literally like pregnancy, women try so hard to hide the fact that they have periods. And I'm not gonna lie. I peaked when Sam told the guys to put their heads down and he asked who was on their period. Bullshittttttt. There is no way in a class that big with that many females that those few people were the only ones on their period. No way. Why didn't everyone else raise their hands? Well, I guess that is the issue to explore and maybe one day the taboo topic of periods wont be such an issue to the point where girls cant admit to be on them (pretty much anonymously) in a class of 700+ students. As for the question of the free tampons- I don't think they would be free but I mean sometimes you can get free condoms, so really its not completely out of the realm of possibilities. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:43:19 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/if-men-could-menstruate__trashed/#IDComment64084374 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63036842 I don’t have a really strong opinion about this issue, mainly because I sit in class and just laugh at all of the text messages that pop up on the screen. Do I send the inappropriate ones? No. Do I laugh at them? Hell yes. However, I would say that maybe some of the people who put controversial things on the screen should maybe be given the mic and allowed to speak in front of the class. Seriously. Some of the things people think are "racist" I think are legitimate questions that should be addressed and discussed by both whites and blacks. Maybe there is something in the fact that whites question some racial topic and get chastised but black people seem to be able to say what they want and many times get away with it. Is there something deeper in this? Maybe but if so why dont we explore it instead of just having people send random texts on a screen that do not get addressed. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:16:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/does-this-rudeness-thing-cut-both-ways__trashed/#IDComment63036842 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment63035720 This article about the racism at UCSD isn't surprising but still disheartening. I mean really, its 2010 do these ridiculous parties really need to go down? And then you need to emphasize it on campus news networks? To be honest, I really don’t think deep down that the students that held and participated in the Compton party were necessarily racist, but it was still not a smart move. You can’t celebrate and make fun of a stereotype of a specific group of people and not expect an outrage. The UCSD students who held the party should be reprimanded and maybe be forced to go through a race relations discussion to maybe help them understand why what they did was wrong (even though I am pretty sure I read that they had to undergo a two-hour discussion and I agree this is not enough). Maybe then they will get it, but maybe some people just don’t get it. I also kind of agree with some of the people that mentioned that having more black professors would change things. I don’t see why that will make a difference at all. I’m not saying there shouldn’t be more black professors but the fact that this is an attempt to try and change the racist attitudes is ridiculous. I also agree that the response of demonstrations and speaking up against this obvious racism is a positive thing, not something to be devalued. This is how things get changed in this country. People bond together that realize something is wrong or unjust and then go and collectively try and make noise about it. This will eventually cause some sort of change- which is bound to be better than the previous state. I would be interested to see what would happen at Penn State if something like this happened. How much of the student body would care and protest? Would it be just the minorities or many more white students as well? I would hope that people would realize the issue of having a race party like that but at the same time I could easily see some kids thinking they are cool holding a gangster party. I personally wouldn’t go to one but I don’t represent Penn State. I think that, overall, it is a good thing that this has come to national headlines because it is an important issue that should be addressed. The only way for things to change is for people to understand that they are still going on everyday in a bunch of different places across the country. This kind of behavior simply isn’t acceptable and they should be reprimanded for their racist actions- whether they feel they were in the wrong or not. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:06:48 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/this-is-getting-to-be-too-much__trashed/#IDComment63035720 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59825472 I never really thought of this idea of having mostly all-white casts in the many forms of reality TV shows that people watch. I personally think they are all crap and are far from the reality that any one actual lives, but, to each their own and if people want to fill their brains with the trash that is reality TV than go for it. It is funny though that the girls specifically mention the ABC part because that makes a huge difference. ABC is a huge network obviously that is broadcast everywhere and also carries big sports games, award events, and other shows. Unfortunately, people of color actually DO have their own shoes that mostly featuring people of color- but even though they are on big networks they are seen (in my opinion) largely as a joke. See the Ray J show, Flavor Flav, I love New York, etc. These shows are terrible and portray people of color (mostly black) as rude, loud, angry, violent, greedy, selfish, and conniving. The shows that actually try and show people forming a serious relationship and not just hot-tubbing and stripper-dancing every single night are, as the chick in the video pointed out, almost exclusively white. These shows, although still crappy, don’t just follow around a black guy and his fighting parade of "hos" in every episode, every season. In fact, this is really an issue that I am surprised a lot of people (especially of color) have not voiced their opinion about. In a country where they are still the minority and are subject to many forms of discrimination, this is only hurting their cause. Please tell me an employer isn’t going to think differently if a highly educated and qualified woman that looks a bit like a Flavor Flav girl is trying to get a job over a white woman. Not happening. Maybe I am just way too against the stupid reality shows but for some reason, even if they are terrible but consist mostly of white people (Rock of Love for example), it doesn’t seem to really affect the way people look at whites. But since the other shows are so ridiculous, they give people of color a very bad reputation. I think maybe ABC should try and do a more grown-up Bachelor/Bachelorette type of shows with mostly black people in it. I think people who usually watch the show will watch it regardless of the color of people and it will also help to erase some of the stereotypes produced by a lot of the terrible MTV and VH1 shows. Fri, 5 Mar 2010 02:35:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59825472 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed__trashed/#IDComment59807948 A slaveowner that lived today would probably think he was living in another world, because, compared to the days of slavery, this really is a new world. Black people have excelled to the highest degree in almost every field imaginable: sports, academics, music, politics, the list goes on and on. I would hope the slaveowner would maybe take a second to realize how ridiculous it is to enslave a people because of their skin color and make them prisoners to another race of people for no reason. However, in a sense most of us have all now read Disposable People and realize slavery is still alive and well in many countries so the slaveowner would probably find out about this and then go to that country to continue his work as a slaveowner. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:43:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/a-long-long-way-indeed__trashed/#IDComment59807948 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59807223 I dont really know where the racism in theme parties comes from unless maybe they are "gangster/ghetto" parties (although Ive never been to one of these before). Even then, I dont really think thats a big deal considering most theme parties are poking fun at types of white people such as redneck, jersey shore, surfer/cali, etc. I would also be curious is this girl could explain what type of party she considers racist and what happens at these parties. Do they go on at Penn State and you have to be racist to get a ticket or something? From my experience at PSU in the last four years, I feel like if people showed up at a party and it was blatantly racist everyone would leave. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:37:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/whats-with-the-theme-parties__trashed/#IDComment59807223 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59806505 I never really thought of this idea of having mostly all-white casts in the many forms of reality TV shows that people watch. I personally think they are all crap and are far from the reality that any one actual lives, but, to each their own and if people want to fill their brains with the smut that is reality TV than go for it. It is funny though that the girls specifically mention the ABC part because that makes a huge difference. ABC is a huge network obviously that is broadcast everywhere and also carries big sports games, award events, and other shows. Unfortunately, people of color actually DO have their own shoes that mostly featuring people of color- but even though they are on big networks they are seen (in my opinion) largely as a joke. See the Ray J show, Flavor Flav, I love New York, etc. These shows are terrible and portray people of color (mostly black) as rude, loud, angry, violent, greedy, selfish, and conniving. The shows that actually try and show people forming a serious relationship and not just hot-tubbing and stripper-dancing every single night are, as the chick in the video pointed out, almost exclusively white. These shows, although still crappy, don’t just follow around a black guy and his fighting parade of "hos" in every episode, every season. In fact, this is really an issue that I am surprised a lot of people (especially of color) have not voiced their opinion about. In a country where they are still the minority and are subject to many forms of discrimination, this is only hurting their cause. Please tell me an employer isn’t going to think differently if a highly educated and qualified woman that looks a bit like a Flavor Flav girl is trying to get a job over a white woman. Not happening. Maybe I am just way too against the stupid reality shows but for some reason, even if they are terrible but consist mostly of white people (Rock of Love for example), it doesn’t seem to really affect the way people look at whites. But since the other shows are so ridiculous, they give people of color a very bad reputation. I think maybe ABC should try and do a more grown-up Bachelor/Bachelorette type of shows with mostly black people in it. I think people who usually watch the show will watch it regardless of the color of people and it will also help to erase some of the stereotypes produced by a lot of the terrible MTV and VH1 shows. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:31:02 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59806505 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59806426 I never really thought of this idea of having mostly all-white casts in the many forms of reality TV shows that people watch. I personally think they are all crap and are far from the reality that any one actual lives, but, to each their own and if people want to fill their brains with the smut that is reality TV than go for it. It is funny though that the girls specifically mention the ABC part because that makes a huge difference. ABC is a huge network obviously that is broadcast everywhere and also carries big sports games, award events, and other shows. Unfortunately, people of color actually DO have their own shoes that mostly featuring people of color- but even though they are on big networks they are seen (in my opinion) largely as a joke. See the Ray J show, Flavor Flav, I love New York, etc. These shows are terrible and portray people of color (mostly black) as rude, loud, angry, violent, greedy, selfish, and conniving. The shows that actually try and show people forming a serious relationship and not just hot-tubbing and stripper-dancing every single night are, as the chick in the video pointed out, almost exclusively white. These shows, although still crappy, don’t just follow around a black guy and his fighting parade of "hos" in every episode, every season. In fact, this is really an issue that I am surprised a lot of people (especially of color) have not voiced their opinion about. In a country where they are still the minority and are subject to many forms of discrimination, this is only hurting their cause. Please tell me an employer isn’t going to think differently if a highly educated and qualified woman that looks a bit like a Flavor Flav girl is trying to get a job over a white woman. Not happening. Maybe I am just way too against the stupid reality shows but for some reason, even if they are terrible but consist mostly of white people (Rock of Love for example), it doesn’t seem to really affect the way people look at whites. But since the other shows are so ridiculous, they give people of color a very bad reputation. I think maybe ABC should try and do a more grown-up Bachelor/Bachelorette type of shows with mostly black people in it. I think people who usually watch the show will watch it regardless of the color of people and it will also help to erase some of the stereotypes produced by a lot of the shitty MTV and VH1 shows. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 23:30:35 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/are-whites-the-only-people-willing-to-humiliate-themselves__trashed/#IDComment59806426 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58886625 There is absolutely no way that I could DISagree with you more. I actually think a very large percentage of people in the class would stand up for and speak up against the discrimination of the young Muslim woman. And why is it only important enough to stand up when their is physical violence? Physical discrimination is just one small part of the picture, and denying people their basic rights, verbal abuse, and other forms of discrimination are just as hurtful and unjust. I can understand if some people would not stand up for an innocent kid getting his ass kicked at a frat party because its not your business, but this is totally different. This is an innocent AMERICAN being denied a basic right for no reason other than b/c she is Muslim. Sure, we need to be honest with ourselves, but racism will also not go away until we all realize that if we are going to live in the United States and call it a free country we have to also hold that virtue true to ALL Americans, regardless of race, ethnicity, or any other matter. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:07:26 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment58886625 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/who-could-compete-with-this-woman-on-a-level-playing-field__trashed/#IDComment58742616 I definitely agree with you here. I am a bio major and I know a lot of people who are going into medical school that I would be completely and totally afraid to have as my doctor. Unfortunately, their parents are doctors and donate thousands of dollars to their schools, so they are virtually a lock to be in medical school. Some do not even have great grades but because of some research and internship opportunities that their parents pretty much hooked up for them, they are good to go. I think this is definitely one reason for some of the huge malpractice and other health care issues right now: many doctors are simply not fit to be doctors and do not deserve to hold the positions they hold. Obviously, I am not talking about ALL doctors but certainly some. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:47:07 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/who-could-compete-with-this-woman-on-a-level-playing-field__trashed/#IDComment58742616 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58741874 I dont think the girl asking the question was saying we should teach them that we murdered off most of the native people of this land (although we definitely did any way you look at it). I think she is just asking how come kids only know what "Indians" are but maybe dont understand the term "Native Americans", meaning the people who lived on our land many centuries ago. I think young kids just think of Indians as primitive, savage people who all carry around axes and taught us how to plant maize. But they are more than that, they are an actual historical group of people who were unfairly pushed off their land and now continue to be discriminated against to this day. Maybe if we teach children at a young age what happened they will feel more sympathy and responsibility and might want to try and push for more help for current Native Americans. Who knows really, but it is certainly part of history and we should not be hesitant to spread the truth about it. Fri, 26 Feb 2010 03:39:12 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58741874 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58461513 I think the whole Native American issue is a tough one because none of us in the class (and even people of Sam’s age for the matter) ever really have to think about it or confront it in our everyday lives. I know I have zero friends who call themselves Native Americans, and I have never really had to discuss the mass genocide that almost completely rid them of their homeland. Instead, we just go on with our life and live where we live and use what we use because it is there and available. I understand that some people don’t think they should feel bad or be blamed for what happened to Native Americans because they didn’t grow up here or their parents/ancestors came over from another country. But I don’t think Sam wants us to all just feel terrible and take blame but to actually try and learn and understand what happened when we came to this land and rid it of the native people. This is (in a way) worse than the Holocaust which in my mind has always been the most horrific and senseless acts ever committed by human beings: the systematic slaughtering of MILLIONS of people for no real purpose. The point I’m making is that we should think and learn about the Native American genocide because it was large-scale, inhumane, and most of all-real. Because Native Americans are now the minority in this country and, like other minority groups, are among the most poor, least educated people in the United States. And these are the people that owned this land before we came. I think a reason some people may not care about that is because they truly believe the Darwinism ideal (and to his credit, the kid that mentioned that in class was brave and shouldn’t get flak for bringing it up). To be clear, I am a bio major and I believe in evolution and survival of the fittest. Somehow, though, I can’t accept that as an excuse or answer to why our ancestors did what they did to the Native Americans. If someone with more firepower has the right to take over the others than this whole world would be a huge nuclear warzone and people would be eliminated every day. That is obviously not a good thing for anyone. So, the problem exists when you get to the question of what the hell to do about it. Of course, the Native Americans have already been stripped of almost all material things and most of their land, but I also think in a way we have a chance to right at least some of our past wrongs. Many Native Americans live in poverty complete with alcohol problems, terrible education, and living conditions. We must recognize this and push to improve this matter. I am no politician, and I certainly don’t have the answers, but I think for sure this needs to be addressed at the federal level where more money and resources needs to be allocated for these people. More fertile land needs to be given to them, and more opportunities both in schools and in the workplace must be presented to help get them back on their feet and make a living. If we all just push the matter aside and act like it doesn’t matter (or we simply don’t care) eventually there will be no trace of native blood left in this country, and our virus-like takeover of the land will be fully and totally complete. And that I am sure most of us would agree, is a disgrace Wed, 24 Feb 2010 06:44:31 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-three__trashed/#IDComment58461513