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soitgoes00
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15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
I too have seen the Oprah video before and can relate to it just like you. I went to the “better” school, which also happened to be about 35-40 minutes away from my home district’s school. It is a shame that some children are subjected to such terrible learning environments. It is worse to think that there could be A LOT of really bright kids that could make a significant impact on this world and we are restricting their education and learning capacities. I think school is one place where opportunities could be made the same for most children, and while everything else seems to be unequal, this is one thing the government could equalize but has not yet done.
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
I agree that inequalities are a part of life. Of course, if we are on the “winning” side of whatever is unequal, we are okay with inequality. Also, everyone wants different things as you said, and I like how Dr. Richards pointed out that some of us want to work and be successful while others are happy under their coconut tree. I actually babysit too and have gotten most of my babysitting jobs due to nepotism – I did not even think of that! I too would like to think I am qualified for the jobs that have been handed to me, even if they have been handed to me. Is this what Dr. Richards was trying to point out when he said we put ourselves up on a pedestal or are we TRULY capable of doing our jobs efficiently? I think it may be a mixture of both. I too will use nepotism to further benefit me and my family. It just seems like the obvious thing to do…
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
Inequality will never go away as Dr. Richards said. The ones who are “on top” will never allow other groups to quite reach their level. While I understand this and admit that I would not want a totally equal nation, I must also say that the current gaps of inequality must be bridged together a bit more. Affirmative action is a way to help bridge these gaps, though I think there may be a better solution out there. What this solution is, though, I could not tell you…
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 1 reply · +1 points
I also wanted to say that I agree that something must be done about our education system. It is so obvious that some children have a significant advantage over others. Sometimes, we can do something about these situations, and sometimes we cannot. I certainly think we should try to level the playing field a bit by giving students the same education on a national level. As the one student said in the video, wealthy people will still wind up benefitting a little more than others, but at least the gap will be closed a little. I believe this is the least we can do. It hurts to think that there are bright individuals out there who are not using their full learning potential because they do not have the opportunities to do so.
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
I do not think affirmative action and nepotism is bad if the people who are “advancing” or “benefitting” can prove that they can handle the job they were given and can prove beneficial to their company, school, etc. I know when I was given my summer job, I worked extra hard to prove that I was capable of doing the jobs handed to me because I did not want to be seen as “the boss’s daughter who got a job handed to her.” I feel like others who are like me may think in the same way and work extra hard to prove their competence. Some, however, may not.
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
For as long as I can remember my parents have told me that it is not what I know, but who I know. I never wanted to believe this because I thought that I was perfectly capable of getting any job I desired or getting into any school I wanted because I could show that I was a good worker and a good student. However, when put up against someone who has a connection, I often lose out. I see now why affirmative action has been put in place. Dr. Richards asked an important question – is affirmative action really that bad? I can now honestly say it is not. I am also one who says nepotism is not that bad. Why? Because I have benefitted from it directly and will make contacts in life so that myself and my family can use these contacts for our benefit. Why do something the hard way when you can just call up someone you know? Why should I go through the rigorous process of applying for an internship when my aunt works at the place I want to intern at and can get me an interview right away?
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
Before this lecture I was strongly against affirmative action. I believe that people should be hired for jobs or accepted into schools based on their qualifications. However, as a “victim” of nepotism, I now realize that I have been given opportunities without displaying my abilities first. When I was 15 my father got me a summer job at an office; my dad was the Chairman of the Board of Directors who made the executive decisions of this particular office. I started off being paid $8.50 an hour, and by the end of the summer was being paid $9.50 an hour. This was unheard of for someone my age where I live. Today I still hold this job at $12.50 an hour, which is more money per hour than any of my friends make. How did I get this “great job” as my friends describe it? Because I had connections.
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 8 - Lesson 14: Af... · 0 replies · +1 points
I am very happy that Dr. Richards brought a lot of these truths of affirmative action and nepotism to light. I for one never realized how very similar affirmative action and nepotism were. To backtrack a bit, I was shocked by the realization that most of the ten percent of beneficiaries of affirmative action were white women. I was further surprised when Dr. Richards pointed out that by white women being the beneficiaries, white men receive benefits as well (by being married to these white women). I think it is strange how these programs that are not necessarily made to benefit white males wind up benefitting them in some way.
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 7 - Lesson 13: Im... · 0 replies · +1 points
Finally, this lecture also confused me on my stance of immigration. How are we supposed to solve this issue if we are all confused over it? Furthermore, it does not help that we are being given mixed messages on this. It is hard to change all of our views (especially the negative ones) on immigration quickly. I think this will be a slow progressing issue, but I hope it can be solved. Guess we have to look to the businesses now…
15 years ago @ Race Relations Project - Week 7 - Lesson 13: Im... · 0 replies · +1 points
I too never realized how much we do not want poor people in this country unless they can be exploited. It is like we are saying, “Okay, you are poor, but it is alright if you can help me out and help me prosper.” Otherwise, why deal with the trouble of poor people? The whole roommate example was truly helpful. I agree with you – I would want a wealthy roommate and have had a wealthy roommate. This made for a very easy living situation. I was very disturbed by the Congo video. If Congo was a person and not a dog would the situation be different and Congo be prosecuted? It is sad that we are valuing a dog’s life over the life of an immigrant. No matter what, the immigrant is a human being, and he should be treated as such.
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