en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/3574916 Comments by thomasknab http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-87/#IDComment231812554 Now, I’m not saying that not having a diverse group of friends is a bad thing, but I lost my touch with people of other races and ethnicities. In taking soc 119, I can now look at people other than myself in a different light. I now understand that everyone is different. We all look different; we all live in different places and do different things. We all have different religions and jobs. Despite the differences, we all have the right to do what we want to do, when we want to do it, and how we want to do it. Clearly, not everyone will agree on things that other people do; actually, people quite often disagree with each other. However, the bottom line is that, when interacting with other races and ethnicities, I will try not to judge them based on things that they cannot control, but through the way they act. Fri, 2 Dec 2011 20:23:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-87/#IDComment231812554 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-87/#IDComment231812477 Before taking Soc 119, my views of other races and ethnicities was somewhat muffled. In other words, I didn’t know what a race or ethnicity technically was. I didn’t know that there are differences between the two. Taking this class has definitely opened up my eyes to these differences. Also, before taking this class, I can honestly say that I’ve succumbed to using stereotypes about many different types of people. For example, stereotypes regarding skin color, religion, and even financial and social class. What the class has made me realize is that people tend to use stereotypes because they do not understand people other than themselves. That was my problem. I didn’t understand the way other people do things, and the values that they consider important. I grew up in a township that was very diverse, where I went to school with whites to blacks and everyone in between. As a matter of fact, most of my friends were not white. However, when I went to all guy, catholic, and private high school (comprised of mainly white people), and my group of friends changed significantly. Fri, 2 Dec 2011 20:23:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/12/02/voices-from-the-classroom-87/#IDComment231812477 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-76/#IDComment225853196 I would need the courage to say that I was oppressed and abused, and will need not only legal and physical support, but mental support as well. If I ever had to go through being sexually abused, I would certainly not be the same again, and I would need additional courage to be able to tell me story. This is one of the ways that we as humans can combat sexual abuse, through listening and talking. Yes, punishing sexual offenders very strictly is completely valid, but in order to prevent tragedies of sexual abuse from happening again, we need to be able to listen to people who have been through these situations, and to be able to talk about it so that it is an issue that does not get put behind a locked door. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:27:43 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-76/#IDComment225853196 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-76/#IDComment225853066 Also, just the knowledge that somebody would be there for me if I needed it would make all the difference. Next, I would need my family to be standing in my corner for the entire ordeal. Family is everything. Friends can come and go, but family will always be together. Also, considering the fact that the person abusing me could be in family, would increase the importance of having the rest of my family united. Next, to transcend the abuse, everything would essentially fall on me. I would need the strength, courage, and will-power to not only stand up to the person abusing me, but to be able to contact somebody and admit that I need help. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:27:27 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-76/#IDComment225853066 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-76/#IDComment225852812 Sexual abuse is an extremely touchy subject in our society. If you step back and think about it, nobody really sees, talks, or deals with the situation that we have. The underlying truth is that sexual abuse is very present in today’s world, and I think we as humans have a moral obligation to fight this ever growing threat. However, in most cases, we do not even know if somebody is being abused; we do not think of the victims when talking about this issue. Although important, we still talk about the strict punishment given to the perpetrators, instead of the stress which should be placed on the victims. If we don’t see or hear the victims’ pain, then, what do they need to escape from it? Not having been sexual abused, it is very hard to say what I would need to alert somebody of authority (if I were abused). However, I think the first thing I would need is a strong support system made up of family and friends who I know I can trust and who would be willing to do anything to help me. For me, trust is everything. This support system would be there for the victim so that they would have the strength to overcome their abuser. Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:26:47 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/15/voices-from-the-classroom-76/#IDComment225852812 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-73/#IDComment220740427 Quite frankly, the entire scandal at PSU is a very complex and serious issue. Also, it is very hard to comment on it from each and very perspective, whether you are the media, the accused, students, or the affected, no matter what you say will be judged. Moreover, there is nothing I can say, as far as a judgment is concerned, regarding the other parties concerned. However, I will try to offer how I feel as a Penn State student. It seems to me that it is very unfair for the media and other people who are not Penn Staters, to judge us in a negative way. I take a lot of credit in the saying that you have to walk a mile in their shoes to understand what they are about. Yes, Penn State has a strong attachment to JoePA, he has been an institution in this University for years, and he deserves more respect than he was given. He maybe should have done more in this situation, and maybe a lot of things should have happened, but we will never know. Bottom line is what happened has happened, and the legal process will take place. Sat, 12 Nov 2011 05:00:00 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/10/voices-from-the-classroom-73/#IDComment220740427 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-20/#IDComment215881996 Also, it is different for people coming to America for a few months vs. the rest of their lives. If immigrants come to this country to become citizens, take advantage of the job opportunities, and live the American lifestyle for the rest of their lives, and do not make a single attempt at being able to understand the language, then it is very much irresponsible. Moreover, people who come here who don’t speak English and are not citizens, then they have no say in the matter. I will conclude with some personal experience with an immigrant. I am a beach lifeguard during the summer months, and my stand partner emmigrated from Bulgaria in 1996 to further his athletic career and to pursue his life goals. He went to college again in the States, got his teaching degree, and is currently teaching high school math, but he can fully speak English and does so on a daily basis. The times he speaks Bulgarian are his own choice as he is a legal citizen. (PART 3) Wed, 2 Nov 2011 17:16:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-20/#IDComment215881996 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-20/#IDComment215881888 I was in Spain a couple years ago, and I know from experience that citizens of other countries respect when people come to their country and attempt to speak the language. Luckily for me, I knew pretty good Spanish so I definitely felt accepted by giving them the respect to talk to Spanish people in their tongue. Why can’t people coming to this country give us the same respect? In addition, I plan on studying in Germany in a few years in a study abroad program, but even though I’m of German descent, I don’t speak a work of German. I have also heard that many people in Germany can speak English, but does that mean I will go over there for a semester not knowing any German? No. I want to be able to speak to Germans in German, simply out of respect. I am living in their country and would expect the same motivation to learn the language for immigrants coming to the United States. (PART 2) Wed, 2 Nov 2011 17:16:26 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-20/#IDComment215881888 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-20/#IDComment215881710 Every time I hear about the debate over whether immigrants should or have to speak English, it reminds me of going to Geno’s Steaks in Philadelphia. When you go into the restaurant there is a sign, or used to be a sign, that said “welcome to America, please order in English!” The man who owned the steak shop, Geno, got a bunch of heat for this which, in my opinion, is not validated. The accepted, first, spoken language of this country is English so any citizen of this country, whether immigrant or natural born, should know English. Now, I am not saying that immigrants who only know English as a second language have to speak it when they are around people of their own culture. If people of this country, as immigrants, are legal citizens then they have the unalienable right to speak which way they want, but they should respect that we speak English in America. (PART 1) Wed, 2 Nov 2011 17:15:56 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/11/01/voices-from-the-classroom-20/#IDComment215881710 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207581958 However upset I get to be when talking about race among white people, whenever the time comes to talk to people of color of color, I choke. I get nervous and worry that I am going to offend somebody, which quite frankly, happens a lot today. I wish this were different, and I could talk about race relations with races other than my own, but it is just my deep down emotion. Sometimes I even get upset and feel guilty in stage two, and can even bump to stage three. The bottom line is my fear of insulting someone always seems to outweigh my wish of furthering race relations. (Part 3) Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:40:55 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207581958 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207581863 I can say with some confidence that I tend to float between stage two and stage four. Times when I am in stage four usually are when I am around other white people. When in this situations, I can comfortably let off steam about how sometimes white people, in today’s world, get the reputation as being historical assholes, who need to ‘repay’ for what we have done in the past. Okay, I will admit that my ancestors and all of the other white people of that time did some bad things regarding other races, but that is not something I can control, I was not there and I am not a bigot towards other races today. I am tired of being made guilty for being white. Also, you cannot judge the entire white race by a certain few. WE ARE NOT ALL RACIST. There are just as many black, Hispanic, Asian racists as there are white racists, but why are they not made example of? Why is it always that white people are the racist ones? I am speaking directly here to people of color: I apologize for the assholes who call themselves white, who judge people by the color of their skin, but don’t act all innocent when you make similar racist comments. Please practice what you preach. (Part 2) Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:40:38 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207581863 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207581778 I understand with and agree Sam in that there are different ‘stages’ of being white, however I don’t think white people enter them chronologically. Human beings constantly change, for example, a college freshman would behave totally different when they are with their friends and when they are with their parents. In general, people tend to act accordingly to what situation they are in, and I think this also applies to race. Now, I am not saying that all white people are like this, but I could imagine that a good number are. Also, I don’t think that all white people enter into each and every stage at all times, but rather different types of white people tend to float between two or three levels. (PART 1) Fri, 14 Oct 2011 21:40:21 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/13/voices-from-the-classroom-46/#IDComment207581778 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204513278 For example, when I go out I make sure that I look reasonably nice, not just jeans and a t-shirt. And I think that there are a good number of guys who dress the same as I do when going out. But anyway, I don’t think that you could find one girl out there who would say that they don’t like when guys simply wear jeans and a t-shirt. They find that attractive. Different girls dress differently to attract the type of guys they want, and different guys dress differently to attract the type of girls they want. So, in conclusion, SHUT UP girls who complain about how they ‘have’ to dress. Nobody is making you. If you want to then wear those clothes, if you don’t then don’t. period. (PART 3) Fri, 7 Oct 2011 21:08:12 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204513278 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204513177 Also, I think that many girls, who wear skin-tight clothes, do not just do so to look good, they are attempting to attract guys. Most guys are apparently are attracted to the clothes girls wear, not how pretty the girl actually is. There are so many girls out there who disguise themselves in ‘hot’ clothes, to reveal as much of their body as possible just to attract a guy for one thing: a hook up. A common stereotype (by girls) of college guys is how much they are always looking for a hookup, however, these girls who make statements such as that are only looking for the same thing. Also, girls who complain how ‘comfortable’ guys are allowed to dress, annoys me just the same. (PART 2) Fri, 7 Oct 2011 21:07:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204513177 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204512856 It is like hearing nails on a chalkboard every time I hear a girl complain about why they ‘have’ to go out wearing skin-tight clothes and heels, while guys go out wearing jeans, sneakers, and a polo. I don’t understand who is ‘making’ them wear these types of clothes. Moreover, there is clearly not a dress-code for girls who like to go out, and it is entirely up to their choice for what they wear. For example, there are plenty of girls at Penn State who are among the prettiest, who respectably wear nice jeans and a nice top. I feel that sometimes many girls, who lack any form of confidence or self-respect, who all too often dress like complete sluts just to be accepted. So girls out there who like to complain about ‘HAVING’ to wear slutty clothes, this is for you: if you decide on your own that you confidently like to wear skin-tight clothes because you think you look good in it, then I completely will agree with you. BUT, do not complain that you have to wear it. If want to wear those clothes then do it, but if you don’t then don’t. I think you would look equally as good if you didn’t wear something so extreme. (PART 1) Fri, 7 Oct 2011 21:06:49 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/10/06/voices-from-the-classroom-40/#IDComment204512856 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-25/#IDComment201086289 Also, many of these organizations do not simply send money; in fact, most of them are hands on and are directly involved in helping other countries. Also, the accountability is an important aspect of these programs. All of the people who work for these programs are volunteers, do not work for money, and usually have a large set of resources which allow them to help these other nations. Although these countries have a solid, honest, workforce and many resources, they do not have unlimited resources. This is where the U.S. government comes into play. Although the government should not be heavily involved in helping other countries, they can help greatly by sending money to reliable programs such as project Haiti, and the like. In conclusion, I believe that other than military aid, the U.S. government should leave the foreign aid to non-profit organizations, who have more time and drive to personally lend a hand to these countries in need. Also, the government can greatly help the non-profits by lending subsidies to them. (PART 3) Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:58:51 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-25/#IDComment201086289 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-25/#IDComment201086221 Also, I think that direct, government aid is also not the best option. This is only due to the fact that we do not want other countries to become reliant on a powerful nation such as the united states- since these nations will continue to expect money without actually making any progress. In my opinion, the best type of aid that can come from this country is from non-profit, volunteer organizations. Programs such as these are the best because they have no other objective in sending aid, other than sending aid. The non-profits are not expecting a reasonable return on their investment, but they rather honestly care about the cause they are participating in. (PART 2) Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:58:37 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-25/#IDComment201086221 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-25/#IDComment201086128 I think that the U.S., as a world superpower, has a limited responsibility to help other countries in need. For the most part, the United States uses her vast resources to lend aid to various countries around the world. Although our financial and social situation allows us to help these nations, I think we also go above and beyond our responsibility. However, we still have a responsibility to help other countries within certain parameters; for example, when our own needs exceed the needs of other countries, our aid is not necessary. Also, I do not think that simply writing checks to these countries is the best option, due to the fact that we have no way of keeping track of how this money is used. For example, after the earthquake in Haiti, we sent millions in aid for rebuilding, yet no progress seems to be made. This money is only going to help the rich sustain their way-of-life, without reaching the people (poor) who actually need help. (PART 1) Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:58:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/27/voices-from-the-classroom-25/#IDComment201086128 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-15/#IDComment194172486 I don’t quite agree with people who talk off the government equalizing the socio-economic classes – to give the poor a break. What that is doing is giving them handouts and helping them succeed which, in turn, they will take for granted and abuse. It is also my belief that a program such as this is leading us away from freedom and towards socialism, and anyone who says differently is simply naïve and idealistic. The United States is a rough place to live. It is easy for some, yet hard for others to succeed. However, with the correct amount of will power, all people have a chance to succeed and go as far as they want to. Our rights give us free will, but it is up to us to make the decisions. (PART 3) Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:54:45 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-15/#IDComment194172486 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-15/#IDComment194172392 HOWEVER, considering that the founding fathers fought for American freedom (freedom of choice, religion, voice, etc…), every single American citizen has a choice to do what they need to do to achieve their life ambitions. This freedom (free will) is built into our unalienable rights, so not one single person, group, government, is allowed to take that from us. Sure, it will be harder for the poor to succeed. The poor may be surrounded by social conditions that could potentially discourage them from completing their goals; however, if they have the power to dig deep and muster the courage to make hard decisions and do difficult things, they can succeed. I will agree that our country is not equal, the rich succeed easy and the poor have to work super hard, but everyone has a chance. This idea of a ‘chance’ is what trumps the inequality of our socio-economic classes. Anyone in this country can do what they want, how they want, and when they want to do it. (PART 2) Fri, 16 Sep 2011 17:54:22 +0000 http://www.worldinconversation.org/2011/09/15/voices-from-the-classroom-15/#IDComment194172392