While it is evident that you are knowledgeable on the issue at hand I believe there are several key points that you fail to mention in your argument. I can say I agree to disagree on most your points. It is true that the Israelis have been treating the Palestinians like shit for some time now and I would not go as far to defend any of their actions. It seems you have your mind made up on the issue so I want to throw some counter ideas out just to create some debate.

The fact of the matter though is that both sides have tremendous pride and are unwilling to give the other any leeway in fear that it will come back to haunt them. You argue that Israel is not defending themselves by creating the checkpoints and treating the Palestinians like shit but in reality they are, whether it is moral or not. Yes, there are many civilians that suffer because of their actions but their argument would be that if they did not create these barriers, civilians on the other side would suffer from the terrorist activity created from within the checkpoint. I went to Israel this past summer and yes, the divide is as bad as you make it out to be but there are definitely strides being made for improvement as we speak.

The whole notion that there is one right and one wrong side is pretty inconspicuous. You cannot say that Israel should be held accountable for all of their “crimes” without looking at the picture from a more holistic point of view. Israel is continually attacked from those around them and from those within that do not agree with the fact that they should be a nation. Are they supposed to sit back and let themselves be terrorized? That’s nonsense; the only way you could make that argument is if you were anti-Israel (which can only be inferred from your post because you did not directly say that). If the Israelis were to knock down all of barriers created, they would lose the control they have established of their boundaries.

What you fail to mention in your argument about the US tax dollars used to provide Israeli military support is that our money also goes into denying terrorism within Israeli and around the globe. While it is true that some of weapons that we provide kill civilians, but what war have we ever been apart of that has not killed civilians? How is it any different from us using our weapons that kill civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan?

The economic development being made by Israel is the exact same thing that goes on here in the US. Israel is looking to create jobs and make nicer places by kicking those who already live there out. Look to any economic development done in US cities today and you will see the exact same thing happen.

Like I said, many of your arguments are valid but I think before you sit back and make Israel out to be the next Nazi regime, you should put yourselves in their shoes.

Learning a second language (especially Mandarin) will definitely help you out in the economic work place if that’s where you are looking to go. I know many people graduating this year are struggling to find jobs and wish they had some extra arsenal to support their resume beyond what the typical student produces. My friend who goes to St. Mary’s College in Maryland is double majoring in Economics and Chinese (Mandarin) and she has several above average job offers on the table (from the public and private sector) but she is choosing to make her second tour to China instead to continue to master the language. If more students were knowledgeable enough to follow her path, I am sure they probably would.

One of the biggest problems people struggle with learning a new language is definitely ignorance. Too many people are unwilling to go beyond their comfort zone and push themselves to immerse into something different. I can definitely say I struggle with this on a daily basis. I am minoring in Spanish and even though I often feel comfortable that I have mastered certain concepts, they still always seem to come back to get me when it comes to be exam time. I am not sure if this ignorance is simply human nature or if it is an offshoot of US culture but regardless it is definitely an issue. I remember in one of Sam’s classes he talked about how the majority of students in the US are part of a system that pushes you through K-12 and sets you up to get to college and eventually “succeed” in our culture, maybe this has something to do with it. Many students would much rather ride the wave to find something simple that requires less work than to take the difficult path to mastering a foreign language.

Mandarin is definitely a language that would be useful to know but I believe that one of the reasons that so many students stray away from it is because of its complete difference from the English language. The majority of students who are in Soc 119 have probably taken a “romance” language before (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese) and have found them to be some what easy to learn because of their similarities to English. All of these languages form their letters the same way English does and most have cognates (similar words with similar meanings). Mandarin on the other hand is completely different. The whole structure of the language is completely different from English and because of it, takes a lot of discipline to learn.

As time goes on I believe more and more students will begin to learn Mandarin (and other languages for that matter). It is vital not only for their futures but for our nations success in the global economy.

As some one who probably plays video games at least five times a week I can truly say I have mixed feelings about these games. There are many arguments that could be made for why this game should or should not be produced. Yes, I will be the first to say that these games are grossly inappropriate and should have no place on any shelf anywhere. But in the back of my head, I have this notion that who I am to say what other countries should put on their shelves. In my opinion, rape is an awful thing and a video game that promotes the behavior has no place in our society or any society to be truthful. In thinking about how a Japanese game producer might respond though, their objective is to make a game that they feel will be successful in terms of customers. Obviously, if a game like this is bringing international attention (it caught CNN’s eye) than it must be having some success business wise. So now we turn to the idea of when human behavior crosses the lines of morality. When is it okay for some one to produce something that is not considered socially acceptable? Is it okay for groups in the US to have a public outcry to force Japanese game makers to lose money? If a video game was created in the US that offended the Japanese, do you think US game makers would change their ways? I highly doubt that would happen. One loose example of a similar situation is when the game Grand Theft Auto came out during the beginning of the last decade. At one point it was the best selling game in the United States but was disparaged by tons of groups for its sexual content, violence, profanity, amongst other “horrible things”. In the US, in response to the outcry the game received a “rating” of “mature” meaning that only people 17 and older could purchase the game. While this was considered a compromise between the gaming society and the groups that wanted the game eliminated, did it make a difference? I know that my friends and I all played the games when we were 13 years old so obviously their rule did not work too well. I can say I am fairly confident that there are going to be many people who write on this blog calling the Japanese different names that probably supported games such as Grand Theft Auto as well. This is not only hypocritical of these people but a bit ignorant as well. It is a lot easier to put blame on others and call them out than to look in the mirror and realize that you are guilty of the same things. Just something to think about….

I think this a very interesting article. Of all of the changes our nation has gone through over its existence I believe this may be the biggest game changer. Our nation has always held the notion that we are the land of the free and that immigrants have been welcome, because after all the majority of us are from immigrant families. The fact of the matter though is that the United States has always had a white majority and while I am sure our founding fathers held a slight notion in the back of their heads that this may change, I am not sure they ever thought it would come to fruition.

Growing up as a white kid in the 21st century, it definitely crossed my mind that one day I may not be in the majority anymore. But when it comes down to it, what is the majority in our nation going to mean in the year 2050. While our census numbers may show that there are not as many Caucasians, I will say I am pretty confident that if you check forbes.com, the “white team” will still control the majority when it comes to money. I am not saying this because I believe white people are inherently better in any way shape or form, it simply comes down to inheritance. Some may wonder why this has any significance and the only reason it does is because we live in a capitalistic society. Money garners power in America and even though some may differ, I ask them to show me examples of where this differs. I know that these ideas come off with a hint of arrogance but I ask readers to read this post objectively and look to the numbers.

The thing that makes me a bit uneasy about this article in general is that it is all purely based on speculation. There are plenty of statistics supporting why the author believes what they believe but in the end, only time will tell where our country goes. I find it very interesting that our past two presidents have been at completely opposite spectrums in terms of beliefs. While this does not really have any effect on the races in our nation, it does show that our nation is prone to change very quickly (in a span of ten years). Nobody really knows what the future holds and because of that, the uncertainty over topics such as these should only grow.

As the birth rates of minorities continue to grow, it surely seems like the racial balances in the United States are prone to change. Times are different now than they were when our parents were growing up, and they will certainly be different when our children are growing up as well.

I think you made a real good point about the fact that we do not talk about Asians very often in class. I think it is very interesting because now that I think about it, it seems that in class we spend probably 70% of the time talking about white, blacks and Native Americans. What about the Asians?! (and everyone else?!)

To answer your question, I think the majority of people put Asian’s on the back burner when it comes to talking about race. I cannot really say I am 100% sure why this is besides the fact that they are not apart of the traditional “American” races (being that white and black are). Nevertheless, I believe that Asian’s are an integral part to America’s culture, especially in urban areas.

Personally, I would say that I do not see Asian’s any differently than anyone else. I grew up in a pretty diverse community and I would say I have never seen much negative regard towards their race. To be honest, I’m not sure I would be able to tell the difference between an Asian and an Asian American unless I had a conversation with them. I am sure I might be able to make some judgments based on the clothing they were wearing but to be honest besides that it is pretty difficult. I would say my experience is probably a pretty common one in terms of how most American’s feel. While this is unfortunate, I am sure the same can be said for most races. When you see someone of Hispanic descent are they automatically Mexican, Spanish, Puerto Rican? It’s too tough to tell based on just looks and unless we are keen to judge one another based on looks than you must be an expert.

As a society, we are still very new to race relations. Our generation is one of the first to experience the diversity that has come from reform. I believe as time goes on and diversity continues to grow in America than these subtle differences will be more commonly realized. It is hard to believe that in about 50 years our country has come so far in terms accepting each other for our differences. Of course, we still have a long way to go and there are tons of improvements to be made but to sit back and see the change is just amazing.

But, back to your question. I believe Asian’s are continuing to become immersed into the culture here in the United States. As they continue to become more and more recognized, I also believe they will become more commonly welcomed. American’s are accepting people, it just takes time for everyone to come around.

This is one of the best stories out in the sports world right now. Growing up in the Washington DC metropolitan area, I have witnessed first hand the competitiveness of the youth sports culture. While I have done a bit of reading about the subject besides simply watching this video, from what I understand Ms. Randolph was a clear-cut favorite in the pool of twenty coaches that were interviewed for the job. Be it that she was the only woman interviewed, this is even more impressive. The courage that she has entering a traditional “man’s domain” is not something that many have and she should be recognized for her poise.

Again, from what I understand Ms. Randolph stood out amongst the interviewees not because she had the best resume but because she has the best intentions. In a time when there are coaching scandals left and right in an effort to recruit the best athletes in the macho world of sports, Ms. Randolph has made it her goal to raise student GPA’s, create mandatory class attendance and give some structure to her players lives. The school system in DC is notoriously known for its low standards, compromising efforts and lackluster results, so this in itself is a feel good story.

On a different note, it will be interesting how her players respond. At the end of the day, sports are judged based on results and whether or not Ms. Randolph is going to be able to provide these results is still in question. Being a somewhat macho jock myself, I can sympathize with some of the players on Coolidge’s team that may feel uncomfortable. The sports culture that is instilled for most young male athletes across America is a militaristic macho one that feeds into pumping testosterone and terrorizing your opponent. Personally, (while I hope this is not the result) I am not 100% confident that she will be able to provide this edge. This is not me taking a stab at women or trying to make a sexist remark, I simply believe that in terms of gender relationships (for the most part), that men are able to make certain connections with one another that women are unable to make. I would say the same goes the other way and it is simply inherent to the gender roles that are created biologically. I will say though that based on what I have seen of Ms. Randolph, I believe that she is definitely capable of breaking these gender roles because of one specific characteristic, self awareness. I believe she is a very smart woman who is aware of what she is getting herself into and because of it she will be able to place herself into a role where she will be successful. I wish her the best of luck.

I think this question is a great one but can be expanded on a much broader level. The first question of “What do white people think when they look at me?” could be substituted for every single race. It would be real interesting to pick several different people of different races and compare their responses.

To answer the question though (being a white person myself), my first reaction when I saw you was that you look like an average African American dude. Not a rapper, sports player, etc. To tell you the truth actually, your dress and build are similar to mine, so would you say if you saw me that I am one of the above? Do you think if you put a fitted on your head that would affect their answer? The key to every single persons answer is definitely based on exposure to diversity more so than race. You are right in the fact that many white people hold stereotypes about blacks but the fact of the matter is everyone holds different stereotypes about each other. These stereotypes are formed more by the society that you live in/are accustomed to instead of the specific race that you are. For example, do you think an African American who grows up in State College is going to have a similar answer to your question than an African American who grows up in Los Angelos?

It is interesting that you have this preconception that a white person is immediately going to jump to conclusions because of the color of your skin. By the sound of your voice when you asked the question, you have a bit of a defensive tone throughout the video. You do not say where you grew up from but I think it is obvious that this may be a sensitive subject for you. Maybe white people have shown disrespect towards you? We live in a world where differences are not always accepted so it understandable that you may feel this way.

I want to pose a separate question to you to think about. Why do you think white people think of you in the ways that you stated? Do you think it is because of the hip-hop culture? If we did not see listen to these self-proclaimed “thugs” like Gucci Mane, Young Jeezy, Tupac, etc. do you think people would have a different opinion? I am not say whatsoever that hip hop culture is the sole reason certain people think the way they think but I am sure it a factor for some. I think that there are so many different reasons why people associate others with stereotypes but at the end of the day you know what you are so why let the haters affect you?

I think Sam’s discussion was just as relative as all of the rest that he gives out. While I understand that the whole concept of freedom vs determinism is somewhat foreign to many of the students in our class, I would not say I consider it so far-fetched.

As college students, many of us are naïve/ignorant to the world that surrounds us. Everyone is so focused on his or her own lives that they fail to consider how or why the world moves around them. Many are content just accepting things the way they are, whether right or wrong because as far as they are concerned, if they are happy than that is all that matters. I would be ignorant to say that I spend all of my time thinking about others and that I am some prince but it disappoints me to see that so many of our peers struggle with this idea. If you take a second to read most of the posts that come through this blog, you will find that the majority of students spend at 60% of their time talking about their own experiences. There is not a problem with this, but I challenge everyone to try and talk more about the concepts we learn in class and how they affect the world instead of just talking about yourself and how the ideas affect you.

Similar to many of the posts above, I like to think that those who put themselves some where in the middle of the argument are best situated. I believe there are too many circumstances depending on the person to truly say that the freedom or determinism is the proper argument. Going back to my earlier comment, it is a lot easier to make a case for either when you are oblivious to what is really happening in our world. Those who are dirt poor and have limited opportunities are likely to argue that they have no chance because of the way the “system” is setup. On the contrary, the rich person is most likely to say that the dirt-poor people are just lazy bums and haven’t worked hard enough to truly reach success. The fact of the matter is that each person is partially right. As humans we tend to rely/look for excuses as to why things are the way they are because it is a lot easier to make judgments than to accept something different from you. Those who take the common ground and realize that there really is no one solution (or reason?) to a problem that affects so many people in a different way are in a better position to find a less aggressive approach. It is then that we can understand each other.

Andre Bauer is simply just another typical politician who said the wrong thing to the wrong person. No matter what kinds of apologizing he does, it is evident that he probably expressed exactly how he feels about that those who are on welfare. In a political culture where people will twist their words to become “politically correct” to get votes, this does not surprise me. I’m sorry that Lieutenant Governor Bauer feels this way because you would hope that a person of his stature would have more respect for the constituents that he represents.

It is true that the disparity between the upper and lower class in the United States is very distinct. I am not sure that it is big enough to compare those who are on welfare to animals but who am I to say otherwise. The funny thing is though that I am pretty sure that many who receive welfare would feel just as comfortable calling Lieutenant Governor Bauer an animal as he did to them.

We live in a world full of ignorant individuals, and all it takes is for one (such as Lieutenant Governor Bauer) to express their feelings to make heads turn. While not many people would have the audacity to let something like this slip out of their mouths, I believe it is a good thing that he said it. The fact of the matter is that until we break down the “barriers” that have been setup by a fear of hurting others feelings and actually talk about our differences as human beings than we will continue to struggle to coexist in the same society.

I believe the government needs to spend more time taking care of those who receive welfare and assist them to lose this “animalistic” status. We have a multi trillion dollar budget (so it seems) yet we struggle to find the money for those who are struggling. It is a lot easier to call someone who is financially lesser than you a silly name than it is to go out of your way to physically assist them. That being said, I hope that Lieutenant Governor Bauer can learn a lesson from his mistake. While there is a good chance that his public apology was a fabricated sentence put together by his public relations person, we can only hope for the latter.

Lieutenant Governor Bauer’s call for mandatory drug testing and parent teacher conferences is a bold idea. While it is clear that his intentions are to only better the lives of his constituents, I believe these demands are a lot to ask. Those on welfare struggle enough to make ends meet, so I am not too confident these demands are realistic.

I hope that as a society we can learn from the Lieutenant Governor’s comments.

“Voters and Their “Senseless” Stories” is a blog about Liberals and Conservatives. Sam Richards is basically taking a shot at Conservative people in this article. Richards believes Conservatives “can’t get outside their locked mental cages of short sighted intellect” to get through to Liberal people. An example he uses how Liberals spend much of their times inquiring about the defense security war aggression policies. These policies lead our government into actions and interventions in foreign nations that are harmful and on occasion criminal as well. Richards doesn’t just mean wars being caused by this policy. He is also referring to the illegal distribution of deadly weapons that kill innocent people. Such weapons include landmines, which are very deadly and can be set off just by children playing around them. Richards is also talking about the subsidization of our own farmers so that the government can dump cheap rice in places like Haiti, which forces the Haitian farmers into poverty. Richards goes on to mention that many activists and peace and protests rallies are actually liberal minded. Most of these people don’t even realize that their actions help keep this system of policies still in place. Also they don’t realize how much they would protest the policies if the President suddenly decided repair the unfair policies that they march for to begin with. For example, if we didn’t use the Haitian farmers the price of rice would double or farms in the southeastern United States of America would go under. Protestors would chant to call out the United States government for not caring about its own people while the Haitian farmers would be extremely excited.

However I do not agree with these statements that Sam Richards made. Liberals believe that these subsidies that Richards talks about create miss-intended consequences. When a price is deflated on a purpose, it is only natural for people to exploit it. An example of this is High Fructose Corn Syrup. Corn farmers are given billions dollars a year driving the price of corn down. This low price paired with the Cuban sugar embargo causes soda companies to not use expensive, natural sugars but to use the cheaper High Fructose Corn Syrup. Soda can then be sold at a low price because the artificial sugar comes from the corn subsidy. With the low price of soda, US citizens consume even more soda leading officials to voice concern over such products. The concern on obesity and this low price of soda had drawn talks of taxes on soda and limiting the number of vending machines in public places. However a majority of the general public does not agree with this tax because they do not think there should be any tax on food.