en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/2392528 Comments by stephanielefler http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-89/#IDComment231796158 I believe that State Patty's Day is a Penn State tradition, and it will be one for quite some time. Sam's points as to why we should cancel the pseudo-holiday for the year are all completely valid, but as a part of the student body, this holiday is for US. It is a time we all come together and celebrate with one another downtown and in Fratland, and it's an amazing day for us all. I realize if the media filmed us, it would show us in a drunken stupor for the majority of the time, but it is a college town that is already seen as a campus that revolves around football, pedophiles, and rioting. I do not believe that us drinking on a basic Saint Patrick's Day would make us appear to be any worse than any other college campus. My argument is only further driven by the fact that it is not as if it would be a surprise to the world if they saw clips of us binge drinking. You cannot be "awarded" Number One Party School without there being a LOT of binge drinking involved with parties every week. If the media really wanted to lead a story claiming that we are the way we are because of drinking, they would have used that claim in the very beginning of all of this chaos. I feel like Penn State's reputation is destroyed for the time being, and that one day of major drinking is not going to put us any further into a hole. We have a long way to go still and this is not going to make a huge difference; especially because it will then be closer to Daylong season, and that is basically the same concept. Drinking in nice weather with all of your friends with an overall theme is probably the most fun thing anyone could do, and the fact that we can all come together; Greeks, non-Greeks, freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors, Penn Staters and local friends can all enjoy their Natural Light and obnoxious green. This campus needs to try to get their groove back, and we need to return to life without the scandal. This is who we are. We are a drinking campus, a fun one, and this is a fun way that we have always been able to really come together as a student body and celebrate the four years (sometimes more, sometimes less) we have to be a little crazy. I understand and fully appreciate Sam's warning to us, and if it were my choice, I would say that it was probably a good idea to cancel it, but reality is is that it will continue to be planned and followed out. I plan to participate in State Patty's with my fellow cohort, and I plan to be Penn State proud as I usually am. This is never going to be something forgotten, but it will blow over, and the more we pretend to be such a squeaky-clean campus, the more suspicious we are going to appear. As I said before, we need to go back to the way we were. It is the only way to get out of the spotlight. Things out of the ordinary is what gets media attention; to get the attention away from us, it is time to crack open the Natty Lights. Fri, 2 Dec 2011 19:36:09 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-89/#IDComment231796158 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-79/#IDComment223247269 If Sandusky had been any minority race, there would be much more going on. I feel that because Pennsylvania is a predominately white state, it would have only added fuel to the extreme fire he is already under. The racism that one sees daily if they belong to minority groups is ridiculous; that can go without saying. Unfortunately, due to the racism that still exists, people look for facts or instances that only further their erroneous beliefs. If a family that is slightly racist and believes that black people are no-good-doers, then this Sandusky case would only serve as an affirmation for their views. It is a biased, yet unfaltering fact, that when someone of a minority race does something evil and/or illegal, it is put much more into the minds and lives of Americans via media. The fact that this scandal is so huge right now is because, I feel, most people would not have expected that from him. Granted, it should not be expected of anyone, but it was such a shock because he worked for a university that is held in such high standards globally, and the man he worked with, Joe Paterno, is seen as a pseudo-God. Had Sandusky been a black coach, I feel that people would be just as disgusted with the situation and acts that this man partook in, but there would also be a larger majority of people that would not be as surprised. So many people in this world play into the white privilege, and do not even know it. Sandusky is getting threats and a lot of hate from everyone, but he is lucky. One can only imagine what kind of racist comments would go before the words "bastard" and "son of a b...." Although it shouldn't, race is ALWAYS a factor, and it upsets me to think that Sandusky is getting off easier because of the color of his skin. People should be looking at the color of his soul, or lack thereof, but I feel that there are still many people that are giving him more slack than he deserves because they can identify with him more easily than if he had been of a minority race. Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:40:05 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-79/#IDComment223247269 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-74/#IDComment220536556 As for the five stages, I personally do not believe that many people are going to go through the depression. The student body is more angry, which is stage 2, and I feel that many will jump from stage 2 to stage 5. I also feel that the majority of how people will feel depends on the game this coming Saturday. As Sam mentioned in class, if we win, the majority of the fans that are on Joe Paterno's side will be able to recognize that he was not the sole reason for wins (or losses), and that another coach can get the job done. Unfortunately, the anger in many students is not what I would call anger, but more excitement, especially in terms of the riots. Everyone last year rioted for Osama's death-- absolutely thrilled that it was finally over and we had finally caught the man that was behind the September 11th attacks. That was a joyous riot; a prideful and, for the most part, a peaceful one. The riots that took place for Paterno this past week were absolutely dreadful. The fact that there were news anchors from major television channels (e.g., CNN, ESPN) made us look terrible. Flipping over the vans, starting fires, knocking down light poles, and harassing the police (and one another, in some cases) showed the nation exactly what we were saying we were NOT: more than football. I agree, and I stand with the majority of my fellow cohort when I say that Paterno should not have been fired after decades of giving all he had to this school. I DO believe, however, that the majority of us have forgotten why this has all occurred. Children were molested and/or raped, and being an world-renound football coach does not excuse you from not telling law authorities. It is so sad that so many people are showing anger instead of hurt; instead of grief, instead of acceptance and support for Paterno. I have no doubt in my mind that Paterno is not proud of what he has done, or lack there of, and I am sure that he feels even worse knowing that his fans are wreaking havoc on their own town; on HIS town. People need to accept what has happened and move on. This is an amazing university, and we are here for our degrees to make a difference in the world. A football coach's leave should not be our downfall, nor should it be the reason our school is making headlines. Fri, 11 Nov 2011 19:11:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-74/#IDComment220536556 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-60/#IDComment215884834 My family has hired illegal immigrants to work because the work was easy and they were willing to do it for very cheap. Yes, it sounds like we were taking advantage of the situation where they could not choose their salary, but we were also paying them much more than they would have gotten from their previous home. In California, illegal Mexican workers are plentiful, and they are hard, diligent workers, and usually very honest. My family chose to hire a Mexican worker that did not have papers to do our landscaping every other week because they had seen his work before in the neighborhood. He had a family back in Mexico that he supported and we wanted to give him an opportunity to get as much money as he could since he had already worked at a few other homes nearby. I personally feel that if we know that a person is an honest worker, that he does not feel cheated out of any money, and has mouths to feed that it is not a bad or shameful thing to hire them. My issue only comes when someone will hire an illegal immigrant, but not an American worker of the same skill and salary request. That is when I would say it is not appropriate to favor one over the other, especially because of legal issues, and that the American should get the job. I also do not feel that it is okay to hire illegal immigrants in big companies or factories. My family hired him to cut the grass, trim the bushes, and keep up the yard. That only affects one family, and even then it is not something where it could have a detrimental effect on anyone else. If an illegal immigrant is hired for big corporations, then not only are we taking a very high-up job and giving it to someone that is not even a citizen (when there are plenty of qualified Americans for every type of job), but we are also running the risk of having someone that is not tied to the US taking, what may be, a very important position. A huge concern would be that their "loyalty" would not be to us, and therefore it could be a botched job done. Wed, 2 Nov 2011 17:24:28 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-60/#IDComment215884834 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/27/voices-from-the-classroom-55/#IDComment213637755 I have many thoughts about illegal immigrants, and most of them are positive ones. First of all, the America that we know now started with illegal immigration and stealing. That right there shows that many here have no right (at least morally) to say that others should not do the same. That is hypocritical as much as it is selfish. So many people here have so much more than others, even the poorest here would be kings in third-world countries... Secondly, many of my good friends are first generation to parents that have come to the Americas illegally. I cannot imagine not having them in my life, and knowing what wonderful and hardworking people their parents are, I would never ask for them to leave. I feel that they only help our economy-- they are not taking jobs that Americans of many generations-old would want (such as gardening, working at fast food restaurants, etc.) Many of the people that say that are just bitter because of the few that have surpassed their own salary incomes, and that is just ethically ridiculous. You should not envy your neighbor, but perhaps just work harder to match their success. That has nothing to do with being legal or not, it is hard work and determination. Third off, we ask that they do not come over illegally, but rather seek a green card or work towards a legal status, but the government has made it so difficult to become a citizen and the process is so long that perhaps that person(s) cannot wait that long to get out of their respective countries. Whatever the reason for people to want to leave their countries to come here, it should be respected and welcomed. If we begin to shut people out, we are destroying what the United States has created: diversity, a melting pot of different cultures and origins, and a safe haven for those that need refuge. We take for granted what we have, and instead of wanting others to have that same success and lifestyle, so many choose to live selfishly and make others work for it. I was born in the United States and was lucky enough to be born as an American citizen, without having to work for it. I personally do not feel that that gives me reason enough to feel as though I am more "American" than the person that wants to come over and live their life here and work hard. If that is the case, we are both doing the same thing: just working in the same country (which, as Sam has explained, is just an invisible line separating us.) I believe that immigration should still be a process that people must go through, but just to make sure that they are good people (with few legal issues) and that they intend on working hard for what they get. Other than that, they are doing better and more important things than many Americans are at the very moment. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 23:20:35 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/27/voices-from-the-classroom-55/#IDComment213637755 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/11/blog-about-happiness-for-soc-119-and-learn-something-useful/#IDComment206332678 Happiness is something that everyone wishes to achieve, perhaps even more so than money, love, or success. When a person claims that all they want in life is to end up happy, I've always thought that perhaps the reason people do, in fact, end up happy is because they have a combination of money, or love, and/ or success. Unfortunately, you usually need two of the above, because most are not satisfied with having just one. For example, if you are extremely poor, to the point of poverty, having a loving spouse is not going to get you much happiness when your stomach is growling and you have taxes to pay. On the flip side, being the wealthiest person in the world without someone to love can be even more depressing than the latter. As I said before, I shall say again: You need a combination of the three aforementioned things to be capable of being happy. If you must add another, it would only be self satisfaction, and about 99% of the population can never attain this, so you had better work for two of the others. When I think about it for myself, I stand with the majority and say that I truly do want happiness for myself. I know that I need to be in a loving relationship and to have money-- it may sound shallow, but I know that for myself; that I need the two in my life in order on focusing on self-satisfaction. Giving in to this somewhat shameful "need" has not been something that I could easily acknowledge and admit, especially to others. Only now am I really able to say it because I truly believe that most everyone needs these things, some more than others. I happen to be one of those "others" but I am not afraid to admit it. I suppose I feel that it is okay to want money and success and love because, in order for me to get my true happiness, I need to be able to not worry financially or romantically about other things. Happiness, for myself, is an easy life. Not boring, but one without materialistic frets. Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:37:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/11/blog-about-happiness-for-soc-119-and-learn-something-useful/#IDComment206332678 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-26/#IDComment201538858 Racial stereotypes occur in every race, but usually the ones I do not believe in fall under those of my own. However, because of where I grew up, I do not believe in the stereotype that it is those who identify as black to be the "criminals." Watching the videos on Tuesday where Sam showed a clip of Oakland PD upset me because I am from a city that neighbors Oakaland, California, and black is not the only race that is racially profiled. In California, those who appear as Mexican are usually suspects in many cases that regard burglary, drug trafficking, and crimes such as rape and murder. The fact that blacks are deemed as criminals is so wrong, politically and statistically, that the only reason it is believed is because there is more coverage in the news when it comes to this specific race. There are so many people that are "untrusting" towards the black community because of the stories they have heard and because of the things they have seen on the news, but in reality, you should not trust anyone, of any race. People are people, and they make poor decisions in life. I, personally, had many friends back at home that identify as black and they come from good homes of upper middle class, and have no need to steal, cheat, or lie (as these are some of the highlighted stereotypes that are attributed with that race.) It proves to me that this society has a very long way to go in terms of acceptance that does not involve racial prejudices of any kind, including unfair advantages given to minority. All in all, I disagree that the black community is the "main" one that is involved with crime because I choose to not see it that way. I see it as many people were either raised in poor situations and were taught that those actions was not a bad thing, or that they simple are not very good citizens. I would not sit there and believe that it is only one specific race that is causing mayhem out in the world. Sat, 1 Oct 2011 00:42:08 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-26/#IDComment201538858 http://www.worldinconversation.org/our-projects/haiti-entrepreneur-initiative/madame-lamour/#IDComment196440429 Haiti needs our help. Even just by watching the videos and seeing the landmarks around town, you can tell very quickly on that it is in very poor shape (earthquake, or not.) The Haiti Project’s ability to help others get onto their feet is a wonderful thing, but it also helps start a domino effect. Maybe if we can help this one person to be successful, they can, in turn, help their neighbor. I watched multiple videos, and they were all very inspiring. I watched a few involving clothes manufacturing and distributing, another about pastries, and a final one discussing how to improve a floral arrangement business. I personally do not feel that the clothing businesses will do well. The prices of some of the items were unrealistic for everyday wear, and the other items I saw, such as elegant dresses and high heels, are not something that I see being worn often enough in Haiti to be purchased. I can understand that clothing is necessary, but I feel that denim (a fairly sustainable fabric) and cotton shirts would suffice and be more practical. The pastry clip made me think that it could truly be a successful business in Haiti. The woman mentioned that she has buyers, but that she has to make long, difficult trips to get the cakes and cookies to them. Although cookies and cakes are not necessarily for survival, food, I feel, is more of a resource than evening dresses. Besides, she said that she was supporting her children and her husband who cannot work which makes me more inclined to think that she needs the business more. The woman that had the floral arrangement and bridal veil shop seemed to already have a very successful business going on. It is mentioned that she has two shops that are doing just fine in Haiti as it is, so why she needs to be given more textiles is a little strange to me. Regardless of which business ends up being helped, I truly believe that they all have the potential to do well financially if they just had the opportunity. Unfortunately, in a place like Haiti, there are not many people that have the spare money to support local businesses involving “designer” purses and shoes, etc. I feel that food and comfort is something that would ultimately lead to success, for both parties. Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:56:08 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/our-projects/haiti-entrepreneur-initiative/madame-lamour/#IDComment196440429 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-14/#IDComment194254380 I do not believe that welfare discourages one from going out and improving their lifestyle. Although welfare does help those who cannot fully support for themselves and/or their families, it usually is not because the "bread winner" is being lazy. People are given opportunities depending upon a mixture of their upbringing, race, and their socioeconomic status (both in the past and present.) Unfortunately, because of these factors, it is not always up to a person as to whether or not they live a life of luxury, or at least one of comfort. Americans have always been one of the wealthiest of citizens in the world, individually and collectively. The government, having recognized this, put forth a plan to help those who cannot help themselves for the time being due to allotted circumstances. I have been blessed enough to have been born into an upper middle-class family, where my lifestyle has been a comfortable one, if not completely lavish at times. To think that some children are born into families with little money, food, and/or basic necessities is heart breaking and I am more than pleased to pay taxes to help them get on their feet. Those who believe that it is only a "get out of jail free card" are being selfish and finding the only negative in what could be a (and to many people is the only) positive thing in a person's life. I find it very difficult to not believe in the welfare system simply because it has worked for so long and helped a very large group of different people. To say that it is only for those who are black, brown, Asian, white, Latino/a is being racist and making a completely illegitimate claim. Welfare was made to help people who need it. People. Not lazy individuals of a certain race. Of course there will be those who do take advantage of the system and completely live off of those who are generous enough to give, but I would like to think that, for the majority, it is not charity, but just simple help for the time being. Ideally, welfare should be used to help people get on their feet so that they, too, can turn around and help those who need it. Fri, 16 Sep 2011 22:46:42 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-14/#IDComment194254380 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/07/questions-from-the-classroom-2/#IDComment191222384 I classify myself as a female. Other than that, I really do not find myself easily classified because, quite honestly, almost anyone can slightly fall into hundreds of thousands of categories. Just by going to Penn State I can say that I am a female, in a sorority, from out-of-state, under 20, of mixed racial background, a student... the list literally can go on and on. This is why I do not see how one can say that s/he is clear-cut in one division. There are even sub-categories, but I do not even want to attempt with those. Basically I feel that we give ourselves place these imaginary categories for one of two reasons: to set ourselves apart or to feel as though we belong. Obviously we are all different, so why there is a need to show that you are an individual is quite confusing, and if you feel the need to belong to a group, realize that we are all people. You are one of billions. That statement right there accomplishes being a part of and apart from a very large group. When others try to categorize by appearances, by religion, by social class, or even by ancestry, you can usually assume that the groups will be wrong. There is no way to tell if someone fully falls under one category. Even if they are 99.9% sure that they "qualify" as something, that .1% is the determining factor that shows everyone, including oneself, that you are not like anyone else on this earth. Why try? I find it stupid that we make all of this progression towards equality, and then we sit here and say that I am different from you because of x, y, and z reasons. If we want to set ourselves apart so badly, then we should stop fighting so hard for an egalitarian world. To be quite honest, it is hypocritical work if we continue it, so we need to stop doing one or the other. We choose to put ourselves, and everyone else, into classifications (that are usually wrong, anyway) to raise up in comparison to our neighbors. There is a certain power that comes into play when you can classify yourself, because it gives you a way to signify what it is about you that is special. If I could just be myself, and have no one know about me, my background, my family (or my own) income, then there would not be too much that one could judge me on. It’s is because others know me, and because I know others, that I can place myself, and them, into these organized sections showing what it is that sets us apart and brings us together. Maybe if everyone decided that they would keep the private things about them private, our world would be a little less divided. Thu, 8 Sep 2011 21:37:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/07/questions-from-the-classroom-2/#IDComment191222384 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/01/how-do-you-feel-about-interracial-dating/#IDComment189119696 I grew up in San Francisco, California, and lived there my entire life before I moved to Pennsylvania. It was a complete culture shock for me because I went from living in a place where "White" was the minority and "other" was the majority. Due to this upbringing, almost every relationship I saw around me could be classified as interracial. I, myself, would not be around had it not been for interracial dating. All of my friends, minus those who are fully Black, are all interracial, and they all date interracially-- myself included. I have never seen dating someone different than yourself as a bad thing. Where I come from, and the family I have been raised in, live by the mentality that love is love. Cultures can be changed, traditions can be modified, races should be ignored, and sexuality is something that is natural, not chosen. All of these things affect who you date, but it shouldn't, and that is why I have never let someone's "skin color" hold me back from dating them. I have dated different guys, all of whom fall under a different racial classification. The only thing these men had in common was that they were intelligent, funny, and genuinely sweet people. They had all been raised differently, had different religions, and, for the most part, were even different ages. I see that I find myself attracted to personality, not Black, White, Yellow, Brown, or any variation. I personally find interracial relationships beautiful. It takes a strong set of people and a strong bond to hold two very different people together-- and I would know. Beyond others disagreeing with it, sometimes you begin to disagree with more than you agree with. Again, this has nothing to do with the "race" of a person, which is what I think many people get confused with. For example: You can have a White person raised in Oakland, California (one of the worst cities in the East Bay), and a Black man raised in the Oakland Hills (one of the richest, Whitest areas in the East Bay). If a White woman (or man) is racist and is looking at the Black man thinking that he will act in accordance with many of his neighbors, they will have maybe missed out on a very strong love. If s/he instead goes for the White man just because of his skin color, s/he will notice very quickly that White does not make you "act" White. Interracial relationships should not even be something of discussion, other than in history books. The fact that people still would never consider it is sad. There are more and more interracial relationships and children each passing day, and soon enough, there will not be a dominant "race" because, hopefully, we will all be interracial ourselves. Fri, 2 Sep 2011 19:41:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/01/how-do-you-feel-about-interracial-dating/#IDComment189119696 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment144992487 I was extremely unaffected by this YouTube video. Not only did it seem like a joke in the way it was produced, but it did not push any fear into my soul. I do not fear Muslims, nor do I fear the actual religion of Islam (regardless of what it may teach.) The Jihad, individuals who do some very bad things, are doing exactly what they believe is the right thing to do: killing all that do not believe or that insult their God. Just as it has been argued before, though, why is it that Christians do not get the same sort of slack? How many thousands have died because of the Christian belief system over the years? Thinking about it, how many thousands of people have been killed because of religion alone? I am quite sure it has surpassed thousands by now and is in the millions. My arguments does not go to say that I am not afraid of terrorism, but I feel that terrorism and Islam are completely separate categories, such as shoes and fruits. You can use a shoe to crush a fruit, but it does not mean that all shoes are dangerous and should be feared. Perhaps my analogy is a little off, but if you think about it in the way that I am intending, it makes perfect sense. Religion as a whole, every and any religion that pushes its believers to try to convert nonbelievers is a mess just waiting to happen. If a radical follower dedicates his life to his religion, as some of the Jihad have done, they also leave their life knowing that they did all that they could to help it. I am by no means saying that I agree that hijacking planes or killing innocent civilians is permissible simply because their religion is saying that it is right. I am merely saying this: either rid the world of religions, which will not be happening for a very long time, if ever, or educate people on the fact that religions are not dangerous, people are. I do not care if you are a Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, or Athiest. It takes a certain kind of PERSON to kill another. I was not, and am not, scared of people that worship the Quran anymore so than I am scared, or not scared of, people that worship the Bible. People are people. It is their individual personalities that take them too far. Fri, 22 Apr 2011 03:25:19 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/19/what-americans-fear/#IDComment144992487 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/transgendered-complications/#IDComment142582175 Here is a perfect example of people being afraid of what they do not understand. The employer saying that she did not fire him due to discriminate reasons is b.s. and, quite frankly, she should be fired. If the reason he was fired is because the rules say that, for this specific job, the employer has to be male, then I still do not see the reason as to why this man was fired. Regardless of what he may have had genitalia-wise before does not mean that he did not, and has not for his entire life, identified himself as a man. Here is my logic on this: We all start out being without a sex. We have certain chromosomes, but that does not mean that we have physical genitalia that can make it easier for another person to say "male" or "female" right away. If the question is whether or not he has a penis or a vagina is like saying that you have to have long hair to do a job, and that if you had short hair in the past, you cannot work there. Funny thing is, everyone has started with shorter hair... I believe that the man should get his job back and that they should offer an apology to him. He has done nothing wrong, and if he was and still is qualified for the job, it is ridiculous that he was fired in the first place. If I had been put into this situation where I had to be the employer and inquire someone to clarify their gender, I would feel that it was necessary only because it was part of the job requirement. If it was answered that they were the sex required, I would never think to go out of my way to ask if they had undergone a sex change. Besides the fact that it is none of my business, it is not anything that affects the way that the job may be carried out. If the person is qualified, that is the end of it for me. I truly hope that this man wins his fight against this company. He was wronged and it could serve as a great lesson for anyone involved or watching the case. Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:48:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/04/11/transgendered-complications/#IDComment142582175 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment139971974 In terms of the other countries, I was surprised that deeply Catholic Ireland is losing some of their population's religious standings. I find first hand that Catholics are some of the most devoted worshippers, and it is not easy to get out of it, especially as generations pass down traditions. To see that their numbers are falling makes me only wonder more what the United States' numbers are looking like. I find it wonderful that we do not take accounts of people's religions because it should not matter, but from pure curiosity, I would like to see where the standings are and where they will be in twenty years. Mon, 4 Apr 2011 20:39:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment139971974 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment139971295 I personally think that it is cool that religion is on the down lately. Those that are deeply religious and actually practice won't leave their beliefs and those that are so-so on the whole religion thing will probably be what they should be: unaffiliated. Jumping on the bandwagon of those who do not believe or those who do not participate in worship for whatever reason should show the individual that they were never truly a believer because the majority does not mean that it is the right thing. I don't worship any God or higher figure, so this article just makes me optimistic because maybe, for once, we really can be a country where religion does not rule, especially in constitutional subjects. I am so tired of there being a claim of "separation of church and state" when in reality, there isn't. Most politicians are religious in some way or come from a background where there is some religious undertone, and most in offices in the government are as well, and their votes effect us. To be told that a law I must abide by was voted for and won by those that believe in something that I do not find morally right (or wrong) is absurd. Religion is the opium of society. I'm sorry if that strikes anyone as going too far or as too harsh, but in reality, it is. If you believe in God, then that is great, because in that person's mind, all that do not will be condemned anyway, but to make all of us follow the laws that your God made for you is ridiculous and I thoroughly look forward to the day where religion is something private and not a factor in the public eye. It should not be something that we all have to endure. Mon, 4 Apr 2011 20:37:32 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/24/religion-in-the-future/#IDComment139971295 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment138432764 I personally could not live in a place where the sun was only up for a mere five hours during an already freezing time of year. I moved to Pennsylvania for school from California, and during the months of January to about mid-March, I began to feel as though I was suffering from the aforementioned disorder called SAD (seasonal affective disorder) due to the constant overcast days. Those living in Finland live their lives during the dead of winter in basic darkness, carrying on in, what appears to be, the middle of the night. I interpret daylight with working and then nighttime, or darkness, with resting and the end of my day. Having to live entirely by a clock because I could not tell by the sun what time it is would be very hard for me to do if I had to go live there now. Those that have lived there their entire lives, I wonder, since it is the norm for them, if they would find it odd coming somewhere here where we receive daylight usually everyday, regardless of the season. Although, now that I wonder that, it was mentioned before that this is a counteraction of their long summer days, so clearly they have seasons where the sun is up for a much longer period of time. The sun is something that is taken for granted all the time, as much of my fellow Penn Staters have come to realize. It brings a certain amount of happiness, which I don't believe is necessarily chemical, but just emotional. After having been cooped up in our dormitories all winter long, it is the most amazing feeling to be able to lie out in the sun and play games with your friends without your extremities going numb or feeling as though you may quite literally freeze to death. Tue, 29 Mar 2011 19:25:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/01/lighting-our-way/#IDComment138432764 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/what-would-make-this-guy-less-white/#IDComment137573101 This guy is “White” for reasons that, if pointed out, may come across as “racism” by the teller. In my case, he just reminds me of a gun-bearing version of my father. The awkward moment this man has with the audience when describing the placement of the gun is quintessential to a “White-guy” joke. He makes the viewer uncomfortable, you can tell that he is, and the topic he is talking about is not even one of great importance. This man here is being completely serious, which is probably why he takes on the generic “White” title. From what I have seen of tutorials by Black people on Youtube, none of them have been one-hundred percent serious, which made it more interesting and showed personality. The White man, for the most part, takes himself too seriously and this is a prime example. He goes about talking about why this is an optimal purchase and how useful it is, when you can easily find another way to carry your gun. I’m taking a stab here and assuming, but I highly doubt that any other race would go out of their way to buy this gun-holster. Not only is it basically a fancy, under-your-pants fanny-pack, but it is fifty dollars for a piece of denim, velcrow, and some elastic pieces. I don’t know why anyone would invent this because it’s embarrassing to think of people actually walking around town with this, but the fact that this guy is proud of it and is ever-so willing to show off his is what is going to make him the butt of every “White” joke. Fri, 25 Mar 2011 21:18:44 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/09/what-would-make-this-guy-less-white/#IDComment137573101 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/14/kids-getting-life-how-is-this-serving-us-really/#IDComment135065658 Sentencing a juvenile to life without the chance of parole is a bit like sending a dog that bit someone to jail. They know they were in the wrong the second that they are yelled at, and although something may happen again, there is no reason to automatically assume that they are going to act in such a way again. It disgusts me that we have 464 legal children in prison in the state of Pennsylvania alone. I was amazed by how many were put away even before I read the statistics for other countries. I don’t agree that they should be let off just because they are children and they are physically and mentally not prepared to be dealt with as an adult, but incarceration for life at such a young age is doing nothing but wasting a young life. I feel that Pennsylvania is just doing what is easy and quickest, which is throwing these kids into prison and never having to look back at their cases. Although they must have done a serious crime, it is scientifically proven that those under mid-twenties show signs of less-than-perfect negotiating and thinking skills when it comes to decisions and decision-making. How can you put blame on someone that can’t literally not even think clearly yet? I may just be thinking this because not too long ago I was considered a minor, and, although I never made any life choices that ended me in court, I have made bad decisions that were one-hundred percent not a choice I would make if I had been older. I don’t agree that children or those under 18 should be held to the same standard as adults, nor should it even be an option for them to be put anywhere but a juvenile correctional facility where they may still receive an education, which may prevent future mishaps and legal run-ins. Tue, 15 Mar 2011 13:10:23 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/03/14/kids-getting-life-how-is-this-serving-us-really/#IDComment135065658 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/09/4092/#IDComment132468593 This poem, psuedo or otherwise, was a very touching one. The simplicity of the whole piece made it more personal and easier to understand the things that this man must think of while he sits in his small cage of a cell. Unfortunately, I don't know that I should necessarily 'feel bad' for the man because he did murder someone, specifically someone my own age. Although he wasn't in the right state of mind, I don't feel that drunken anger is an excuse to kill anyone by any means, and, while he does admit that he was so wrong, it doesn't take back from the fact that that kid will never get to live again, see his family again, or be something incredible. It does make me sad to know that he no one cares for him anymore, though. I cannot imagine the pain that the family of the dead kid went through, but people do make mistakes. This one, granted, was a horrible one, but he still doesn't deserve to be outcasted and forgotten. A family is supposed to be there for you no matter what you do-- love is not something that you should be able to merely take back when things go wrong. My arguments are weak in the above paragraphs. How do you defend a murderer? It’s terribly difficult to find in your heart to be sympathetic. But then again, what authority do you have to judge this man on his past choices, and drunken ones, at that? It’s a tough call to make, and I can only say this for sure: I am glad he has found God for himself and that he is reassured by that. Fri, 4 Mar 2011 21:21:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/09/4092/#IDComment132468593 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/fear/#IDComment131448108 Being fearful of something keeps you motivated to conquer it, but it can also negatively make you hold back. His fear of not saying what he should say is a perfect example. He clearly cares about how people perceive him in the world and if it is “politically” or socially wrong to say something, most people will keep to themselves their thoughts on the matter. Unfortunately, not saying something that is morally right just because it is seen as socially unacceptable isn’t going to be a good enough excuse for you, nor will it help later on when you are regretting having had missed your chance. Is it worth it to have saved some dignity in the moment when you find you are kicking yourself for having been afraid before? I don’t believe that it is. Regret is something that can burrow deep down and take a very long time to get rid of. You could say that that, in turn, is a fear of mine: regret. I don’t wish to ever look back and say that I have been holding on to something that I wish I had done, or said, or acted upon. I hope that I always can conquer my fear just as the moment comes because once the door closes, it’s on to the next one and only luck determines whether or not you get a second chance at the situation you once avoided. I don’t propose that people are careless, but I believe that it is fine to be fearful of life at times, so long as you don’t ever let the fear take the life out of you. Never let it win or keep you from accomplishing goals or doing what is morally right at the time. Fear is a natural instinct and response, but it, like most feelings, fade, so don’t hold back. Tue, 1 Mar 2011 00:57:40 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/02/24/fear/#IDComment131448108