Is it right for America to police and invade the rest of the world even when we have so many problems here at home? This is obviously a very controversial topic that brings in politics, ethical decisions, morals, and opinions. Do I believe it is right for American to invade other countries for no reason? Absolutely not. While I am still trying to figure out my views on various wars and invasions, I am beginning to understand some of the reasons for the decisions to send American soldiers to other parts of the world

It was a completely different experience to listen to Sam’s lecture from the point of view of a Middle Eastern person. There are different views between Americans and Middle Easterners, but more importantly, there is a huge misunderstanding between some aspects of the cultures and intentions. One of the problems I have with this controversy is that people are grouped together as a unit. Not to relate everything in this month back to the scandal at Penn State, but as President Rodney Erickson said, you can’t paint us all with the same brush. We are individuals, but we live in a place where we elect leaders to represent us. I personally feel like I do not have a lot of control over whether America polices and invades other parts of the world.

If there is a threat to America’s national security, America should have the right to defend itself and its people, but is war always the answer? Should we start a war with another country before any physical damage actually occurs? Is it a safety precaution?

It is difficult for me to completely support the efforts of Americans in other parts of the world when there are still so many problems in the United States. The United States of America has its fair share of internal problems. The economy is certainly not the best. The United States is in debt, yet is going to other places to try to help their people. I think we should start from within our own country before going and trying to “fix” other countries. The education system has issues, and there are problems with poverty all across the country. There are problems with money, but some of America’s nonexistent money is going into policing other places in the world. Additionally, marriage laws are unfair and discriminate against homosexuals. It is a bit off topic, but if two people of the same sex love each other and have a healthy relationship, they should be allowed to get married and have the same benefits that every heterosexual person in this country is automatically given.

I know there are reasons to police and invade other countries, but I think America should look at itself first.

The past few weeks have definitely brought many emotions in the form of a rollercoaster. People have gone from shocked to disgusted to frustrated and everything in between. There have obviously been times of distress and trouble, but I have also seen optimism among students, faculty, and friends and family members. No matter what one’s viewpoint on any part of the situation is, I do not think anybody can disagree that the past few weeks have been difficult. There have been shocking statements and facts released and ugly disagreements have formed.

While it does not directly relate to the accused incidents or changes in staff members at the university, I think one main thing I learned is in regards to the media. First of all, the media is so incredibly powerful. It has a strong influence on direct members of a society but more importantly of people who are not physically near the reported stories. As news stories begin to unfold, reporters are constantly trying to learn the latest “fact” or “make a story.” I have read news articles that are so different from what has actually been occurring in State College. Also, some of the articles may have some truth but they represent a very small percentage of people. Of course a lot of my opinions come from the viewpoint of a student. I mean, it does make sense since I am one. I remember self-reflecting about one week after the Grand Jury Report was released. At this point, President Graham Spanier and Coach Joe Paterno were no longer employed by the university. Additionally, other staff members were placed on administrative leave. While many news stories had surfaced since the report was released, few to no further facts were known. The media reported everything that was available to them, but sometimes people just have to wait for court hearings and other events to progress before more factual details are known.

The feelings I recalled experiencing during that time were often drastically different from what the media portrayed of “Penn State students.” I was angry and saddened but also confused. People in State College were being described entirely different than many were actually acting and feeling. I wondered how different previous events that became national or international news actually were when compared to the media’s version of the events. Did people in New York City feel misrepresented during the attacks on September 11, 2001? Did citizens of Columbine, Colorado feel represented during the massacre on April 20, 1999? Were the students’ voices heard or did people speak for them?

While I still rely on the media for news, I have learned to question “facts” and read multiple sources. Even then, my information might be biased or altered from the truth. It is to be used as a guide, but I do not think people can be sure how the town is reacting to shocking events and accusations unless they are part of the community or at least talking to members of the community. This does not mean that I think more media trucks should bombard State College. I just feel that they were often trying to “make the story.”

What do I think of when I think of Penn State? Pride? Confusion? Shock? Shame? I am, and always will be Penn State Proud, but this last week has been one of the most difficult, heart wrenching, and emotionally draining weeks I have ever experienced. No matter what anyone’s views are on any of the developing stories, I think people might actually be able to agree that it has been a very uncomfortable feeling and atmosphere on campus and downtown this week.

Have social media networks affected this week’s events? Of course they have. On one side of the spectrum, it was an easy way for people to find out about riots and rallies. I am not proud of Penn State student riots and destruction but I also understand it. People did not know where to go. They did not know how to act. Lastly, they believed to have had nowhere else to go.

As discussed when this was asked in class, I do believe that a majority of the students and protesters at the riot were simply there to “see and experience the riot.” Most students were not destructive. A few destructive lunatics led the entire Penn State community to hearing how crazy and dangerous we were. The media, including news cameras used social media to their advantage in spreading the story that they wanted to spread. It has been almost difficult to walk around this week without a reporter asking if students had statements or could “talk for a few minutes.” As in many stories, the entire story is never shown. It is such a complex story that it would be almost impossible. I think I am just beginning to realize how little I know about other media stories where I was not present of which I thought I was knowledgeable.

I do believe the riots grew in size due to social media, but I think they started based off the information that was released and the time and manner in which it was released. If the announcement would have been made in the morning rather than at ten o’clock at night, I have a feeling it would have been a bit less damaging.

I also believe that social media played a large role in bringing Penn State students, alumni, faculty, and supporters together. Websites raising money for victims and showing awareness spread like fire over the internet. People were actually able to contact news sources to highlight more positive responses. Websites like WEstillARE.com highlight what it means to truly be a Penn Stater.

While this does not have to do with the media or social networks, I believe we can bounce back from this. We are more than this scandal. We Are, and will always be, Penn State.

If people are speaking a different language around you does that make you feel uncomfortable? I would definitely have to say yes and no. For me, it definitely depends on the situation. It does not bother me that people are speaking in their native languages, but it sometimes makes me uncomfortable. I think one of the main reasons if that I feel lost and exposed. There is a chance that the people are talking about me, and I would have no idea. I am probably the most frustrated by this because as much as I would try to follow a conversation, I know I unable to do so.

One example of this is at Asian nail salons. Of course this is a generalization, but many of the employees do not speak English. It does not bother me that they are speaking to one another in their native language, but it makes me uncomfortable for them to speak to one another in front of me. Even if they are not talking about me directly, it feels like they are. There have actually been times when I think they are talking about me. It might not be in a bad way, but I sometimes find it rude if I know they speak English as well. They speak to me in English but to one another in their native language. I think they are only making small talk but it almost seems sneaky and like they are talking behind my back in front of my face.

When I attended Hebrew school when I was younger, I can vaguely remember the older, more conservative teachers speaking to each other in Hebrew simply so that we could not understand what they were saying. They used it for planning purposes; however, I think it was used more to gain authority. The teachers wanted to have control over the sometimes rowdy group of children and adolescents. Looking back, it made me angrier than the authority they strived to obtain. It seems childish to have to stoop down to that level to try to earn the upper hand. It did not make me uncomfortable, it made me irritated.

On a more local note, Penn State has a decent number of international students. There are programs that try to integrate national and international students, but language is sometimes a barrier. I know that I have a much easier time interacting with international students who are speaking English. I often see international students congregating with one another when they share a common language. This makes complete sense to me, but I still know I would feel more comfortable to join a conversation or approach people if they were speaking in English. I wish I knew some of their languages but being in America, English is the common language. If I was in another country, this would change completely.

How do I feel about white people becoming the minority? It is not a question I have often thought about prior to this class. When people look around at the other people in this world, one can see that white people are not the majority in many places. However, they are in the United States. White people will no longer be the majority because more and more people are becoming mixed race. People are reproducing with other people who are racially and ethnically different from themselves. This is a very interesting topic to think about. People are used to white people being the majority. It is typical in today’s society. Several years down the road, this will not be the case. The new generation of children will not know a time when white people are the majority. Good or bad, it will just be different. It will be a change.

While white people have many advantages, there are also some disadvantages. For instance, being white, I do not qualify for many college scholarships that are reserved for minorities. As a white woman, if I marry a white man, my children may be able to qualify for some of these scholarships.

Many white people are upset about this upcoming change. I recently asked my roommate’s sister (a white female) how she feels about white people becoming a minority and she was upset about this. I was kind of upset by her response. She said that she would not want to be the minority. It reminded me of white privilege. She clearly enjoys being the majority and that makes sense. It seemed like a lack of knowledge about racial topics and issues. She wondered how this could happen and her twin sister went on to saying that there was more and more immigration. I was glad that the girls could relate the topic to integration since it is what we were talking about in class. Immigration is happening in the world whether people are okay with it or not. This question made me realize that this class has opened up my eyes to so many topics regarding race, ethnicity, privilege, and power. It also made me realize how ignorant I probably was before really thinking about these questions and issues. The world is constantly changing. It is sometimes a slow change and sometimes it occurs more quickly, but it is changing nonetheless. People must start to acknowledge some of these upcoming changes because they are not going anywhere. Changes will still happen even if people’s mindsets do not shift with them. Many people in older generations are set in their ways of thinking. It is up to the new generations to become more and more open minded than the previous generation.

(Part 3)

I think I would view the world differently if I was black, Asian, or any other race. I would most likely associate with different people and therefore be around various other opinions and conversations. I think that would automatically change my thinking. There would be new invisible strings that would affect the way in which I viewed the world.

Being in the majority of the racial breakdown of the United States, or State College specifically, my race does not affect the way I view the world as much as I believe it would if I was a part of a minority race. I feel like my ethnicity affects the way I view the world as much as or more than my race does. I am definitely affected in my life by identifying as Jewish. While being Jewish cannot be seen as easily on the outside of my body at one’s first glance, this part of me puts me in a minority group within my surroundings. It shapes how I view the world because I base my thoughts on the values and beliefs that were instilled on me by my family and culture.

There are many factors that shape the way people view the world. Race is only one component for me.

(Part 2)

My race definitely shapes the way I live my life, but it is not something I think about on a regular basis. I am white, Caucasian, or whatever else anyone wants to call it. It probably does give me many advantages in my life, but like I said, I only think about it sometimes. While it gives me advantages, it also has its share of challenges. I am sometimes put under assumptions that I will act a certain way or say a certain thing. Therefore, it affects how I view the world back. I see the world as a dynamic place, a place where people are grouped into clumps but also seen as individuals. I know that I am white, but I really do not think it is something that is constantly on my radar. Yeah, I think about it sometimes and I see certain events in different ways, but does it affect how I view the world on a regular basis? I cannot help but say sometimes. I hate answering questions with “sometimes” or “maybe,” but it is one of those questions that really has different constructs and factors.

(Part 1)

Race is an interesting topic because it is visual. It is often the first thing someone notices about another person. It is seen on the surface and a first impression. Many people notice others’ skin colors the second they meet them. In this sense, it shapes views and opinions of people before they even really know them. However, race is complicated because most people do not actually know their entire racial makeups. They may think they are a certain race, but there is a large chance that they are actually a mix of multiple races. People are judged on appearance rather than their accurate races.

I have actually watched a few documentaries featuring Abby and Brittany on The Learning Channel (TLC). I find their lives fascinating. The anatomy of the girls is both mind boggling and amazing. I am not quite sure how Abby and Brittany are still alive. Previously, I was interested in their lives for more trivial reasons. Their lives are different than those of mainstream teenagers physically but not as much socially. It was not until this posting on the blog that I looked at their lives completely differently. While Abby and Brittany try to be as independent as possible, they both constantly rely upon one another in almost every aspect of life. Sure, they show individuality, but I believe their lives are shaped a lot more by determinism than the average person. I want to make it clear that I still think they use free will to make many decisions, but much of their lives are automatically different than typically developing humans. The girls share various organs and body parts, must go everywhere together, and would not be alive if they were not attached. Many people would most likely consider their lives awkward or weird, but to the twins and their family, it is normal. The twins still go to school, fight with their siblings, are interested in boys, and even passed their driver’s license tests.

On one extreme side of thinking, Abby and Brittany are completely free to make their own decisions and choices in life. They can go places they want to go, talk to the people they want to talk to, and eat whichever foods they enjoy. However, they are not completely free from everything or everyone. Each twin is never ever alone. She is and has been connected to her twin sister since the day she was born. They even share body parts. As sad as it is to think about, I would imagine that if one of them dies, they both would die. They are co-dependent to one another. In this sense, their lives were predetermined. There is definitely a large part of determinism that falls into this situation because in reality, the each twin has rarely something to herself. Abby and Brittany were given this life. They were born as conjoined twins. They have no idea what it feels like to be completely alone. The girls seem to be living their lives to the fullest, and one can only hope that this continues throughout their lives. They are definitely special and unique, even from one another. They have distinct personalities, likes, and dislikes. I would hope that everyone can see how this is the prime example of the constant balance and struggle between free will and determinism.

When girls go out, there is a complete double standard. Guys and girls alike almost automatically assume that girls will be wearing short, tight skirts and dresses with high heels and revealing, low cut shirts. In college and here at Penn State, it seems like a standard. Sure it is fun to dress in fancy clothing once in a while, but I know that, as a female, I do not enjoy dressing up every weekend. In fact, I choose not to, but many girls still go. I sometimes fall into this trend, stereotype, invisible string, or whatever else you might want to call it or use to justify the attire. It is a weird feeling when I take a lot of time to get ready (i.e., straighten my hair, put on makeup, try on several outfits) to only see guys wearing t-shirts and jeans. I think a big part of this question has to do with social and cultural norms of the time. Today, it is seen as normal for girls to wear high heels and tight (and minimal) clothing. However, it is also seen as normal for guys to dress more “comfortably.” Many of the girls who dress this way at night are seen in very casual, comfortable, or more affectionately called “SNUGG” clothing during the day. Why do I see so few of them dressed this way at night? A lot of this is probably to impress guys, to increase their sex appeals. Many guys like to see the provocative lack of clothing. On the other hand, I also hear guys call it slutty or trashy. They want more left up to the imagination. Either way, this social norm is one that differs between guys and girls. People seem more impressed or happily surprised to see guys dressed up downtown at night. It is more unexpected and less common. Yes, there are many guys who are great dressers, but there are also many girls who dress more comfortably. I am only talking about the typical, mainstream choices. I have heard guys complain that their ties are uncomfortable or that they are hot in their suits. I’m sure these things are not pleasant but have they ever tried walking in four-inch heels? Many guys say, “but they make your legs look so hot!” This still does not quite answer the question. I mean, why don’t guys sacrifice their comfort when going out? This all ties back to the fact that we live in a male centered world. Girls dress this way because it is how they are taught or how they are told guys like. They are taught this in the male centered world. However, it makes me wonder, would guys be wearing high heels with Spanx under their tight outfits in a female centered world?