rtesh36
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13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Letter from an Inmate · 0 replies · +1 points
This is honestly a very touching piece of writing and I can definitely say that I appreciate it. There are always two sides to every story and people tend to think that everyone in jail is an evil person and deserves to spend the rest of their lives in jail cells. After all, there an alarming number of people who are on death row for crimes that they never even committed. You have to look at things rationally and while most of these men are convicted murderers they still have feelings even after making an unforgivable mistake. These people unfortunately made larger mistakes than others.
Reading this letter has made me feel a different way about these people. It gave me a different perspective, and I tried to put myself in the s hoes of a “lifer” as I read the letter. I could never in a million years being in jail for life, it is a very scary thought. I personally feel that it is also very interesting the way that a person changes while in prison. Everyone goes through the life cycle, and all people are different at different points in their life. Basically in conclusion, I think there are two ways these convicted felons can look at their situation. They can sit around in your cell thinking how bad your life is or you can get over it and realize that this is your fate and you will be here for life. The people who finally accept it end up being better people because of it. The least you can do is try to help others and steer them away from the mistakes that you have made. People like convicted serial killers try to say things along the lines of finding God while in prison and other things in hopes of parole. Whether that is true or not, this letter was good to read, it was very touching and it definitely opened my eyes.
13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Christian Invaders - t... · 0 replies · +1 points
I am sure that there are a lot of people that sat there in class and felt very offended by Professor Richard’s lecture. I think that is because people hate admitting that they are wrong. You have to look at this issue rationally and that is what I think Professor Richards’s goal was. I’m sure that there will continue to be people who think that their point of view is still right and that our military actions were justified. I think this lecture could have been an eye opener to a lot of people, because the idea that Professor brought up was that although our primary goal is to hunt the terrorists is that really true? Oil seems to be another key factor after the presentation, and the U.S. government is using terrorism as another reason to justify the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. After the lecture, I am absolutely convinced that our government has obligations other than just trying to fight and rid the terrorists. Another interesting point that came up in the lecture was much like the way some people in our society may think and want to unfairly assume that “all Arabs and Muslims are terrorists”, the Arabs and Muslims may also think that the “Americans are all evil”. The thing people do not realize is that people in both groups are mostly good, and that there are only a few bad in the majority of good. Now am I saying that there are not things that the Arabs and Muslims are not doing wrong either. There is probably a lot more we need to learn about this issue to make a realistic decision to the question of if we would fight against the U.S. army. It’s a great debate topic and a very important issue in our country today. The great thing about this issue of the war is something we can all relate to. Most of us are American citizens in the class, not all but most, and this is such a polarizing issue that it is going to divide people one way or another.
13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - How Can We Ever "Win"? · 0 replies · +1 points
Now the LL Bean catalog in my mind could definitely be perceived as a joke, but I can see through it and say that it was not meant to be a joke. I guess he was trying to demonstrate the immersion stage and just how far people in this stage will go. We did watch the video with the black man wanting to exterminate all whites, and I think that was to illustrate how someone in the immersion stage looks at people of other races. People like this see people of other races as inferior to them, and I think that is garbage. The LL Bean example shows how a person in the immersion stage might react to those that might react to someone of their own race who is not coming up to their own particular standards. LL Bean has been a dominant brand over the years. It is a white dominated brand. I think the key is that they are having people of different races meaning that this line of clothing can and should be worn by people of all races mot just whites. I do not have an issue with that at all. I do not know if the same would be said for a white male modeling for a predominantly black brand such as Roccawear or Enyce to name a few.
I don’t know the answer to the question of if you can win, but I do think that if you can finally get to the humanitarian stage you would be in good shape. A lot of people get caught up in the lower stages but I think that it is important to balance and try to understand neutral level with all races.
13 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Nothing About the Cens... · 0 replies · +1 points
I think that CNN chose arguably the most diverse metropolis in the country when they did this report in New York, and I thought it was very interesting to hear the CNN reporter start off with the conversation by saying that he wasn’t offended when he saw “Negro” being placed in the Census. Now when the black woman was interviewed, she in my mind had a big overreaction. I think it is because of over sensitive people like that woman that there is an issue. People in this society, especially certain minorities are way too over sensitive when it comes to racial identity. People like this woman, and many others I think are way too close minded when it comes to racial issues, I mean after all, the census’s goal is not to offend people at all. Certain people are spending way too much time sweating, stressing and fretting over the small stuff in my opinion. I am a minority, and I can still say that these people overreacted and attest to it. I think it is also interesting, that some of the same people in this interview who were so overly offended by the categories on the census, did also not have full knowledge of their full heritage and race. People are making judgments about the census without even knowing the full extent of it, and the whole goal behind it.
Now on the opposite side of the spectrum, I am not saying that the word “negro” is not offensive to African Americans, because it absolutely is. And there are definitely modifications that need to be made to the census as well. Because the reality is, our country is coming to a point where everyone has such a diverse background, that it is hard for people to pinpoint one race they identify as. Yes there need to be changes made to the census I am not going to deny that, but I think there is also a change that needs to occur in the way people take the census. There is a clear objective for the census, and it does not need to be taken out of context, the way that the media at times and some of the interviewees in the clip do.
14 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Flip the Script for a ... · 0 replies · +1 points
If no one ever brought up the race issue, I think our society as a whole would be totally different. I mean think about it, so much of today’s society is predicated on colored people. Whether it is athletics, acting or singing, technology or whatever it may be. We as a country and a society would not have been the same without minorities and moving past segregation. I don’t care what people say, there is no way we would be as far as a society without people of color. It is up to white Americans I think to realize and close the still existent gap on racial inequality.
I can definitely see the correlation Professor Richards tries to make between the “28 day cycle” and race. Ethnocentrism is still a dwelling issue I think and it definitely still goes on today as well. The people that say “that’s just the way it is” are kind of ignorant and oblivious in my mind. I think that still to this day, it is a very touchy feely issue, and that is definitely why people do not like talking about it. And at times like the when it is crucial to talk about, I couldn’t agree with professor more on when he says that that is when people ignore, when in reality they should be considering it.
I think overall, it will still take a long time for people to fully accept people of color and actually be proactive on talking about the issue. There are so many intricacies and ideas that go into a topic like racial or gender inequality that it undeniably takes a long time to dissect.
14 years ago @ Race Relations Project - I Reckon She Can Hit · 0 replies · +1 points
Watching my coaches over the years, I know being a head football coach at even the high school level is stressful and brings upon a lot of pressure. The thing that makes football different from the other major sports is that there is always a male and female team for each sport all the way through college. There are both men’s and women’s teams for baseball/softball, basketball, soccer and even ice and field hockey among others.
If I was a football player at Calvin Coolidge High School, I would at first be a little skeptical towards this move. My questions would include how much experience does this coach have in football? What kind of schemes does she run on offense and defense? Can she hold authority among teenage boys, some of whom who may have motivational, morale, ego and other issues at that age? If I determine the person to be capable of doing all of those things successfully, I would have no problem with her as coach. It would be a tough pill to swallow at first but I think over time I would accept this drastic move. Certain things would definitely be awkward when she addresses the locker room or demonstrates something to be incorporated onto the field, but it seems that with Natalie Randolph she seems to have answered a lot of those questions. She does have some experience playing football and has loved it all of her life, so for me, I know that her passion would be there.
I’m sure that when she gets into football mode on the practice field, in the weight room, the film room and the football field on game day, she has a completely different demeanor than she did in the interview, portraying the shy and humble female. I think change is good, and this is just a small step in the gender equality process. Maybe females seeing Randolph becoming head football coach will inspire them to take unprecedented strides. She has a set a great example and standard for women everywhere becoming head football coach at a high school and I think she should be an inspiration to others.
14 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Why Is This Racist? R... · 0 replies · +1 points
Yes, some of the white players in the NBA may not be as physically gifted as the black players, but that does not mean they’re not talented or valuable contributors to NBA teams. Guys like Mike Miller and Kyle Korver are some of the most feared 3 point shooters in the NBA. I will even go as far as agreeing with Moose saying that white players are more fundamentally sound. They may be more fundamentally sound, but that is because they may have to rely more on those fundamentals than just sheer talent.
Lewis talks about this White League being simply a marketing niche, but the real niche in my opinion is the one white players and all players for that matter have to adjust to in the NBA. Regardless of race and not counting the Superstars and All-stars, there are players who are extraordinary jumpers or guys who rely on speed and quickness, some are defensive specialists, and some are shooting specialists. My point is that the players that aren’t stars in the NBA have to find their niche in the league. They have to adapt to the talent level in the NBA and find their niche on their own teams. Players of all races in all of the different sports have found success. Creating a white only league is an outrageous proposition. White players can succeed and do have talent in the NBA, all that matters is their work ethic and them realizing that they have to find their role in a highly talent driven NBA.
14 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Why Is This Racist? R... · 0 replies · +1 points
Yes, some of the white players in the NBA may not be as physically gifted as the black players, but that does not mean they’re not talented or valuable contributors to NBA teams. Guys like Mike Miller and Kyle Korver are some of the most feared 3 point shooters in the NBA. I will even go as far as agreeing with Moose saying that white players are more fundamentally sound. They may be more fundamentally sound, but that is because they may have to rely more on those fundamentals than just sheer talent.
Lewis talks about this White League being simply a marketing niche, but the real niche in my opinion is the one white players and all players for that matter have to adjust to in the NBA. Regardless of race and not counting the Superstars and All-stars, there are players who are extraordinary jumpers or guys who rely on speed and quickness, some are defensive specialists, and some are shooting specialists. My point is that the players that aren’t stars in the NBA have to find their niche in the league. They have to adapt to the talent level in the NBA and find their niche on their own teams. Players of all races in all of the different sports have found success. Creating a white only league is an outrageous proposition. White players can succeed and do have talent in the NBA, all that matters is their work ethic and them realizing that they have to find their role in a highly talent driven NBA.
14 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Why Is This Racist? R... · 0 replies · +1 points
Yes, some of the white players in the NBA may not be as physically gifted as the black players, but that does not mean they’re not talented or valuable contributors to NBA teams. Guys like Mike Miller and Kyle Korver are some of the most feared 3 point shooters in the NBA. I will even go as far as agreeing with Moose saying that white players are more fundamentally sound. They may be more fundamentally sound, but that is because they may have to rely more on those fundamentals than just sheer talent.
Lewis talks about this White League being simply a marketing niche, but the real niche in my opinion is the one white players and all players for that matter have to adjust to in the NBA. Regardless of race and not counting the Superstars and All-stars, there are players who are extraordinary jumpers or guys who rely on speed and quickness, some are defensive specialists, and some are shooting specialists. My point is that the players that aren’t stars in the NBA have to find their niche in the league. They have to adapt to the talent level in the NBA and find their niche on their own teams. Players of all races in all of the different sports have found success. Creating a white only league is an outrageous proposition. White players can succeed and do have talent in the NBA, all that matters is their work ethic and them realizing that they have to find their role in a highly talent driven NBA.
14 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Could You Compete With... · 0 replies · +1 points
Another thing I feel after reading this article is that we here in this country have so many different options. Options in everyday life as where we want to live, work, what we want to eat, etc. In countries such as Haiti even before the earthquake, you either have one option, and you either take it or leave it. This story of Yvrose was one that was very touching to me. It is inspiring and if you cannot help but admire her courage. I think and believe in time, Yvrose will continue to fight because she will have so much resiliency and perseverance. In time, she will be okay, hopefully. As far as competing on a level playing field with this lady, I think she can run with the best of them.