Turkey Day Thoughts

I really enjoyed LaDon's talk with the class on Monday. I am from Houston so growing up diversity was never an issue. Her stories from Mart were quite shocking. Everyone in my part of town is so integrated that the things LaDon talked about reminded me of our discussions on racism. How desegregation can happen physically, but not mentally is scary. A part of me felt naive to think that perhaps racism could be eradicated, and maybe perhaps it can be, but I don't feel like it would be anytime soon.

Being inside the "UT bubble" and my "home/neighborhood bubble" I never really think about these extreme cases of racism. Yes I've seen and experience racism and I know it exists, but its a case of "out of sight, out of mind" for me sometimes (is that bad to say?). Between the papers and all the exams, I forget real world problems. I like LaDon's talk because it reminded me that these old traditions and beliefs still exist. I see this in some of my family members to be honest. Mostly its the older generation in my family, they have grown up with preconceived notions of what each race "is" and have carried with them as they moved to the states. I remember one time my cousin brought his girlfriend, who was white, to last year's family Christmas party. His parents acted differently than they would have if compared to someone that would have been within their own race. It wasn't upfront, but I could tell they were guarded.

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I had a very terrifying experience tonight. I am just going to go straight into it since it is still fresh on my mind. The escalators at the grocery store I was at was designed so that the carts would stay still and not roll down. Anyhow, there was an elderly couple, a guy (with a cart), and three women in front of me. As we were as standing on the escalator waiting for the belt to bring us down, the elderly woman falls down the end! She got stuck at the end and the cart was being pushed into her body. I had no idea what was going and neither did anyone else until the guy in front of us fought his hardest to get the cart off of her. Things were flying everywhere and everyone behind the elderly woman had to walk backwards because the belt was feeding itself to the end.

We all were freaking out and there was a silent fear of what was going to happen. Fortunately the guy was able to pull the cart off the woman and get her up. I couldn't describe to you how I felt. I saw a fragile hand go up to signal that she was okay, but I was so scared. I have never been so scared for someone I did not know. As we all we down everyone had a sigh of relief. I wanted to thank the guy, but I was too shaken up. Her shoe was on the floor, but as I walked by I couldn't get myself to pick it up. I froze. My brain could not process what just happened and what would have happened if it were not for that guy. It happened so fast, but so slow. As I watched that guy throw his stuff on the floor, I noticed how his face showed so much compassion for this woman's well being. It was very humbling. Perhaps, I am reading into this too much, but I am so glad she is okay.

I apologize for the random chunks of thoughts, I am still trying to get over my food comas. Enjoy the rest of your holiday and happy shopping!

"Age is of no importance unless you are cheese!"

When I think of ageism I have to be honest, I don't know where I would place myself. I just turned 20 years old about four months ago, so I still see myself as a teenager. It's weird when other people see or refer to me as a young adult. I associate it negatively, from a selfish standpoint of course. I think of bills, stress, and being on my own. I came to college when I was 17 years old, so I've pretty much been in this 'adult' world for a few years now. I don't have any family in Austin so when I first moved to Austin I was terrified, but strangely excited. It's funny, when I was younger I couldn't wait to grow up! Now that I am all grown up, I want to be 'young' again.

I turned the list under "Internalized Ageism" in to reversed form from what the opposite end would feel like. Maybe some people don't feel this way, but I have experienced this. It seems like both ends of the spectrum have a lot in common.

• We do not have as much life experience as the people around us
• We are not taken seriously
• We do not feel as if older adults want to hear what we have to say
• We are flattered to be called "mature"
• We like that we are able to be to do certain things (drinking, driving, etc.)
• We are pressured about our future

The real list has a lot of negative point on there. Feelings of devaluing, irritation, and a lack of self worth was very prominent. I think this could quite possibly stem from the fact that the older generations are being put out of their jobs. I read an article saying that factories and jobs are starting to hire younger people because the work can be done faster and at a cheaper rate. I think that is wrong because older people have more experience and knowledge. The work might be slower, but could it be that the quality would be higher?

In my culture, the older generation is at the top while the younger generation is at the bottom. You take care of your grandparents and you parents before you take care of yourself. When I meet any of my parent's friends I have to address them with a proper greeting before saying anything else. When I speak to anyone older than me in my native language I say "Yah" before every sentence, which reflects respect. Which is why the "Elder Abuse" part of the reading was super upsetting for me.

"1 million to 3 million Americans sixty-five and older have been injured, exploited, or otherwise mistreated by someone on whom they depend for care or protection."

This.is.social.injustice. That is a horrible statistic to read! That is also unacceptable. I use to volunteer at a nursing home and I see how the job can be stressful, but whatever the case, it is never okay to injure, exploit, or mistreat someone who is at your mercy.

War Heroes

This week's discussion on ableism was an eye opener for. Carol, you are truly inspiring. I don't think I have ever met a more passionate person than you :)

"Mass Psychiatric Casualties" by Dave Grossman pointed out a type 'disability' that plague those who are usually seen as brave and strong. This specific article made me think of my friends who are currently serving, so I associated this small portion of the text to the post traumatic stress disorder that some soldiers get after coming home from the combat zone. It is normal to feel scared, frightened, or sad, but if these feelings are not addressed properly they can manifest themselves into severe emotions that can be potentially dangerous. Replaying over and over unpleasant memories, PTSD can affect everyone, but for a soldier the feelings of safety and security are especially absent. If severe enough, most cannot live a normal life.

I found a very powerful (and tearful) story about a solider, Brandon Garrison, who tells his story of having PTSD. Let me know what you guys think.

http://www.military.com/news/article/a-soldiers-struggle-with-ptsd.html

It's a disorder most of us cannot comprehend because we are not in those shoes. Back in 2009, 245 soldiers took their own lives. I personally think that's 245 too many. In the first half of 2010, 145 soldiers took their own lives. There is a heavy stigma that comes along with mental health, which leads most to negatively associate it with getting the right services. There is an army suicide prevention hotline, but is that enough? It was only three decades ago that PTSD was recognized, and in 1980 it was formally in the DSM as an illness. And recently it was through past wars that the awareness has just started to make an impact. During June of 2010 last year, Senator Kent Conrad marked June 27th as PTSD awareness day, a big step in the process of healing. As unfortunate as it is, I feel as if there should be much more that we can do. With the billions of dollars going towards the entertainment industry and other miscellaneous forms, do you think it would be possible for society as whole to recalculate our money and put it towards where it should be going? Not only towards the educational system or the welfare system but, also specifically to those who risk their lives for us?

Edit: 11/16/11

I love dogs, so I just wanted to share this awesome picture! Always there for us; "Angels with fur"

Sexual Orientations

What intrigued me the most about this week's reading was the list of "Heterosexual Privileges". After reading the entire list I realized how many privileges I have as a straight woman. I realized that I take for granted many of the rights on this list as compared to the short list I had when it came to my religion. This list is so much longer than the list that was in the readings for "Christian Privileges". But, I think the difference between religion and sexual orientation is that sexual orientation is a very public and social aspect of our lives. When you find love you want to share it with your friends, your family, and the world. It is a big element of who we are and how we decide to live our lives.

The Loving vs. Virginia case proves how there are always people out there who are constantly policing other's lives. I thought to myself "Aren't there criminals the police should be catching?!" Anna Quintan's quote "Why does all the worst stuff get done in my name?" (God's name). Most times when you hear a group advocating against homosexuality, God's name is thrown in there. Sometimes I wonder if that is the justification of hate against a group of people.

When I read the articles I immediately thought of "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry". I love that movie. With comedy, the movie puts to the forefront the problems gay/homosexual couples face. There is a part in the movie where a group of church goers say the word "faggot". The movie gives the viewer a different perspectives of what it is like to constantly be evaluated in terms in their sexual orientation, even if it was a fake marriage.

Homosexual lifestyles are hard for people to accept. Religion plays a big role in this, and many people truly believe that it is wrong to be gay, which is where it gets tricky. A man and a woman, that's the principle that many people have grown up knowing. Being that this country is Christian dominated, it is hard for people to change their views without having constant reminders reinforcing them what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. I learned a quote in my psychology book and it was "Live and let live".

I believe in this quote. But I also believe in being passionate in something you feel strongly about, which is why I'm having a really hard time with this blog. Its a matter of strong beliefs that drives the madness between what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'.

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Switching over to transgenderism.. I wanted to mention David Reimer's case.

David Reimer was born a healthy male, but a botched circumcision lead doctors to convince his parents to raise him as girl, alongside his twin brother. It was a case of Nature vs. nuture, where nature eventually won. David Reimer was born Bruce, later Brenda, and then David, faced the problem of "knowing" he was a boy, but was confused by his environment. In his case, being transgender was not a choice, but simply thrown on him. What do you guys think of this? Opportunity for an experiment?

Wasteland

'Wasteland' is definitely one of those movies that make me look at the things I take for granted. I put myself in their shoes and I can honestly say that I would not be able to do what they do. I remember being in Vietnam and seeing a site that was the same as Jardim Gramacho. I saw a lot of kids my age with younger siblings.

What really touched me was the community within Gramacho. I found myself giggling at many of the kind and joking gestures they made at each other, despite their situations. I could see the hope they were all holding onto. The hope that their children will have better and one day they will not have to do what they are doing. Rather than going to drugs and prostitution, their honest form of living and working is absolutely admiring. I think the movie scratches only the surface of these types of stories, but it was inspiring nonetheless.

The artworks represented beauty, dignity, and respect, a reflection of all those at Gramacho. I'm pretty sure I almost cried when Isis was talking about how she never wanted to return to Gramacho. I could feel the frustration and sadness coming off the screen. I was glad that a project like this was done. Art is amazing. Art doesn't just have to be pretty, perfect, or appropriate. It can be dark, different, or controversial. As long as a meaning was taken from the art, then I think that is the most important thing. I think art is a great medium for better understanding. It was through Vik Muniz's artwork that the picker's stories were understood. It told a stories of dedication, hard work, and dignity.

An Adele Attitude Filled World

"I love seeing Lady Gaga's boobs and bum," she says. "I love seeing Katy Perry's boobs and bum. Love it. But that's not what my music is about. I don't make music for eyes. I make music for ears." -Adele

*Ahem* I love Adele. I think she is so beautiful. I absolutely adore her and everything she stands for. Her music represents everything that our hearts can't quite seem to articulate. When I read Caroline Heldman's "Out-of-Body Image" article I think of how famous people are always under scrutiny. There are a lot of negative comments on Adele's weight, mostly out of influence from the media. I love that quote and how she basically says "Screw you guys!"

Self-objectification hurts self-esteem, academics, and affects a huge part of a woman's mental aspect. I think the most concerning part about this is how fast it is reaching the younger generations. Teenagers? Okay, maybe,... Any younger? Okay, no, red flag. I think the idea of beauty has become so skewed that young girls are starting to become more concerned about how they look rather than playing and coloring. You see it for movies, burgers, shoes, deodorant, light bulbs, band aids, dust pans.. Apparently, and unfortunately, sex sells. I wouldn't quite consider myself a feminist, but I am all for women's rights and equality. I agree that we should boycott all the products that promote these kind of images, but realistically I don't think that would be possible. The entertainment industry and advertising businesses make so much money off of us that a little girls poor self-esteem is not going to side track them. Remember those "Truth" commercials for smoking and tobacco? I think there should be similar commercials that recognize what these images are really doing to young girls and women.

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Random thought: Judith Lorber's article really made me think of my dad. I remember my dad made me wear turtle necks until I was about 15 and would not allow me to do girly things like paint my nails or pluck my eyebrows. He got so upset when he saw my fingernails were purple.

"Wash that off!" He would say.
"But there's no nail polish remover.." I would hesitantly reply.
"Use water, I don't care. Throw away that stuff." He would say, freaking out.

I wouldn't go so far to say that my dad was dismissing gender reinforcements. I think he had that "dad thing" going on where he didn't want any of his daughters to dress a certain way or do certain things that would create certain attitudes and beliefs. But I thought it was interesting how different people have different ways of expressing themselves when it comes to gender and the influences it can bring. I'm pretty sure my dad's a feminist!

Here's article called "How to Talk to Little Girls". I loved reading this, and it was kind of like the activity we did in class when we had to replace all the words that were related to gender. Lisa Bloom talks about how the first thing we mention are looks and elements that reinforce gender identity and the negativity that comes long with it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/how-to-talk-to-little-gir_b_882510.html

P.s.- sorry for the sloppy transitions, I am having major writer's block!

Tan Hong Ming

I love this video, it is so cute. Just thought I would share it with you all.

Religion and It's 'Quirks'

Religion is such an important part of my life. I could not imagine a life without believing in a higher being. I have grown up practicing Buddhism, and I remember when my Grandma passed away I felt connected to myself and to our Temple. I see it as a very personal outlet, something that no one could ever take away from me. I think a very important aspect of my religion is that we are taught to never judge others for their beliefs. I had a very close friend back in high school who was Atheist. I remember her asking me if I had a problem with the fact that she was Atheist. I laughed at her question because I thought it was really silly. I didn't care what religion or God she believed in, as it wasn't my place for input.

I also had many close friends in high school who were devout Christians. One friend came up to me one day and invited me to her Church. I politely declined as I was busy that day. In the hopes of getting me to change my mind she said "But, we can save you!" That very phrase made me feel very confused and offended. What did she mean by this? What kind of imply was this to my religion? I felt very disrespected and as if she thought practicing Buddhism was a sin. As Buddhists, we believe in reincarnation. Based on the way you live your life, good or bad, your next lifetime would depend on these elements. I didn't understand why she said that when I had shown nothing but respect towards her religion, but I left it at that.

Chapter 46 is really interesting to me. When I read it I realized that I have almost none of those privileges in accordance with my own religion, maybe 1 or 2. I recreated a few items on the list in accordance to my own religious oppression to compare how different I am from that of a Christian.

1. There are no radio stations or TV programs devoted to Buddhism practices.

2. My holy days are not taken into account and businesses could careless.

3. School and work? You bet I'm expected to come in.

4. I could be financially successful and not have it blamed on my religion.

5. People of my religion are not a main part of history.

6. Most people are not familiar with which days I celebrate my religion.

7. I could not going around praising my religion and have people accepting it.

8. I couldn't travel and be sure there was going to be a place or worship.

When I read this over, it was kind of weird to feel a sense of religious oppression. But ultimately, it is what it is. I have never had a person harass me for my beliefs, but any kind of oppression leaves me feeling very restless. The portions on Antisemitism was stressful for me to read. I put myself the shoes of those who were treated so badly for what they believe in and I felt just very sad. It's like racism, but on a even more personal level.

The Somali workers situation is similar to what we see today. As immigrant come in from other countries, Americans claim "They are taking our jobs!" These "jobs" that are being taken were never wanted in the first, as they were low pay and in bad conditions. When you add time off for prayer and religion, it gets that much more complicated. I see where the companies are coming from when they refuse to give the workers extra time off for prayer and practices, but I and anyone else, could also see how important certain practices can be. From both perspectives both groups make sense. I think the hardest part of this situation is finding the middle ground and making compromises, but one that also looks out for the fairness of other workers.

Religion seems to be a complex web. One where its hard to understand where each person is coming from and accommodating each individual's religion is even more complicated.

A Little Perspective

As we were watching the film 'Crash' last week I felt myself getting very upset at what was happening to the characters, but at the same time I also felt a sense of familiarity. It was my first time seeing it, so I didn't know what to expect. I am a mix of Vietnamese (dad) and Chinese (mom), and I have always had my race associated with me for everything I do. When I was little I was always made fun of for being "Chinese". I dressed differently, I didn't know English, and I believed in Buddha. When I entered high school, that was when "it" hit me. Like a big block of fluffy tofu, if you will. After all the years of being teased for being different I came to this conclusion: People WILL say and do things without thinking, and there is really nothing you can do about it. I have experienced many racist encounters, and I think that I have a stronger awareness of the world because of this. So when I saw the film, I knew first hand what racism was, maybe not in that particular context, but I could relate and so I felt more drawn in.

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This summer I worked at Macy's in downtown, Houston. If you've been to that area then you know it is where the main concentration of the homeless are. I could have worked near home, but I choose this particular area because I knew it would be a learning experience. The class system out there was SO obvious. It was like night and day. You had the business people and then you had the homeless people. Reading the text on Classism, this was epitome of. There was the upper-class and then there was the lower class. I found it really interesting that the only time these two groups met was when they were either waiting on the bus or riding on the bus. There was a sense of knowing certain boundaries. Everyone knew to stay out of each other's way. Whenever I would go on lunch, my managers would always tell me to "be careful". At first I thought they were talking about the cars and traffic, but then I realized that they were talking about the homeless.

The point I'm trying to make is that because the division was so visible, many people were becoming self-fulfilling prophecies. 'The homeless' kept to themselves and thought so and so of the business people and 'the business people' vice versa.

As an outsider coming into the 'downtown culture' it was a very humbling experience to be able to observe the world in which we will become a part of. At one point or another we all need help, some more than others. I think that these stigmas continue to exist because we have so many reinforcements from our own culture that its hard to break the stereotypes. This type of division is present in ANY social environment. It would be up to anyone to change this, but it plays out almost as an unconscious thing.

Political Artwork

P.S. - October is Down Syndrome AND Disability awareness month!

-Thanks Carol :)

These photos were transferred from Tumblr. These are not mine and can be found under "political artwork".

A Series of Classless Classism? Perhaps Not.

Class and Educational Attainment: It kind of sucks when you read the article and realize how true education is correlated with economic status (153). It really sucks when you see kids with so much potential, but all that is standing in their way is money. And it really, really sucks when you see them settle for something that is below their potential. One of the main problems of these kinds of situations are base solely on the cycle that continues within generations. I think kids are highly influenced by what they see and hear. Yes, parents want better for their children, but some are in such dire situations that their children have to get jobs as a means of survival. Education gets put on the back burner in order to provide for their families, which is unfortunate.

Spheres of Power and Oppression: The chart showing the "Chances of Being Poor in America" is everything that we have claimed to work on. All those civil rights movements and the chances of being poor for a white female is 1/10 as compared to a black female 1/4 (154). So that is double the chances for a person of minority background. Reality: Race has EVERYTHING to do with it. You can work your self in a frenzy, but at the end of the day, those are your chances.

What is Wealth and Why is it Important? While the textbook's definition is dense, there are many ways to view a person's wealth. Here are some that I believe is a good representation: type of car, health, home, clothes, and anything materialistic. Why is it important? Because it will get you places and things that would otherwise be impossible if you did not possess any kind of wealth. I think this is where most of racism is concentrated. I actually didn't know that blacks and Latinos were discriminated from bank lendings. I didn't think that was allowed for some reason. Home ownership, business developments, these are the goals we all have, but because of race and class many are denied these simple rights.

I think this piece in the article ties in with the later pieces on student loans. "9% of Americans between the ages of fifty-five and sixty-four have student loan debt", the average being $17,498 (177). That. is. insane. Most of us go to school to get a degree and have a good job and eventually move up in life, but what is the point if you are being held back from this "mobility" because of these loans? There is no progress. Don't get me wrong, an education is absolute must have for me. But I absolutely get it if a person weighs the negatives of money to the benefits of an education, and feels differently than I do. I get it. From what I see the cost of attending college alone is very discouraging, let alone the thought of have thousands of dollars of debt after completing 4 years. Let's not forget that is if the person gets a good job.

Lastly, the article "Breaking the Girls In" is something that I have seen and read about many times. I honestly think that this type of black market economy is inevitable. People who have power over those who are helpless will take full advantage of them, even if the power is barely there. Exploitation like these are on-going, and the only way to stop it is awareness. But many people are not willing to risk their livelihoods or families to stop something that has grown to such a scale. The exploitation of women and slaves over the world comes with people who will go to all lengths to ensure no one gets in their way. While we have problems with our class and race, in other countries these are taken to a whole new level. And with corrupt governments.. well I think that it will only get worse.

Photos can be found on Tumblr.com and Pinterest.com

Refining Refugee Services

When people from other countries come to the United States as refugees they are presented to a world where nothing makes sense. Most do not speak English and almost all have no means of financial support, other than what they are receiving from their agency for refugee services. The definition of a refugee is a person who is fleeing from his or her country due to persecution on an account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Yes, this is quite the transition as one can imagine. Through the Refugee Act of 1980, refugees come by themselves or with their whole family, but most come from rural parts of the world that have never known the meaning of industrialization (Singer et al, 2006). This means never having the privileges of having a car, a TV, and anything else us Americans take for granted.

Most refugees are offered immediate services from the time they come over until their resettlement period is over, which is usually 6 months to a year. Services included ESL classes, job search assistance, mental and physical health services, and other programs that allow for better assimilation into the United States. After that time period refugees are expected to hold a job and start providing for their family. What exactly does this mean? Well most agencies do not have the resources that can provide for a family for more than what is avaible. They have to assist the family as much as possible with the limited resources and within a time frame.The only problem here is that 6 months to a year seems like it is too short. Some people do not adjust as well to difficult situations compared to others, which means assimilation and language barriers might be harder for some to overcome. Other factors that are not considered when given this resettlement period are the mental health and state of the client. Persecution and exile may lead one to depression and a feeling of insignificance, thus making it that much harder for refugees to transition. If you think about it, most of us take decades or even a lifetime before we feel “secure” our in life, imagine what these folks are going through.

Yes, there are a lack of funds and limited resources, but it is better to have a high quality services than stretched out resources that lead to negative outcomes. And by outcomes this means refugees can no longer survive on their own and have to rely once again on the agency. Some may just altogether head back to their country due to the high stress levels. There is much resistance to pouring all or most of an agency’s resources into one case, but the reality is that if the quality of service is poor than it will be two steps forward and one step backwards for both the agency and the client. It’s kind of like the saying “If you do it right the first time, than you won’t have to go back and fix anything. Children are the ones who suffer the most when their family gets lost in the system. Imagine that you are a nine year old Burmese child who has fled Burma due to your family’s religious beliefs. How would you behave in school? Can you imagine how much stress this is for a child? “Who are these other children and adults?” they may ask themselves. Stress is not the only behavior that comes out of this for children. Some refugee children are reserved and quite while others are lethargic or aggressive (Szente et al, 2006). It is not unusual for a refugee child to have hoarding behaviors either. Teachers have observed refugee students collecting as much food as possible while at lunch (Szente et al, 2006). The belief was that because the child did not know when her next meal was. She was either collecting food for another time or for another family member. Most teachers did not know how to handle or approach a refugee child due to lack of knowledge or experience, which makes the situation that much more frustrating.

Unfortunately, we are not worry about refugees enough. We have issues of our own. There is racism, discrimination, health disparities, homelessness, and so much more. It is sad to see so many refugees get put on the back burner due to lack of resources because of other internal problems. The sad truth is that refugees communities are not well represented, and most American are not even aware of the needs and welfare of refugees.

"If I had known what I know now, then Troy Davis would not have been convicted."

I could not think of anything else for the rest of that Wednesday evening except for Troy Davis. The fact that there was doubt, and alot of it, was constantly resonating with me. What IF in fact he was truly innocent? I sat at home that evening and was waiting for 7PM to come. I don't know why, I just was. I was hoping CNN would have some breaking news or something. But alas, it was all over the news that no decisions were overturned. Over and over again, all I could think was "he was powerless, absolutely powerless" and nothing could have changed his fate. I was pretty shocked that the supreme court's involvement changed nothing. I can say that there was one good thing that came out of this; the support of the public. I think the most touching thing about this case are the supporters who came together for Troy Davis. If I had to go the way Troy Davis did, then I would have been happy that there were people who believed I was innocent. I don't know what happened that night, no one does, but there is something terribly wrong with the picture before us.

Here's a video with more background:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DGqRFM443Y&feature=player_embedded#!

Most of the jurors stated they were pressured to make false confessions. Some were forced to sign statements they didn't agree with, one could not even read. Martina Davis-Correia, Davis's sister, takes us through what one of the witnesses "saw". If you watch the camera zooms, then you will see that it was impossible how she saw Davis "standing over the body, grinning". This is what I think. You might have your opinions, but I was pretty convinced that it wasn't possible.

I feel like because an officer was dead, people who looking for answers. For someone to blame. They needed some kind of explanation, anything it sounds like. I refuse to believe that something like this actually happened in our country, in this age. Its absolutely absurd and appalling. It makes me feel like it could happen to me, my family, my friends, my classmates, my professors, anybody.

Do I support the death penalty? Yes. Most of my family and friends do not believe me when I say "yes" to this question. It's very complicated for me to explain why, but I will say that there has to be absolutely no doubt what so ever. I have thought about the pros and cons of this "death penalty" idea many times, and I realize that cases similar to Troy Davis's are inevitable, which is unfortunate. But take this case for example:

Lawrence Russell Brewer from Jasper, Texas was a white supremacist. He and a few others were convicted and sentenced the death penalty after dragging James Byrd on the back of his car by the his ankles, shredding and dismembering his body. He did it because Byrd was black. All the evidence was there and there was no questions about who had committed this hateful crime. He said he had "no regrets" about what happened, meaning "Yeah, so?" in my book. He was sentence to death by lethal injection the day after Troy Davis was.

Here's the article if you want to read more:
http://www.chron.com/news/article/The-city-of-Jasper-still-copes-with-racial-2181357.php

I'm not trying to convince anyone anything, but its cases like THESE that make me really believe in the system for this so-called "justice" thing. I will however admit that after the Troy Davis case, I don't know. I would rather people like Lawrence Brewer be locked up for the rest of their life without parole than to risk the possibility of killing innocent people.

What do you guys think? Death penalty or no? Why?

"You knew that you were civilized, and that they were savages"

As the transported Englishmen felt insecure about their position among the Indians, they found new ways of exploitation. Outnumbered and on foreign territory, they searched for those they thought were inferior to them.

"Black slaves were the answer."
"Their helplessness made enslavement easier."

The article states that by the 19th century Africa had lost 50 million human beings to death and slavery. I knew there was slavery on a massive scale during this civilization development but I never imagined, or really took in what happened when I first learned about it. Here are some words and phrases I want to highlight from the article:

• "chained by the neck"
• "different stages of suffocation"
• "abusing himself for laying with a negroe body"
• "killing each other to breathe"
• "cage until sold"

The Oxford English Dictionary: "Deeply stained with dirt; soiled, foul, dirty."

When I was reading the article, just like the the article on the internment camp, I was speechless. I think the main thing going through my head was, how and where did so much hatred and animosity come from? Was the driving force of economy and free labor so much so that human beings were being tousled and tossed like nothing? At a time like that I'm sure social work was nonexistent, and for someone to speak up would have sure cause great upheaval.

In evolutionary psychology it is said that often the "selfish gene" exploits and kills the weaker one, a human nature, if you will. In the case of tribal warfare homicide avoidance, an adaptation that we developed to protect from other rivals, slaves at the time stood no chance. Conflicts of interest unfortunately got the best of that "selfish gene" and as result we are faced with social issues mirroring ones we still see today.

Here is an interesting campaign from the Netherlands that I would like to share with you all. Its very compelling and the ad is quite controversial. It was meant to be offensive and contentious, but the reason being is to capture, confront, and gain the attention of the younger generations to an often neglected subject. I must warn anyone who is going to watch this that it is quite displeasing, so I am sorry if anyone is offended and I would be happy to remove it if you feel uncomfortable. Please keep in mind, this is not a real game, it was an advertisement for a campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMjQAN9ZoxE&feature=related

What did you think of this? Pretty ballsy, yes? Well here is an interview with one of the researchers behind this campaign. The video is pretty long, but its very interesting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&src_vid=WCgsXRyYXW0&v=mUW3AJjTp1Q&annotation_id=annotation_495488

What do you guys think of this? Point taken? Why do you think it is that schools suppress the dark ages of history and highlight the more glorious moments? Is it shame? Embarrassment? Guilt? I think that it is important to raise these kinds of issues and moments. Its something we can learn from and try not to repeat. (That's certainly ambitious of me to say.)

Slavery is still very much alive today, especially in the sex industry as the host mentions in the video. Modern slavery, as most refer to it. LOVE 146 is an organization that I have avidly been supporting ever since I found out about it in high school. They are very near and dear to my heart. P.S. - They also have some really informative videos on their website. Their mission statement and their goals for their organization definitely plays into the humanistic perspective of giving individuals the chance of having a better life.

"Abolition and Restoration! We combat child sex slavery & exploitation with the unexpected and restore survivors with excellence."

They advocate for those in Asian countries who have been sold in to the sex trade through families, abductions, and so many other heinous acts. They focus mainly in Thailand, where the concentration of the problem is. Check them out if you have time.

How did they get the name "LOVE146"? (as copied from their website)

In 2002 co-founders Rob Morris, Desirea Rodgers, Lamont Hiebert and Caroline Hahm traveled to South East Asia to witness first hand the atrocity of child sex slavery and the hope of abolition and restoration. While there, Rob and Lamont went undercover with professional investigators into a brothel. In that brothel, they witnessed little girls standing behind a wall of glass, each wore a matching red dress with a number pinned to her chest; they were watching children’s cartoons on small television sets. Men were purchasing these girls by the number pinned to her dress. As Rob and Lamont looked at these children watching cartoons they were struck by the eyes of each child. Their eyes seemed empty, without spark of life, like robots. And then there was #146. The only one not watching cartoons, she was staring back through the glass with fire and fight left in her eyes, there was still life there. In her eyes we found our calling. In her number came our name.

Here are the links to their website and blog:

http://love146.org/

http://love146.org/blog

Japanese Internment

It was really upsetting for me to read this article. Everything from the psychological standpoint to the physical abuse of all Japanese Americans during this time period made me feel so disgusted and sad. As a result of Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor many Japanese people were sent to interment camp on the basis of racism.

"Not a single documented act of espionage, sabotage or fifth column activity was committed by an American citizen of Japanese ancestry or by a resident Japanese on the West Coast."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt is my favorite president. My history professor told us many great stories about FDR, and I have come to really admire him. Here are some of the many great things he has done for our country:

• Fireside chats: FDR was always a good speaker, and many Americans laid in bed during the cold winters to listen to him during our time of crisis.
• The Hundred Days
• Social Security Act
• National Recovery Administration
• Agricultural Adjustment Administration
• The New Deal

You may disagree with me and think FDR was a horrible president, but I wanted to remind myself of all the great accomplishments he done for us before I start my rant. Executive Order 9066 was signed and authorized by FDR, stating the exclusion of all Japanese people.

Psychologically, the turmoil and frustration that comes along with not knowing what is going to happen to your family member, let alone your own being is unimaginable to me. I would imagine that most of the Japanese Americans at time came to America for the abundant opportunities and the promise of a better life. So for something like the internment camps to happen must have left a distrustful taste. In the article it said that many distrusted "white Americans", but Japanese culture is structured so that obedience is a priority, which led to the removal a physically non-reluctant people. More than likely the idea of an American identity would have been tarnished.

Personally, I would ask myself, "How could my country treat me like this?" Those who were not even near a part of the attack or in anyway connected were disregarded and considered just as guilty as those who were apart of the attack. I feel like the "American" part of "Japanese American" would no longer hold it's meaning and many would feel at a lost.

The Complexity of Identity

I think for social workers it is very important to have a good sense of self. The first chapter of the text "The Complexity of Identity" talks alot about figuring out who you are (or in this case, your clients). I love the line "Integrating one's past, present, and future into a cohesive, unified sense of self is a complex task that begins in adolescence and continues for a lifetime."

It may be really hard for some to come to peace with their past, and for others it may be scary to look towards the future. So for this equation, it makes it very hard to focus on the present.

Being Myself: The Micro Level
The Micro level refers to the individual, their traits, their likes, their experience, and their characteristics. In a setting where there is no judgement, this is the Micro level. Identity formation is critical because it is the structural foundation of who we are. Identity formation is not something that someone can achieve overnight, rather it is something formulated over our life time, until the very end of life even. We learn and pick up things from our surroundings and the people we interact with. Influences come and go everyday, so I think identity formation is difficult because we are always accumulating and experiencing new things, exactly when this "formation" stops is hard to say, to me at least.

Community Recognition, Expectations, and Interactions: The Meso Level

The Meso level refers to institutions in which we are a part of. At school, at work, at the mall, and even at the grocery store is where most of us interact with others and get small tid bits to the question "Who are you?" Slowly, with incremental sections of the conversation, we find out more and more about the people we are with. Here many assumptions of shared values, interests, and culture come up. Here are some examples I have come up with.

A simple one:
"Oh you're at the farmer's market getting carrots again?"

"You must be a healthy person."

The expectation here is that you find only the freshest and high quality vegetables and fruits, so of course you would take your health into consideration. Obligations to your health says you eat only the LEANEST carrots with NO TRANS FAT or preservatives (huh?!).

Now that we have the concept down, the point is that people automatically have expectations and demands based on how we talk, the way we look, and their "knowledge" of the group they think we belong to. This can either create a lot of confusion for the self, or create an affirmation that makes us say "No, this is who I am. Let me show you."

"No, I am not healthy, I was just getting carrots to coat them in three layers of chocolate so I can deep fry them later."

Social Categories, Classifications, and Structural Inequality:
Macro and Global Levels
Social categories and classifications create much social inequality and make for less social justice than wanted. You have the dimensions of gender, race, class, sexual orientation, religion, and so much more. When you combine some of these together, the individual who already faces hate and discrimination only suffers more, especially in cultures where social justice is nonexistent. In social work context, clients may feel like they either belong to the "dominant" group or the "subordinate" group. This can either help with empowering them as an individual or hinder the process if they come from an at risk population.

What does all this mean? I think looking at all three of these levels, it is important to consider where people come from and what they think of themselves at the Mirco level. From there we look at what they've gone through, and what they will come to face on the Macro level. This is by no means a social work action plan or anything related to it. I just linked these levels to give myself an idea of how they differ and connect. How did you interpret these different levels? I looked at this from a sociology standpoint (I took a course on this), so it might differ from yours.

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Here is something really neat that I would like to share. Its a book called "Where Children Sleep" by James Mollison. This book contains pictures of children from all over the world and shares with us what their rooms looks like. From the rooms we can see what kind of life they live. We can see their social and economic backgrounds. We can see their personalities, but more importantly it contrasts how different each child's different situations are. From New York to Nepal or Kentucky to Houston, the differences in economic background is pretty shocking. Keep in mind this book was intended on showing social issues around the world and I believe it was very effective. So I just wanted to include this as I see it tying in with the text on Privilege. Let me know what you guys think.

14 years old, Nepal

8 years old, New York

4 Years Old, Outside Rome, Italy

4 years old, Tokyo, Japan

15 years old, Kenya

14 years old, Scotland

8 years old, Cambodia

9 years old, New York

Photos can be found at http://www.jamesmollison.com/wherechildrensleep.php

Individual Versus Group Membership

Some potential conflicts between social work education and the roles and duties in practice spans from what a social worker may think is qualified or not. In the article "Letters to the Editor" the writer states that it is "absurd to judge someone based on how hard of a life" you think they've had. This very subject is important because background and history is not available unless they are long time clients. We are to help the client as is, without judgement, and to look past the differences.

But couple of questions come to mind:

• Who decides what is fair and what isn't?
• How are we to know that we aren't just giving limited resources to someone who is taking advantage of the system?
• What if the client was rejected available resources, would this cause the social profession to lose it's status as a helping hand?

Individual versus group membership is something that is a hot topic these days. Sad to say, but stigmas and stereotypes exist and they follow us where ever we go, intentional or not. Sure there may be some benefits that comes from stigmas, but most are negative one.

Here is a crazy example, Bunnies (rabbids) are known to be crazy spenders who spend all their money on carrots and fluffy pillows.....

Would you help this bunny (Rabbid) out knowing his background and bad spending habits? He needs this help to pay for rent and food and he just recently lost his position in the Wii company. How would you go about assessing this Rabbid's case?

All jokes aside, I think that group memberships (race, gender, social affiliation) affects and sometimes hurts us more than we would want. Social justice is focused more on individual than group membership, but group membership is always at the forefront when we see it almost everywhere. Social welfare for the client can cause them to get lost in the system and thus hurt the individual.

In the article, Pelton's argument is that equality could be increased by alternating and eliminating "cultural denomination and marginalization", termed "Relational Justice". Scanlon and Longres however, disagree that when this happens others are overlooked and neglected. Their example of African Americans receiving affirmative action over Europeans shows that some Europeans (and any others) may be in need just as much as African Americans. What do you guys think? Should one group be overlooked in order to help another? Is it far to any of us?

Photos from Google.com and Tumblr.com