It is really unfortunate about your brother. I feel like even if your dad is the coach, you shouldn’t have that advantage. You should be able to show the potential to be that great athlete and then, if you are deserving, you should be rewarded with a position on the team. I also, have seen an example of when a kid slacked in school because he knew his future was already set with his parents business. I feel like this is the downfall of nepotism but there is nothing we can really do about this. The only thing we can do is try as hard as we can to benefit from nepotism because it will never go away.
The one thing that I really agreed with at the end of the lecture was the fact that President Obama knows his girls will benefit from affirmative action. I feel like just because you have a notable father, or a notable last name, such as Paris Hilton, doesn’t mean that you should have the right to be able to do what you want when you want, or get the jobs you want when you want.
I have also, like Dr. Richards, have been the victim of nepotism when it comes to getting jobs. The only job I actually got myself was the one that I currently have. All my other jobs have come from family members, knowing people that own businesses or just name dropping one of my friends names in an email so that I could get it. To me though, as stated before, I would love to be a victim of nepotism whenever I can because that is the only way we can advance in today’s society.
One thing that I found extremely comical, especially since I am a catholic, was the response to the Ten Commandments and how all these people feel they follow it in daily life. I know for sure that people do not follow this at all. I try to use this in daily life but even trying to do this is hard. The only one that is even reasonable to follow is do not kill. Otherwise, most of those people in the survey were blatantly lying.
This lecture was very interesting in the facts and some of the surveys that were taken to show how this country really operates. First off, nepotism is something that, I feel, can’t be avoided in today’s society. It is one of those things that are encouraged by most people, especially here at Penn State and by various employers as well. I have been told from a young age that I will succeed in life, not because I was the smartest person or because I got the best grades, but because I am very outgoing and very personable. In the industry I am studying, hospitality, it is especially important to network and it is preached in every class that it is who you know not what you know. We are encouraged to make business cards and when we go to conferences, just meet employers, talk to them, and give them a business card because that one time you talk to someone at a conference, it could be that one person that helps you get a job or that person that knows an alumni. Even though nepotism is something that is being frowned upon in this class, it is unfortunately a way of life and a way to get ahead in this world.
I couldn’t agree with you more. I feel like people out there don’t realize what this country is coming too when it comes to ILLEGAL immigration. Our ancestors did it the right way. I am not talking about the Pilgrims and the Native Americans. That is a completely different story. I am talking about the immigrants that came through Ellis Island; those immigrants that did it the right way. I am kinda ticked that some stupid Americans are being brainwashed to believe that what the Mexicans are doing, standing on a corner, looking for jobs, coming over here and taking these jobs that other people could have is truly ridiculous.
They should be able to come over here but they must have a green card and they must do whatever it takes to become an American citizen the right way. My ancestors did it, why can’t they.
. I feel like since the US has been under attack as recent as the Times Square bombings and the Russian espionage case, we must take all measures possible to make sure that we are safe.
I also feel like we cannot take the blame anymore for what our ancestors did and as much as Dr. Richards wants to push the point that we are on “red land”, I am not taking the blame anymore. I cannot take the blame for the things that my happened six generations ago. I feel like the problems aren’t with the immigrants from Asia, Europe, or even Africa. I feel like the one place where we need to pay all of our attention to is the Mexican border. It is the main place where these immigrants are coming over illegally. Sure, my ancestors came over here as well, but my ancestors did it through Ellis Island in New York. They went through physicals and tests so that they could be put in a better opportunity. I understand where you might say don’t these Mexicans have every right as your ancestors? Well, they should but only if they do it legally.
Immigration is one of the hottest subjects in today’s society, next to BP oil of course, and to me, I find that immigration to be interesting before Dr. Richards talked about it. I personally found Glenn Beck to be a great example of how this topic is not a republican issue, democratic issue, it is just an issue. I myself, growing up and living through the trauma that some friends went through with 9/11 I have a very different feeling about the topic of immigration. I feel like it is too easy for people to come into this country and do what they want. Here is my background story. I am still currently young. I am only 18. When the attacks on the World Trade Center happened, I was just starting 5th grade. I lived in northern New Jersey and from my house; I could clearly see the WTC. This event overall traumatized me for days because I knew one person that died in the attacks and two people that should have. This is why my stance on immigration is as it is. I feel that if you want to come into the United States for an extended period of time, one must go through extensive tests such as background checks and previous jobs must be presented as well.
I completely agree with you with what you are saying about the difference between a Chinese flag and an American Flag. To me, the American flag holds a certain place in my heart. To me it stands for liberty, freedom, justice, and that pursuit of that dream that is possibly here. I feel like I could be the same way with the Chinese flag because our values that are in our flag such as freedom, is a fight that is still being fought today in the Middle East. That flag embodies everything that I believe is right and wrong. It embodies the country that I love (even when they blow it in the World Cup) and will forever love as long as I live.
I felt like the second lecture dealing with LGBT relations was really interesting because not too long ago, I myself had to deal with this issue. I used to be one of those guys who had a problem with it because I wasn’t really brought up thinking that it was acceptable to be a gay man, especially as a catholic. Then, about two years ago, my uncle came out and told my family that he was gay. I had a hard time changing my overall feelings about the LGBT community, but then I realized that he was happy and that there was nothing wrong with being a member of the LGBT community. Just because you don’t have the same sexual wants as a heterosexual doesn’t make you any different than another person. Some people that are a part of the gay community choose to act differently, such as dress differently or speak in a higher tone, or any other of those stereotypes that come along with being gay. Honestly though, if you were to meet my uncle on the street, you would think he is a normal, hard working guy. He doesn’t dress different or speak different. He just has a different sexual preference. That is the only difference between him and a heterosexual man.
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