It is a way to stay connected to their old lives and keep their lives somewhat normal and like it was before. It is hard to believe, however, when the gentleman was talking about his business with the charging cell and TV that he was not only doing it for the money. If he was doing it for the people than why charge? I think by saying that it made himself feel better about what he is doing, which I do not judge him for at all. I believe if anyone else was placed in that situation they would turn to the same reasoning. It is an interesting point that the economic market has become more competitive now than it was before. I never looked at it in that way and I also found it really interesting when the guest speaker told us about giving we are actually taking away from them. I would like to say I was surprised when he spoke about the helpers fighting about which idea is the best, but I am not. It is a sad day when people fight over how to help people just so they can be the good guys in the end.

It seems incredible to me that out of all that chaos and pain, people are able to find themselves. I think the thing that surprised me the most was the man charging people to charge their cell phones. And what is more surprising is he is only charging 30 cents. It is a great culture shock to see a community that is working with 30 cents as a charge and that that some is a great amount at this time. I remember in class when the guest speaker said that Haiti was on the cusp of great economy it is disheartening to think that this country could fall so far and yet be able to bring back some sort of semblance of economic culture. It is hard to imagine being placed in a situation like that and being able to think of anything other than being afraid of what tomorrow would bring, but these people have understood their fate and found a way to fight to make it the best they can. I was really surprised that the salon woman was actually making any money. I would think that people would want to save the money they have so it is surprising that they would pay to get their nails and hair done. However, I can see why they would spend their money in that way.

I thought the class on Thursday was interesting, to say the least. When Sam started the lecture I was not sure how he would approach the subject, whether he was going to push us to one side or be highly against the issue. It was an awesome experience, in my opinion to see the issue from “the other side.” I understand that I would never be able to truly see it from the perspective of an Iraqi or Israeli person but the class gave me an opportunity to view this subject. I can tell you honestly before that class I would have blindly said that I do not understand the other side was angry, why they had any right to fear America when we are over there trying to give them a better life. But by placing myself into their shoes, they are just like me. Trying to defend their home and their land is what I would do. I feel pushed upon by another who was coming into my home boasting freedom and a future that was better. However, the one thing I see as getting lost in translation is the duration of occupation. I feel the people there thought it would a quick take down and then America would be gone, which again points to the animosity the people feel and the animosity I would feel if I were in their position. I find it very disheartening the view of Christianity in Iraq and Afghanistan, however I can see where the image of “God’s soldiers” could be seen and thought to have been across the board. I do see the parallels between my views and the views of others. It is easy to get caught up in one image, especially if that image is focusing the death or torture of a fellow countryman. I can also see, on that same note, the idea of mass patriotism after viewing these actions, so instead of getting all the facts you feed into the mass idea of fighting these foreign enemies that have hurt someone that you may have known, or is a brother of a friend, etc. I find it really interesting when you speak to some people about the war how they play on the emotions of a person: well you have to know someone in the military, or have a family member or have a really good friend who has a family member. It ties you into the cause that you may not have agreed with, but they found a tie and it is one that is really hard to break.

Because of our cultures way of life now a day, we see children becoming more immersed in the video game world and because of this a game of this nature has no place in it. It is a sad reality that these games are molding the children of the world but it is true and if a game of this nature is introduced to the future of this world, I will hope to die young before I see what is spawned from it. The video shows that the genitals of these “characters” are distorted to keep the game from being too graphic. However, I believe that whether they show it privates or not it does not change the message of the game, rape is rape no matter how it is shown. In fact, if you truly think about it is almost teasing those playing this game, planting the seed of wonder and giving reason for future actions that may mimic these actions. It is hard to view this game as at all acceptable; however, we see this type of behavior in the shoot-em’ up games that litter stores and televisions across the world. It then comes to a question of: if you ban this game for vulgar behavior and the fact that this behavior is illegal and demoralizing, than how can say Grand theft Auto be allowed or Call of Duty?

I am not a video game kind of person. I do not understand how anyone can sit and stare at screen for however long many of these “gamers” do. So to me the idea of even spending time on playing these games makes no sense. But to waste your time by virtually raping a person goes completely over my head, to say the least. I never really gave thought to the idea of video games inducing certain behavior. I know many argue that war games institute an ok image to people that killing others is acceptable and I can now see that argument clearly, especially with this game. I do not understand what type of person not only plays this type of game, but creates it and thinks that this is a subject matter that is ok. I truly do not buy the argument that this is a safe forum for those who have these urges and it is better to have them express their desires in the game rather than in real life. It is just another excuse to push the envelope and allow something so brutal and inhuman to occur.

I thought it was interesting that in the video the one man said that he saw why that term was placed on the census but would not mark that as him. I wonder why, if he found this acceptable, why he would not check it as a racial descriptor for him? I also found it surprising about the Latino issue of race. I never really thought about how many different backgrounds one person could have because I have been checking the white box for so long. It is easy to see, now, how upset I would be if I was put in the position to choose only one background if half my family was from Puerto Rican and the other half was from Cuba and then I also had some other ethnicity as well. I do wonder what the typical “white” person would do if they were not provided with the generic white box? If they had to choose, English, Swiss, Norwegian, etc. I see why the census used the term “negro,” I feel like there had to have been a percentage of the population that recognized themselves with this category or they would not have put it on the census. Yet I fear that the point of the census will get lost in a race fight.

It is hard to agree or disagree with this argument. On one had I do not believe that this should be as big of an issue as people are making it. Yes race is an important identifier for everyone; however the bigger picture is the good the census does and the point of it. Millions of dollars will be allocated as a result of this census and if people refuse to fill out on bases of offense to them because of racial categories than the entire reason for it is lost and it is not only those who did not fill out that will suffer but the communities they live in. This is easy for me to say though. I checked the white box and went on my way. I can see it from the other side of the coin. The term “negro” was used for so long as a word that had the power to turn a grown man into nothing but a thing, so I can totally see why some people would see this as offensive and not accept this as a term to be used to categorize them.

One thing that I noticed was that when black people responded to the question of why this was, many said that they were instilled with the image that white was beautiful. But what I would like to know is who put these images in their minds? Why or where in their lives was it said that the lighter you are the better? I believe that beauty is beauty no matter the color, size, shape, so and so on of a person. It baffles me to think that anyone is being told they are not beautiful because of the color of their skin. What I wonder is if this idea of white being beautiful is standard in all black communities? Is the thought process the same in say a high income suburb area vs. a low income, inner city community? What killed me the most about the video was at the very end when the little girl is asked which is the bad doll and then asked which one looked like her. Again I just do not understand where this image of “black is bad” got placed in these children’s heads.

I did not know what to expect when Sam said this would be the most disturbing video we would see all year. I was confused when it first came on but once the experiment was shown I understood what he meant. It is strange for me, mainly because I am white, to see this video and not understand why the children would not pick the black doll to play with. I suppose I have my self tricked into thinking that I would and did play with the white dolls when I was little because they looked like me. I never questioned where the dolls of other color were. I saw little kids that were different from me but never question where the doll was that matched them because I was content with the doll that looked like me. I wonder what would happen in they did that experiment with white children but did not give them the choice of a white doll? What would they choose if they were forced to look outside of their comfort zone? Again I still cannot believe how many chose the white doll to play with and how many said the black doll was the bad doll. It makes me wonder what do they see when the look in the mirror and what happened to them that they believe that this is actually true.

Ok so I go to theme parties, in fact I have hosted a few and I have never had a theme party geared to poking fun at black people. In fact, if anyone is being made fun of it is the white trash or Jersey shore natives. I cannot deny that most of the theme parties that I have attended have been focusing around making fun of cultural group, but again I have really never been to a theme party that puts the focus on black culture.
I think one of the biggest reasons for theme parties is to have fun. Being able to get dressed up as something you are not is fun and exciting. I mean the best part of a theme party is finding what you are going to wear and how you top everyone else there. On a deeper note, I think themes parties give everyone a chance to focus on other peoples differences instead of their own. It is almost a social way of fitting in. You find something about another group of people, be it their habits, ideals, etc. I am not saying it is right, but I do not believe it is a breeding ground for hatred and racism. (THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF MY POST)