en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/4220781 Comments by svj5133 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/17/voices-from-the-classroom-150/#IDComment343783424 I had a difficult time answering the clicker question. I believe that they are both possible. I heard of how a boy was so feminine and girly at a very young age. So this would be an example of how a person is born gay. And I also heard that there was a woman that my friend knew who was raped by a man and therefore despised being with men so she chose to be a lesbian. This is an example of how a person chooses to be gay. I would say that it’s more believable when a person biologically leaned more to another sex. Because, like the boy I described above, would he choose to be gay if he had a choice knowing that the world is so against this kind of group? No one would want to commit to being stared at or differentiated (well, I know there are attention seekers and strong individuals who do want this…) unless it was unbearable to live with the given gender, starting from a very young age. So I sympathize with them even though as a Christian I am taught that homosexuality is a sin. I know it’s a sin but I also sin with so many other things; therefore, I don’t avoid or ignore gay people at all. I guess when it comes to gay marriages and having children…. I just don’t know the answer to it. Sam said in class that people have a hard time accepting gay people and without discrimination. But for people like me, we have a hard time trying to separate gays and not accept them. My friends who are very religious will not tolerate gays. And when I am with them I feel as though I have to not understand and have a opposing sentiments towards gays. I feel that since I am okay with gays (which I am in good terms with a few around me) and even gave a free hug to a gay at the HUB, I am less of a true Christian and more secular. So I try to think that gays and lesbians should not live the way they live; however, who am I to judge other people of their sin when I am also a sinner? I believe this carefree attitude on gays comes from my father. He said he had a guy friend who had four older sisters. This guy friend was just feminine all the way, in his voice, movement and interests. My father understood that this friend was still a nice person; it was the environment in which he was brought up in and his natural tendency to be gay that made this friend that way. So, I am also rather accepting of gays, maybe from my father’s experience and influence. It is likely that one can disapprove gays and lesbians if one’s parents, friends and the society that one grows up in disapprove gays and lesbians. Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:55:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/17/voices-from-the-classroom-150/#IDComment343783424 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/12/voices-from-the-classroom-147/#IDComment337952929 Honestly, I do not like these type of questions in general because they are so overly dramatized and offer no exceptions. I understand the reason behind not being able to give a different answer other than the ones introduced to me, but I still frown upon these childish questions. Anyway, since it is just for fun, I chose my child. I think I made the right choice and considering that I am a mother, my love for my child would be too great to even rationally decide my options. It would be almost instinct that I would swim to save my child. But, if I had a moment to think rationally, the answer would still be the same. My child. Firstly, my mom would know exactly how I would feel since we are both mothers and she would support my decision to save my child instead of swimming towards her. It’s her grandchild as well, so I don’t think she would resent me as she drowns. Secondly, my husband would also understand why I cannot save him. It’s his child as well so he would be glad that I can at least save the child and survive. If I did save him, he could be devastated that I saved him rather than the child. How can a parent live with that guilt? If the child is young and cannot comprehend that his/her grandmother and father died because I saved him/her, that would be ideal but there is a possibility that s/he will blame me for letting them drown. This would be the worst case I could think of. I think the age of the child matters, because the older s/he is, the more likely that s/he would at least understand that I had no choice but to save him/her. But, the older the child is, s/he could blame him/herself for being the cause of the others’ deaths. This is pretty complicated. I was slightly hesitant between my child and my husband or my significant other because like what other students said, I can always give birth to more children with my partner if I believe that he is my only love and destiny. But like what another guy said, I can always find another person and marry him. This can be tricky and will depend on whether a person believes in true love to be one’s destiny and that there can only be one person who can fit that spot. But what made me finalize my decision to save my child was the thought that I would not be happy my husband knowing that our child is dead. I heard that parents who lose their child tend to get divorced because they cannot bear to live together with seeing their child’s face that resembles their spouse. Death of a child can tighten the bond between couples and families but can also shatter families. So, this was the decisive reason why I chose my child. If I can answer this question with my own answer, I would say that I would jump in the river and drown with my mother, husband and child because I would not be able to live in this world with the thought that I was not able to do anything to save the other two. Well, this is getting way to serious for a random question in class. Fri, 13 Apr 2012 05:37:15 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/12/voices-from-the-classroom-147/#IDComment337952929 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-140/#IDComment332821248 I believe this stems from the history of the role of religion had on people. Centuries ago, the religious authorities and the Church were the power because they represented the people before God and were the middle passage to reach God. People knew nothing; the average men were not allowed to read the Bible. So, this tradition of learning from a religious figure who knows God more and can better confess the sins on behalf of the sinner and teach the way to live a faithful life still continued. I am a Christian and I believe that as Christians we must go to church on Sundays to worship and praise. I believe that the congregation and the community that the church creates is a lot more important than the pastor. Essentially, the church is a place for Christians to get together and praise together more so than to listen to the sermons and absorb everything that the pastor says. With that said I am answering the question that people think they have to go to a religious figure to know God, but I don’t think that is the case. Of course, people can ask their pastor or religious leader for clarification on some dilemmas and problems, but they can always learn from their own ways and by the truth that is all around us. No one is blinded from the truth of the universe if they are willing to search for it. I believe that there is truth in this world that will never change. It is universal, so people can always learn about God through the truth. Also, Bibles and religious texts are available for everyone to study and read. So, we can learn and communicate with God through personal and individual ways without the religious figures. However, those religious authorities know God at a deeper level because their vocation is to study and help the believers who struggle with their faith. When I read the Bible, there are times when I cannot understand the deep meaning underneath. So, then I would ask my pastor and hear his biblical interpretation of it. No one pressures me to believe it the way that my pastor believes. The pastors and religious figures are also human; therefore, they are limited in some ways and they absolutely do not know everything that God wants to reveal to us. We can have our individual ways to know God and communicate with God. However, at the end of the day, I learn so much more from my fellow believers and I am happy when I know that there are people around me who believe in the same God. It gives me a lot of courage to interact and learn from them as well. So, I would still go to church and interact as well as ask my pastor for knowledge, rather than have my own individual relationship with God. Fri, 6 Apr 2012 04:54:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/04/03/voices-from-the-classroom-140/#IDComment332821248 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment326833494 The video could have been over-exaggerated to become a racist, discriminatory and offensive video if one could stretch that far. However, it can be casually overlooked and just understood as how Asians really do not know football that well and it’s not a big deal. As the students who spoke in class took note of, the Asians who were interviewed were clearly fresh-off-the-boat international students. They had distinct accents and were not very fluent in English. How can you expect those Asian students to know the details of their school’s football team when they are dealing with the big issue of learning the American culture? If you have this observation as a basis, the interviews should not be offensive but just a fact and a given thing. The interviewer’s decision to strategically pick on the Asians, especially the not-so-Americanized students, was not wise. It was set up to only interview the Asians who were assumed to have a difficult time comprehending the questions and struggle to come up with things to say. But, because we know that it is natural that they don’t know, we can just have a good laugh, not at Asians but “with” the Asians. I admit to not knowing our school’s football team and its history. I rarely get any news about it, I don’t talk about it and I am not in search for the newest update and this is fine with me. I told my discussion group at the end of the discussion when we were talking about football and Paterno that I knew nothing and did not understand since I had no idea what we discussed that day. My group could think that I am a typical Asian who doesn’t know about football but I am not offended because it’s my personal preference and I lack interest in football because I am like that (I am not really interested in any sport), even before going into my race. I am pretty sure there are Asians who are passionate about American football and there are White people and people from different racial groups who dislike/lack knowledge in football. I believe that the Asians who spoke in class about how they also thought the video was funny are not disowning their race by laughing at it with the rest of the class but merely accepting the fact that it is likely for Asians to not like football and that those particular newly arrived international students are even more likely to not like football, or maybe not yet know football. If there were some minority group students who were offended even if they were not Asians, they should relax. The video is not to make fun of the whole Asians. Or it should not be interpreted like that. Just laugh it off knowing that those Asians were not accustomed to their school, let alone the American culture, to understand what the interviewer was asking. Give credit to them for at least trying hard to give an opinion and answer well as much as possible! Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:51:24 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/27/voices-from-the-classroom-135/#IDComment326833494 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/20/voices-from-the-classroom-124/#IDComment320922590 I believe that children see the world and people with pure and uncontaminated eyes. They accept things as they see and experience without any preconceived perceptions. As we grow, we learn the history, interact with people and know the relations that different ethnicities have. These effects how we think of a new person we meet for the first time. A little white boy might freely approach a person of color or a minority while his parents are hesitant to do the same. The parents might even quickly snatch the boy and tell him not to do that in the future. The boy has no idea why but will learn to never repeat that just because his parents told him not to. Now, this is a very dramatic and racist example. But it’s just to explain how those social influences accumulate to somehow, naturally, mold a person’s racial actions and perceptions. In kindergartens and preschools, of course the teachers tell the kids that they are very special, much loved and unique. This is to encourage those kids to be creative, happy and to grow well. I mean, little kids are so cute that you would just say things like that without any intention to socialize them. As we grow, things are different. We see that there are a lot of people. We realize that we are just part of a society, an individual but at the same time a small and insignificant part of a large world. Because we realize the how miserable and scary it is to be out in the world by ourselves, we try to associate with the same kinds and feel that we are a member of something. Naturally, it feels comfortable to be around people similar to us, and continue to be in a familiar setting. Also the respect to another human being may be the reason why we are careful not to think we are different. We, in our “political correctness”, try to not to offend anyone-thereby try not to see the differences when we can clearly see them. I think the whole thing depends on the environment in which you grew up and is right now. The stages that Sam mentioned in class are essentially proportional to the amount of time spent with different races and the effort to know them personally. So a kid is in Stage 1 because they no nothing. They give no thought about their race. As we grow up, assuming that we interact with more diverse group of people, we go up the stages and end up in a higher stage, fully aware of the diversity of this country and the world. If we realize that we are all unique, then no one is unique. Therefore, we understand that no one is really different. This video question doesn’t quite make sense and can be answered without the ethnicity/race approach but I tried to incorporate it as much as possible. Wed, 21 Mar 2012 06:08:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/20/voices-from-the-classroom-124/#IDComment320922590 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317275686 As for the oil issue, I absolutely think that the war was because of oil. Politicians say that America is fighting a moral war and a war over ideologies but realistically, it is oil. As an International Politics student, I know that states do not go into war if there is not a reward or result to be awarded through this expensive event. I do realize that as a country of democratic freedom, U.S. wants to spread this ideal government ideology all over the world but this will never be the main reason; rather it is an excuse and rationalization. Can’t people act sorely for the benefit of others? Yes they can. As a Christian as well, I know people can do good for the sake of others without desiring a gain or benefit of their own; however, countries/governments do not. This may be why the Iraqis are upset with the U.S. for coming into their country despite the good things that the U.S. has done in Iraq. The Iraqis could see that the U.S. are getting the oil reserves clearly with their own eyes than us. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:38:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317275686 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317275553 As much as the Americans were shocked and enraged by the acts of a few terrorists from Iraq for destroying the country and bringing despair and tragedy, these emotions can be equally felt by the Iraqis as well. I find this sad and uncomfortable that, despite how true and simple it is to think of this logic, we often forget that these opinions can come from both groups. Why is it that Americans can be justified in going to war with Iraq for the terrorisms done by a few terrorists while the Iraqis shouldn’t think this way when a few Americans that they encounter hurt their lives too? As much as it is wrong for the Muslims to perceive all the western population as a threat and enemy to their religion and security, it is also wrong for Americans to discriminate and avoid the Muslims as terrorists. This is a struggle that I don’t think will be resolved in the near future. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:38:04 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317275553 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317275426 From watching the two videos that showed violent and arrogant images of the American soldiers, I just thought that those are a small percentage of the soldiers in Iraq. I was not going to generalize that all American soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan were/are like that. However, my mind did focus on the Iraqi civilians who were harmed and mistreated in the videos. What would they think of the American soldiers in general through these few that they have encountered? It is equally wrong for the Iraqi civilians to generalize the country of America as violent and brutal through these few soldiers, but given that we all generalize and enlarge our experiences to account for all the people in such group, it is likely that those Iraqi civilians’ perception of America will become negative and hostile. As a foreigner myself, I have often thought of Americans as rather proud and stubborn people- this is obviously not true all the way and being proud of their country is often a good thing- but because I met a few people who boasted of the greatness of U.S. and considered it right for the U.S. to barge into other countries’ affairs because the U.S. was the superpower, I was able to associate with the Iraqis in the videos a little bit better. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:37:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317275426 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317274719 From watching the two videos that showed violent and arrogant images of the American soldiers, I just thought that those are a small percentage of the soldiers in Iraq. I was not going to generalize that all American soldiers in Iraq or Afghanistan were/are like that. However, my mind did focus on the Iraqi civilians who were harmed and mistreated in the videos. What would they think of the American soldiers in general through these few that they have encountered? It is equally wrong for the Iraqi civilians to generalize the country of America as violent and brutal through these few soldiers, but given that we all generalize and enlarge our experiences to account for all the people in such group, it is likely that those Iraqi civilians’ perception of America will become negative and hostile. As a foreigner myself, I have often thought of Americans as rather proud and stubborn people- this is obviously not true all the way and being proud of their country is often a good thing- but because I met a few people who boasted of the greatness of U.S. and considered it right for the U.S. to barge into other countries’ affairs because the U.S. was the superpower, I was able to associate with the Iraqis in the videos a little bit better. As much as the Americans were shocked and enraged by the acts of a few terrorists from Iraq for destroying the country and bringing despair and tragedy, these emotions can be equally felt by the Iraqis as well. I find this sad and uncomfortable that, despite how true and simple it is to think of this logic, we often forget that these opinions can come from both groups. Why is it that Americans can be justified in going to war with Iraq for the terrorisms done by a few terrorists while the Iraqis shouldn’t think this way when a few Americans that they encounter hurt their lives too? As much as it is wrong for the Muslims to perceive all the western population as a threat and enemy to their religion and security, it is also wrong for Americans to discriminate and avoid the Muslims as terrorists. This is a struggle that I don’t think will be resolved in the near future. As for the oil issue, I absolutely think that the war was because of oil. Politicians say that America is fighting a moral war and a war over ideologies but realistically, it is oil. As an International Politics student, I know that states do not go into war if there is not a reward or result to be awarded through this expensive event. I do realize that as a country of democratic freedom, U.S. wants to spread this ideal government ideology all over the world but this will never be the main reason; rather it is an excuse and rationalization. Can’t people act sorely for the benefit of others? Yes they can. As a Christian as well, I know people can do good for the sake of others without desiring a gain or benefit of their own; however, countries/governments do not. This may be why the Iraqis are upset with the U.S. for coming into their country despite the good things that the U.S. has done in Iraq. The Iraqis could see that the U.S. are getting the oil reserves clearly with their own eyes than us. As Sam said in the video he showed, we just have to understand and see it through the other person’s eyes, and put ourselves in their shoes. There’s nothing we can do realistically, but understanding the other side’s point of view and thought can at least help. Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:36:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/03/15/voices-from-the-classroom-121/#IDComment317274719 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/29/what-more-do-you-want-to-think-about/#IDComment306431156 Through SOC 119, I have learned many aspects of race that I did not realize that they existed. I am generally with more Asians and Whites than Blacks or Latinos so it was really eye opening to find out what the students wanted to ask in class, let alone the answers to those questions. Sometimes I see some positive outcome of this class and hope that the students and I will make at least a small difference that could result in a bigger impact in our Penn State community and in the outside society after we graduate. However, sometimes I am fed up when some people are still prejudiced and will generalize on a person based on his or her race. I am even angrier when I, who knows better not to, also make the same generalizations and discriminating thoughts inside my mind. I do not rush into conclusion that this class will magically transform our perspectives. It’s unrealistic to solve the issue of race that has stubbornly survived through history. My thoughts are the following: Even Professor Richards has his own thoughts and will have his own opinions on certain things. It is safe to say that since he belongs to a certain group and there is no way he can belong in other groups and accept everything. So, if everyone is like this, is there a solution to this issue of racism and prejudice? The class can teach us other people’s opinions and inform us of the different ways to approach the same issue. However, at the end of the day, it’s just listening to what others have to say without really giving up on each individual’s opinions. Learning about it is a big improvement in it of itself, but people cannot give up their school of thoughts, the environment they are in and standards. Sam challenges me with his questions directed towards Christians/ Asians to enlighten me with some of the things I would not have thought otherwise. But he can’t convince me to change my understanding of the issues. Maybe it is not even his intention to do that but it’s just unfortunate that, despite the time we spend in class talking about these issues, people will continue to think the way they do. I do not want to sound pessimistic that this class won’t do anything and it’s a waste of time, because it’s actually very informative and thought-provoking. I am only stating that the impact the class has in the students is not significant. I will have to hope that those insignificant impacts will generate a bigger influence in the future. When a student asked Sam what was the one thing that he wanted it to happen to solve this race issue, Sam answered that he wanted people to live together and integrate. I have to agree that it is crucial that people live in diverse and mixed communities to really know the people they have prejudices against. Maybe if we also integrate and interact with one another, my dilemma could also be solved. Fri, 2 Mar 2012 18:18:03 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/29/what-more-do-you-want-to-think-about/#IDComment306431156 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/22/voices-from-the-classroom-109/#IDComment300127490 Racial issue is not simply caused by people’s prejudice against the different appearances alone. Sam made a good point that social economic class plays a big role. Minorities lack political power, because they are the minority of the country; therefore, they do not get the benefits to increase their potential and be placed at a higher class level. They also will not be able to earn much money to make a good living and be admired by other people. Also, education will be affected by economic ability to invest in good education… and that limits the ability to work in certain work fields. This cycle will continuously keep the minorities at a lower social level. History also plays a big role in that some minority groups were exploited by the others to the point that the exploiters are wealth and powerful while the minorities are damaged beyond recovery. There are numerous reasons that combined to create the conflict we have now and of all those, economic status is a major factor that creates the continuous gap between the races. Blacks and Latinos are generally perceived as less smart than Whites. However, the perception is uncontrolled because this generalization ignores the economic status/ wealth variable that greatly determine the education level. The generalization of each racial group creates so much assumptions and prejudices that are quite ignorant of the diversity that exists in all groups and some unpredictable factors. I cannot argue that economic status is the only reason that determines the difference in the academic achievements and creates discriminations and judgments on other racial groups, but it is a big factor that sets the people’s preconceived generalizations about the racial groups. This economic factor affects the class within the people in a single racial group, why wouldn’t it impact the whole society between racial groups? Economic capability will have a significant impact in how some people of the minority group will live their lives. In conjunction to this economic inequality, I believe that personal determination and will, environment and talent will also make a big difference in a person’s future, no matter what race he or she is. I have always tried harder than my classmates because I had a strong motivation to succeed and feel accomplished by getting good grades. I admit that my parents had an influence in that motivation since I felt obligated to high academic achievements as a respect for my parents who loved and cared for me. My determination to work hard really paid off and I was able get good grades but sometimes I felt I was limited by the students with rich parents who could provide tutors and advanced courses, given that these students had the same determination and reason to study hard. It will be impossible to control these factors: economic status, determination, talent, will and appearance. However, they all make a difference when they all work in combination to create the racial prejudices and judgments that we so easily look away. Fri, 24 Feb 2012 00:03:13 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/22/voices-from-the-classroom-109/#IDComment300127490 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/15/voices-from-the-classroom-105/#IDComment293554716 As a Christian, I do not just reject the arguments of evolution. Whether I wanted or not, I had to learn in my science classes and thought it was a logical way to explain how things came into being, hence why some people believe it. With people from different backgrounds and educations, there cannot be a unanimous agreement on which theory is right. Creation theory has a big hole of not being able to prove that God exists to atheists and the evolution theory has an equally big hole of assuming that some random chaos brought all these intricate and detailed design into form- through the “big bang” and humans evolving from monkeys. I actually believe that God, being the grand designer of the universe would be related to the evolution of animals into its best form to survive all these years and made humans with various types so that they could survive the environment they were put in. I am not rejecting evolution; I accept it through the creation foundation. It is arrogant to not even want to listen to the other side of the argument because you are missing out on important information, and by knowing the opposing argument, it actually helps you to persuade your opinion in a more logical way. So I understand what Professor Richards was trying to communicate to the atheists and the believers. There should be respect and a realization that people are free to believe what sounds logical to them through their own knowledge and understanding. I would wish for the people merely concluding that God could not have made such a big universe with countless stars to accept that it is because that the universe is so big and unfathomable, the fact that God made the universe is more reasonable than unexplainable scientific reaction that randomly happened by itself. Nonetheless, I do not demand my side of the explanation because I understand that it is possible for the receiver to not have the kind of experience and knowledge that I have to accept my argument. From the class, I realized that despite my personal evaluation of me as an open listener to different views on issues like this, I was very much blinded and unwilling to take in the arguments and really think about them. I usually sat and heard what there was to be heard, but never thought twice about them. Except for the fact that I had to study the evolutionary theory of the universe and humans in class, I don’t specifically have the arguments behind what some of the atheists or believers of other religions say about the world. If I ever come across a discussion opportunity with different believers, I should know what their positions are to carefully analyze and collect what I should say to disagree with them. (Or I may just accept that there is a difference and move on:) ) Thu, 16 Feb 2012 01:37:08 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/15/voices-from-the-classroom-105/#IDComment293554716 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/08/voices-from-the-classroom-100/#IDComment289432913 It is really hard to pinpoint but I don’t completely agree with Professor Richards when he talks about the Christian perspective that we would be sticking our fingers at God when we complain about our features. Yes, as a Christian, I do believe we were created according to our purposes but…. I don’t know, I believe in creation but I also understand that there must have been improvements in the human bodies as they evolve to adapt new climate, environment and lifestyle. We cannot be still identical to the early human beings created in ancient times because there are so many things that have changed. And those transformations do not entirely cross out the possibility of creation. I believe that we were created and still created in the present, but the type of people are slightly different according to the time period. I agree with how Christians should not complain about their features when they are directly given by God. I should be grateful and content with all that has been given to me: my appearance, my possessions and etc. However, it is really hard for a human being to be always happy with what they have; it is human nature to want what they do not have, worse if they cannot have it at all. I should be blessed to have the kind of features that make me who I am, but since I am still a human being, I struggle with that and should learn to stop, which I am working on. With White supremacy embedded in the world we live, I don’t fit in the typical beauty category. I don’t have curves, colored eyes and hair, slim nose and big eyes. My grandmother told me when I was unhappy with the way I looked that in the old days, like 150 years ago- I would have been considered beautiful in the past dynasty and married well. So, I assume that I have the traditional Asian features that people used to compliment. Exactly the opposite is true for now, and those that do not share the similar traits with me are considered beautiful in my home country because they are closer to the Western appearance. I joke around sometimes saying that I chose the wrong period to be born. Truly, with the White supremacy, Caucasian features are desired- evident from the popular celebrities and models in the magazines. Sometimes there are black models or Asian models that do appear in the magazine but I notice that they still have the body and facial features of a White woman. The only difference is that they have different colored skin tone or eyes. Even the black models have straight smooth hair, and Asian models have slim noses and voluminous body shape. This is the society we live in, and unless history was altered to have a different race to be the superior majority, our beauty standards would not change. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 06:26:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/08/voices-from-the-classroom-100/#IDComment289432913 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/02/voices-from-the-classroom-98/#IDComment282601158 In class, when Sam was talking about White Supremacy, I was able to grasp the point he was making because I think of that often. I am an Asian and sometimes complain about the features of white girls that I don’t have. For instance, I don’t have the big blue eyes or blond hair- since my hair and my eye colors are both dark brown- and I definitely don’t have the deep crease that makes the eyes big and defined nor do I have a thin nose. For skin, I am pretty fair but have a yellow undertone and my hair is just straight and thick. Now, I am grateful for these special features that make me who I am, and I wouldn’t trade it. But have I tried curling my hair for the bouncy waves and applied whitening cosmetics to look super light and translucent? Yes. Because I don’t have those and thought maybe I could use products and tools to achieve that. Soon I got tired of doing those things- which made me think to myself? Who decided that fair skin was to be desired? Who decided big eyes with the double fold and thin and pointy noses were more beautiful than other shapes? Is it because the Whites were in the upper level of society in history that made them the standard to which all minorities were just “not good enough” and later manifest the idea that in order to be beautiful, recognized and praised, one must resemble those of the upper race? This is what White Supremacy has resulted. The genetic explanations of races that Sam shared in class were very interesting and made me realize that there is a reason for all the differences. There are no superior race- every race has beautiful and more attractive, maybe not so good –looking, smart, not so smart, funny, boring, kind, mean, hard-working and lazy people. One cannot determine the quality and value of a person by looking at the skin color, hair type, facial features and body. All these outer appearances are just given, and certainly cannot be measured nor compared. I believe a person looks the most handsome and beautiful when he or she embrace what features were given and emphasize them in a positive way. And then, going deep inside, even below the race issue- there is the human desire for wanting what they don’t or can’t have. Maybe a black girl wants straight hair because she wishes she could try different hair style if the hair was straighter. Maybe a white girl wants tanned skin because she looks healthier and active, seen as if she has been out in the sun more. Maybe an Asian girl wants white skin (Asia is the biggest market for Whitening cosmetics, I know.) because of the black or dark brown of her hair and eyes stand out more when the skin is light. There is definitely white supremacy in the general aspect of ranking the beauty of people by race but I cannot deny the fact the basic human instinct for wanting what they don’t have plays a big role as well. Fri, 3 Feb 2012 07:43:52 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/02/02/voices-from-the-classroom-98/#IDComment282601158 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment276095092 From an international student who has absolutely no interest in football and was unaware of the influence and the history of Joe Paterno at Penn State, I was quite shocked at this unbelievable event that has transpired throughout the months and the ultimate consequence that resulted. Who should we blame? What exactly did Joe Paterno do wrong? Is there something bigger and deeper going on inside Penn State that the students are not award of? These kinds of questions kept piling inside my mind. At first, I thought, “Wow, this really sucks for Joe Paterno. Not doing something that other people think that he should have done as a figure of integrity and leadership is ultimately costing him all that he has built during his lifetime. Not necessarily because he did the wrong thing, but because he failed to live up to the expectations of the people who on one side support him and cheer for him but on the other side set responsibilities and rules for Paterno to follow in order to prove his position and influence at Penn State. I don’t think he did the wrong thing. If there were, it would be that he had become such a big figure of Penn State that he had a set of moral responsibilities that was bigger than he imagined it to be. The world can be an unforgiving place and difficult times always seem to come out. I am glad that we are not here to live forever. I love this world and want to make the most of my life, but would like to just live according to my beliefs. I will make mistakes in life, for sure. But no one can define whether my life was a success or a failure by the outcome of my life. The progress and the experience I have acquired throughout my life are my own and no one has the capability to know and judge what they are worth. In this sense, I discarded my initial thought of the unfortunate ending of Joe Paterno’s career and applauded that he live a truly brave life despite the uncertainty and fear of the future. Life seems to be cold and harsh. But I truly believe that how I perceive it can change a lot of the negative reality of the world and life. I wish to have the courage to live my life based on my set of principles and feel satisfied that I did what I was born to do and be the one and only decider of the success and value of my life; therefore, despite the tragedy of Paterno’s death and his rather unfortunate ending of his football coach career, I no longer comment whether it is a failure (and that he would have been a lot better off by retiring sooner) or not. I hope Joe Paterno was able to look back at his life and came up with the evaluation and ignore what others said about his life. Likewise, I hope that I will have the ability to do that. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:01:39 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/26/voices-from-the-classroom-92/#IDComment276095092 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/20/questions-from-class/#IDComment269976881 American dream is a simple idea that if one worked diligently and faithfully, one would receive the benefit of being a respected citizen of the great country called America and opportunities will come for one to be successful and happy. As simple as it sounds, it is a relative and subjective value that cannot be objectively measured because, as the time goes, one develops bigger dreams and will not be satisfied by the status quo. This may be the reason why Americans forget the value of American dream and go beyond the American dream by aiming for something new and better. Another possibility is that Americans take the freedom and equal access to many opportunities in America for granted, since it was always there for them; however, immigrants who leave their country, which is a life-changing and terrifying thing to do (leaving everything valuable and familiar behind in the hopes of a better life), have one goal in mind. That one goal drives them to work and endure the hardship. If an immigrant came to America by sacrificing his or her life in the home country, of course the immigrant will value the American dream and desire it more than anyone else, especially Americans who do not realize what the condition is like in other countries. I believe that the American dream is more desired by immigrants than by actual Americans due to the obstacles immigrants face in achieving the goal and the price they paid to come to America. It is never easy to live in another country and a goal to strive for can sometimes ease the pain and hardship a person faces. The hope of achieving the American dream will make an immigrant feel that they may be going through difficulty right now but the future will be brighter if they try harder and suffer the hardship; therefore, immigrants will value the American dream so much more than the Americans who either already achieved the dream and yet not realize how hard it is to obtain that or have a bigger dream so that they no longer value the American dream that is no longer satisfactory. American dream can be desired by anyone: Americans and immigrants. Those who achieve the American dream will be ideally considered as Americans. The difference is that Americans who live below the level of American dream are still Americans but immigrants who cannot obtain the American dream will not be accepted as truly Americans. It seems almost that the title “American” is not about the race but about the living standard. American seems to be of every color, but only those with a nice house with a beautiful garden, good car, loving family and a big smile on their faces will be recognized as the ideal Americans that people seem to visualize all over the world. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 23:16:16 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2012/01/20/questions-from-class/#IDComment269976881