Editorial

After reading the editorials to the Burlington Free Press about the Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007, I realized that both the group for it and against it have some very powerful points. For someone like me who doesn't believe in the death penalty, I don't think that the hate crime law should be the reason for someone to be sentenced to death. On the other hand, I do believe that some groups do need more protectin then others. Yes our laws do speak of equality, and in that case each crime committed should already be considered a hate crime, but our world isn't perfect, and not all citizens believe every one is equal. This is why hate crime laws should be considered. It is a way of telling every one in the U.S. that the government isn't going to sit idly by while people are getting lynched because they are black, or while people are getting tied to posts and beaten to death because they are gay. Someone mentioned in their editorial how our founders of this land automatically assumed that the laws applied to everyone. This isn't true. The Declaration of Independence was written by white males. At the time, the freedoms they talked about only applied to white males, not blacks, or women. So it is about time to stand up for those groups that have been pushed down. The truth is, the majority of the population need to take responsibility for the minority. We need to admit that the regular laws out there against violence just aren't enough to stop people from killing others because of their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, etc... You know there is a difference between these laws, when someone can kill a black person out of hating that persons character compared to hating that persons color. In once incident the murderer knew the person, and hated him, the other incident, the person was killed just because he was black. If we can help stop at least one form of hate, why shouldn't we?

Observation Journal #5

So usually when I go to a restaurant with my boyfriend, I will order a steak, and he orders a salad. The waitress or waiter always hands me the salad and him the steak. I don't know if they think that girls don't eat steaks, or that boys can't eat salads, or what. It just has always been like that. Last night I ordered the salad and he ordered the steak at a well known restaurant chain, and for the first time, they actually asked who ordered what when it was brought out. I know this isn't exactly life changing, but for once I felt like I should have ordered the steak, and I wouldn't have felt ashamed for doing so. Overall its pretty funny. I'm glad I could report something good for once though. :) I think I have been focusing on the bad more than the good in these observation journals, which wasn't exactly the point of them. I think I should have thought more about what happened that was good, instead of negative. I'll remember that if I ever have an assignment like this to do ever again.

Reading Reflection #9

"Just like societies of the present, future societies are molded and shaped by human action." (p 310)
My first thoughts when beginning this chapter was WOW, I have actually finished this amazing book already. I guess I look at it as being a text book, but the material in it definitely isn't dry, or boring. It has always been a very interesting read. I have learned so much from reading this book. It really makes me feel more connected with the outside world as a whole. This last chapter proved to ring true to the statements I just made as well. My reactions was one of inquisitiveness once I had finished reading Newman's final thoughts. What really will happen in the future, concerning ethnic differences? The way the author sees it, is that it can go two ways. Either the world will become a "melting pot" and race will not matter, or people will want their "uniqueness" to last generations, and the race lines will be drawn even more visible. Of course the author tells the audience this depends on a number of different things. One is social movement. This is when a group of people who are either being oppressed or are friends, or want to help the oppressed come together to change a law, or social norm they do not like. It gives an example in the text about four teens during the 1960's who attended North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University at Greensboro. These four teens started a social movement when they continually sat at the counter at Woolworth's restaurant, after picking up followers, doing numerous amounts of sit-ins, and even being arrested and thrown into jail. They were at that counter as many times as they could be to demand service, for during that time they were allowed to shop in the same store, but they weren't allowed to eat at the restaurant. This movement lead to other protests at other Woolworth's stores around the United States. After several months of this, Woolworth's integrated their lunch counter. How amazing is that? This further proves the movements that make the most change require a broad coalition of supporters, not just the oppressed.
The author challenged many biases and beliefs in this chapter. It was basically a wrap up of the past eight chapters. He discussed where he believed the United States would be years from now concerning race, sexuality, gender, and class. He advocates for equality throughout the whole text, and he states how hopefully the U.S. will realize that everyone deserves to be tried under the same justice system, and that everyone deserves to have the same rights as others. What makes this text so incredibly good is that the author really believes in what he is writing. He isn't just writing a text book to state the facts, he is putting his life history into it, and making it personal and real.
I have definitely changed my attitude after finishing this chapter, and text altogether. I realize that it does take cooperation of others to make effective institutional changes in this world, but it all begins with one person. One random act of kindness. From now on, I will do my best not to try and say that I can't change something that is wrong without even trying. I learned that you need to be that one person that isn't afraid to say something is wrong and help change it for the better. Individually, people can do so much more then they might think.

Observation Journal #4

Quick update first - I decided to make a "bag" for the homeless person I saw out on the exit in Shelburn. I put in blankets, food, water, a novel, shoes, socks, shirts, etc... and threw it the back of my car and made my way down to the ramp. Of course he wasn't there when I arrived. So I decided that from here on out, I will always carry something like that with me in case the need arises. I learned that the salvation army only serves one meal a day, so that could be why some homeless people are out begging on the streets. We should always be willing to give what we can!

A few weeks ago, I expereinced a form of discrimination against my religion. Some acquaintances of mine were up in the area because one of their grandmothers passed away. My boyfriend and I offered our space for them to stay. I have had issues with this couple before making fun of my religion, and I basically got the feeling that they believed any one that was a Christian was ignorant to believe any thing that religion was affiliated with. I really didn't expect under the circumstances that they would do this again, yet while riding in the car with them from helping set up the dinner before the grandmothers wake, they both began talking about how the blood of Christ was poison, and how reading versus out of the Bible was brainwashing. I didn't say any thing because this person's grandmother had just passed away, and I believe it would have been extremely rude to do so. I wanted to prove to myself that I could be the better person and just not say something for once. So I pretended I didn't hear. Unfortunately, I felt horrible afterward. They really make me question my own religion at times. I am not an avid church goer, but I do belive in God, and Jesus, and the story the Bible tells us. This doesn't mean I hate people that don't believe in that. What is odd, is that they are overall pretty accpeting of other people, they do not discriminate against race, gender, sexual orientation, or religions other then Chrisianity it seems. Any thing that is against societal "norms" is okay to them, but for some reason things that are supposed to be "norms" are considered extremely offensive I guess. They have to realize it is a two way street, and that every religion, social class, etc... need to be accepted, not just ones that have been oppressed in the past. It is called respect, and common decency. How long will people to continually hurt each other? It literally tears me up inside when I hear things of this nature come out of peoples mouths. They spread so much hate, and inequality. Yes, people are allowed to have opinions, but do not say things just to hurt someone.

Reading Reflection #8

"...the students quickly came to see their working-class backgrounds as a burden"(p 289). My first reaction after reading about the study of the young adults that attended East Coast law school, who were economically challenged, was one of anger. How could ones own class become a burden if you have risen above the odds and are currently attending college, which is something difficult for minority and lower class individuals to accomplish, especially a prestigious law school like this one is. The students apparently tried to mimic the actions, dress, and speech of their upper class peers, totally taking away any diversity that could have been. When people try to fit in like that they end up losing themselves and who they really are. Is society making them this way, by telling them it is not okay to be poor? That if you are associating with people that are economically better off then you that you must try to act like them, or pretend to be like them? Although this isn't the only case, where people felt like they couldn't be themselves. Many homosexual men and women are afraid to "come out of the closet" because they are worried they could lose their jobs, friends, and even possibly their family. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 states that a person can't be denied a job or fired from their existing one because of gender, race, religion, or ethnicity. No where does it state that you cannot get fired because of your sexual orientation. Although that isn't to say that some states do not ban this. Many counties and municipalities, 14 states, and the District of Columbia ban workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation. Yet there are still 36 states that say it's okay to fire someone if they are a homosexual. Can you imagine the fear that some people must go through. They have to hide who they truly are, and worry that if any one finds out they could lose their job. A persons job is a major part of their life. They spend at least forty hours a week at it. It isn't something that should be taken away because of their sexual orientation. It's even harder for men that do not take on what is considered the typical male job. Male teachers, nurses, dental hygienists, etc... are sometimes criticized for the "womanly" job they take, and are considered gay from the start. What is interesting is that during the early nineteenth century most of the teachers in America were male. It was a time in history where a person that was born male male teachers even then. either taught or went to war. This is where the phrase, "Those who can't, teach" originated from. Many people looked down on male teachers even then. How ignorant is that? Is the job considered so low that only women can possibly do it? What a double standard! Now think about the minorities that are discriminated against in the workplace. They can't hide their differences from the world like the gay community are sometimes able to. They where their differences on their skin. It isn't a secret that could leak out if you tell the wrong person. African Americans are seen for their color, and then some corporations take a direct or indirect racist attitude toward them. For instance, the Miami restaurant that added 15% to an African Americans bill because they believed that "blacks don't tip well". How horrible is that! Also the text talks about the group of black customers that rose above being discriminated against and sued the Denny's restaurant chain because they would have to pay a coverage charge before each meal, they were refused entrance at times, and they were subjected to threats or derogatory remarks. All these people wanted to do was go out to eat, when did that become a crime in America?
The text explained affirmative action as a program that seeks out or provides equal opportunities to members of ethnoracial minority groups and women for educational or occupational positions in which they had previously been underrepresented. It really made me open my eyes. After reading about how far behind white American has put minority groups, the least we can do is to help them rise to our level in society. The six-year graduation rate for Native Americans, Latinos/as, and African Americans is well below 505 compared to 605 for white students. Institutionally, we really need to help minority groups out. It is something that shouldn't even be argued about. Look how long white Americans have been oppressing them? Ever sense Anglo Saxons landed in America and called it their home, pushing Indians further and further off their land. Don't you think the minority groups deserve this help?
I really thought this chapter was overall a very interesting read. Although the author did challenge a belief of mine, with supposed statistics as well. The author states how a person in 2003 would have had to make $15.21 an hour to afford rental housing, and how nowhere in the United States today is there a person with a full-time minimum wage job could afford rental housing. If I am understanding it correctly, this statement is wrong. I currently live with a friend of mine, and I only work one to twice a week making, 3 and half hours at a time, making ten dollars an hour. He makes twelve dollars an hour at a full-time position, and we live quite comfortably. We budget our money extremely well, and find ourselves able to even have a social life outside of rent at $1200(which includes electricity, heat, water, sewer, garbage removal, recycling, snow removal, and lawn care) cell phone bills, cable, credit cards, car loans, insurance, food, gas, and other miscellaneous items. Every month we make a chart on Excel to budget our exact amount what it has to go toward. It seems to work out fine. So I really believe the author was incorrect in stating what he did. It is possible that I am not understanding him right, and he means like a family of four, if any one understand this better then I do, don't hesitate to correct me.

Reading Reflection #7

"When children pledge their allegiance to the American flag each morning in school, they conclude with the phrase, "... and justice for all." " (p 265) The pledge of allegiance originated during the late nineteenth century, and weaved its way through our educational and political systems. Around this time, the Anglo Saxon's in the U.S. were attempting to assimilate the enormous amounts of immigrants coming into the U.S. in the White man's culture. The pledge of allegiance was made to further along this assimilation. Every child, including the immigrants would say this every day in school to basically ingrain into them what being American meant. After I first learned this, I developed a totally new perspective around it. It clearly was a time when "justice for all" meant justice for the White, middle class men. Maybe that is why it still doesn't ring completely true in the twenty first century as well.
After finishing this chapter, I was really shocked. Mostly by the statistics of all the injustices in the world today. Statistics that showed racism, class ism, sexism, and discrimination against gender being prevalent today. It made me open my eyes. I never realized that the percentage of African Americans that make up the population in the U.S. is not equivalent to how many are in jail compared to the numbers of White Americans. It really is sad. The most upsetting part was how Black youth are subjected to longer, and more severe sentences for committing the same crime then the White youth in this country. In no way is that considered justice.
I changed my attitudes on corporate crime versus street crime after I read this chapter. I never realized how many upper White American males get short sentences for stealing billions of dollars from their company and therefore effecting every one in the community by doing so, while both White, and Black lower class individuals get longer sentences for stealing or attempting to steal billions of dollars in a bank robbery. It seems incredibly unjust to me. I understand if that person who committed the bank robbery got a longer sentence if they murdered someone , but initially they are committing a crime very similar to that of the upper white class individual who stole billions from their company.
I felt as though the authors own biases should have been put into this chapter to make it more personal. He explained how every one has their biases, and it is good to know which ones those are, but he never explained what his were. I just felt like if he included that information it wouldn't make it seem as taboo, because in order to fix something we really need to lay all out and be honest about how we feel. That is the only way we can really fix things in order to make America a place where every one gets the justice they deserve.

Observation #3 "You just never know"

When I was riding with my friend in my car, I noticed a man on an off ramp with a sign asking for food. I I have noticed this man about three times before as well. I started talking to my friend and telling him that we should give this men some food and blankets. He looked at me as though I was crazy. He said I didn't know what that man would do if I stopped the car. He could have a gun, he could be a bad person. I didn't see the harm in just stopping to give food, but I understood his point. You just never know sometimes. I didn't know this person's history. Did he live at a shelter? Was there no food left and that is why he was begging for it? What was the reason he was out there? Was he a veteran? Did he have a mental illness? What was it? Hadn't a social worker or police officer gone by him and asked him if he needed them to bring him to a shelter or somewhere to get food? I never know what to do in those situations? How can I help and ensure my own safety? Who can I trust and who can't I? Who can I call to help this person? I really want to look into this more. There has to be something that I can do to, and I am going to find out just what that is.