Response to another blog - racial issues

Response to Jodi’s blog:

Q: After the election of our first African American president, and great stride in equality and civil liberties, does racism still exist?

America has made great strides in racial issues over the past 60 years, but the country is still plagued by people who can only see things in black and white. African Americans have received the blunt of most of the prejudices when it comes to racial issues, discrimination and stereotypes. Most people have moved beyond looking at the color of one’s skin and based the last presidential race on the qualities the candidates’ possessed rather than the color of their skin. Unfortunately, the election has showed that the country still has racial issues that are buried deep and will probably never go away. While researching this topic I have seen that there are sites that say that President Obama was only picked as president because he was African American, and that all black people vote for him; others say they did not vote for him because of his skin color, but “Obama argues that Americans are assessing him by his efforts to reverse the recession – and not by his skin color,” (Sidoti, par 6). If America were as forward as we believed itis, then the election would have never become a race or gender issue; it would have been based on the candidates’ values and ideas.

Racism toward African Americans is seen in basic situations that occur everyday. In the article Behind the Scenes: Black Shopping in America, Wells –an African American woman – went into the mall with her three friends and were gawked at while she looked around multiple stores. Wells was even accused of shoplifting. Did Wells  do anything out of the ordinary shopper or exhibit any qualities that would suggest she had stolen something? No, she did not, she was just black. Many people stereotype African Americans based on events seen in TV, movies or the news, but until these ridiculous instances, like the one Wells had to go through stops, African Americans will always have to think twice before doing everyday chores in their lives that most people take for granted. Wells stated, “No matter your education, your status or profession, some still only see the color of your skin, “O’Brein, par. 9). This phenomenon that they experienced was called shopping while black. Not only are African Americans stereotyped as shoplifters they are also labeled as rapists or murderers. In my English class I watched a video that depicted two different situations – one where young black teenagers were vandalizing a car and the other situation had young white teenagers were vandalizing a car. When people saw the black teenagers they stayed far away from the car and called the cops; they seemed very scared. Whereas when there were young white teenagers vandalizing the car people either didn’t do anything, or they approached the teens and told them to stop. When is the double standard going to end? Why are people so much more afraid to pass an African American on the street instead of a Caucasian?

There are more types of racism in America that do not include African Americans – American Indians, Asians, Middle Easterners and those are just naming a few. In 2009 I am disappointed to say that America is still a place where racism exists. America must move passed the prejudges that have haunted our history for so long. 

all sources can be found on Jodi's delicious page

Project

I’m “Being Saxon”, you’re “Being Boyle”

Today everyone has a different opinion regarding the issues of illegal Mexican immigrants. Is anyone right or correct in the beliefs? People generally stereotype illegal immigrants into the people that they see on the news, killers, drug dealers, robbers. Many immigrants are just trying to survive and don’t want to get in anyone’s way. The novel The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle, depicts a different side of Mexican illegal immigrants – a side that many white American citizens are not familiar with. The immigrants in the novel don’t want to be grouped in with the violent Mexican immigrants mentioned above, and the white citizens in the book struggle to choose a side on the immigrant issue.

The Tortilla Curtain is written in a different style than most books I have read. Each chapter provides an alternate view of a situation that is plaguing the main characters. T.C. Boyle gives the reader a chance to hear two sides of the story – the viewpoint of a Mexican struggling for survival and his encounters with white American citizens, and the point of view of the white Americans who are reacting to the increasing number of Mexicans on American soil. An example of this would be: one chapter is devoted to Candido’s (the Mexican illegal immigrant) struggle to find a job and he is devastated and in trouble when the labor exchange is shut down. While this is occurring Kyra (a white American Citizens) is annoyed that over 50 Mexicans are waiting on a street corner for work, her efforts end up shutting them down. The reader can see a clear-cut picture of both sides of the story as well as the motives for each character’s actions.

The webquest:
The student will be given a few scenarios and he or she will have to respond as if they were chapters in the book, giving two sides of the story. One view will be in the point of a white American citizen and the second one will be from the view of a Mexican illegal immigrant. The stories can be wither from first person point of view or a third person fictional character. The two scenarios will total 4 or more pages double-spaced (each POV - a page double spaced)…posted to your own blog.

I have a series of articles, blogs, podcasts, and quotes helping you with the project. These sources are to show you how many articles are written about situations dealing with immigration and how people can react or jump to conclusion. Some of these articles are bias, which are to help you become informed how people view these situations. The quotes will also show you how the characters in the book felt, as well as how their opinion was portrayed.

Articles/websites/blogs can be found on my delicious page: delicious.com/fruchtso

To find the podcast: go to itunes, and under the podcast category type in illegal immigrants in the search box. There are two interesting podcasts, #11 (“Illegal immigrants” and the artist WPSU Penn State) and #25 (“American and Mexican border” and the artists is Open University). Enjoy!

Also, go to questia.com (username: phhs#, password: #phhs) and find the article titled, “Illegal immigrants and the labour market,” for more information about Mexicans and the labor market (this may help with scenario #2). There is another interesting article about the debates on illegal immigration in the article titled, “The Immigration Reform Debate.”

Quotes: (in the quotes that mention coyotes, the coyotes are symbols for the Mexicans) – there is a link to all the quotes found on my delicious page.

Pick two of the three scenarios:

Scenario 1: There is an article in the newspaper that discusses an event that involved Mexican illegal immigrants that were members of a gang and killed eight American citizens. They had caused a giant scene and pulled out guns in the middle of a public place. The Mexicans may be linked with powerful drug lords. (events like this can be found on a blog linked to my delicious – “So you want to move to Arizona: Mexican Drug Wars have arrived in Arizona)

Possible POVs (only suggested - can use a different reaction):

American Point of View: They are outraged due to the increasing number of Mexican illegal immigrants in our community. The white American citizens believe that Mexicans have no right to be on their soil, let alone killing innocent Americans and spreading drugs and violence.

Mexican Point of View: The Mexican illegal immigrants are furious with their own people because those Mexicans that are involved in gangs give all Mexicans a bad reputation and put all their lives in danger

Scenario 2: There is an article that says Americans have started a group to protest illegal immigrants in their area, and some hate groups have even starting following immigrants in order to harass them. The protesting groups have shut down the labor market where the Mexicans used to find jobs from.

American POV: Americans are happy. They think the Mexican “problem” will be gone and they will not have to deal with the immigrants anymore.

Mexican POV: The Mexicans are outraged and devastated. Their hopes of succeeding have quickly diminished. The immigrants will no longer be able to even afford the abysmal places they have been staying.

Scenario 3: Respond from both sides (American and Mexican) to the idea that America could not last without Mexican labor workers (illegal, not illegal, or both).

Race Relations

For the past few weeks in my English class we have been discussing race relations. The book I chose to read about race relations was, "The Tortilla Curtain", by T.C. Boyle. The book shows two completely different groups of people living in America: Mexican illegal immigrants and white Americans. Our task was to find an article that related to our topic and write about the two. I hope you enjoy and feel free to comment.

Desperation. Millions of people from Mexico flee to the United States in hopes of a better life. America promises a new beginning for immigrants who have a burning desire to change their circumstances. For many, America stands true to the message of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But the real question is, why are millions fleeing their own country - is there no hope for them there? In the article Illegal Immigration: Mexico’s Shame, the reader is able to see why millions of Mexicans have immigrated to the United States: they move not because they want to covet Americans’ jobs, like many believe, but because there is NOTHING in Mexico for them. These people’s lives in Mexico need a drastic change, “the Mexican government…refuses to make the necessary reforms as expediently as necessary to provide basic opportunities and services to their citizens,” (Mendez, par 10). The article attempts to show Americans why Mexicans want to come to our country, a side that many American citizens have never questioned or cared to find out. There is no way to make a better life for oneself if his/her country is not willing to help, “the Mexican government must more rapidly invest to upgrade basic infrastructure that would begin to address the deep economic divide between the rich and the poor,” (Mendez, par 16). Though coming to America is very dangerous for illegal immigrants, and they may earn very little money, and are not treated well, anything is better than the lives they left behind in Mexico.

As an American citizen, I have often thought, as many others do, why there is suddenly more than ever a dramatic increase in illegal immigrants in the United States. More than 400,000 Mexicans make the dangerous cross over the border every year yearning for a better life. Do the Mexican illegal immigrants come because they want to take our jobs, or do they enjoy the low pay? NO - there is no option in their country for success. America for them is a beacon of hope, or a light at the end of a dark and dreary tunnel whereas Mexico is that dark and dreary tunnel. The American government’s goal is to help its citizens. Apparently the Mexican government does not feel the same way about it’s citizens, “the lack of and the unwillingness of the Mexican government to provide economic opportunities at home create the conditions of despair that launches an exodus,” (Mendez, par 20). Though Mexico is a country that is on the list of the top highest GDP, the government will not spend their money on education and basic medical care. Mexicans turn to America and see a place where there are many rags to riches stories and have policies like “no child left behind,” and want to experience it for themselves. I was one who once questioned the validity of the immigrants’ dreams. After reading this article I can see why they thought America would be the perfect place for them –America is a melting pot. For many Mexicans their home country will not help them – their only option 

is to escape to America.

Even though life in Mexico is very difficult, Mexican immigrants may not anticipate. the hardships that they will face once they get to America. They know it will not all be sunshine and smiles, but many times the reality of coming to America hits them hard when they cannot find work, live in poor conditions or receive racist attacks – but they most likely should anticipate the first two; they are here illegally. The Tortilla Curtain, by T.C. Boyle, is an excellent showcase for the plight of illegal Mexican

 immigrants, where every day there is a new challenge that crushes their own American dreams. The trek alone to America can result in death, torture and other harmful tactics. But once the immigrants enter America, the consequences do not end there. Numerous possibilities that could end their life or result in their deportation back to Mexico still exist. In the book, Cándido and América Rincón are terrified by la migra (immigration) for good reason: at any moment they could be sent back to Mexico. Everyday brings new uncertainty: “la chota- the police – and the Immigration…each morning [Cándido] went out looking, not knowing whether he’d be back at noon or after dark, he’d warned América to douse the fire and keep out of sight,” (Boyle, 27). It is awful that these people must resort to live in such dreadful conditions because of their former government’s refusal to take care of its people. Mexico should not rely on America as a dumping ground for their poor people. It is not up to America to save them. Illegal immigration is hurting our economy and causing overpopulation. Also, the characters in the book deal with racism like real illegal immigrants do. After a group of boys ransacked the camp the Rincóns were staying at, Cándido “noticed their parting gift, a message emblazed on the rocks I pain that dripped like blood…BEANERS DIE.” (Boyle, pg 62). There is severe hatred toward immigrants in America due to feelings that they are hurting the economy, taking our recourses, or just because some people are racist and feel they should stay in Mexico. The immigrants’ problems in America will never be fixed until Mexico can successfully solve its own problems and then take responsibility for the welfare of its people.

Both Mexico and America have many issues to work out when it comes to the topic of Mexican illegal immigrants. Though America may hold a bright future, Mexican illegal immigrants shouldn’t have to risk their lives to come to America – their own country must attempt to create better lives for its citizens. Americans must also learn the predicament of the immigrants before jumping to conclusions. I am sure most people do not know how poor conditions in Mexico are and the suffering the citizens endure everyday. I did not know of the conditions occurring in Mexico and I encourage people to become more knowledgeable on the subject of illegal immigration before they judge or jump to conclusions. Books, like The Tortilla Curtain, are extremely useful tools in times like this because Americans can experience the life of an illegal immigrant and the juxtaposition of them to American citizens dealing with these new situations. Unfortunately, I do not think that América and Cándido, in The Tortilla Curtain, will be able to accomplish their American Dream. Realistically, many illegal immigrants cannot find jobs and therefore suffer, or they are deported. If Boyle ends the novel on a happy note, it would ruin the point that the novel is trying to accomplish and make it seem like the American dream is easy to achieve with hard work – it takes a lot more than that. The rags to riches for illegal immigrants today only occur to an extreme few. Both Mexico and America need to change and hopefully it comes sooner than later.

Works Citied

Boyle, T.C. The Tortilla Curtain. 1995. New York: Penguin Group, 1996.

Mendez, John. "Illegal Immigration: Mexico's Shame." Americanthinker.com. 16
Mar. 2009. 16 Mar. 2009 . Path:
http://americanthinker.com/2006/05/illegal_immigration_mexicos_sh.html.

Heterosexism

For this assignment, the task was to pick a TV show and discuss heterosexism. I picked the show "Privileged." Enjoy!

On TV today, many shows are trying to break the mold of just hetero couples and diversify. Most of these shows now have a token gay character that is known to bring “flavor,” give fashion advice, or pass along gossip– but are these shows really helping the gay community if the homosexual characters are only brought in for laughs? I feel like they are not helping homosexuals, but pinning them to a stereotype. “Privileged”, a new show on the CW, does not have many serious plotlines that are current to what is occurring in society today. Like many shows it deals with hetero relationship issues, sibling and parental relationships and everyday problems that occur in most peoples lives. Don’t get me wrong; I really enjoy watching this new show – it is a great addition to the CW lineup this year. For the past couple weeks the show has focused more on Marco, who is the chef for the Baker twins Sage and Rose. He is a homosexual, and most time he is in the show is giving advice or talking about the latest gossip – but lately his plot has taken a more serious tone and it has depicted his relationship with his boyfriend Keith. After having arguments that strained their relationship and a breakup, Marco proposed, and this episode, entitled All About a Brand New You, was about Marco and Keith’s commitment wedding.


“Privileged” is tackling the issue that has been in the news lately – Proposition Eight (legalize gay marriage). Louis, Sage’s boyfriend and a devout Christian, is a close friend of Marco’s, yet he makes up an excuse saying his parents are coming to town so he can escape the “pressure” of attending a homosexual ceremony. He is very close-minded and even says he would feel like a hypocrite because he is so against gay marriage and nothing can change his mind. According to the character Sage, people that are so narrow-minded cannot experience the world, and I have to agree with her statement. One cannot experience life if they choose to ignore certain aspects of the world. Louis says, “I don’t think it should be happening…two dudes getting married,” but unfortunately that is the view that more than half the world has. This is why proposition eight only lasted a few weeks.


Towards the end up the episode Louis and Sage cannot see eye to eye, and though Louis wants to remain in the relationship, Sage breaks it off. This could either symbolize that there will always be a rift between homosexuals and heterosexuals that can never be hea led, or that people who have feelings of hatred towards homosexuals must and will be stopped. Not surprised that Louis lied to him, Marco says, “I’ve boogied down the homophobic block many times.” People need to start asking themselves why are they so bothered by homosexuals – does it really affect their own lives if people around them are gay? At this point in time, everyone should be past the idea whether people are gay or straight and just treat the gay characters on TV shows as another character.


The “Privileged” episode shows that two gay men can lead happy fulfilled lives, sharing their day of commitment with friends and loves just as any person should have the right to do. Hopefully by adding serious plot lines for homosexuals on TV shows, and creating more three-dimensional characters instead comic relief, people will overcome their stereotypes and accept others for who they are.

Watch "Privileged," Tuesday nights @ 8 p.m. (EST) on the CW.

Gender Roles

In my English class we are discussing gender related issues. Our assignment was to pick a blog that discussed a gender issue, from what influences gender to gender identity disorder and write an mini essay on our view. The blog I chose discussed the influence of gender specific childhood toys. I hope you enjoy my discussion and take the polls that I have provided on your favorite toys you played with when you were a toddler.

A Toy Story

The toys children are given when they are young do not ultimately decide who a person becomes; it is through self-discovery that people learn their likes and dislikes. Many kids decide on their own what is their favorite pastime or toy, whether the person is a boy and is given a shiny red fire truck, or a girl who is handed a Barbie doll. In the blog, Outside the (toy) box, MOM decided that the toys that infants and toddlers are given when they are under the age of five will have an everlasting effect on how they view the world and who are they meant to be (MOM, par 11). MOM believes that when her daughter is given a dollhouse she feels the need to give her daughter a tool bench, a doctor’s kit and a basketball hoop (MOM, par 9). She feels little girls are stereotyped when they receive plastic kitchens, princess crowns and dolls. The same might be said when little boys only play with Tonka trucks, K’nex, or train sets. These gifts are passed down from generation to generation and continue to do so (MOM, par 15). Parents such as MOM become offended by toys associated with a certain gender, when most young kids would be happy banging on pots and pans. Apparently by placing these "restrictions" on these children they cannot escape the stereotypes that are placed on them, and will have very difficult adolescent years discovering who they are, or who they are supposed to be.

I am a believer in giving girls Barbie dolls and giving boys fire trucks; it makes sense – that’s how I was raised. Truthfully, I do not even remember if my parents tried to give me a truck or different types of toys, my memory is not too clear when I try and remember back to my toddler years. Honestly, it would feel strange to me if one day I had a son and gave him an Easy Bake Oven or if I had a daughter and gave her Hot Wheels. Unlike MOM, I believe “stereotyping” children has little effect on them when they are older. People have free will and they naturally discover their likes and dislikes. It is not a crime for people to give gender based toys at a young age, “for [my son’s] first birthday…he didn’t have a wish list… or registry…this isn’t what he wanted, this is what others wanted for him, ” (MOM, par 5). There needs to be a start for a gender and if someone wants to “change the rules” they will do that, as they grow older and mature.
Today, many people in the world to do not follow the gender traditional roles, and most likely they were given the stereotypical toys as children; those people that want to change their gender specific identity still figured out who they wanted to become. As stated by MOM, “Gender takes work. The work starts early and requires constant care. It starts at baby showers. It continues to hormone replacement therapy,” (MOM, par 21). If people discover w

hom they are later on in life, whether they know they want to be the stereotypical man or woman, a homosexual, bisexual, or transgender they got to that place on their own and only their inner thoughts told them it was the right path for them – no toy made that impact. People have free will and make decisions and change constantly as they age. Why do people like MOM become so vexed that she says it is, “ rip-my-hair-out frustrating…is there a fire truck gene?” (MOM, par 22).
Some people might believe that giving young children cliché toys for their gender will pigeonhole them and will have issues with their gender for most of their adolescent or adult lives. If a girl is given a truck while her friends have dolls that would cause more confusion than just handing her a Barbie doll. That little girl, whether she had the doll or not will decide who she wants to become as she matures. Humans (at least Americans) have free will and the right to decide the person he or she will become and no fire truck or doll will prevent that path from being taken.

Work Cited

MOM. "Little Man. Watching My Son’s Socialization. or “Gender - It’s Wicked Constructed”." Weblog post. Outside the (toy) Box. 2007. 23 Feb. 2009.

Senioritis

In my english class we are discussing diversity, rules that are placed on people by society, or rules that we place on ourselves. In class we read the poem 'Girl' by Jamaica Kincaid, where it gave a list of rules that was necessary to follow to be the "perfect girl". In class we were given an assignment to make our own "Girl" poem based on the certain groups that we are place in by society or groups that we place ourselves in. I am happy to be part of the group labeled second semester seniors. Unfortunately, to be part of that group everyone is stricken by senioritis (basically, an incurable disease where you cannot do any work, you act out in class, etc. because you are tired of school and have been or will be accepted into college - just plain lazy, but for good reason!!) But to be in this idolized group of second semester seniors, there are still some required rules that you cannot break: texting in class, losing your assignment pad, talking out, forgetting to do homework, and showing up late to class. 

Have fun reading my poem and please post responses if you have senioritis or have seen student's affected by it.

Senioritis

Forget all the memories of acting studious; you will become a lazy second semester senior and you will succeed; lose your assignment pad, it’s the first step to forgetting everything that you should be accomplishing if you were not a senior; forget to charge your laptop each night so it won’t work during school and this is how you make the surprised face when your laptop is dead, this is how you sit in class when everyone has your laptop when you don’t; this is how you text in class without being caught, this is the story you tell the teacher when he or she catches you, this is the freaking sound you make when your phone is taken away, this is the demanding voice you use to get it back and this is the way you walk on your march down to the office and tell them a phony story of why it is vital to your life to have the phone now; this is how your face is when you pretend to listen in physics class, this is how you make obnoxious comments when you are in physics class, don’t forget to force the juniors to give you their labs because you are a senior and they now need to work for you; this is how you stretch your legs out in class, this is how you pretend you are awake or just rubbing your eyes when you are really asleep, this is how you wake up from a nap without being obvious in class, it's your right to be tired, you have been watching TV all night neglecting your homework; this is how you pretend to search for your homework when you know you did not do it; this is how to speed write last night’s math homework in the hallway right before class or right when you walk into the room, this is how you can't take the quiz because your calculator died, this is how to panic when the printer won’t work and you have had a month to do the essay or turn your essay in at 11:59 p.m. on turnitin.com; this is how you walk into class when you are late returning from lunch, this is your teacher’s face when you are late from lunch, this is the story you make after you walk into a teacher’s class late, these are the curse words you let slip forgetting you are in school: F^©&, S%*+, $!u+; this is the route you enter school when you try to slip past Mr. P because you were getting Dunkin Donuts, this is the noise your alarm makes after the fifth time you pressed snooze; this is the snotty way you carry yourself because you are a senior and you have that right; don’t let other people get in your way, you own the school; this is the speech you will have with your parents when they see your third and fourth marking period grades and this is the speech you give when you say you still deserve an amazing graduation present because you worked hard for three and a half years; when you finally pick your college you start not even showing up to school, this is the face you make when it is June 25th, these are the things you say on June 25th; this is what has become of your class of 2009; this is what will become of the class of 2010.

Hel'um has 26 different articles that discuss ways to motivate seniors.