I have to commend the speaker of this video for really thinking about this issue. I don't think you are being a racist by thinking that Americans have more resources to help people in third world nations, and by these resources Americans will make more of an impact. I don't think that I am better than people in Haiti. I just think I have been dealt a different hand of cards than them. Just because I am fortunate enough to be in a better economic situation that allows me to help others as much as I can does not make me think that I am better than these people. These thoughts go along with Sam's lecture of luck, free will, and determinism. It is by luck and other factors throughout history that America has become the superpower it is. If similar circumstances would have happened to Haiti and not to the US, perhaps it would be Haitians who are contemplating this idea. Since America is such a wealthy nation I feel like it is our duty, to a degree, that we help out people who seek or help or who are in dire need of it (such as Haiti after the earthquake). Just because you are a citizen of a country with resources to that enable its fellow citizens to help people in unfortunate situations, I would not feel like a racist. To me, the definition of a racist is someone who thinks they are better than someone else based on the color of their skin. I think having more access to resources and being able to ultize those resources is in no way thinking your better than someone. Typically, the more resources one has, the more power they hold. Since America has a lot of resources, our country has a lot of power. Now the battle over resources has gotten America in a lot of trouble over the years, but the fact of the matter is the more resources a country has the more of an impact their people can make. You are not looking down upon them. Their economic plight was just the cards they were dealt. We in America, for the most part, were dealt with very favorable cards, and I think it is, to a degree, somewhat of our duty to help those in need.

I have said before that Sam can sometimes be repetitive and boring but today's lecture BLEW ME AWAY. Sam is doing his job when he is getting us to think about things differently. Just like I never thought about the whole Native American genocide here in the United States I guess I never put myself in a Muslim's shoes. I was terrified watching that "jihad" video Sam showed in the beginning of class. You are lying if you weren't even the tiniest bit scared of that video and the images. However it was images I was used too. The chaos, the blood- it's all I think about when I think of Islamic extremists. Previous to this lecture I've often thought, "why do Islamic extremists hate the USA so much?” Although my family has suffered the loss of a family friend in the Iraq War, and it was devastating to my family, after seeing today’s lecture I can somewhat sympathize with the Iraqis/Afghans and their plight, and a little of my anger towards them has gone away.

I have said before that Sam can sometimes be repetitive and boring but today's lecture BLEW ME AWAY. Sam is doing his job when he is getting us to think about things differently. Just like I never thought about the whole Native American genocide here in the United States I guess I never put myself in a Muslim's shoes. I was terrified watching that "jihad" video Sam showed in the beginning of class. You are lying if you weren't even the tiniest bit scared of that video and the images. However it was images I was used too. The chaos, the blood- it's all I think about when I think of Islamic extremists. Previous to this lecture I've often thought, "why do Islamic extremists hate the USA so much?” Although my family has suffered the loss of a family friend in the Iraq War, and it was devastating to my family, after seeing today’s lecture I can somewhat sympathize with the Iraqis/Afghans and their plight, and a little of my anger towards them has gone away.

I have said before that Sam can sometimes be repetitive and boring but today's lecture BLEW ME AWAY. Sam is doing his job when he is getting us to think about things differently. Just like I never thought about the whole Native American genocide here in the United States I guess I never put myself in a Muslim's shoes. I was terrified watching that "jihad" video Sam showed in the beginning of class. You are lying if you weren't even the tiniest bit scared of that video and the images. However it was images I was used too. The chaos, the blood- it's all I think about when I think of Islamic extremists. Previous to this lecture I've often thought, "why do Islamic extremists hate the USA so much?” Although my family has suffered the loss of a family friend in the Iraq War, and it was devastating to my family, after seeing today’s lecture I can somewhat sympathize with the Iraqis/Afghans and their plight, and a little of my anger towards them has gone away.

As previously stated, I was sacred watching that “jihad” video so I can only imagine the fear Muslims face when they watch the news and internet about the US having 50% of the military spending funds or electing leaders who want to shove the "Muslims back into their caves". Again, I never really thought about a country coming into my homeland, stripping us of our natural resources, the people doing the invading living the good life and then leaving our country in ruins. As with what Sam stated, I do not agree with the insurgencies killing and harming people with bombs and suicide attacks, but Sam had a good presentation on both sides of the controversial issue. He made comments about how Americans feel and how the Muslims feel. From Sam’s presentation, I do not agree with their actions but I have a better understanding on their unrest.

At the beginning of the semester I was thrilled with and loved Sam's class. After every class I was really questioning and thinking about what he had to say. After the classes on LGTBA issues, American Indian genocide, black Americans getting shut out of housing from the GI Bill, the "bleeding" class, my friend and I would have deep and insightful discussions on what Sam went over in class. Recently however, I have felt very bored with the repetitive nature of Sam's class until today. Sam was talking about slave labor and chocolate. I love chocolate. If you asked me for one food I could eat for the rest of my life it would be chocolate. I cannot get enough of it. However in today's lecture Sam showed us a video about slaves who work on coco fields and it was absolutely mortifying. I was almost reduced to tears watching this video. The part in the video that really moved me was at the end when one of the boys said, "when people eat chocolate they are eating my flesh". Sam gave us a piece of chocolate before the video started and the remaining taste in my mouth tasted like poison. I had absolutely NO IDEA that slave labor was used in the chocolate making process just like I really did not know how bad the American Indians suffered here in this country when the Europeans first came here. The boy in this video doesn't seem too impressed with Sam's lecture, and I will admit sometimes they can be quite repetitive and boring, but Sam is doing his job by getting us to think about issues we had no idea even existed or think about these issues in a new light. Sam showed us another slide about other foods that were made from slave labor and he even told us things he bought contained slave labor. However after the video was over Sam told us to eat the second piece of chocolate. I was confused, I said to myself "didn't you just watch that video?" Sam went on to make the point that it's not like you would never eat chocolate again in your life so why not just eat it. But then Sam alluded to the fact that God is watching our actions and that since we are aware of the slavery situation in the chocolate industry and don't do something about it we might be turned away at the Pearly Gates. I was confused with his logic, and I certainly wanted to get this cleared up because as a chocolate addict I was in a sticky situation. Every time I even think about chocolate now I will see these poor boy's faces from the video. However, as I was thinking about this and discussing it on the way home from class I came to the realization that Sam didn't show us that video for us to never eat chocolate again. He just wants to think. Even though Sam's class can get a little redundant after awhile he is really doing his job as sociologist because he is getting me to think. So to the boy in the video, yes I have definitely learned some interesting facts, views, and opinions from Sam's class. I can't say that they will change my own opinions but he is getting me to think, that is his job, and he is doing a great job of it. As for my chocolate dilemma, I will spread the word to others about the awful conditions of coco workers, I will research information on free trade chocolate (I did when I went home after class) and try to buy free-trade at whenever possible.

I can remember people in high school making me feel guilty about not following everything the Church had to say or wearing/acting in ways that were not "Christian-like". Religion is such a big part of America, and I think that it contributes to some of the controlling aspects of the American culture. There is also such a controlling aspect of the media in America, and media is such a huge component of American culture. We also discussed in my discussion group why people love and religiously watch/check E! news and UsMagazine.com, but they barely know what is occuring in the world. Again, I am definately guilty of checking and LOVING these sites, but I want to be well versed tin world evenrts as well. However, some people are too extreme one side or the other. I guess what I am trying to say is listen to other people's comments, opinions, views, etc. and be open to them, but make your own decisions and live by your own code. Don't let religion, or others, or the media, or other prominent people sway you for your true views.

Agreed, what is the big deal with the period thing? I think people just freaked out because he referred to his wife's period as "bleeding", and bleeding is normally associated with extreme intense, excruitating pain. Again, this is not saying the menstruation cycle is a walk in the park for women, but its not like were dying people. It is the means for creating life so everyone just chill out. Sam brings up a good point int the whole "waking up" aspect of things. I agree there is way too much controlling in what other people want others to think and believe. I truly believe that is why people get SO heated/frustrated/offended when we talk about religion. For instance, in our discussion group, some people didn't even want to discuss the concept, and I think people get so offended because in essence, religion tells you what to do and some people do not want others (the church, the followers) telling them what they are doing wrong. I believe in God, and I believe in certain aspects of the Catholic Church, but in no means do I follow the religion rule for rule.

I think the class was in such an uproar over Sam's comment about "bleeding" just because of the word. Although regular bleeding and menstrual bleeding are different, in a way no one likes to bleed. Bleeding usually results from someone injuring themselves and being in pain so of course everyone associates bleeding with a negative connotation. I mean I'll admit that I even cringed a little because "bleeding" make menstruation sound a lot of more painful than it can be. Granted, I am not saying that having your period is a cake walk, but calling it "bleeding", again, for me, makes it sounds like we are injured and in pain that is why were bleeding. Again, for some of that time you have your period you are in a lot of pain, but for me its never enough to warrant concern. However, even though the menstrual cycle is a normal thing, and a beautiful thing for the matter because God granted you the gift to have a baby, it is still a painful, long, and arduous process that I feel is really encouraged by society to keep very hush hush. Sam's comments on the matter reinforced this point. Every comment he made furthering this discussion on menstruation had more and more people leaving. I really began thinking why is this? If it was not for periods no one would be here. The vast majority of women in the world have their period, and guys to a degree know what is going on so again, why the big deal? We have been taught since about the 4th grade what a menstrual cycle does and still it is an extremely touchy subject. I feel like women even have to keep when they have their periods a secret. For instance when you are in need of a tampon or pad you have to find a girlfriend and quietly ask her. You couldn't just ask in a normal talking voice, it all has to be hush hush. Would so many of people left and groaned with disgust if sam was taking about some other bodily function or was it just because he was talking about menstruation? Why are we so grossed out by our own bodily functions? We should be glad that we are healthy enough to produce these things even if the things coming out of our bodies are not what society deems appropriate to discuss in public.

I know some people in America are this open about their sexuality but in London I saw a lot more gay PDA, pride, shows, and bars and was not met with so much resistance like it is here in America. It is so hard in this life to find someone you are comptaible with, so if someone has found somebody who they romantically connect with I say more the power to you. Everyone wants to find love, and why should anyone deny LGBTA people the right to happiness? Everyone deserves a chance to be happy. EVERYONE.