No real news here, I think everyone saw this coming. That interesting for me however, was that it is actually HAPPENING. Here’s what I mean, for years this topic has been brought up and it always sparked a conversation, but noting really serious. Everyone just accepted it and went about their business. Now that the time has actually come, I'm interested in hearing how those conversations evolve amongst people now.
For me, its not really a big deal. I don’t think it will ever affect me or my children. I don’t think we will even notice the transition outside of the amount of coverage it’s going to receive on the news.

I don’t think we can completely get rid of welfare, at least not anytime soon. Its not something that we can just stop administering over night. There a re a lot of people that actually need it to survive and it would just open up pandora’s box it were stopped.
As far as stopping the “born into” issuing, there are ways in which welfare could be gradually cut, to force some into work and eventually teach them how to survive on their own, I do not think it is something that will happen over night, its going to take time and careful planning to pull something like that off.

The anchor from the CNN programming said it best…we are a “melting pot” when it comes to race and ethnicity in this country. There are so many people living in this country that come from different backgrounds and almost everyone has his or her own opinion on who they are or where they came from. Asking people to identify who they think they are is pretty outrageous if you ask me. I’m not entirely sure of what I’m made up of, I know I’m white but that’s about as far as I go when it comes to identifying my race and ethnicity. I’m not clear on answering people when I’m asked what I am because I honestly have no idea. I know my grandparents are from Austria and I also have some polish in me, but as far as my great grandparents and their parents…and on and on and on… I have no idea, and I would like to consider them part of my ethnicity since they are family, but I'm not sure where they are from so I tend to leave that part out of who I really am.
I don’t think anyone really know who they are, I'm yet to find someone who can give me a definite answer as to their ethnicity and race, dating all the way back to ape evolution or creation, whatever one believes in. its not possible therefore it is impossible for anyone to truly answer that question. Maybe I'm digging a little too deep into it, but isn’t that the job of the Census, to dig deep into race and ethnicity issues through years of research?
So here we are, 10 years later, time for a new Census, and we still have issues with the choices and still much confusion. Well guess what, theres still going to be confusion in another 10 years for the next one, and ever 10 more years after that. People are going to find a way to complain no matter what.
As far as this years choices, I was a little upset that I didn’t see Caucasian right next to white, yet there were 3 different classifications for black people. Or actually, it’s the other way around. If they could eliminate Caucasion, why not eliminate negro and African American and just leave black. I cant buy into the excuse that older African Americans still consider themselves negros and if it weren’t on the ballot they wouldn’t have voted at all. Its pretty simple, black or white, I don’t see any confusion in that.
Which brings me to my last point, how important is the Census if it is always causing so much confusion. For the amount of money spent on it, and how long it has been going on, you would think they would have this right by now.

I'm really shocked that we are still dealing with the whole same-sex issue today. I do to understand how someone has the right to tell another human being that they are supposed to practice attraction in a certain way. I do not think being gay or lesbian is something that you choose to do, it just is…
I'm a straight guy, but I’ve never had any problems with gay people, in fact I have a gay member in my band and we are cool with him and he is cool with us. We often joke around with each other and it is understood that nothing serious is being said.
With this story, I think Constance should have been allowed to bring her other half from the beginning. There was no way for the school from stopping them from showing up by themselves, so they decided to cancel the whole thing? That is just ridiculous. What give them the right to tell an individual how or who they should be with, whether it be the sex or not, there should be no issue with this what-so-ever.
The senior prom is a dance, a high-school dance that is meaningless, yea you will probably remember who you went with for the rest of your life, but its not like it’s a wedding or anything where who you bring binds you together for the rest of your life. If I was there, and they came in as a couple I would think it was fine. As high-school seniors I would like to think that most people are old enough to act mature and realize that every person in this world is unique and only they control themselves. No one else can control them or tell them what to say or do or how to react.
I'm glad that the ACLU is stepping in on this issue because I strongly believe it is something that they should step in on so that they get the point across that we all are different and unique and if a way of being unique is liking someone of the same sex then so be it. This is the perfect issue for the ACLU to get involved with because it is everything that they stand for and stand behind. If they win this case it will be a huge step in legalizing gay marriage across the whole United States, which wouldn’t bother me either.
I think Sam summed it up best in class when he asked us all a few questions that we aren’t supposed t do according to the bible, and in one way or another, everyone in class raised their hand for a different question. Its just amazing how this whole issue revolves around a religious issue.

I think they would be rather impressed. If it were present day and owners still treated their slaves the way they did they would be astonished at the fact that people of color could be so successful. Back in the day owners thought nothing of their slaves except that they were good for doing labor around the house. I’m sure most would be angry to see that they are successful and making money for entertainment purposes, as they thought back then that the entertainment was only to be provided to the white man. It would be very interesting to see what one would think in modern day.

The Bachelor is a great show, I have been watching it for years now and I was really involved in this past season. I can honestly say that I’ve never noticed the lack of people of color in this show, but now that I look back on it, there weren’t many at all.
I’m pretty sure there is a questionnaire that is to be filed out by the contestant before the cast is chosen before the show starts, maybe on of the questions is about race and it just so happened that one of the contestants wants someone of the same color and it just trickled on down the line.
That’s the only explanation I have for the lack of people of color on this show.

Oh man this is great! An all white basketball league… That’s probably going to last, what, 3 weeks at best!
Especially since he plans on starting this league down south, an area predominantly occupied by black and brown people. Starting this league in Alaska or upstate Maine is one thing, but down south? Is this guy really serious?
I don’t think it’s as much a race issue as it is a terrible business decision. All of the good white players are going to go to the NBA no matter what, and let’s face it, there aren’t that many of them (before I go any further I should say that I am white). Basketball is a sport dominated by black and brown people because they are just better at it…there’s no other explanation, we have hockey they have basketball.
I asked one of my black friends how he though he’d make out if he created an all black and brown hockey league and he laughed in my face. Which is fine, I expected that response, because I’d do the same if he asked me about the white basketball league.
Here’s the thing, some white people do make it to the NBA (there are actually quite a few, but most are coming off the bench…that’s what I mean when I’m saying that there aren’t many in the NBA) just like some black and brown do make it into the NHL. Why can’t we just accept the fact that this is the way it is supposed to play out?
No two people are created the same, we all have different like and dislikes, some are smarter than others, and we complete different activities with varying levels of ability.
Going back on the race issue, I don’t think Don is trying to make this a racial issue, he’s not trying to upset the whole black community by doing this, he is just a silly businessman that failed to think this one all the way through.
If you really think of it, across most aspects of sport, especially our major sports in this country, there is a monopoly on each major genre. The NBA is too strong and powerful to ever face competition, especially from an up-and-comer who is trying to create a league of one single race. How is this man going to out-bid David Stern and many of the team owners to pull a white man away from his team, fans and exposure? It’s never going to happen.
I just think this is a bad decision on Don’s part; he is spending money that he is never going to get back. Dude, this is coming from another just like yourself, call it quits now because your not going anywhere with this “brilliant” idea of yours.

Reading this article I couldn’t help but wonder when we are going to take over this reservation.
I mean after hearing about our takeover and how we basically pushed the Native Americans to the farthest, most desolate corners of the United States where they really do not have any opportunity to make money.
Well now they do, and they are, but for how long? Especially with the (again) rising cost of oil prices and the declining number of oil reserves in the US. I think it is only a matter of time before a major company decides its time to bully their way into this Native American reserve and start mining their own oil, and the government is most likely going to turn their head on the who situation.
Where are the natives going to go this time? They can move to somewhere even more desolate and secluded, that is until they discover another way to make money, and guess what? Time to move again…
I really understood what Sam said in class about the takeover and I wasn’t too happy about it. I never really looked into the situation growing up, I always just thought the Native Americans founded our country and over time just started to decline in number to where they just took a backseat. Boy was I wrong, I can see why Sam gets so upset over this issue
Reading this article is almost saddening. It’s a feel good story that just seems like its about to go wrong. The tribe is going to use the money to pay off debt, and bankroll such things as roads, health care and law enforcement. All is well and great for now, until the takeover begins.
Which makes me think, reservations like Turning Stone in New York, which have established casinos that are making good money. I’m surprised that they have been around this long, the only thing helping them is that the gaming license in New York is still pending. I’m sure once it officially passes, the local government will move right in on that operation and take over.
I was really entertained by reading the comments that others were leaving. Most were very sympathetic towards the Natives and basically said the same things that I have said…but others were very harsh and rude towards them, saying that the government needs to come in and take a stand because they have no rights and are getting everything for free. Really? That’s the way someone sees it. It’s amazing to see how blind some people really are in this country. I’m not saying I’m perfect, but if I’m going to voice my opinion on a subject I make sure I know the background facts before I open my mouth.

Ok, so I’m going to get real technical on this issue. I am actually going to this post to pose a question of my own based on what Sam is saying. I will give you guys a bit of how I was raised and offer my opinion on God off of that. I am basically asking if anyone who reads this feels the same way as I do, or just to simply let me know if the way I feel is even right?
So I was raised as a Catholic and my whole family firmly believes in God and all that holy. As a child I regularly attended church and went to Catholic school, but slowly, as I grew older and more independent, I stopped going to church and started to develop my own opinions about God and religion.
The reason I am asking for an opinion, or any sort of feedback on this topic is because I feel it will be helpful to me in accepting who I am. I was always afraid, and still am to this day, to bring this issue up with anyone in my family because I know what their reaction is going to be.
I firmly believe in evolution, I do not think that there was some sort of imaginary power that created everything in 7 days, its just not possible, I’d rather believe in the hard scientific facts that support our evolution from apes and how Earth actually came about.
And since we are in prime Lent season, I also do not buy into the fact that if I eat meat on Friday’s that I am going to hell. After attending Sam’s class on Tuesday and reading the passage from the Corinthians about all of the things “man shall not do”, I honestly believe that someone sat down one day, thought of a whole bunch of shit that would screw everyone over in one way or another, and write them down in a “holy” book that we still cherish today.
I mean come on, someone or some group had to write The Bible throughout a period of time since we evolved from apes, where did all of these crazy ideas come from?
Ok, so now that I’ve vented, here is where the weird part sets in that I believe makes me truly different from most others that believe in one thing or the other…
I still feel a need to pray every night to my god and all of my family members and loved one’s who have passed on. I thank them for the life that they have given my family and me and ask that they keep me safe and secure each day. I also ask that they provide me with the right tools necessary to stay on the right path.
Even stranger, I live by a saying that my grandmother always told me. “Fear God”, because throughout the bible the word fear is used in place of respect. I admire the saying so much that I even had it tattooed on my forearms...which is apparently going to send me to hell too right? We are not supposed to deface our bodies or do anything to alter them in any sort of way right?
The reason I believe in this saying so much is because, to me, it is a message of staying strong throughout life. Between the ages of 800 and 1400 A.D., the Catholic Church was a strong staple in the social structure, it basically set people straight and told them their place in life and no one ever questioned it. I think too many people are always trying to attain too much of what they cant have and are never satisfied with what they do have. So for me, the saying represents the meaning of my existence and always reminds me that I should never live outside of my means. I promised myself that I will always be thankful for what I have and I just want to live a happy life, with no overwhelming desire to be rich and famous or powerful.
I know this whole theory is really contradicting, but it is my thoughts and that is where I stand to this day, so if anyone has any comments or any suggestions please feel free to respond.

I completely agree with Laurie that we have not seen the plight of other races and that is why we always tend to revert to the issue of black and white. It all started with slavery and after Sam’s class last week I realized something I’ve never done before… after slavery, what happened with all of the slaves? That is a question I’ve never asked myself before, and now the whole issue has come full circle in my head. No one gave anything to slaves after they were freed and the times remained rough for many years after. I can now understand why this issue still gets brought up today, and why we do not talk about any other racial issues as often.