The other days lecture really changed by perspective about immigration a lot. For years my idea of illegal immigration has always been that they are nothing but grass cutters who should go back to where they belong. However, after Sam’s lecture my views drastically changed to how positive it really can be to America. Throughout my entire life I have been exposed to the awful and racial sides of immigration, but the lecture really did solidify that these facts are complete bull and that there is a completely different side. In America and other places around the world, families have the knowing that they will in some way, shape, or form they will have work and be successful. However, in other countries for instance Mexico, these people don’t have that luxury. They weren’t born into a profitable nation so they take it upon themselves to go somewhere else so that they can provide for their family. These people have had horrible struggles. When Sam mentioned that during the 1920’s America was known by others as the land of opportunity and everyone wanted to come here.

Part 3..... I completely understand that terrorist are evil and should be punished, but for the safety of the next generation of Americans, we need to work on our relationship with the Middle Eastern nations. I hate terrorist and they all deserve to burn in hell, but to catch one or two or all of them we have to have the backing and full support of the Middle East so that we they no that they are screwed they will have no home to run back to and hide.

Part 2..... I have heard and said on countless times that we should blow that area straight to hell and just end it. However, if we truly want to now our enemies, than killing them isnt the answer. The more we are involved in Middle Eastern buisness the more they grow to hate us and are willing to attack us. The only way that we are ever goin to live in peace is to be willing to hear the others side. If we don't want thousands of more men and women dying overseas, we have to come to some realization that we must understand them, not kill them. The main reason they hate us in the first place is because all we do is take and take there oil, while also bombing there cities to hell. How would you feel if you had foreigners rolling through your streets, and stop by just to be a pest. I would be frustrated and rebelious, and would be willing to fight back and the expense of my life. So how can we come to a conclusion that killing terrorist and Muslim is right, when it is at the expense of hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.

Part 1..... When class first started I was looking around at the rest of the class and saw some angry, disgusted faces when terrorism was brought up. Im not here to take the defense of terrorist, or justify what they do, but they are just a saw percentage of the world's evil. However, terrorist are in my opinion some of the most worthless, pathetic people on the face of God's green earth. I feel that the acts they do to innocent people, and in most occasions there own people is completely sick and twisted. Although, after Sam's lecture I think my perspective has changed alittle bit. To Sam, terrorist are just people who are just frustrated with the way there life is and just try to change themselves and the people around them. It is quite hard to understand who they truly are, but we must be willing to give them some the benefit of the doubt, and come to a understanding that there lives must reall suck, for them to be ok with blowing themselves up and killing there own people. Because I believe that were there is evil, there is also good, we cannot just say that all Middle Eastern people are terrorist and just blow them all to hell.

I have been in countless situations where people have spoke a different language in front of me. In situations like this I have felt incredibly awkward and out of place to the point were I just say what are you saying. I don’t mean to say this, but I think the reason I say this is because I never was around people of different languages when I was growing up so I have certain insecurities. Like I feel that people around me who are speaking a different language are talking about me and making jokes about me because they now I have no idea what the hell they are saying. However, this thought process changes when I around people who I am friends with here at Penn State who speak a different language, I actually trust them and now they don’t make fun of me. On the other hand, when it comes to situations were I am walking around campus I don’t really pay attention to other students who are speaking different languages. I understand that they feel more comfortable speaking there native tongue more than English, who am I to tell them to speak English. Also, I don’t believe I should feel uncomfortable around them because its not like they are talking about me (hopefully ha-ha).

I believe the whole idea that we have to feel uncomfortable around other people of different languages comes from years and years of misunderstanding cultures. They feel like they are out of place and become angry at the fact they can’t understand what is being said. I definitely don’t get uncomfortable when I now people are talking smack on me in a different language. I actually like getting insulted in a different language because then I feel I learn curses and other things in a different language. I definitely agree with those who say it is all about the situation they are in. In many circumstances like a said a little bit ago it is interesting hear others speak a different language because many of us only no one language English, so to hear a different is intriguing. Also, jealous comes out of me when I am around friends speaking another language, because it just be awesome to communicate with them in their language because that just improves a friendship.

In closing, for those who do speak a different language around friends and others be careful. I don’t think it is right to make fun of friends in a different language. One, because it just is wrong, and two because your friend could surprise you and now what your saying and your friendship could be screwed up. If I were to travel to a foreign country I would not take advantage of the language barrier and embrace their culture.

I have never been in a interracial relationship.  The only girls I have ever dated were white like me.  However, in saying this I would like to make it clear that I am not at all opposed to interracial relationships.  I will say that I don't have many girls who are friends that are black here at Penn State or from were I live so that is why I have never had the opportunity to date one.  Also, I find myself more attracted to white girls then black girls on a daily basis.  Maybe me saying that sounds awful, but I think the reason I say that is because of were I grew up.  Were I grew up and went to school it is about ninety eight percent white and two percent black(if that).  So every girl I approached to go out with on a date was always white.  So growing up just being attracted to white girls followed me up here to Penn State, and I still find it hard to be attracted to anyone but white girls.  While a maybe more attracted to white girls over black girls I would just like to make it clear again that I do not oppose interracial marriages, I more applaud it and respect it because every one needs to love someone and color or race should not get in the way of love.  Just like how I feel about those who are gay, lesbian, transgender, etc... everyone deserves to spend there life with someone.  I also do not make fun of friends or family that date outside there race.  For me, its pretty respectful because I now that there are people who will look at them and give them really dirty looks and make comments behind there back saying that that is horrible and such.  I have been around rude and unnecessary behavior in my life not to long ago.  I was flipping threw channels on the TV one day and stopped to watch this movie.  My grandfather and I watched a movie with with Robert Deniro and a few other famous actors and there was this scene were Deniro son in the movie kisses this black girl he likes.  My grandfathers first reaction was turn this bugger (meaning black girl) scene off.  My reaction to this comment was come on pops that ain’t right to say.  Also, I realized that pass generations don’t understand interracial generations like we do today.  I don't think my parents hold this same mind set as my grandparents, but if I do ever get to date a black girl and introduce her to them I do hope that they will accept her with open arms.  In closing, interracial dating is perfectly ok with me.  If you like a girl of a different race, get off your ass, open your mouth and ask her on a date, because you never now what may come out of it in the end. 

Although, I don’t find it to be a crime that I am white, there are certain situations were I feel I was given more opportunities than those of different races and cultures.  Growing up I never thought that the things I have been able to accomplish and do was ever due to being white.  I was always told that i you work hard and keep your head high, that I can accomplish anything that is thrown in front of me.  However, since I have taken Soc 119 and heard what Sam has had to say about white privilege my scope of the world has changed.  Sam has talked about free will and determinism and how they are involved in most situations.   Now I see that I very easily may have gotten ahead in certain things because of me being white and another kid being black, brown, or yellow.  Honestly, I don't think that anyone should feel guilty of there skin color, yet it is pretty awful the things that white people have done to those of different color to get to were we are today. 
When people think of the most horrendous act of human cruelty, they think the holocaust.  What the Nazis did in the 1940's to all the Jews was one of the largest genocides this world has ever seen.  However, I said one of the largest genocides.  The biggest genocidal acts this world has ever seen is what our ancestors did four hundred  years ago to the citizens of Africa.  White men went over to Africa, and without remorse took millions and millions of Africans from there home, put them on a boat, and made them there slaves.  Even though I am of Irish decent, and have no ancestral lineage to the early America, I still feel bad for those whose ancestors were apart of it because they have to no that there early generations beat, raped, and killed hundreds of thousands of blacks for close to four hundred years. 
We do not have a chose in what color skin we will be.  This statement its self should make illusion that is racism not possible.  However, racism and stereotyping are at a all time high in the United States and it may take decades for people to realize that we all are just people, and we just need to get along.  I was raised to treat everyone with the respect.  To give respect is to get respect is what my dad always says.  I understand that white people have done some pretty awful things in the past, however they past is the past and we have to move on and have the heart and state of mind to unite under one world.  As the saying goes cant we all just get along. 

Allowing those who are in the middle to have a chance at achieving what their superiors have achieved. We must also remember that affirmative action is not limited to only those in the minority groups. Finally, I think that it is a must for us to carry on, and to help those who are trying to climb the ladder that is success and hopefully one day we can all reach the top as equals.

While affirmative action is a necessity in the world we live in today, I am beginning to believe that it is being used as a cop out to much. If we are going to have to keep giving more and more to those with less, eventually they may and will rise above. Then, we will have to use affirmative action to bring the newly washed-out crowds back to equality. As I am sure everyone in our class today can attest to, success and fortune are not just handed to us, you have to take it upon yourself to take it. However for those who are handed everything they want, they will not learn good skills that they will need for when the time comes to go out and fend for themselves. What we as a people must do is find the spot between were we get whipped and crack the whip (not at all meant to sound racist). I believe that is what affirmative action in America is today.

I think that affirmative action contains not only positive characteristics, but also negative characteristics in today's world. In making this point, I feel that we need to realize that if it weren't for affirmative action, the ability to get ahead in this world would be difficult to accomplish for all people. In the King of the Mountain skit Sam did a few weeks ago, once a person got to the top of the mountain, he or she would make it damn near impossible for the other people to get even close to the mountain. By having affirmative action in today's world, those who are left at the mountain base can now have the chance to move up the mountain and become the new king. If we didn't have affirmative action, I think that we would have a lot more rioting and violence, not just in America but around the world. Throughout history and even in today's world people will do whatever it takes to get ahead of the person in their way even if that means lying, cheating, or stealing. From this idea, "White Privilege”, has surfaced, and people of other races have come to believe that all white people have a step ahead of everyone else.