I think that healthcare should be available to everyone in certain circumstances. Obviously if someone is gushing blood, a hospital should simply treat them regardless of their legal status. So I think that's a yes in the case of emergencies. Perhaps in other instances that are non-life threatening, the person can be put on a waiting list or something...I know that sounds selfish after I typed it. If I were the immigrant at the hospital, I'd probably get pissed off if I was on a waiting list. It's just that if we as a society start providing all these services free of charge to anyone that walks in the door, people are going to start to get the idea that they don't have to at least try to come here legally. Because they will be able to have all the amenities of a citizen no matter what.

You brought up a really good point, and I think that the person that posted the video posted an interesting question. It doesn't seem right that hard workers should be turned away from this country just because they can't afford to come here legally. The problem is that I can't make up my own mind on the issue - part of me thinks that there is something wrong with people coming here illegally, I guess just because of the fact that they can evade taxes and kind of live under the radar of the government while the rest of us don't have that option. But then the other part of me is saying that obviously they're coming here to live a better life and provide for a better future for their children, and what's so wrong about that? Who am I to tell them, 'No, you can't try to have a better life'? My great-grandparents on both sides of my family came to America through Ellis Island, and if someone had said that to them I wouldn't be here. So I guess deep down I do feel that immigrants should be allowed to stay here, regardless of their legal status. Julia3, I thought you brought up an interesting solution in granting immunity of deportation as a reward for doing the jobs that no one wants. I think it's a good idea. Obviously if the immigrants have jobs and are working hard they are benefiting society in some small way, they're not just laying around doing nothing. Speaking of which, I'd like to have a small rant if I may: I never understood the argument against illegal immigration in which the person complains that immigrants are stealing our jobs. As if they're doing the work that you would be doing if they weren't there. Really, how many Americans would be willing to go out into the fields for 9 or 10 hours and pick fruit? Whose jobs are the immigrants stealing? They're doing the things that no one else would do, and they're getting paid much less than most people would be willing to work for.
Sorry about that. Anyways, the one drawback that I can see in rewarding workers with immunity is, what happens if they can't find a job? Or if they get injured and can't work? Or if they've raised a family here and get laid off? Are we just going to ship them back to their homeland? I don't know, just something to think about.
But you brought up a good point in saying that we've all done illegal things. I mean, 420 was this past week for Christ's sake. It's downright hypocritical to excuse yourself from doing illegal things but then say to those crossing the border that they're expected to not break any rules.

We really are all the same. It seems to me that most major religions are very peaceful - Christianity, Buddhism, Islam. Isn't the whole point just to be a good person and try to live a good life? Have good karma? It's a shame that words of bin Laden have been misconceived here in the US to represent the beliefs of all Muslims.
Growing up, I probably speak for most Americans in saying that what I knew of the Middle East I learned from news and radio clips. I was 10 when September 11th happened, and for all I knew everyone in Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan was a radical terrorist. I wasn't old enough to consider why they might be angry or process the fact that not all Muslims are like that. The lecture on Thursday definitely helped.

You took the words right out of my mouth! I didn't live in the Middle East or anything, but Sam did invoke some pretty strong feelings in me and I think that's interesting that a lot of other Middle Easterners feel that way too. His energy was contagious, I actually thought it was kind of entertaining to watch him run all over the place. I think it's interesting that you called it his best performance, because it almost did feel like a performance, but it certainly was a fucking incredible one. This video is awesome too! Best lecture this semester. I'm thinking the person that posted the original comment just doesn't get it.

I agree a lot with what you said in your above post. While I do believe that the game they showed in the video was wrong and disgusting from an American's perspective, people in Japan might feel differently. One of the first things I thought of when watching the video, besides how much the sound effects were unnecessary, was whether Japan had ever undergone a women's rights movement in history before? American society in general probably has a negative gut reaction to those types of video games because since the 1910's and 20's an increasing number of women in society have grouped together to have equal rights and their voices heard. It's actually gotten to the point now that in most colleges more women are enrolled than men and less and less women are becoming 'stay at home moms'. So obviously because of the effect that feminism has had on our society we WOULD think that those types of video games shouldn't exist.

I thought that the British couple on Skype brought up an interesting point when they said that they didn't view the game as wrong because it is a form of escapism. The woman brought up the point that there are plenty of shooting games around the world too, and they don't seem to be getting as much as a negative hype. I'm not a video game person, but I have a few friends that play I guess what would be considered violent games. And they aren't violent people. The point is that while the whole idea behind that Japanese video game was vulgar, so are video games where you have to kill as many people as you can to win.

JHudak brought up a good point in saying that instead of banning the video games, it would be best just not to buy them. The game companies understand that sex and violence sell, and so they're providing what they know people will buy. If you ban one particular kind of video game, where do you draw the line? Eventually, someone's going to be offended even with non-violent games. It might make the situation messier to have the government interfere and create laws banning certain types of games. In the end, who cares what games people play in the comfort of their own homes? Americans might view the games as vulgar and disgusting, but we probably do some things that the Japanese view that way too. The only precaution I have is that I hope people know where to draw the line between fantasy and reality, and that random people don't go out and decide to rape random women in subway stations because they got fired from their jobs.

I agree, I think that the LGBT class was the most interesting and well-taught class of the semester, maybe because it stands out as being different than simply race relations. A lot of the stuff Sam says is common sense stuff that I probably knew deep down but hadn't been brought to the front of my mind. I kind of wish I could ask the guy in the video, "Has this class had simply NO effect on you?". True, it's not like I have a lightbulb moment every class, but there are a few times that I leave feeling a bit more enlightened about the world around me. And I feel that that's a good sign that the class is having an effect on me. I wonder if the guy in the video feels the way he does because he already knows everything we've talked about or because he refuses to open his mind to it...hmmm...

I'm just gonna reply to your post because it's lengthy and looks good to reply to =]. Even though I haven't missed class much all semester, I was taking a nap yesterday afternoon and just decided to not go to class...and I'm so pissed I missed it. Even though slavery is such a depressing topic and the video you guys watched sounded terrible, I really wish I would've seen it.

I was aware of the reasoning behind Walmart's low prices beforehand, even though I can't remember where I learned it from. I make it a point NOT to shop there, even though I have done it a few times. Which actually makes me recall this Walmart commercial I saw on TV the other day: this whole commercial, maybe some of you have seen it, basically was saying that Walmart has low prices because they drive their 18 wheelers efficiently. They were saying that they pack up their trucks to the brim and make trips the shortest distance possible. Maybe they're hoping the public will have less of a guilty conscience shopping there if they think that's why the items are so cheap? Ugh, thinking about it just makes me shudder. I wish I could've chimed in and been like, "Yeah, or maybe you have Rollbacks because slaves make your goods!" But anyways...

If I were in class yesterday, I probably would've eaten the chocolate the first time it was passed around. What can I say, I like chocolate?! But eating the second piece probably would've been nearly impossible. I wasn't aware of fair trade symbols on the packages, and I will definitely look into them in the future and make sure I only buy chocolate with the stamp on the package.

I liked where you were going with your idea for the second step: that everyone needs to be educated about it. Education. I don't know how this would go over, but I almost think they should make a class either in high schools or colleges that would be mandatory and would teach the students about current issues around the world like slavery, genocide, and AIDS. It would open up the eyes of a lot of people, and at least would produce some informed citizens of society. And I agree with your statement that money is power. Corporations and businesses don't think with their hearts, they think with their wallets. If you want to make a difference with how they do business, you have to hit their wallets hard: take a stance and stop buying their products. If enough people do it, hopefully something will happen. I need fifteen more words so I’m just gonna add this concluding sentence in: word to your mother.

I agree with your post. You brought up a good point when you said that it's not like they're just picking people up off the streets and plopping them in emergency rooms; the people who are positively affected by AA still have to go through the same rigorous training and workload as anyone else. And true, it might sting a little if you are in the majority and don't get into the med school of your choice, but at least someone of color would be given the opportunity...if AA didn't exist they would have a much lower chance of getting in. You also brought up a good point in saying that AA diversifies companies and corporations. Perhaps the lingering racism that is still present in society can be squashed out a little bit more if future generations are raised looking up to higher education and the workforce and seeing a variety of colors and cultures - and not just white people.

I agree with you in that I think it would just be a whole hell of a lot easier if everyone were in the Humanitarian stage. But I disagree with how you defined it...I don't think that people in the Humanitarian stage are blind to color. I don't think people can ever really be blind to color, that's like saying 'Oh I didn't realize you were a woman/man' or 'Oh I didn't realize you had two eyes and a mouth'. Color is just another part of what makes us who we are. I think that being in the Humanitarian stage means being able to move past JUST seeing color, being able to look someone right in the eyes and seeing them for who they are deep down. Maybe this is what you were trying to say.

And I don't really understand why the person in the video felt offended by the LL Bean catalog. Were any white people offended by the video we watched of Chris Rock making fun of white people? I wasn't...

I'm going to have to go with klpski and disagree with you on this one here. It's not the government's job to make everyone feel happy and wanted. It's the government's job to protect the nation and provide services based on who needs them. This is why we have the census in the first place: to try to take an accurate as possible snapshot of America so that representatives are equally distributed and so that social services are available in appropriate areas.

I realize that people of mixed background might be confused in filling out the census form, but I'm pretty sure someone in the video said that people can check off whatever boxes are applicable to them. So if your circle-member was confused, she could check off the White box and the Mexican box.

I thought that the two white women interviewed on the street said something interesting in the video. The one on the left mentioned that she could technically check off the White box and the Native American box because she has a hint of Native American blood in her. I've thought about it and for such people confused about which race to pick from, I think it makes sense if they pick the race with which they find themselves associating the most. This could include partaking in cultural events or connecting with whatever your personal ethnicity is. For example, I'm white. I'm about 25% Croatian, 25% Ukrainian, and a whole lotta small other percents of things like French, German, Scottish, PA Dutch, and so on. If I had to fill out a form that asked me specifically what background I was, I would just forget the other small parts and say I'm half Croatian and half Ukrainian. I could say I'm Croatian and French - but I don't associate with my French background. I do however, go to Croatian BBQ's, know some Croatian jokes, paint Ukrainian Easter eggs for Easter, and celebrate Russian (Ukrainian) Christmas. Therefore, those are the two backgrounds I associate with besides being just white. I think this is a fairly easy way to choose the most prominent race in your background and could possibly be a good idea for people of mixed ancestry.

I also think it would be interesting to know if any African-Americans in our class refer to themselves as Negro. When the video brought it to my attention, I was a little offended too. Although I have to admit, I probably would not have noticed the term if I was filling out the census before seeing the video. Yes, the term’s outdated, but if there are people who still consider themselves Negro than it should probably be included on the form. Personally I think some people are over-reacting a bit to a simple piece of paper.