Race, Crash, Burn

We live in time period where making racist jokes to our friends or in songs doesn’t start a repeat of the 1960s. However most signs of racism are done incognito. It’s proven possible that skin color determines how the person is perceived throughout life. In the movie, Crash, being white, black, Muslim, Asian, or Mexican is not looked at positively. If you’re white you want to bust every black and Mexican person. Call every Muslim Osama, think every Asian is good. If you’re black you either hate or kiss up to white people. Going to a big high school, I’ve never really experienced any racism for having different colored skin. People don’t deicide if their friends with you based on the color of your skin but rather what actions you do to make you liked.  Unfortunately, I think you have to judge someone in order to be wrong about them. The rich black man in the movie didn’t believe that the young cop was helping him because he was white. I believe that you have to crash into someone and feel their pain before you can feel the burning desire to accept them as a human being. 

Black or White

I don't know how to put this but when I was 5 years old I realized I was brown. Well obviously I knew this before but it occurred to me that I will always be looked upon differently. I remember looking at the mirror that day, and I thought to myself all my friends look like Barbie, Britney Spears, Christina, or Jessica Simpson. I look like nobody. No doll or celebrity was Indian.I had no one that I could look up to and be like I wanted be just like her because she understand what its like to be a different color. All the celebrities that say they are relate able too are lying. They agree to get airbrushed, touched up, and skin bleached. If everyone was supposed be white than where's the fun in experiencing new cultures.While watching Jane Elliot's movie, I wanted to yell at that Stephanie girl. She walked out after a couple comments. If there was anything more annoying than her high pitched scream it was her attitude. How could she walk out, after people were beaten for being black, Jewish, or gay? They would be in more danger. While she could go anywhere without being judged for the color of her skin. When I was at the food court, this Asian lady that was serving me said, "Do you work here?" I said no. She said "People from your country work here." I had no idea how to respond to that so I just ate my food.

The Simple Life

Everybody remembers that show with the two famous blonde girls; Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. They seemed like those “it” girls surviving off daddy’s money. But after watching them make a difference in people’s lives and hearing their stories, the poor got richer and the rich got poorer. I think upper class people can only go through what Paris and Nicole experienced. I find it annoying how adults are making their children believe money is everything and to look down on those below them. I’m not saying miracles are possible but if people are able to experience the tougher side of life maybe we can stop the prejudice between different classes. When I was 12 years old, I went to an orphanage with my mom. My mom volunteered to teach the kids about pharmacy. I didn’t want to go at all. I wanted to be at the mall with my friends. But when I got there I wanted to slap myself for thinking all those things. These kids were working 10 times as hard just to pay for a toy.

Survival of the Fittest

After playing my first non-cheating game of monopoly, I got a better idea of how our society works. It would take a Susan Bolye story or marrying Prince William to be rich. People really are born with a silver spoon in their mouth. The rich will always getting money from the poor. The poor have to may the rich in order to survive. Life is a monopoly and it would take a miracle to get a jail free card.

It Gets Better

LGBTQQAAIP whether you are one of these acronyms or would rip a poster down if you saw this, the power one person can have on your life is powerful. Learning about different sexual orientations really opened my eyes. I didn't know how much violence still threatens the gay community. I thought with more accepting times people would be more respectful. But the terms "fag" or "you're so gay" are still being used as put downs. After listening to what these words meant to a lesbian I felt bitter. She couldn't even say those words and I even had trouble typing them. I was glad to hear that her family was so accepting but I felt horrible when she wouldn't even go on the bus because she was afraid of hearing this. Being on the same bus as her, I was scared to know if I or one of my friends were those people. From now on if I hear someone say that I will definitely respond quickly. I think more people should be educated about the LGBTQQAAIP community it gives people a better understanding and makes them open minded. If people could accept different races and imbrace how postive and beautiful they are then people should do the same for gays. We should let youth or adults attempting suicide that it will only get better and they are free to be themselves, that's what makes life less of a strugglr.

Walk like a woman, eat like a man

Everyone knows the perfect American couple: Barbie and Ken. Barbie is the beautiful blonde with long hair and an unimaginable body. She is nice, quiet, and loves to dress up. Then there's Ken, he is buff, loves sports, and is always looking out for Barbie. Whoever invented Barbie and Ken is obviously crazy. They have corrupted generations of kids into thinking they have to be exactly like them.

To me being in high school, is like having Barbie and Ken rule your school. The cheerleaders are Barbie, and the jocks are Ken. Any tomboy, band geek, or gay are the $1 dolls in the clearance aisle. The way men and women are supposed to act has ruined our society.It's taken years for people to accept same sex marriage. Fortunately people are becoming more aware of how they use negative terms. Maybe in a few years it will be okay to be a woman and be a slob or be a man and wear desginer clothes.   

The Childhood Trance

Ever since I was a kid, the t.v. was something that occupied me. When I didn’t know what kind of mood I was in, I let Barney or Lizzie McGuire take over my brain. Within that 30 minute time warp, a barely covered Britney Spears or glamorous Barbie would pop up. Being a 5 year old girl, you want to be like the prettiest older girl you see. And instantly they are your role model. I wanted to dress in belly shirts and wear pounds of bright pink lipstick. I didn’t think twice of how intelligent they were. Then a hulk commercial would come on, showing a big strong violent man. I remember one day going back to kindergarten and a boy telling me I couldn’t play with his cars because I was supposed to cook. Why is the media turning innocent children into stereotypical beasts?  Before I would never see a little girl in a mini skirt or eyeshadow. But with the Bratz movies girls are acting like 20 year olds. It used to be a good thing for little kids to look up to older ones, but those were their parents who set a good example not a trashy one. With a click of the power button 1 minute is taking over a childhood girls think its cool to be barely covered and boys as young as 3 are watching people get sawed in have. Kids should be exposed to age appropriate stuff not things that make them act 25. 

Say "No"

In high school it, seems like everything I learned in 6th grade health is coming true. I remember my teacher saying you will be pressured into doing drugs and sex in a least one point of your high school career. Now being older I feel like saying no is harder than it used to seem. Like in Freaks and Geeks, Lindsay is pressured to throw a party and drink to impress Daniel to boy she likes. Some people I hang around like to experiment. When i'm with them I feel left out sometimes because I have no idea what they are saying. And there have been times when  I wanted to try. I think peer pressure is defintely a big issue in high school. Everyone wants to fit in but not do things that will affect their future.

Parents

Everybody has different views on how kids should be brought up. During my childhood, my mom was a typical Asian parent. I had to do work in each subject for at least 30 minutes every day before I could go play. To me it was torture. Kids are supposed to go out and play instead of being locked up in a dull house all day. I feel like I was raised different from my brothers. I am the only girl and the youngest on both sides of my family, so that means I get unconditional "love." I believe kids should have some strict authority in their life or they will never learn how to become a productive citizen. But they should be praised and be allowed to make their own decisions because they can't be babied all their life. After reading Amy Chua's article, I was really annoyed how her kids have no "life". I had piano, dance, and soccer lessons when I was little and I absolutely hated them because I was forced into it. In middle school I really wanted to dance and play softball but my parents wouldn't let me because they thought schooling was a crucial part of my apparently developing brain. Being a teenager now I constantly argue with my mom about going out. I know about stranger danger and I know I should check in but parents need to lay off and let their kids grow without nagging them.

How might out feelings about death be related to our materialism?

Not once in my lifetime have I ever heard people talking about dying. Its an uncomfortable topic and it seems unimaginable to think of leaning the earth and going on to a greater place. America and every other country in the world values youth. It's supposedly the greatest time in one's life and its filled with admiration. However the movie, Tuesdays with Morrie breaks this. Morrie says, "we start to live when we are dying." I am not 73 years old but I strongly agree with this quote. When we feel like death is ions away from us, we take everything for granted, while Morrie thought being able to enjoy a simple day with his family was the best day ever. I think if more people realize that life is a short journey people would live a little differently and the elderly would be valued.

Proud To Be An American?

America is called the melting pot a place for freedom is a right. With all the diversity in this country one would think everyone would have different values. But to me it seems as if mothers have to have their child by them at all times. We live in a society where kidnapping and rape occur all the time, that it's found shocking that mothers in Denmark don't second guess leaving their infant outside to nap. I think this shows that people in Denmark are the happiest people in the world because everyone trusts each other and there is no competition to be married young.
To me the values of American society are always put children and eldery before you, family is important but work should be the first priority. The gestures I use everyday are smiling or waving to say hello and shaking my  head to signal yes or no.

Love Is In the Air

Whether your pro or anti cupid we all have different opinions on what true love is. I remember in 5th grade if I liked a guy for a month that was love. I know that sounds pretty weird. But after having different interaction with people, I believe it takes more than just one conversation to be in love, you have to really know the person. I think more people are forgetting this concept and saying "I love you" sooner. People are also moving in and getting out faster because married life is the same thing and there is no commitment. I hope you guys will share your opinions too.

A Student For A Day

Everytime i'm having a one on one conversation with someone, I like to know their story. It would be weird to go up to a stranger and give them a survey they don't put any blood, sweat, or tears into. After reading the article, Gang Leader For A Day, i agreed with everything J.T. said. Sudhir's professors never went to talk to an actual gang they just had bias research. I think noone can figure out the answer to why people are in gangs by having people fill out a survey. There's no intimacy and the information is no true. But by getting involved with someone's group can help me as a student learn more about people live's and no always assume someone' s bad.

We never stop learning

A typical day for me is waking up, going to school, doing homework, and going to bed. I have a few good moments and a few bad during the day. I'll probably never experience something out of the ordinary. But this week in sociology I think I will make something of everyday. After learning about the different contributors to sociology, I realize how fortunate every individual is. No matter how tragic or perfect their story everyone will encounter each of the stages discovered. For example last year in my Health class my teacher told us everyone will experience a loss in their life. We will not be forgiving at first but eventually we will be able to move on with our life. That's why I think we shouldn't let a fight or a bad grade stress us out. What about talking to someone you usually wouldn't? And learning how to better yourself. Like Jane Addams who started the Hull House, she probably woke up with a smile on her face everyday knowing someone was moving on to a happier life. We never stop learning and everyone makes a new discovery that contributes to sociology.

History Repeats Itself

I think this saying is relate able to everyone. In sociology class, I had to complete this activity where my class had to pick 9 out of 16 passengers on a ship to save. It was not surprising that the old couple on their wedding anniversary, the fat people, and the sick people were the first ones sunk. Throughout history the old, overweight, and sick have never reached the high social ranking. Before this lesson I always thought no one could fix the typical teenage problems. But after learning about social imagination I realized I could put myself in a former teenager's shoes and learn from their mistakes

Interacting with the World

I think silence is awkward because we are  constantly  surrounded by our phones, ipods, computers, and friends. Whenever there is a silence we feel uncomfortable because its not normal for us. The times I have experienced an awkward silence it is clear that me or the other person are thinking of any topic to bring up, to fill the air. I don't think it affects us being listeners. With school and work the way we interact with people affects who we are as individuals.