movie

Only one nucleotide different, and yet discrimination still lingers throughout not only our history, but through our society today. While watching a movie in our ethnic studies class I never realized just how in common everyone is through their dna. If I was asked who I thought my Dna would resemble I would reply probably someone Caucasian and with an Irish decent. Come to find out humans are the most related beings that scientist have discovered so far. Fruit flies can look identical, however that appearance is on the outside. The two flies that appear to be the same are actually just as different as humans are compared to chimps. Biologist and specialized scientist have been searching over two hundred years for a difference between races. In the past they have explored from skull sizes to brain color, and even foot or clavicle type! When 1920 came around, it was said that it was a fact that their spot was to be on the bottom on the social ladder. An article called Vital Capacity even said they’d go extinct in 1896, and it was natures wish that they would. What they didn’t consider was their data was flawed due to poverty and hardships with their subjects. In the 1930’s sports started to favor the minority groups. Such as basketball among the Jewish decent and other sports in general with those of an African American decent. Dean Cromwell, the Olympic track coach commented saying it was in their nature because they were primitive beings who are used to running like beast. As soon as Jesse Owens started to make a name for himself scientist were all over him trying to figure out why he was so fast trying to prove the negro decent was primitive.
So my question is why do we even care if there is a difference in the dna. Its already proven that there is just as much difference between white and non-white as there is with white and white. The human lineage started in Africa and many of us may have adapted to different environments which could lead us to different skin color. What it comes down to is we are all human so it all goes back to Rodney Kings Question. Why cant we all just get along?

chapter 6

“We live in a society that encourages us to think that the social world begins and ends with individuals.” Before reading chapter six, What it all has to do with us I never really realized just how independent and defensive a lot of people are. This chapter explains that individualistic thinking is paralytic. To break this paralysis we need to not hide it or mock the issues, and to realize that the individualist model is wrong. He states that we need to learn that our problem is as a whole, a society or system, not just individually. He also makes a good point in saying we only choose the path in which we can see. His example gave me something to think about. He states if you walk onto an elevator you naturally stand facing the way in which you are going to exit. But when someone turns the other way in the back people stare and pressure is felt to do what everyone else is doing. Or when playing monopoly the competitors find themselves becoming very greedy when they themselves are not the greedy type. Johnson describes how our society is not made through and individual, but a group of people. Johnson makes his point saying the “good” people are silent on too many things. He sums up this chapter saying our power thrives in if we choose to follow that path or not.
After reading through chapter six on what it all has to do with us, I started to realize that I do take part in a lot of things just to avoid conflict. I as he has stated, stand on an elevator facing the exit, and I get very greedy in the game of monopoly. But why society does this and who all started it is what stuns me. All the complications and the hatred had to start somewhere. If someone were to make an offensive joke in front of everyone and me laughed would I laugh to? That question is hard and it kind of reflects upon everything that is being discussed in this chapter. To be quite honest before I read this I more then likely would have laughed reflexively. But now, after realizing I have no reason to laugh and I shouldn’t be ashamed to not laugh I probably would not. So what does it all have to do with me? It has everything because in the end we are the society, and we are the ones who chooses the paths in which it flows.

?

dichotomizing sect.

When my group was first given the assignment to read over the section, dichotomizing into sexual orientation I never knew what the term dichotomizing was. Come to find out dichotomized is explained to mean into black/white, white/black, or gay/straight- and individuals are expected to fit easily in one category or the other. This section has made it clear to me just how casual the word gay has become in our language and the mood in which we treat the whole situation. Until this article I never realized that still until this day, scientist are seeking ways biologically to prove who is straight, or gay, and who is what race. However wit hall the studies done there is not one study that can confirm with a percentile rating of who is who biologically. It speaks of a man whom said he felt obligated to be with women, but was at his happiest when he was with men. This section also includes something on dichotomizing class. This section points out how social class points out a persons core worth and who is in merit on society. Following this it the goes on to explain terms dealing with dichotomizing sex. It says the pressures dealing with sex and how its all biologically linked except the one in 200000 people who have conflict biologically with their identity.
While reading through my section I was rather surprised at the amount of experiments that scientist do to biologically differentiate between who is gay and who is straight. To me that concept is kind of disappointing because what does it matter who is what? If that is the way someone chooses to be then we should respect that and let them live their life the way they please! It also pointed out to me how casually society uses the phrase “that’s gay” or “your gay!” I never realized how insulting that could be or how disrespectful we are truly being when we say those phrases. It also disappoints me about the woman who happened to have the male gene getting disqualified from the Olympics. I could see maybe if she was using steroids, but in her case it was a biological dysfunction so why punish her for it? I hate how women and men are assigned to different categories, and why we are blows my mind. Logistically speaking men are biologically built “stronger” but who is to say what is stronger then what? Women bear children and that in its self takes strength, and women deal with cramps, and menstrual cycles. Who is to say we are weaker because of our muscle mass? All in all, this has opened my eyes to how casually we accept discrimination and disrespect people without even noticing

rodney kings question

In the first chapter Johnsons book it contains the title of Rodney King's Question. This quiestion has exsisted for a while and is known around the United States. Why can't we all just get along? Humans have had controversy with each other it seems to be for ever. He goes on to give statistics such as the average wealth of white families is almost fourteeen times that of blacks. He also gives good points on how men dominate virtually every major organization which is completely true. I also never realized how many disablities exist in americans today, and how bad our society helps them out. SO why can't we get along?
I beleive we cannot get along because ever since humans exsisted they felt the drive to stride to be the best by nature. There is also t he fact that yes, we have affirmative action but is it really fair and making people get along? No! As a woman in todays society i like that they are trying to make the jobs equal opportunity but the fact is that its not really fair to the men. Because what if a woman is not as educated in the field as a man is but she gets the job because she is a woman and they need to up their quota. I would much rather get a job for my qualities rather then to be just another statistic to the company. No matter how society acts its going to be hard to get along with every one because of the nature of a human being. That nature is drive. Drive to be the best, and drive to succeed is my answer to Rodney Kings question and why we all just cant get along.
Another subject I believe is important in this chapter is the section on if we cant talk about it if we cant use the words. He says when you name something the word draws your attention to it and it sis then that the topic can be talked about.People are afraid to use the words sexism, and race and dominant. But why should we be afraid of words? I think its because of our past what has happened and what people are ashamed of or afraid will happen. The fact is if we dont use them or say them they may fade in society but be in the back of everyones mind. We may be lead to believe that this doesnt happen any more but the fact is it does. Maybe even in worse ways then we believe. Its just hidden better and considered free to do. Rodney King brought up a good question, but can it ever be answered?

about me

I come from a small farm town in the middle of no where and of course grew up on a small farm. I am not only in this class to fullfill my credit for my major, but also to finally hear other perspective on issues and to expand my horizon. I went to a catholic highschool, and grew up catholic. However, many of the beliefs that were pounded in my head i do not fully agree with and hope to hear other opinions on issues. I love my small town and my religion, but i am a very open person and would love to learn other points of views.

Zinn

Through out the article A People’s History of the United States, Howard Zinn writes of instances in the history of Christopher Columbus and the false nature that has been fabricated by many historians. He unfluffs the history on how Columbus “discovered” our nation and how he treated the natives that presided here first. He concludes that unlike our basic history Columbus was here for mainly gold and slaves. He treated the natives harshly and took advantage of their good nature. He argues that the assassination of many of the first natives was on the hands of Columbus.
Zinn comments on the entries that Columbus made that many historians have over looked and then documented Columbus him down as being noble. But there is the question of should we go with what Zinn is stating and teach the children in elementary schools? I think that this may be pushing the limits due to the fact that maybe children are not old enough to understand what is going on. I think that the censorship put on the history of Christopher Columbus was necessary to an extent, but the facts should get straightened out and maybe a limit on what we teach our children.
When I read this document my first reaction was to the title and honestly I thought it was going to be a boring piece. But after reading the first couple paragraphs I realized how many facts about our history have been simply left out and revised to make the white male look better. I believe that this piece of writing is very influential and makes several good points throughout it of how not only in the past but now we view those around us and our history. Many times today I find myself reading information on history and pieces on what is happening today and I believe the versions that are fluff and make the majority sound better.
Over all, this article has opened my eyes to many of the things that our history has censored and chapters have left out. Discrimination has been in everyone’s life not matter what race, sex, or social status your in. Through out history no matter every fact is put into some point of view. No matter how we look at it, its going to be fluffed even Zinn commented on this. All in all, this piece was very real and just goes to show the reality of censorship, and the way in which history has been fluffed in the dominant favor.