What crosses the line?

I missed the class that we discussed the assassination of Bin Laden. But I did learn about people's feelings from facebook.

Pretty much all week there has been a slew of serious, semi serious and mockery statuses. I've already read a couple of posts concerning the views on this.

I never see the death of a human being to be a cause for celebration. Though he was an internationally wanted terrorist, I can see where people are coming from. I also understand the atrocities he committed were disgusting and awful. Having said that, no matter how awful the crime and how completely abhorrent he was the human race, reacting with praise and high fives makes us at fault as well (CERTAINLY not to the same extent, but still). I have a similar attitude towards the death penalty. Fighting murder with murder just doesn't seem right to me.

Having said that, Erin made a very valid point that Bin Laden's death might start a new era of higher acceptance for Muslims in the US who have been the subject of MUCH stereotyping and racism since 2001.

Diversity Meeting

Since this class began, I've been super fired up about racial/sexual/orientation related discrimination on this campus.

I mean I was fired up before, but this class awakened this intense desire in me to fix things.

I attended the diversity meeting with president on Wednesday evening. The room was almost completely full. The stories that people told were incredibly alarming. We got through 2 hours of stories and there was still more than a handful of people waiting to speak.

I am skeptical to the actual progress that it's going to make. The president did very little to assure us that action would be taken. I think that based off the blatant racism, sexism and homophobia apparent on campus, action needs to be taken immediately.

It is incredibly unjust that people on this campus have been fundamentally disrespected on the deepest level. We need to be able to feel like equals and human beings.

I am hoping that my final project will tackle this issue and will yield some results.

National Anthem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meLpuF9UMvk

Everyone makes fun of Canada but everyone knows at least the first line to their anthem. They take pride in their anthem, they sing it at the top of their lungs to it. I wish we did this, sure sometimes we sing along and mumble the words, but this country the singer stops so the crowd can continue. I would love to join in on this, I want Americans to begin to do this. I have been to sporting events where I get an evil eye for singing along. I am sorry I take pride in my country but there is no reason why I can not sing along. I get it, its an honor for the person singing and its "their" moment but why should our country's song be a one persons song. To me it sounds better in a big group anyways. Everyone should sing along to the national anthem, as well as Canada's.

Post 24: What we have learned.

Well, another semester has ended, and we have learned quite a bit, whether about race, sexuality, or just ourselves. I'm certain that for the most part, this class has bettered us, and has made all of us more open to viewing certain actions in a different light, and are not looking to just better the world whether through simple means or maybe even manners more complex. This class have been a joy to take part in, and hope to continue learning as college, and life continues.

Post 23: Oh Canada

Well, this week was most certainly interesting with all that we discussed about Canada, but honestly I think Canada has started to take the proper first steps, that we are long over due from attempting. I don't remeber there being a full open apology from the US government to the native american people. By being willing to apologize they are definitely opening up to possibilities for true change, instead of the same issues over and over again.

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.