This class was by far the best class of the semester. I was glad to have a lecture on the war because I have never really known or understood much about it and why we are at war. It was a great idea how Sam had us put ourselves into the shoes of a Middle Eastern Muslim. I was skeptical at first but when I really put myself into their shoes things started falling into place. I think the main problem here is that the United States has false accusations against the Middle East and the Middle East has false accusations against the United States. Just as Sam said in class, if there are some radicals in Iraq we think that all Iraq is crazy and needs to be destroyed. And if there are some rude, abusive, Christian soldiers fighting in the Middle East then Iraq people thing all Americans are crazy Christians. I agreed with everything Sam said except for the whole “Christian” part. Are we invading Iraq, sure we are, but it’s not just Christians. Some soldiers may be Jewish, Buddhist, or not even practice a religion. I don’t understand why the term is “Christian Invaders” it doesn’t make any sense to me. Why do Christians get a bad rap for this? I also don’t agree with the fact that Christians are trying to make everyone practice Christianity. I know that Sam would argue that his point was that this is how Christians appear to the Iraqi people, but how? How do Christians appear this way? I’ve watch YouTube video and such and I’ve never heard about crazy Christians trying to take over the world. And also, if God wanted everyone in the world to be Christian then he wouldn’t have made his son Jewish. The argument just doesn’t match up. But I do agree with Sam’s point about this war being about oil and yes of course if my country was invaded and other countries were stealing our resources I would be furious. I would want to fight back. But haven’t we always gotten our oil from Iraq? Why is it such a big deal right now? But then again it is hard to discriminate against different countries in the middle east because when I think of the middle east my mind goes right back to September 11th. All I remember from that day is that the middle east attacked our country and almost caused a loss in our family. From that day forward I just have associated all of the middle east bad and I was all for the war. I guess I never thought of it from Sam’s perspective and put myself in the shoes of other individuals. At least now I understand why there is so much confusion and commotion over this war and I also understand now why the Middle Eastern troops are fighting back.

I chose to post about this video game because just a few days ago my boyfriend was telling me about this game. He said his roommate downloaded it online and he said it was made in Japan and it was a game where guys rape girls. I thought he was joking at first. I didn’t even think someone could come up with such a game. Is this person a sicko, or is this person really smart because they know that many many other sick individuals will get pleasure out of playing this game. I found it interesting how CNN had all Asian reporters covering this topic, not that there is anything wrong with that what so ever I just found it ironic. It is really sad that our world has come to this, I am one against all video games but especially this one. I think sitting around playing a stupid game is a waste a time and its not making you any smarter. I also think many violent video games put terrible ideas into children’s heads. If kids are practicing shooting and killing people at young ages through a video game then what is going to happen when they are older. I think that video games lead to the increase of teen violence and death in the united states. In the video CNN said they could not get a statement from the Japanese government. That is very frustrating in itself, your country has sickos coming up with these kinds of video games that anyone in the world can download and see and you have no comment on it? That does not make the Japanese government look very well. Also, along with the Japanese government I am not happy with our government. The united states government has so much power. Why is this game still downloadable and searchable? The government can erase anything they want to, they can hack into many computer, so why haven’t they. I know that some people have argued that this game will decrease in the number of rapes and deaths in the united states because rapists can just play this game but I seriously disagree. As gross as it is, people who like to rape other people want it to be in person, no through a fake character on a tv screen. This game may be funny to them but it will not satisfy them. CNN stated that many women activist groups were outraged by this video and I am outraged as well. I think this video goes along with Sam’s quote from a few classes ago, “ this is a man’s world.” A majority of men are laughing at this video. But if it was men getting raped by women then who would be laughing. If it was men in this game I think it would have been pulled from the web a lot sooner and I think both governments would have a public statement about it. I can only hope that women start to get more respect in this world and I can only hope that sickos that produce video games like this get what they deserve.

Sam, I have to admit I was one of those girls whose mouth dropped open when you started talking about your wife’s bleeding. But then I really thought about your point of view. Why can we talk about? Especially as adults in college, we are all over 18 years of age and we can’t talk about a normal bodily function that happens to women. And thank god this thing happens to women or there would be no reproduction in today’s society. I think part of the reason half of the class was outraged was because this topic was so randomly brought up and I think a lot of the women in the class felt like you just publically embarrassed your wife in front of 700 students. I had no idea she was as comfortable discussing her 28 day cycle as you are. I think it is great and a good example to others how open you two are not only with each other but with other people. You both are not afraid to say what you think and feel. I think it is interesting how you flipped the scenario and compared a girls menstrual cycle to people of color segregated by water fountains and busses. I do agree that this topic is an example of ethnocentrism, we, especially males should be able to put themselves in a women’s shoes and be more understanding of this annoying “thing” that happens to women every month. I know my boyfriend used to get so freaked out by this topic that I couldn’t even say the world period. It was always .. are you on your “time” right now? After months of dating he is finally starting to be more accepting of it and can have conversations with me about it. I think the reason we are truly resistant to talking about this subject is because of how this issue was handled when we were younger. When I was in grade school the girls and guys are separated when it was time to have the health and sex talks. Why ? if the males had stayed in the room and been educated on girls menstrual cycles early in life, like women are, maybe most men wouldn’t be resistant to talking about it. Instead of facing this problem head around males and female tend to go around it because we are embarrassed, women almost are ashamed that this bleeding happens to us. I can’t imagine living in a world where we didn’t question things. Thank god you question as many things as you do because it really opens the minds of students. How else can we make progress. And besides isn’t sociology all about questioning things, if you don’t like it why would u take this class. Open your mind up to new things and experiences.

Um this is beyond absurd. What has happened to our world? I thought we were making progress in reducing discrimination, I guess I was very wrong. When will people ever it up it. Life is life, there will always be people you disagree with, ideas and opinions, you disagree with, and final decisions that you disagree with. You can’t fight every person you don’t like its just wrong and unethical. If your boss made a huge decision that he felt was the best for your company would u call him the N word, I don’t think so. Also these are elected officials, house of democratics, where is your respect. These are not just average people; they were elected by OUR vote to represent our voices. I couldn’t believe that Emanuel Cleaver was spat on. Really ? how can some individual sink that low. That is embarrassing to us as US citizens. I am proud of the congressman stating how he is not intimidated by this disgusting behavior, good for him for sticking up for himself and his race. I also don’t think that the actions of these people really has to do with health care. I think the actions of these people are caused by the inability to let the past go, and their personal inability to not discriminate against people of a different race. These protestors feel powerless therefore they think they need to rebel. After reading the article I went through the pictures of the protest that the site provided and it was sickening. One picture had Obama portrayed as Hitler. Come on now. Really? One Hitler’s number one objective was to wipe out an entire religion and its followers, he had no compassion, was sick in the head, and created a crazy army. Obama has none nothing of this short so I think it is absurd to compare him to Hitler. Also some of the signs had pictures of gun and were threatening elective officials. Why do people have this much time on their hands. One picture was about saving the future of babies and these children barely old enough to speak had these protesting signs leaning up against their strollers. Are these parents really setting a good example for their children? I don’t think so what so ever. These individuals are an embarrassment to Americans and it makes me embarrassed to be a Republican. I think that these individuals are still mad about Obama being elected as president and I don’t think they are really concerned with the passing of the health care. I understand the administration may have its flaws but doesn’t everything have flaws. Perfection in this world does not exist. Give this man a chance at presidency first before you go ripping his throat out.

I have many different issues regarding this topic, first of all how dare somebody take away everyone’s prom just because she has something against gay people. I understand that gay couples at a prom may make some students feel uncomfortable but how can you punish the entire school. Students wait their entire life to get to go to prom. Just because someone is a lesbian she has every right to go to prom just as every other student does. The school board said that attending prom with your girlfriend would be a distraction to the educational process. How is this a distraction? This is reality this is real life, if a school can’t encourage differences and personal happiness then how can the rest of the world ever accept it? I also think that it was absurd that the school circulated a memo banning same sex dates at prom. Why does the school board get to decide this. School is supposed to be a place where differences are accepted and students can be themselves, image how a gay students must feel when they walk around their school and see flyers everywhere stating how against gays the school is. I think it was very brave for Ms. McMillen to ask her school board if it was okay for her and her girlfriend to come to prom, in a way she was standing up for gay rights. Also, if she wants to wear a tux she should be able to wear a tux. Geez, let the girl feel comfortable in her own skin. McMillen asked a teacher about the same sex rules and she was told she needed to be reminded of her location. Ok so she lives in Mississippi, shouldn’t this state be just as accepting of gays as other states. Yes but I do understand that some states are farther ahead then others. It is 2010 already, it is time the world starts to understand that not every romantic relationship is going to be between opposite sexes. To be honest I’m not sure how my high school would have handled this situation. I come from an area where there are not many open gay individuals, I can only think of one gay person in my high school and he sadly never came out because he never felt comfortable. I don’t think the idea of same sex couples would be greatly accepted in my high school either, however I do not think that our school board would have canceled our prom. To me that is just absurd. If our prom was canceled I feel that all the other students would have stranded up for the gay individual and fought for equal rights. Sadly though, I think that this would only be because students wouldn’t want their own prom to be taken away from them.

This is a very controversial topic, and to be honest I’m not sure who’s side I’m on and how I feel about the whole thing. I initial thought was wow could this man Don Moose be any more racist and discriminatory. But then as I continued to read and watched the video I kind of started to think that maybe this man is smart, he is trying to market this basketball team, and well since the team is for “whites only” he is generating so much buzz about his team just because of the name. Moose wants people to come and watch these men play, there has been so much controversy over this topic that of course he is going to get his wish and tons of people are going to come watch a team of all white males play basketball.
As I continued to read I also get the idea that Moose was saying that white men can keep up with the black athletes in the NBA. I don’t think this is true at all. Yes, a majority of the professional basketball players are black but some and white and the ones who are white as just as good if not some times better then the black players. How do white professional basketball players feel about this all white team. Do they think it’s a good idea? I think it gives white people a bad rap. Moose says he wants to restore sanity to the game. What does that mean? That statement seems racist as well, do black people not play the game with sanity or something? Also Sam I’m not sure what you mean by people watching a slower style game. Like I said before the NBA is made up of white and black athletes and the white players do not play any slower than the back ones. I do know what you mean though with your ending statement because white people can’t jump as high as black people. But does that even matter?
Whether Moose means to or not he is coming off as extremely racist especially after his comment: “With players on other professional teams carrying guns, attacking fans in the stands, and going through the motions of playing the game, fundamentally sound [W]hite players are a vanishing species. Moose is acting and speaking like white basketball players are becoming extinct or something. Plenty of white males athletes and non athletes carry guns- he is being very discriminatory and judgmental toward black athletes in my opinion. I also agree with you Sam on Moose’s choice of words- he does sound like a racist and not like a business man. He should have planned out his speech and opinions a little smarter. I think he is annoying and I don’t like the idea of his all white team at all, everyone should play sports together and may the best man win.

I think it is unfortunate that a woman like Yvose doesn’t have the opportunity to excel in the United States or even another country that is better off then Haiti. Yes maybe she would rise right to the top or maybe she wouldn’t.
I feel that many executives in the corporate world work very hard to get where they are today. For example my father is an executive vice president at Morgan Stanley Bank in NY and he wasn’t just placed there. He started at the bottom and worked his way up. He didn’t know anyone or have any connections. He works very hard and works a ridiculous amount of hours. The work load is never ending.

She is so smart to borrow money from the bank. She keeps all of her clients in a little book that she keeps hidden I believe. So her house got destroyed but not her book. Also I wondering is this illegal what she is doing? Im not sure. Are you allowed to do what she does? I can’t imagine the stress that she is going through right now, her shop owners were all killed she didn’t get paid any of her money and now she owes the bank $100 and she doesn’t have it. That’s so sad. I wonder if she can work something out with them. How can the bank not be supportive. What is she and all the other thousands of people supposed to do. They lost everything, they can’t just pull money off of trees. I think it is great how this rich and powerful man is interested in her story and how smart she is. I hope he ends up helping her out.

Wow. This woman YVROSE JEAN BAPTISTE blows me away. I couldn’t compete with her. How does someone with a fifth grade level education understand loans, interest, and making money? I can barely understand all of that and I am in college. This is a perfect example of survival of the fittest. She might not be “educated” as well as some of us, but she is way smarter. She has learned to use the resources around her and the people around her to become successful and support her family. I don’t recall any mention of a husband. Where is he and is there one. I’m guessing she has children to support since she talked about supporting her family. She is just like any other typical business person, she gets on a bus to travel to her “work” just like many people get on trains to travel into the cities where they work. Then at the end of the day after all the business meetings and transactions have been completed she goes home.

People just forget to recognize it. I guess this topic brings up the idea that although slavery has been banished there is still racism and segregation existing in the world today. I don’t know why and I don’t understand why but I know many black people feel this way. I also think that this and many other racial issues are difficult to discuss that is why we are still experience so many racial segregations as in why is everything either black or white. Why don’t we talk about these issues. Why would people not want to live in a more diverse country. Why are we holding back. I think many individuals are afraid to speak what they really think. I no personally I’m afraid to something speak cause what if something slips out as a joke or by accident will I offend someone. I would never want to hurt someone’s feelings. It a touchy and uncomfortable subject the topic of black and white but until we can talk about it face to face we will continue to make little progress.