I just had to say that these two videos made me want to cry. To see the utter compassion some people have for others is amazing to me. I mean to give a kidney to someone you barely know is incredible and I wish there were more people like that in the world. The kind of people who are willing to do anything for someone just because they feel it is the right thing to do. What that man did is simply astonishing and he changed that grocery clerk's life forever.

I also thought the video of the two little kids was just adorable. I mean to see that they like each other despite what society tells them is amazing. We really can learn so much from children and it is so incredbly sad to see that we allow the world and society around us to corrupt what we believe in when we're young. As kids we believe anything is possible and we chose how we like people based on their personality, not on their race, gender, sexual preference, or anything else. It is society that teaches us to think in such a cruel way. So what if these kids are difference races? Let them love whomever they chose to love.

I think these we also a great tie in to Thursdays class. Yes, at first it was awkward staring into the eyes of a stranger, but once you got past that you realized you we just looking into the eyes of another human being. Their skin color didn't matter. Their religion didn't matter. You just saw who they are and that they are not much different from you at all.

I'm so excited that healthcare here is changing now, because now people who are gay or lesbian identified can finally visit their partners in the hospital. Imagine being denied the right to sit and hold your loved ones hand, because in the eyes of the Government you both aren't really together. Imagine not being able to give that last hug goodbye or say those last words because you are gay and it doesn't count that you have a "union." Now, these people finally have a small portion of what they have been searching for. We are taking big strides in this country towards equality and I can't see what else is to come.

I definitely think so. Like the previous post, I agree that it should be offered regardless of social status or class. Health-care is so important and should be considered a basic human right. I don't understand why so many people think otherwise. I think immigrants deserve to be treated for their ailment just as much as the next guy, maybe even more, because they can't afford to pay for the medical bills. Immigrants have such a hard time in this country as it is and deserve to be fairly treated in the health-care system just like the rest of us.

I agree there is a very fine line and it is hard to determine what is just, well confidence in the affect you will have on the world, and what is just plain racism. I think that you didn't do anything wrong and that many people would feel that way. However, I don't think it is because you simply think you're better. I think it is because we come from a nation that provides us with so many more opportunities and advantages than developing 3rd world countries do. It is simply what is available to you. I'm sure if the people in those countries had the same opportunities we do as Americans, they would go on to accomplish so much in this world. I mean for all we know one of them could have the cure to cancer, but don't have the opportunities to get a good education and go on to do research, because of the lack of what is available to them.

I mean its the same here in America. A rich white person is no better than a poor black person simply because they could afford to go to a good school and were, therefore, introduced to many more opportunities and more doors were opened to them. It is not a race thing, it is more of a class issue than anything.

Unfortunately, I know there are many people here in our country that do genuinely believe they are better than say a tribe in New Guinea or the poor in Ethiopia or Haiti. It is an unfortunate fact, but the truth about some of Americans and I think we need to change that. I don’t think that many people take the perspective that maybe they were just fortunate enough to be given the wealth and freedom that they have to live a more than comfortable life.

I also, think that we need to change the mind set of many of those who are fortunate in this country. I think being arrogant is sometimes mistaken for self-confidence in this country. Being arrogant is not okay, because we are all equally important. We may not all have the same situations or the same finances, but every man is as important of the next, regardless of race, upbringing, religion, class, etc;

I think all you can do is hope to use what has been given to you here in America, and give back to those 3rd world countries you visited, so that maybe one day they can make a difference in the world as well. Simply caring is making a difference and I think that is what is the most important thing.

Now, saying that, I don't think suicide bombing is the answer. I mean I never have and never will be for war. I believe that there are far more productive ways of solving issues. I'm not sure exactly what can be done, but something needs to be done before any more people get hurt. I just think it is important to take the time to understand these people, though crazy to us, are just trying to fight for their country and their people and I'm sure the same would be true if our country was under attack constantly. I'm sure there are many who would take whatever means possible.

Like many people have said, I too have never thought about war from the enemy's perspective. I mean what we view as an act of terrorism, is in their minds an act of heroism and is encouraged. I guess the "suicide bombers" are just giving the ultimate sacrifice, which is their life, to protect their country and their people.

I also, never took the time to see that maybe they were just trying to protect the lives of loved ones. I mean if I thought that someone was going to come and hurt my family, I would do anything and everything to protect them because they are everything to me, and I know it is the same for those in the Middle East. They are just trying to protect the lives of their families and loved ones.

I really enjoyed today's lecture. I have always been against war and never understood why we needed to invade another country simply to gain power of their oil distribution, but today I finally realized why so many Islamic people are bombing things, killing people, and committing "terrorist" attacks upon the U.S. and other countries. Its like they are snakes or bees or any animal for that matter, they will attack if provoked and if attacked first. They are just as scared of us as we are of them, if not more. I mean we claim to be afraid of these terrorists coming and attacking innocent people, when that is what we are doing over there. You don't think they get upset every time an innocent civilian dies?

Now, along those lines, I said that today I finally realized why terrorist attacks are happening; I did not say that I understand. In my mind I can't understand the bombing, shooting, or killing of any individual. Its not that I am a bleeding heart liberal, but is war really the best way to solve a problem. I mean it just shows that we haven't learned anything from our past mistakes. History just continues to repeat itself.

As for the Christian invaders, I agree with the post above. I don't think Sam is on a vendetta against Christians, he is just merely explaining the other side of things. To us, the Islamic religion is teaching these people to do these things and we judge all Islams for what happens. Its a sad fact, but true. But, to the Islamic people, Christianity is the same thing. It teaches us to have "blinding faith" in all that is taught. We are told that "God" has a purpose for us or that it is "God's will." It is the same thing as in Islam. We think we are so much better because we label it as out of the "greater good of our hearts." But, what if say Australia started invading our country and trying to "help" us, by taking over completely? We never take the time to put ourselves in the shoes of the other. Islams are not bad people simply because they believe differently from us Americans just don't like what they don't understand.

Now, I’m not saying Christians are stupid or anything because I am technically one. I was raised Irish Catholic and had to go to church every Sunday and the whole shebang. I personally don’t really follow the religious teachings of the church for my own reasons. It doesn’t mean I think Christians are trying to take over. I just think that many of us who do identify ourselves as Christian should look at our own faith and take the time to understand the faith of those we identify as Islamic.

I mean with so many people opening up to the idea of marrying outside their race, I think more and more people are going to be a number of different things. Not simply, white or black or asian or whatever. To be honest I look forward to that day because in my mind people who are mixed races are some of the most beautiful people. Don’t get me wrong everyone is beautiful in their own way blah blah blah, but truly the most beautiful people are those who are mixed.

I think that this is a very interesting question. I have thought about this question a few times and I have to say so what? I am white and I think it is about time that we were the minorities for a change. It’s not like the white people are suddenly going to be degraded and put down just because someone else is in the majority. I think that the whole minority and majority thing is stupid anyway. I think the way things are going, there wont be a clear cut minority or majority. I want there to be a country where we’re not defined by race or religion, but by who we are. I know corny right, but its true.

This is a great question and it is something we talked about in my race discussion the other day. I am a white, irish catholic, female from the suburbs of New York and yet I have always had a very real sense of race, religion, sexuality, and so on. I was raised in a predominately white area, however many of my friends were not white. They were a mix. Everything from Catholic to Jewish, Italian to Asian and Hispanic. I believe I was really awakened to race early on and got past those early stages of race relations before I was even old enough to understand what the stages meant.

I was also raised to love and treat everyone the same. Despite, how corny that may sound, it is incredibly true. I grew up in a family that is accepting of everyone. I was raised around many different kind of people. Some were gay, some straight, some were jewish and some were muslim. In my mind it really didn’t matter and to this day it still doesn’t.

We were also discussing interracial dating in my discussion group the other day and I know my parents would be okay with whom ever I decide to date. I think it would by wrong first of all for many reasons but also because I have an uncle who is black and a cousin who is a mixed race. So for my parents not to accept, say me bringing home a black guy I think would be wrong. I also think it doesn’t matter. For me they are my cousin and my uncle, not my mixed cousin and black uncle. They’re my family and I don’t care what they are because it wouldn’t make me love them any less.

I know it sounds like I’m just saying all this to say this, but I was raised to see people for who they are not what they look like. Which, I guess in a strange way makes me a little blind to the problems that some races and people face. I know that there is racism that occurs and I know some of the hardships any race that isn’t white can face, I guess I just never realized how hard it can be. I guess I assumed I was, in a way, getting by with the race issue by being friends with those of other races. However, I don’t think I ever took the time to realize the problems they may face. So, I guess I can say that this class has reawakened me in a way.