Oh the last JOUR 4250 class meeting. This year has been a crazy one. I don't talk much in class (usually because I seemed to get teamed up on whenever I did...but I digress), but I've soaked up everything we've discussed all the same.
I was skeptical at first. When I signed up for the class I figured we'd go in and do some case studies over how race and gender have affected people throughout the history of the world, but it was nothing like that -- much to my surprise (and enjoyment...case studies are a yawnfest).
I'll be the first to admit that I haven't agreed with everything that has been said in class, but that doesn't mean that good points weren't brought up along the way. I realized really quick that when controversial issues are brought up, some people won't back down from what they believe, even if everyone thinks they're wrong.
I've also noticed that just because someone perceives the world differently, it doesn't necessarily make them your enemy like I've turned them into in the past. I've disagreed with my ride to Dallas on multiple occasions, but when we talk and agree to disagree and change the conversation it turns out we actually agree on most things.It's funny how that works.
You mean you can be friends with someone who hates your ideals?! *gasp*
But in all seriousness, this has been a great class to take. While I'm the first to admit I don't agree with a lot of the class material, I'll also be the first to admit that I'm a young male from a small, rural city with a very closed mind on the way the world should work. But at the same time, I've been conflicted with my world views.
I come from a family where the men do the yard work, and my Mom and sisters take care of the laundry and cooking. If the women are outside, they're planting flowers or playing with the dogs. But in the same household, my Mom brings home a bigger portion of the "bacon." It's almost a role-reversal scenario, but no one talks about it. It's simply not a big deal. The reason the men do the yard work is because my Mom and sisters don't want to, not because they can't do it. So while it's a traditional household in some regards, it's not because it "has" to be that way.
I feel like that's a big reason college has opened my mind a tad (really, just a TINY bit -- I don't accept change well). And after all is said and done, this class has helped me inch toward being a more accepting person, whether or not I want to be.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Latino Population in the U.S.
Okay, the title will be misleading, but I don't really care about the Latino population anywhere except my fantastical home state of Texas.
That being said...Gah, it's kind of a strange thought to think of myself as a minority. I've been the majority my whole life, so how is this going to change my life? It's a strange thing to think about, but it's a very real concern for myself and probably millions of other Texans. It's not like we're being invaded, so I'm not entirely sure why it's a scary thought process to deal with, but it is all the same.
I truly love this state. I wouldn't move if it was a radioactive heap of barren land, so I'm just going to have to figure out how to process everything. I'm going to have to watch what I say and when I say it. The whole situation reminded me of something one of my professors said this year that completely goes against everything we've been learning in Race, Gender & the Media.
He says people need to filter what they hear and not what they say, which, to a small extent, I thoroughly believe in. You can't stop an 80-year-old man from being racist. It's burned into their brain and no amount of reasoning is going to change their mind. In the same respects, you can't expect people to filter what they say if they're not used to having to do it.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we shouldn't at least try to be more politically correct and sensitive toward other people's needs and culture, but at the same time -- will they be embracing ours? I guess it's hypocritical to expect them to as we didn't do anything to preserve or tolerate Native American heritage and culture.
Hell, I guess we're all screwed!
*sarcasm off*
That being said...Gah, it's kind of a strange thought to think of myself as a minority. I've been the majority my whole life, so how is this going to change my life? It's a strange thing to think about, but it's a very real concern for myself and probably millions of other Texans. It's not like we're being invaded, so I'm not entirely sure why it's a scary thought process to deal with, but it is all the same.
I truly love this state. I wouldn't move if it was a radioactive heap of barren land, so I'm just going to have to figure out how to process everything. I'm going to have to watch what I say and when I say it. The whole situation reminded me of something one of my professors said this year that completely goes against everything we've been learning in Race, Gender & the Media.
He says people need to filter what they hear and not what they say, which, to a small extent, I thoroughly believe in. You can't stop an 80-year-old man from being racist. It's burned into their brain and no amount of reasoning is going to change their mind. In the same respects, you can't expect people to filter what they say if they're not used to having to do it.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we shouldn't at least try to be more politically correct and sensitive toward other people's needs and culture, but at the same time -- will they be embracing ours? I guess it's hypocritical to expect them to as we didn't do anything to preserve or tolerate Native American heritage and culture.
Hell, I guess we're all screwed!
*sarcasm off*
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