en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/764586 Comments by eds5092 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69804174 Like many people have said, this letter is very meaningful. I do not mean to go on a rant, but lately it seems as if people have forgotten these simple acts of kindness and compassion. We take things for granted every day, and I know I am guilty of this too. I think that when many people think of prison, me included, I think of what is shown in the movies. These tough men or women fighting and stealing and all the time is what image comes into my mind. I know, even like the lifer said, that a lot of people deserve to stay in prison since they will never truly be rehabilitated, but it is nice to see that incarceration is working for some people and helping them see life differently as well as reflect on their crime that they have committed. This letter was also helpful because it shows how in prison people do not just sit around and sleep or eat all day, but they actually learn. He said that he donates blood and does other community service and he seems genuine like he really wants to help out and do it. I feel that a lot of the time the public and community have a lot of resentment and anger towards prisoners, which is understandable because they make the community a dangerous place as well as cost a lot of tax dollars. However, it seems as if this man, along with his friends, want to help the community out and almost pay back for what they have done as well as just help out people in general. I think a lot of times people forget that those in jail are not necessarily bad and are human as well. One of the lessons we are taught when we are little is to not judge a book by this cover, but I know that I have a hard time not judging someone who I heard is in prison, especially for life for murder. I think it is good if we learn from these people, rather than just toss them aside and think of them as a burden to society. These people are still part of our society and if we let them help out and integrate them more into the community I think it could be really beneficial. The fact that a man who spends all of his days, and knows he will for the rest of his life, has found a way to cope and help out the community really inspires me and should be a lesson for all. He is literally behind bars but has not given up trying to help out the world. In this letter he talks about how he is frustrated with all the problems that he cannot fix and I think many of us can relate to this. Especially recently since Sam talked about slavery in the coca fields and the other injustices we have learned about. If this man has not given up hope then we should not either and we should continue to do what are able to do. Thu, 22 Apr 2010 19:44:41 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/letter-from-an-inmate__trashed/#IDComment69804174 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment68090801 I think this video game is very troubling and outrageous. Things like this should not be allowed to be sold or even made, even though I know that is impossible to regulate. People who say these video games do not make people commit these crimes do not make a valid point. First of all there have been studies which prove violent television and video games do affect those who watch and play them. Also, the very nature of the game pokes fun at something that is a serious crime. Rape is no laughing matter. Rape victims have serious long-term side effects and all this video game does is make rape look fun and the cool thing to do. Why would we want to promote this horrific crime that affects so many people not only in the United States but throughout the whole entire world? This video game makes it look like rape has no consequences for the victim or the offender, which obviously is not the case, especially for the victim. There are real victims of rape and this video game branches off from reality and shows an unrealistic view of the crime. If a little boy or girl finds this game and plays it, you cannot deny that it would not affect them even a little bit. A thing like this perpetuates the rape myths that haunt our society today and allow these tragedies to continue. Rape myths are a huge problem today, and have always been. This video shows rape as a small problem that does not need to be addressed or regulated. This video game also continues to portray women as liking to be raped and constantly wanting sex. In the media, women are seen as sex crazed animals that enjoy being dominated and forced to have sex. Women sell their sexual appeal in order to achieve fame and popularity. This is seen in many music videos and stars today. For example, Brittany Spears who became slutty and once she did because a superstar with many more fans than before. The media portrays men as these tough, masculine creatures who can get as many girls as they want. Video games, like this, only serve to enhance the double standard of women; women should be are called prudes if they do not have sex but are called whores if they do. This video also portrays rape and violence as something good and fun, when in reality it is a horrific crime that forever haunts the victim. It is bad enough to make music videos using women’s sex appeal, but when someone actually plays a video game where the goal of the game is to rape a woman in order to get back at her for what she did, that goes too far. In a video game it is like one is actually doing the action, in this case the raping, and in a sense teaching people how to rape. I am sure that people who have experienced a sexual assault or rape would think this game is harmful and outrageous. Those who have loved ones who have been raped I’m sure who feel the same. If you have no experience with rape or sexual assault it is hard to picture how damaging a game like this could be, however, no matter whether you have experienced it or not I do not understand how something as horrible as rape can be taken so lightly. Wed, 14 Apr 2010 21:20:14 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/04/this-is-totally-off-the-hook__trashed/#IDComment68090801 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment65272988 Before I came to college I did not even realize how much white people were seen as a majority and how much power they had. Of course I knew about equality, but not to the extent I do now. I remember I heard that eventually we would all be alike and just a big mix but never really thought anything of it. At the beginning of this class I was not sure whether I even considered myself white because I did not know what being was even was really. I identified more with being Jewish than being white. Growing up there is no white school that I attended or a place just for white people to go and learn about what it means to be white. But my parents also sent me away to Hebrew school where I learned about my culture, my past, and my ancestors. I never identified or learned about my white ancestors, but I always hear about the history of African Americans and feel as if I know more about it that my own background. I understand this is because of all the hardships they had to go through but still I would like to have been more educated. It is hard to find your identity as a person if you do not know what part of you means. After taking this class, now I see that I do identify as a white person and that is also how other people see me. The thing is I hope it would improve the status of minorities if we were all equal, however, I feel I am rightfully scared about whites being on the bottom. And when I mean being on the bottom I mean us being treated unfairly as a way to get back at us for what we have done in the past. I do not know how other races feel, but I think they do feel oppressed and would not intentionally discriminate against another race, but it would just happen. Anything different is scary and I do not want to seem selfish but I am a little afraid for just all races in general. I understand equality is a pretty impossible and hard thing to accomplish but that obviously would be the ideal. The thing is I feel like someone is always going to be on the top and someone is always going to be on the bottom. And I obviously would not want anyone to be on the bottom but I feel it is inevitable. I know I have been generous with my life, but before I came to college I did not understand how race played part in my life so much and in the advantages I had. Even though my high school was diverse, it was mainly white. When I was in high school I did hang out mostly with other white people but I did not even think about it because that’s just how it was. And now that I think about it all the Asians sat with each other and all the African Americans stuck together as well and it was almost like our own sort of cultures in one small place. So even though I know this change in inevitable, I am afraid because who knows what it is going to be like. I just hope it changes for the best and everyone becomes more equal rather than one race oppressing another race. I feel like white people, and people in general, have come a long way and even though nothing could ever make up for the horrible past events, all people can do is try to fix the present situation and I think that is what is happening. Thu, 1 Apr 2010 19:21:13 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/the-white-minorities__trashed/#IDComment65272988 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64087404 I give a lot of credit to Sam for being able to talk about this subject because even though it is a natural bodily function, a lot of people, especially men, think it is inappropriate to talk about. I remember in elementary school when they first showed you the important videos about men and women’s bodies and the guys were showed the girl video and after that it just seemed like everything changed. The boys were grosssed out about it and did not want to know about it or hear anything about it either. As the years went on it still seems like nothing has changed. As such , I personally feel like I have to purposefully not speak about it when there are men around, even though I personally do not think it is a big deal because it is just the way life is. I agree with the woman in the video in the fact that women should be proud with what having a period means. I think we should get credit for it too. Men think that we are crazy and not rational, but if they had to go through this every month I feel like they would not be able to handle it nearly as well as women. It is an inconvience and as a woman you have to deal with it but it is also just another thing that happens. It is amazing how we can even reproduce and as mentioned in the video that is why it is called the miracle of birth. I do not know if this is true, but I feel like the reason men and women are so different is just because of this amazing function that women can do and go through. The old religious story of the bible tells people that each month women are punished for Eve’s sin, and thus women’s sin as a whole. The fact that this is written down and the story is taught gives women a bad name, even if many people do not believe in this. I do not mean to be sexist, but I feel like men have it kind of easy. They do not have to go through this every month, or bear a child. However, at the same time I definitely feel like they are missing out. Women are seen as the nuturing ones who are supposed to stay home and take care of the child simply because of the huge connection they have with their child. Dad’s do not have that initial connection because they were not the ones carrying the baby, so I feel bad for men in a way since even if they wanted to they will never be able to experience this. Women should be proud of having their period and being able to carry and bear a baby because even though this is what shaped gender roles, it is not necessarily a bad thing. If women contintue to be scared and embarrassed of this then we are the ones keeping us opressed and not thinking that we can do just as much as men simply because we are the ones able to have a child. We should feel like this makes us superior, not to say that men are lower than us, but in that we are all equal and special in different ways. Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:05:55 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/whats-the-big-deal-with-periods__trashed/#IDComment64087404 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/fired-for-a-scarf__trashed/#IDComment62827049 I unfortunately am not surprised by this blatant discrimination from the Hollister and Abercrombie companies. In high school I worked at Hollister and saw this happen all the time, and like the video mentioned there have been incidents in the past where blacks have been discriminated against. I find it ironic that one of the main interview questions Hollister always asks prospective employees is why diversity is important. They seem to try to say they are not being unfair, but their actions tell a different story. Hollister is all about their image. The dress code was very specific and if you did not follow it you could get fired or get a strike. You had to wear flip-flops, and Hollister clothing. You could get away with Abercrombie clothing if the name was not on it also. The whole entire way the store is decorated portrays more of the beach, surf, and sun image they take on. The store that I worked at was redone completely. It is purposely dark with fake palm trees. The perfume is constantly sprayed on the clothes to smell beach-like. And there are even televisions with the ocean on it as well as only certain music allowed to be played up front. This shows that the Hollister Company has such a narrow view on what their store, including employees, should look like. They want the surfer looking, blond hair, tall, and yes white image reflected in their staff. At Hollister there are basically two types of employees: the models (who work out front) and the stock workers (who work in the back where they are seen less by customers.) A majority of the people who worked in the back of my store was black; however I am not saying that they were all black. A manager was also black, and even our district manager who had higher authority than everyone else in our store was black. However, it just seemed that although there were exceptions, the majority was white people working up front and in charge. Going from the front of the Hollister store into the back room was like a completely different place. In the front, it was all orderly and beach atmosphere but in the back it was rap and hip-hop and all different types of music on with people dancing and able to be free. It was just like a different culture and I found that really interesting because even us workers hated the scene Hollister created. All of the employees always joked about the ridiculous rules we had to follow, but that could also just happen at any job. In my whole 8 months working there I did not encounter a person being fired because of their religion, but I guess the poor girl’s religion effected her appearance and thus Hollister thought she would make them look bad. The thing is Hollister just makes itself look bad. Like most companies, it is just a scheme to get people to think their store is so awesome and cool that we just all want to buy their clothes. But I think it is so important for their company to remember there is a difference between wanting to portray a store in a certain way and outright prejudice and unfairness. If Hollister wants a lot of people to shop at their store they should have all different employees in order to make everyone feel comfortable and not leave out everyone who does not fit in that narrow image and mind-set. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:57:08 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/03/fired-for-a-scarf__trashed/#IDComment62827049 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment59788779 I completely agree with the in my place videos when they questioned how someone could feel like it was not their place or their responsibility to say anything. I, personally, don't understand how you cannot say something when someone else is being wrongly discriminated against or just targeted in general. It is people like this who let the genocide occur that is happening all around the world. Even though they are not the ones who are outright hurting these people, they are also not helping them and standing back, thus in a way condoning the discrimination. Whenever someone says they feel it was not their responsibility I think back to the Holocaust. I am merely bringing this up as a good example of what happens when people do not speak for others and just stand by and watch something happen that they know is wrong. A famous quote written about the Holocaust perfectly describes this situation and the consequences following it. "First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist; Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me." This is exactly what happened and what is going on in the world everyday. If no one speaks up for each other than who will be there at the end for us? Something so terrible happened simply because be did not speak up and help. If people band together and do what they know is right I feel a lot can be accomplished. Maybe I am just being an optimist but it is worth a try and if you do not express your beliefs and help others than no one is going to help you out either. The video that was showed in class sadly showed how much discrimination there is in the world, even in America where we are built on the ideals of freedom and equality for all. I was shocked when the one guy actually gave the owner a thumbs up. I guess that is one way to express your opinion, however, even though I definitely feel it was a disgustingly wrong one. Thankfully there were girls who stood up for the Muslim target, and in the Holocaust there too were people who tried to help and spoke up about it being wrong and even risked their own life for hiding Jews. I just think that it is crazy events like this even happen and I do not understand why. I know some people do bad things but there should be enough people to speak outright about it and take action to stop and control these horrific acts. Thu, 4 Mar 2010 20:58:57 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/when-do-we-do-or-say-something__trashed/#IDComment59788779 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58693075 As Sam said the one thing that everyone can do is become educated and educatesothers on the catastrophe that took place. I think that kids should be taught about the Native American genocide in preschool and all throughout their college careers. I have of course heard something about what happened to the Native Americans before Sam's class, but I really had no idea about the details. I did not know it was the most extensive genocide or that there were still so many tribes that existed today. I was very appalled to find out we are still hitting them when they're down. That video we watched in class really made me realize how hard they had it, and I am sure that is not even half of what they have to go through every day. I know American culture is based on freedom and democracy but what doesn't it destroy the foundations of our country to hide the truth? If our history books and teachers acknowledge the disaster then we can educate our young to not judge or put down people based on their skin color, to not steal, to not steal, and much more. The point of history is to learn from it and learn from our mistakes so shouldn't we learn from the or at least one of the biggest mistakes our country every made. I feel the least we can do is educate our children for generations to come. With education we can maybe break down the barriers and get people to understand the ways of Native Americans, and even other cultures. Before Sam's class, if I was asked to draw a picture of an Indian or Native American I would draw the same thing. Without education, Native Americans seem like a kind of the past. Another world which is strange and we do not feel like we can relate to them. However, they are the same exact people as us, mostly because we forced them to be that way. If children are taught from a young age about Native Americans they will seem less foreign. Also they might understand the importance of learning about them instead of feeling blamed for their suffering. I know when Sam first lectured I felt bad about myself and was obviously angered with our ancestors and could not comprehend how they could do this to a whole people. But I feel if I was taught about this catastrophe as a young child it would help mold me and teach me to be respectful of other people and the environment I am in. I would also feel less betrayed and helpless if it was not all the sudden sprung on me one day but something that was widely discussed and talked about. I know a lot of us feel helpless that we cannot do anything to help the situation out, that is how I felt anyway. But if when we were young and throughout school we were taken on field trips to speak to Native Americans and showed how to help them out and to donate money an anything else we can do, we could embrace the mistakes of our ancestors instead of hiding from them and trying to forget them. Forgetting about this mistake almost makes us as bad as our ancestors in saying it is okay for this to have happened because it is in the past and we don't want anything to do with it. But we cannot forget about the people we have already taken so much from. The least we can do is remember them and try our best to help. Thu, 25 Feb 2010 20:19:18 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/native-americans-question-one__trashed/#IDComment58693075 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment57573905 I agree and think that there is a line between love and sex. You do not need to be in love in order to have sex, even though it may be more meaningful that way. Sex can be an expression of love or just something that someone does because they want to get sexually aroused. Like Sam said in class, some prisoners have no other option and have sex with each other just to satisfy their sexual needs. That does not make them homosexual or more than friends. Also like Sam discussed in class, I think more people would be open to physically expressing their feelings or just being more sexually expressive to people of the same sex if it was more accepted and normal. I understand where the frat brother is coming from because I have seen "bromance" in action plenty. Guys are just like girls in that they are touchy feely or comfortable with each other it is just that they hide it because they will be seen as gay and not macho and then girls won't like them. But I personally think it is funny and like seeing guys acting sensitive and the same way girls do. If our society was not based on the stereotype of men being masculine and women baking in the kitchen, even though I know it has changed a lot, then men would be more comfortable and not try and be macho all the time. I also think the idea of women on women being hot is endorsed a lot by the media and pornography. In a lot of movies and commercials women are shown with little clothing and men are shown as masculine trying to conquer that women. Also women kissing other women is shown a lot in the media and this just reinforces the idea of this being arousing for men. However, guy on guy action is rarely shown except on reality shows like mtv's "I'm gay." If this was shown then the public would be desensitized and it would not be such a big deal. I understand where people are coming from when they say there's a line between friends and sex, however, I personally think it depends on the person. I don't have any desire to do anything with the same sex but maybe someday I will and if people want to do it then they should just go ahead and do it. We are all human beings, after all, all are capable of love and sex and everything so why does it have to be such a horrible thing for two people to be in love or do sexual stuff together if they are both consenting? I thought we got over this in the Lawrence v. Texas court decision? If the court can recognize this as not harmful why can the public not learn to deal with it? Just because people don't understand it doesn't mean they have to condone it or be scared of it. Fri, 19 Feb 2010 04:05:34 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/lgbt-class-question-two__trashed/#IDComment57573905 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment56424218 I agree with most of the comments here discussing the effect the history of our country has on this black vs. white "issue." Every time there is a conversation about race I, as a white person, feel the distinction between those two races cannot be ignored. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the colors black and white are as opposite as you can get. Unless you are blind, the first thing you see about someone is their physical appearance and black and white are hard to miss. In our society, a lot is based on our looks and appearance. Black people trying to look white and white people trying to look black. Why does anyone have to try and be something else? Why can't we all just be who we want to be and wear what we want to wear and not be judged. I guess this would only be possible in a Utopian society but I think it is sad that so much is based on the color of our skin, something we never had control over in the first place. As we talked about in class, it is just the luck of the draw. Black people did not ask to be black. They did not ask to be slaves. However we all choose to separate ourselves from each other simply because of our skin color. I am not saying that everyone purposely groups themselves, it is just hard to not in the way we all have grown up. I partly think this is due to the fact that blacks have risen to talk about it. We have a black history month, this clearly separates the races and makes it known that there is a difference between blacks and whites. There is no white history month celebrating what we have accomplished. But I guess that is because us whites were the ones who enslaved the black people so we do not really deserve to have a month. Also I feel today this issue and our history is more easily talked about and discussed. Race is always a touchy subject, especially because of the history of slavery, but I feel it is definitely talked about more today than back then. Even though as a white person I have trouble expressing my opinions and beliefs while blacks are present, because I do not want to offend them, I hear a lot about it and feel more educated and thus am more willing to talk. The issue of black and white is not the only comparison I feel that comes up often. I think the whole women rights issue is also a big topic. This may also be due to the history of constantly putting women down. Like blacks, women could not vote or hold the same jobs. I know it is not as extreme of a situation but it still is something our country should not be proud of. But, I think these two issues are brought up because of the history and the struggle all of the people went through. Fri, 12 Feb 2010 01:18:45 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/why-is-the-conversation-always-about-black-and-white-people__trashed/#IDComment56424218 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55369255 Like Sam said in his explanation, I saw this movie and until reading what Brooks wrote, I did not even think about the reoccurring “white hero.” I simply thought it was a replica of the Native American disaster, except this time the underdogs won. Brooks does make a good point; however all the other white people are shown as evil and greedy. Why are people just focusing on the few who had a conscience when all the others initiated or helped destroy the natives? Even though some protested or did not like what was going on they are just as guilty because they stood back and watched. On the other hand, everything in the movie portrays the natives as a peaceful people who are tied to their environment and care about all living things. Like Brooks stated they are uncorrupted by technology and big business. The native’s way of life is seen as magical and they have a connection to the world around them that we, who are “corrupted” by technology and business, will never understand. I feel like in movies like this and Pocahontas the evil white people are overlooked and all the focus is on the one good white hero which completely makes up for the bad deeds of the others. The whites are also portrayed as being rich and having the most up to date weapons and technology. This, I feel, is something that should be discussed. Since the white people have much too advanced technology it is hard for the natives to fight back, especially since they never even saw guns before. So in a way, I feel like it is an issue between an advanced civilization versus a non advanced one. There was no way the natives could win without having someone on their side who was familiar with this technology, and unfortunately the person who ended up being the hero was also white. Answering Sam’s question from his video, I do not think it is a coincidence that the hero is always white. As we have seen in class, many people try to achieve this “white” image. Also, as said in class, we think of Jesus as white for example, so we want our hero to be white. Not to imply anything but the maker of this movie is white and maybe it was just natural for him to have the hero be a white person rather than a different race because he relates with them more. People sometimes just overlook things and think this is the way it is always done without stopping to wonder why or try to change it. After the Native American incident and the black slavery times, I know as a white I try to not be racist or seem racist and maybe we are trying to make up for the mistakes our race has done in the past. In this movie the natives survived and it is an alternative ending to the real one in which whites slaughtered them. If we could go back in time, I would hope we would do it differently, but we cannot. However, we can apologize and attempt to show how we know it was wrong and in the future maybe we will behave differently. Thu, 4 Feb 2010 20:16:53 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/02/avatar-and-the-white-mans-burden__trashed/#IDComment55369255 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54250672 “Nobody would have assumed it would create panic,” he said, “but in today’s environment, I guess everything creates panic.” This quote, said by Rabbi Greenberg, not only explains the state of mind of people from the United States, but could also be interpreted to include everyone. It is widely known that 9/11 created panic, especially when talking about certain practices like terrorism. However, I feel this event merely allowed everyone to more openly stereotype, a lot of the time incorrectly, and be able to justify it because of national security. Even the new laws enacted because of 9/11 shows how much we are afraid of those who are different. According to the patriot act, citizens of the United States cannot have their rights violated so the government must obtain search warrants to access files and intrude on a citizen's privacy. Regarding non U.S. citizens, however, no warrant is necessary since it is a matter of national securtiy. Like we talked about in class, "white" people do not want to look racist, and I also feel like the United States doesn't want to look discriminatory in the eyes of other countries. Even though there are unfair prejudices against those who look Arab or Middle Eastern, I feel that because our country doesn't want to look bad it has jeopardized our safety. In Israel, they are not afraid to offend people because they know how important security really is. At their airport they pick out passengers who look even slightly suspicious, whether based on their skin or the luggage they are carrying. I feel that is why they have survived so long. They are a strong nation, even though they are small, and are not afraid to take the necessary measurements to protect their citizens. Even though we complain about the security lines at the airports, it is better than being killed. Also, when a person is picked out of line because of how they look it is written in the news as being "unfair" and harshly scrutinized but wouldn't we rather be safe than have another 9/11 attack, which has almost happened a couple times already. I am Jewish and I am not surprised the Jewish community was so understanding because we come from a history of continually trying to be overthrown and killed and know that being proactive is the only way to survive. Therefore I feel the flight staff was not being ignorant, they were just being cautious. Like many people have said, even though they are Jewish, they would not recognize that practice. I do not feel that makes others ignorant or unknowledgable, it is just how people live. We should not be expected to know all the religious practices out there and just the same the ones doing the practices should understand that and be willing to explain, as this young man did. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 20:34:23 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/i-guess-it-pays-to-learn-a-bit-about-other-people__trashed/#IDComment54250672 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-s__trashed/#IDComment54008852 :) Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:05:31 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2010/01/last-name-begins-with-s__trashed/#IDComment54008852 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/those-rusty-brains__trashed/#IDComment53096773 I have no idea why many people, and personally me, do not know a lot about politics and current events. My lack of knowledge on everyday subjects really makes me feel stupid and embarrassed. As a well educated human being shouldn't I know about what is going on around me? Instead of discussing politics with others I simply do not give any opinion because I am afriad I will sound dumb and also because I feel like politics is such a touchy subject and I do not want to argue about it. Me being afraid of expressing my opinion, however, has led to me not exactly knowing how I feel. Ever since I was young I always took on my parent’s point of view as the “right” way to think without ever stopping to ask myself my own beliefs. Looking at it now I still cannot make my own decisions because I feel in order to make one I have to know all the facts. With all the technology out there today it is easy to get information on the latest events but sadly me, and most of my friends, do not even have the passion to take time to look at what is going on around us. I do feel that since I am an adult now I should be interested in our country’s policies however since I have never looked into it before it has been hard for me to get started. I really wish that I took the time to learn more about politics but I do not make it a priority and maybe that is beacuse I cannot see how it directly affects my family and friends as well as myself. When news is put in front of me I do take interest and feel good about being able to discuss and know what is going on when I hear the topic brought up. For example, as I was waiting to go into a meeting, CNN was on and they were discussing the Hati disaster. I found myself very interested in how these people were going to be helped, but at the same time when I turn on the television I turn right to MTV and skip over the news because I have a preconceived notion that news is boring. Personally, I would think there was something wrong with me for the fact that I rather watch snookie being punched than hear about the new health plan, except most other people I know and hang out with do the exact same thing. So is it possible that my generation just was never taught to take interest, or is it merely the environment that I was brought up in? My parents, however, are always talking about the latest discovery or wildly arguing about their health care policies. Maybe it is the fact that because my parents take care of everything and understand what is going on I have not had to think for myself or even learned how. Growing up in a small neighborhood I have never been tested or questioned why things are the way they are. I feel as if I have a lack of experience in life and even though I was "well educated" during high school I learned nothing about life in general even with all the resources I have been given. Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:26:32 +0000 https://www.racerelationsproject.org/2009/11/those-rusty-brains__trashed/#IDComment53096773