2003 Blackout

Whenever we talk about the hate for Canada all I think of is the blackout of 2003. We were young when this happened so we probably do not remember everything about what happened. In 2003 most of the power was off in most of the east coast. I remember two things about this day, one Canada got all of the blame. When I was little EVERYONE blamed Canada for what happened. It made them the butt of every joke around my area. Something fails? It is Canada's fault. This and South Park are the reasons around me had a negative thought of Canada. The other item I remember about the Blackout is that it was the lowest crime day in 25 years. I remember hearing this fact and it shocking me. Knowing the human race and how we can go crazy in certain situations. The whole situation reminds me of the Dark Knight and the ferry part and how the human race is not completely awful.

goodbye osama..

We were asked in class if we were at all bothered by the celebrations of Osama's death. I have mixed opinions about it. When I found out he was dead, I woke up my ex-boyfriend to tell him. He proceeded to give me a high-five. That didn't sit well with me. I don't feel that was an appropriate sentiment. I also don't find it appropriate that people were celebrating at Ground Zero. In my mind, I feel that's a sacred place. It doesn't seem to be the place to celebrate, even if it was celebrating the death of the person who planned the attack there. I also feel that excessive celebrating will eventually bite us in the ass later on. However I do feel rejoicing is acceptable for those who were affected by 9/11 and other terrorist attacks he orchestrated. For them this will help in the healing process and have more sense of closure. His death won't necessarily make up for their loss, but knowing that justice was in some way finally served makes some celebrating. Even though he was a mass-murder, a death is still a death and celebrating it puts us on a similar level to him.

"we're just waiting for some people to die"

"We're just waiting for some people to die." That quote has stuck with me since it is unfortunatly the truth. Some people will never be capable of not being racist it seems. All the knowledge and proof can't seem to shake people from their viewpoints. On some level, I can understand the racism of the older generation since that was the time period they grew up in. Their whole life they were exposed to these racist ideals so it's natural they would continue to hold them now. I wish that once that generation is gone, they'll take their racism with them. If they themselves only held these ideals then they would. Unfortunatly many of these are passing along their racist ideas to the younger generation. I've witnessed this myself, watching my parents pass along their racist ideas to my younger brother. Somehow these are sticking in him. I was raised in the same household, lived in the same neighborhood, and went to the same schools. How did I escape these ideas yet he's absorbing them? Hopefully further exposure to the world will have him realize that my parents don't have the right idea at all.

andrea burns

Canada

I would consider myself French Canadian. My great grandma was born in Canada, moved to South Africa where she had my grandmother and then many years later moved back to Canada. Once my grandmother was old enough, she moved to New York where she met my grandfather and they lived here for several years. About ten years ago, my grandmother moved back to Canada to take care of her mother and she has lived their ever since. I had gone to visit her in Vancouver Island a few times and I was blown away by how beautiful the place was. I loved all entire atmosphere of the place. And I noticed that in Vancouver they were really racial and ethnically diverse. I saw almost every race and ethnicity that you could think of. Even on the island, on me grandma's street there were several children my age of all different backgrounds. I don't have that kind of exposure here in Fredonia. So, to me, I think Canada is much more diverse and I wish that I saw that more in our country.

Meeting on divertsity and racism

I was able to attend the meeting yesterday for about an hour and I'm really glad I went. I wasn't aware of how many outright acts of racism that have occurred on the campus. We've discussed how racism has, in modern times, become institutionalized and hidden in the wrinkles of society. But it isn't always the case. The acts of physical, direct, and purposeful racism need to be reported and properly dealt with on campus--they cannot be quietly ignored.

I think meetings like that shouldn't just happen when concerns arise. There should be a constant and open dialogue on campus about issues of race and diversity. I also think that education is extremely important in discussing these issues. When freshman are first received on the campus, they should have a mandatory meeting informing them of the various issues on campus and to let them know that acts of intolerance on campus will not be tolerated.

The responsibility to educate and facilitate discussion of diversity should not be placed solely on students' shoulders--it is the administration's responsibility to ensure that all students feel safe and accepted.

Taking a look back on the semester

Erin Goldberg, Post 24

I used to believe that I was pretty well versed in issues surrounding race and ethnicity. I work in the Center for Multicultural Affairs, I have a multiracial family, and I myself am part of minority group. However, as this semester has shown me, there is always room to learn. This class has help to reinforce to me that is important for us as people to constantly be having dialogs about race. It is the only way that we can hope to understand each others perspectives and the only way for potential positive change to come about. I loved that I could come to class everyday and expect to have an intelligent conversation with my peers about the issues that impact our lives daily. It certainly made me a better, smarter person. I know we talked about the potential of this class becoming a CCC, and while I'm not sure how plausible of an idea that is, I agree that so many people on this campus would benefit from taking a course like this. Diversity is important and in order to achieve this, education is essential.

How Osama bin Laden's death impacts our views of the Arab World

Erin Goldberg, Post 23

The death of Osama bin Laden is being hailed throughout the world as a positive event. Although many individuals are struggling with the feeling of being happy over the death of another human being, not many will deny that his death only can have positive ramifications for the rest of the world. I believe that the people who will benefit the most from his demise are the majority of Muslims in the world who practice the true form of Islam: one that does not promote Jihad and murder, but instead preaches unity and harmony. The people who practice this peaceful form of Islam have been under a dark cloud since the events of 9/11, which presented the face of Islam to many Americans as being a radical practice of murdering innocent lives. This is not what Islam is about, as those true followers of Islam will tell you. And now with the face of radical Islam dead, Americans and the rest of the world might finally start to see that.