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cef5100

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13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - 300,000! What's ... · 0 replies · +1 points

I think people feel like this because simply they are not close to it. They do not have any family members there and they may think it’s sad and take a little time to mourn, but like this girl in the video said it does not directly affect them, therefore, they do not care. If you think about it though what can someone like me (a college student) do to help besides donating money. Then even though you have donated money that is still not enough it seems like for a lot of people. I am sorry if this girl or whomever finds my post offensive, but I am at least taking a small step into helping I do not feel that I have to stop my life and go to some place like Haiti in order for others to think I am actually doing something for them.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Letter from an Inmate · 0 replies · +1 points

I completely agree with your statement about the death penalty. I am sort of indifferent about it, however, thinking about it more and more I am swaying to the side of not having the death penalty. Life in prison is in ways a lot worse because men and women must go through everyday thinking about what they have done and being confined to basically a small box. Like you reported it does give them time to realize the mistakes they have made and sometimes even (like this man did) seek victim-offender reconciliation. I think this an important process for both parties (the offender and the victim) to try and find peace of mind.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Letter from an Inmate · 0 replies · +1 points

I am so happy and grateful that I received the opportunity to read this. I have never thought about life long prisoners at all, it has never crossed my mind that they are even actual human beings. I know this sounds harsh, but it is honest. I feel that the men and women in prison are kind of in a different world than I am. Prison is generally a safe and secure environment so I do not even think of prisoners escaping. Like I previously said they are in a whole different world than mine. When I saw this post though I figured that since I do not know about prison or prisoners I might as well read it and give it a shot. Yes, this man murdered someone and there is not a doubt in my mind that he is receiving the correct punishment for it, but I never really considered prisoners people and now I have to. It even seems to me that these men and women are more generous and caring than people in our everyday world. For example when the man was talking about how prisoners would give up his or her phone call without hesitation so that a man can wish his daughter a happy birthday that absolutely blew me away. Now a day people will not even give up their cell phones for a few seconds so that a stranger may use it to call someone and tell them his or her car is broken down. Imagine giving up your cell phone for someone else without hesitating without really caring, that is what these prisoners are more or less doing except they have even less contact with the outside world than you do without the cell phone. Most people today would fall apart without being in consistent contact with someone else.

I really liked the way this man stated how yes there are some people in the prisons who really deserve to be there and they should be no where else, but how he also stated that a lot of the prisoners have big hearts and are good people. I would have never come to that realization on my own. Like I previously stated in the above paragraph I never really thought much of them more than likely I thought the men and women prisoners were scumbags and needed to be there and a lot of them needed the death penalty. This man really opened my eyes to the compassion that a lot of people share no matter how different you are or what your past is. People make mistakes, some bigger than others, but most people care about others and would do a lot more than is expected of them.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Women · 0 replies · +1 points

I understand where you are coming from also. I am a very skinny girl with decent sized boobs. People talk about them all the time, throw stuff down my shirts, and sometimes even try and grab them. I get embarrassed because I feel like if they were just smaller then this would not be an issue. I think every girl has issues with their body I do not think anyone will ever think they are perfect. It is sad how girls get really upset when people make fun of them for not looking perfect, but how are you supposed to look perfect if there is no set “perfection.”

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Women · 0 replies · +1 points

I do not think Hollywood portrays women of all shapes and sizes, however, I do feel that Hollywood portrays many races. There are an endless number of movies where there are Middle Eastern women, Israeli women, etc. in them, some films are even about them. Yes, there are movies with bigger girls in them or uglier girls in them, but these movies point out that these girls have definite “flaws.” There a certain way every girl should look and like we talked about in class that is skinny big boobs (but not too big) a big butt and a cute face. This is sad that everyone feels that they must conform, but if you do not you get socially rejected.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - What about the men? · 0 replies · +1 points

I agree with what Sam and some of the members of the class were saying yesterday about how women dress for other women. I do not think men are the same way, however, I do think they feel it necessary to comply with societies expectations. If men did not feel that they should comply with what society expects they would walk around without showering and in whatever clothing they want. This is especially apparent when men go out to parties or social outings. I have never seen a man wear sweatpants or even a sweatshirt while out at a party. If they were not trying to conform to societal expectations they would wear whatever they felt most comfortable in no matter what it was. Yes, the men could be trying to “pick-up” girls; however, women expect what society says they should like. This effects the men because then they dress up how they feel the girls think they should dress and that is what society says is correct.

Considering that I am a girl and I know first hand who and what I dress for I feel that I can speak more for myself than the men in the class. I know that when I dress for school I have two outfits I wear: sweatpants and a t-shirt or jeans and a regular shirt. During the school day if I am wearing the sweatpants outfit I do not feel like I am dressing for anyone or for anything, however, if I wear jeans to class I feel like I am dressing up for something because jeans are more “appropriate” to dress in society says. When I go out to a party at night though it is a different story. I get dressed up, put on make up, do my hair, etc. Even though I am a heterosexual individual I still feel like I dress up for girls. For me it is a lot harder to get girls approval than guys’ approval. I am not being conceited, but guys tend to think I am cute no matter what I am wearing girls, however, are the hard ones to win over. Within about five seconds of a girl looking at you normally she makes an assumption about you. Depending on what girl you are dealing with some of them will end up making their opinion known to everyone. Therefore, I see it as more important to impress the other girls. Some of the times when I go out and even go to class I have my cleavage out because I feel that that is how we (girls) attract members of the opposite sex. At least that is how I feel the media portrays what a ‘sexy’ women is.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - What About Multiracial... · 0 replies · +1 points

I think you bring up a very interesting and worthwhile point when you stated that you felt bad for this man because he is confused about who he is and what he should be categorized as in society. I did not think about this aspect when I was watching this blog, but now after reading yours I think this is a worthwhile topic discussing, maybe even something that needs to be addressed in class. Being multiracial may be hard enough because it is a struggle for you to figure out how you identify, however, being confused for something your not has to make you think a little.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - What About Multiracial... · 0 replies · +1 points

It is common ignorance for people to identify someone as one race when they really are another race. I personally think that you should just brush it off. If Sam does it I am sure others identify you as white too. I know you may think it is offensive, but I think it is a more common misconception then people realize. I also do not think that simple education of people regarding race will work though because I feel that others may still get confused. The only thing that people can do is maybe watch how they classify people and ask others what they identify as.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - I really want to know ... · 0 replies · +1 points

Woahhh! I am shocked that someone asked this question. The first thing that comes to my mind is how arrogant can you be?! When I take a step back though, I have to realize that other people have different set opinions than myself. I understand where you are coming from and what your opinion is (that nothing Sam has said this semester has changed your mind about anything), but I honestly do not understand how that it possible. Personally, I have taken away SO much from this class. In the beginning of the semester, honestly, I was kind of bored, but everything is picking up speed now and I feel like every lecture I pay closer and closer to what Sam is saying. I know that the class is not even over yet and I have learned more than I need to for an entire semester. The vision I have now regarding race issues has greatly matured and made me look at other sides of things. Everything from the videos to the guest speaker we had today intrigues me. Time seems to fly for me in class now because of all the interesting things we talk about and how much I am learning and actually applying to my life.

My favorite lecture to date is the LGBT lecture. I am a straight female and I honestly do not know much about LGBT issues I thought the stories Sam told and the facts about the porn were interesting. Yes, I do identify myself as straight and I have never been with another girl, but I am simply not attracted to other girls in that way. After the lecture Sam gave I understand that people are attracted to who they are attracted to you cannot do anything to stop it. Also what I learned from that lecture was the “PDA” issue people seem to have with gay couples. I know I was always one of those people who would always look at girls or boys holding hands or kissing and get weirded out by it. Like Sam said though if you think about it it is nothing different than what straight couples do. In fact straight couples are actually much more into the PDA scene because they kiss more and are “all over” each other more in public.

In conclusion this course, Soc 119, has made a difference to me and has changed my opinion about many things. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that someone has not learned something or their opinion has not changed on anything after this class, but I guess some people were raised different and have different values than me. This is an interesting question to ask students though especially if it was anonymous like a cell phone question.

13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Those Dolls Say Alot A... · 0 replies · +1 points

When Sam showed this video in class my mouth literally dropped. I felt like crying. This was one of the saddest videos I have watched and it raised so many questions for me. What made me the most shocked though was when the little girl said that the white doll was the good doll and the black one was the bad doll. I have no idea why she would say that nor would I ever dream of a child saying that. Considering that my major is elementary education I am going to try everything in my power to help the children not to discriminate or think that one race is better than another.