NEW BLOG!!!

Hey everyone,

As many of you are aware I'm moving to Ohio University starting in the fall, which means I will no longer be using this blog.  I am starting a new blog, though, and would love to hear from you all!  Here is the new blog address:

http://soc3290.wordpress.com/

I hope you are all doing well,
Charlie

Topaz: Artists in Internment

A picture of the wall where all of the poems were placed.

A piece of art that really stood out to me that was titled, “Where Would We Go?”

A photograph taken of the Topaz Camp.

     A few months ago I had the opportunity to attend a reading of a play called “Block 8” which is a story based off of the experiences of Japanese Americans during WWII.  The reading was done in honor of the opening of an exhibit in Salt Lake City featuring art that was from the Japanese Internment Camp in Delta, Utah called Topaz.
    The poet Lawson Inada, who helped to present the Topaz art, wanted people to be able to interact with the exhibit.  So he came up with what he called Jan Ken Po-ems (Jan Ken Po is the rock-paper-scissors childhood game) which hint at haiku, but they are just common everyday phrases applied in an uncommon context.

Some of the phrases were …
Broke His Heart
In God We …
Do It Justice
Go On Living
Please Forgive Us

Inada wrote:
    “We want your thoughts and responses to the artwork created by artists, no longer alive, who visually recorded their lives behind a barbed-wire fence.
    “Begin with one of these pieces of paper with three words written on them.  Add your words.  Your words can come before one of the words or after.  You may cross one out and add another to the list.  You choose.  If you wish, just begin with a blank piece of paper and write a Jan Ken Po-em.
    “In Japan, Shinto temples and, often, trees and bushes are places were individuals may leave a paper prayer.  In our version, your poem may be a poem, a wish, a dream or a prayer.  Please post on the wall above.  Thank you.”

And I invite you all to do the same.  For more information you can visit http://topazmuseum.org/

~ Rachel Shimizu

The Human Experience

I watched this documentary on Netflix recently, and if any of you have the opportunity-watch it. The "back of the box description" says, "In a world fraught with hostility and violence, an altruistic group of young men endeavor to understand the true essence of the human spirit by visiting forgotten souls such as homeless New Yorkers, Peruvian orphans and isolated Ghanian lepers. By spotlighting heartwarming stories from around the world, this uplifting documentary shows viewers that every single person, no matter his or her lot in life, is beautiful."

This film was honestly so inspiring. I feel as though taking this sociology class has really opened my eyes to different situations, even to different people, in America that I never paid much attention to before, like the homeless on the streets or the neglected lepers in Ghana that these young men in the documentary noticed more once they literally spent some time in their shoes. Everyone on this earth is united, "we are really the same." I love the quote by President Ucthdorf that says, "Everyone is walking his or her own difficult path." Now that we have really seen the difficult paths for our fellow brothers and sisters we have the responsibility to do something more-no matter their race, citizenship standing, sexual orientation, or anything else. We need to find the things that make us universal humans, no matter what our political or social beliefs are.


-Nikki Bradshaw

Gender Roles

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srnaXW9ZgZc
(I couldn't get the video to post so here is the link so you can watch it on youtube!)



I loved this video!! This little girl is among very few, children in particular, who understand these implemented gender roles in society. Gender roles are so ingrained in our society and in our media. These gender roles are implemented into our brains and way of life from a very young age. I feel that this is the case because of media and especially because of parents. I’m sure we all could share a story or two about the time our brother or cousin came out wearing a dress or chose something pink over something blue and every adult around started freaking out. I totally believe that boys and girls tend to gravitate towards different things because of their gender, but we tend to take things to extremes. I think this little girl got it just right when she said, “Sometimes girls like superheroes and sometimes boys like princesses”.

It Gets Better at BYU

Validation!

I know this is a a bit different topic than normal, but I remember reading something about a month and a half ago about not letting the chain of love stop with you. I've been thinking about that lately. I was also thinking about when I was a nanny for my nieces and nephews over the summer. I remember being horrified at the shows they ended up watching. I felt that they were really vulgar and rude. They were basically teaching my little nieces and nephews how to make fun of and to hate people that they view as different or inferior. Maybe the nostalgia is hitting early at 20, but weren't the kids show about accepting others and being kind and understanding? Anyway, my roommate found this mini movie on youtube that sums up the point. With all of the tension going on, like elections, shootings, hate crimes, and lack of understanding, we need to revisit the power of a compliment. It feels like all of us are surrounded by unfeeling comments. With all of the topics we have covered in class, it is hard not to notice how the power of words can bring an entire population down. The sheer number of racial slurs is staggering! Hopefully this will put a smile on your face because your smile is beautiful and you are awesome!

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cbk980jV7Ao" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Rebecca Anderson

Free Write: Apology To My Brown Boy

I came across this blog post today and thought it quite thought provoking.  Here's what Bassey Ikpi had to say about a poem she recently wrote, follow the link for the full text.

About ten years ago, a  few years before I became a mother, I wrote a poem called Apology To My Unborn about my fears for my then unborn son. My son is now 5 years old and has been asking me about Trayvon Martin. I’ve done the best I can to answer him in ways that make sense to him but I’ve become incredibly saddened by the weight of it. The fact that there are conversations that I’m going to have to have with him as he gets older that go beyond normal parenting upsets me. I hate the fact that there are rules of conduct for boys of color that are meant to keep them from being murdered senselessly. It pains me. The fact that despite these rules, it takes just one person to act out and stop their life, infuriates me. But at the end of the day, my job as a parent, is to make sure that my son doesn’t carry the weight of society. I can’t raise him to fear. I won’t. 

I have been unable to write about Trayvon Martin because there is so much more to this than what I have the space to comprehend. I don’t know what to say. Tomorrow will be a month. 

This morning, I did a free write on my son and Trayvon and questions and parenting and I revisited my poem Apology To My Unborn and used it as a writing prompt. This is more or less something answering myself as my son is now older and my fears have changed. This is not a work in progress because I don’t think I can stand to go back and edit and shape it into something that makes sense. I can’t let this fear and pain affect how I raise my child. I won’t. 

My love and prayers go out to you and yours.

Love someone and mean it. Please.

B.

http://basseyworld.wordpress.com/2012/03/25/free-write-apology-to-my-brown-boy/

-Sarah Overson

This I Believe in The Student Review

The latest issue of The Student Review featured an interesting article written by a homosexual student who attended BYU.  The article outlines his struggle to become secure and confident in his sexual orientation in an LDS setting.  Although we've moved on from this topic in class, I think the article is definitely worth one's time and a moment's thought.

Here's the link: http://thestudentreview.org/2012/03/13/this-i-believe-4/

-Sarah Overson

Tan Le: My Immigration Story

We have talked a lot about Mexican migration, but there are a multitude of immigration stories from all over the world.  One important story we have not touched much upon is immigration from Vietnam.  Here is one of those stories.  This story captures the essence of immigration and why our country is so much stronger for the millions of immigrants we bring in every year.

Feminization of Black Men?

I was recently introduced to an unsettling trend in movies and television. I was made aware of it when a friend sent me this video of Dave Chappelle on Oprah.

Black comedians are frequently appearing as women. Comedic movies featuring cross-dressing aren't really my thing, which is probably why I hadn't really noticed this going on. Of course white men cross-dress in movies as well, but they seem to be portrayed as better, often noble, characters.

I had a glimpse of this trend a few days ago while watching the show “Happy Endings.” Damon Wayans Jr., has not, as far as I know, worn a dress on the show (I haven't seen the first season). However, in a recent episode, in reference to a dream, he said, “He made me keep my heels on!” At first I thought it was nice that a straight male character was not being portrayed in a stereotypical way. With this latest episode, I'm not so sure. To my knowledge, none of the white male characters have been feminized to that degree.

Michelle McMonagle

How prop 8 was overturned

No matter which side of this issue you fall on, you are probably aware that prop 8 was ruled unconstitutional, a ruling held up by the ninth district circuit court of appeals. In this high profile trial, both plaintiff and defendant presented their best and most robust arguments for and against the legalization of same-sex marriage.

When discussing among friends issues about which everyone already agrees, it's easy to reinforce each others' comments and feel absolutely certain of the merits of one's argument; we call this phenomena groupthink. But when these points of arguments are challenged by the opposing view, how do they stand up? Some are made uncomfortable by the conflict of a civil debate, but it is only under critical scrutiny that the truth can hope to emerge. This is exactly what happens in this documentary of the Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial.

Based on actual courtroom transcripts, this is a verbatim theatrical reenactment of the trial proceedings which overruled Proposition 8. I expected boring, with a cast including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Martin Sheen, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Kevin Bacon-- this video watches more like a courtroom drama than a documentary.

Challenge your beliefs. If you find them unscathed, they will be that much stronger. If they crumble under scrutiny, you will be forever grateful you escaped ignorance.

-Josh Ruchty

One of our past class discussions was about the reconstruction of black servitude after the Civil War. We focused a lot about the sharecropping system being one of the results. However, the documentary, SlaveryBy Another Name, was mentioned by Professor Morgan to further explain the reconstruction. 

The documentary went in such detail about what the blacks went through after the Civil War and it really surprised me. I had no idea that the Southerns went through so much just to get the blacks back to slavery as close as they could. For example, there was convict leasing, peonage (like debt servitude), and sharecropping. A lot of blacks were arrested for things they did not do, just so the Southerns could use them as labor. I felt so horrible while watching this documentary because I have been blind to what really happened to blacks after the Civil War. They most definitely were not free. I would have to say that some of the blacks were treated worse when they were considered “free” rather than when they were actually slaves. I highly recommend those who have not seen this documentary to watch it. 

You can can watch the documentary online at the following website:  http://www.pbs.org/tpt/slavery-by-another-name/watch/

Taylor Stacey

"What Would You Do?" in Utah (part 2)

Here is the clip I thought was the most revealing, on the topic of interracial relationships:





And here's one about domestic violence (I was touched by how the people responded to this one:

What would you do? in Utah

In class, we have watched clips from the show What Would You do? There was an episode that aired tonight where all of the filming was done in Utah. It was very interesting to see some of the scenarios that they set up and the reactions that people gave. With all of the recent publicity from Mitt Romney and the Book of Mormon musical on Broadway, I felt that this episode did show some positive things about people who live in Utah. Even thought not all of the people interviewed were Mormon, it shows that there are incredible people who are willing to stand up for what they believe in.

Here are a few of the clips from the show that aired. I would recommend watching the entire episode.

"What would you do?" Tests gay support in Utah

"What would you do" Bride Lies about Virginity: Should Mormon Husband Still Marry Her?

Here is a Link to the Website with the rest of the clips

http://abcnews.go.com/whatwouldyoudo

Posted By: Daniele Vaughan

LDS Church condems past racism

Recently the article in the Washington Post has stirred up quite a controversy on race and the LDS Church.  I thought it might be helpful to post some information for those who are interested in learning more about the issue:

Washington Post article

Deseret News article (summarizing the latest information)

Church response to the Washington post article

Another statement about race by the Church

An interview with Elder Holland where he talks about this issue (scroll down to the following question: "Where were you when you heard that the ban was lifted on blacks in the priesthood?"

An article that uses the scriptures to debunk the myth of the "curse of Cain"

Finally an article that talks about three myths about blacks on the priesthood

Asking To Be Different?

As my best friend and I were doing sociology homework together for the chapter on race in You May Ask Yourself, we came across a really interesting point. She's in the other class, so she has slightly different assignments, and she had to answer all the questions at the end of the chapter. One of them said:

"Ask three white people you know the following: "How would you describe yourself over the phone to someone who has never seen you before?" Ask three people who are not white the same question."

I helped her ask people, and at first, I figured it would all be the same-- everyone would just say "I'm tall, brown haired, green eyed, etc.". In fact, I was very wrong. Every single white person said their descriptions as I excepted and even included some personality traits, such as loud, fun-loving, smart, so on.

It became interesting when all three people who weren't white gave their descriptions. First of all, they all seemed a little phased by the question, as if it was meant to be offensive. Secondly, race was the first thing that they said. The friend I asked - who's black - said, "Let's start with the obvious. I'm black. I have big lips, curly, black hair, black eyes..."

To me, I never think of being white as being something that makes me who I am. Yes, it has played a part in my life, partly because the "invisible knapsack of privileges", but I don't use it as an identifier. I started thinking about this "mini-experiment" and wondered why this was. While they could be mentioning their race as pride (which they may have; I'm just not sure), I feel like they use it as an identifier instead of describing the individual person they they are. I sometimes feel as though other races use their race to separate themselves. This friend who I asked always takes every little thing, twists it, and says, "that's racist!!". That has ALWAYS bothered me. I feel like he's always looking for racism even when it isn't there. One time, he posted on Facebook "I love being black!! Black people are the best!" I was happy that he had so much pride in his race, but I could only imagine the horror and crap I'd get for posting "I love being white!! White people are the best!!" I know it'd be taken as racism even if I was just proud of my race.

I'm curious to know what other people think of these experiences and their opinions on individuals' own views on their races.

How Racism Affects Women's Health

Although the majority of Caucasian women would see racism as a thing of the past, many African-American women know that blacks are still treated unfairly in American society; for instance, racial gaps in income are still present in the United States. Where a person lives, what resources are available to them, and how successfully they handle life challenges can all affect the health of individuals and populations. As we've learned in class, this is referred to as socioeconomic status—the position of a person in a hierarchical social system. Contributing factors that determine socioeconomic status are education, income, place of residence, occupation, heredity, and religion. Low socioeconomic status can lead to ill-health; high socioeconomic status normally predicts great health.

In many public health classes we watch episodes of Unnatural Causes, a 2008 PBS documentary highlighting how racial and socioeconomic differences affect the health of Americans. In one of the videos listed below, researchers analyzed a puzzling case–an African-American woman named Kim. Even though Kim had a high-paying job, health insurance, adequate prenatal care, and lived in an affluent neighborhood, she still delivered a baby girl who was pre-term and very low birth weight. Why would this woman with high socioeconomic status experience the same outcome that is typically seen with disadvantaged populations? Even though a woman comes from a high socioeconomic background, growing up as a black female puts her at risk for delivering pre-term babies and suffering from overall ill health as a result of lifetime chronic stress. This theory is called the life course perspective—the hypothesis that cumulative experiences over a woman’s entire life will affect her health, regardless of socioeconomic status. Being a member of a particular minority group is bad for your health. Minorities are considered vulnerable populations and more subject to chronic diseases such as alcoholism, accidents, violence, diabetes, and violence.

You can follow these links to watch two important clips from Unnatural Causes:

The Mystery of Black-White Differences in Infant Mortality (6 min)

How Racism Impacts Pregnancy Outcomes (4 min)

The Cherishing our Hearts and Souls Coalition (COHS) Anti-Racism Project is the perfect example of an organization that works to better the health of a minority population. In conjunction with the Harvard School of Public Health, this coalition develops and implements projects designed to help participants understand the relationship between racism and health. Despite the overall improvements in life expectancy in the United States, this program recognizes the impact racism has on health and how it related to ethnic disparities in health care. Their mission specifically targets cardiovascular disease (CVD) and other chronic conditions in African-Americans living in under-served neighborhoods. The programs to raise awareness to racism and CVD include a three-year social marketing campaign, community workshops, after-school anti-racism programs, meetings to discuss policy issues, and other methods for the reduction of CVD risk factors.

Jane Eyre

Linsanity bringout out prejudice and stereotypes about Asian Americans

Interracial Marriages at a Record High in the U.S.

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/16/146978803/number-of-interracial-marriages-at-record-high-in-u-s

NPR always helps me in my time of need, like finding something relevant to post about this class. Apparently interracial marriages are on a high. According to the article because of the prevalence of these marriages they are challenging race. Children of these marriages are called brokers, and are like liaison between the races. I can see this as being a good thing for society. It has the potential to continue to blur the lines of race.

It seems like 10 years ago interracial marriages were still a topic of concern among Americans. Growing up my parents told us that marriage was hard enough and to marry someone from a different race would just complicate things. However, my oldest sister went against their wishes started dating a man from India who has lived in Canada most of his life. Parents did not approve, and this lead to my sister eloping without my parents knowledge. My sister and brother-in-law have been happily married for over 10 years. It is funny how a social construction can separate families and cause conflict. However, now in this article they make the point that interracial families are actually helping to bring people together erasing divides that might have once been there.

Discrimination vs. Religion

I thought I might discuss the recent turnover of Proposition 8 in California since I was one of the participators and promoters of the proposition. I'm from San Diego, California and though I don't remember the exact wording of the letter, I distinctly remember when our Stake President read a letter encouraging us to support Proposition 8 from the First Presidency. I was initially surprised that the leaders of the Church were speaking out on a political issue, and I admit I was eager to join the united forces of my ward and stake to support them. On the other hand, I knew several members of our ward alone disagreed with the proposition and would not participate.
While this divide did not cause undue contention, that I was aware of, it was a source of conflict.

But the true opposition came from neighbors, friends at school, even my high school teachers. I had to know exactly what I was supporting and fighting for: to protect the sanctity of the family. I've always had a strong testimony of this most sacred part of the gospel plan, and I was sure that something so sacred as marriage must be a religious and not a political issue. Yes, I'm well aware of things like tax breaks and other benefits of marriage for homosexual couples, but then why not extend those benefits to civil unions and leave marriage where it belongs? In the hands of religious leaders. We were never hostile in our roadside protests, or on the day we wore the t-shirts to school. But the whispers and offensive language and great hostility thrown at us were enough to confirm my decision.

Now, most of this hostility centered around the sensitive issue of discrimination. Contrary to popular belief, I do not support the Mormon culture distaste and discriminatory attitude towards homosexuals. My favorite supervisor and good friend at the grocery store I worked at was, in fact, homosexual. And I absolutely loved the guy, nor did I judge him for his sexual orientation and decisions regarding it. I only sought to stand up for my own religious beliefs and ensure the freedom of religion by separation of church and state. Our intent was never to separate or discriminate or control homosexuals. They are children of God and I've always treated them accordingly. So, be careful before assigning the heavy terms of discrimination or bigotry to Proposition 8 supporters.

Settlement reached in Conn. Immigration Raid Case

The Harlem Children's Zone

We have all viewed this video on The Harlem Children's Zone but there were many things that were not discussed because of our short class period. 
I was hoping that some of you would review this video and share your thoughts.

As said in the video around 4:25 jumping to 4:45 of the video Mr. Geoffrey Canada promised and stuck behind his promise to ensure that students would do well and even fire instructors to keep the promise. Canada's plan to ensure students do well has had its falls but as he said in his promise he has fired some teachers to ensure better education. In the article "Lauded Harlem Schools Have Their Own Problems" from the New York Times Canada's promise is still going forward to make sure students are being educated effectively,


"But most of the seventh graders, now starting their third year in the school, are still struggling. Just 15 percent passed the 2010 state English test, a number that Mr. Canada said was “unacceptably low” but not out of line with the school’s experience in lifting student performance over time. Several teachers have been fired as a result of the low scores, and others were reassigned, he said."(NYT)


Another part of this video that stood out to me was when Canada had said he bribed the students with trips and money to help them want to do well in school. Around 6:10 of the video Canada promotes the idea to bribe the students to do well so they could stay away from troubles and look forward to do well in school. 


In many occasions bribing may not be good for students, but in this occasion I believe it is a great idea. These students have the opportunity to change their lives and are rewarded if they do well. If they follow and choose to do well they are rewarded, and with that opportunity for these students whom come from poor and violent neighborhoods they may not be oppressed by their backgrounds. When they feel they are not oppressed from their background they tend to do better in school and are successful. Bribing may not be good, but in this situation I think Geoffrey Canada is a great man that leaves many doors of opportunities for his students through his program/school and bribing.
-Carlos Galvao

Mitt, you need to worry about the very poor

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/12/zakaria-mitt-you-need-to-worry-about-the-very-poor/?hpt=hp_t2

The White Underclass - Nicholas D. Kristof

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/09/opinion/kristof-the-decline-of-white-workers.html

This article by Nicholas Kristof discusses a rising issue in rural America - the increasing prevalence of what is turning into a white working underclass. Though this term has historically been used to describe African Americans unable to secure a lifestyle above the poverty line because of racist policies and paradigms, the evidence that a poor white working class is following similar trends.

Painful to me was the discussion of the cycle of an underclass: limited educational opportunities, drugs and criminal records, low-paying to no-paying work, welfare dependence, repeat. One of the contributing factors that Kristof points out as potentially cliche was the stability of marriage. Without a stable marriage, there was greater likelihood for families to slip into this cycle.

An interesting look at poverty and factors from public policy that influence a broadening group that can be defined as an underclass (though this should not be take as a demographic that rivals the hardships that the traditional underclass of African Americans has faced and continues to face).

In the recent Republican primaries, I was surprised, yet not all that surprised to see that "gender politics" were still very prevalent.  I didn't actually watch this primary, but came across this article when I was browsing through the top news on yahoo a while back.  The fact that there has been controversy over a woman's choice to have manicured nails is ridiculous to me.  Michele Bachmann was in the primaries for this debate, and being the only female, she stood out among her male opponents.  We've learned in class about gender roles, and according to that idealism, having a woman run for president, or be in the primaries is against the norm.  Men are typically the breadwinners while women are the nurturers in the home.  I think some of this bias came in to play against Bachmann, and adding on to that stereotype, she had manicured nails that clicked against the podium as she spoke.  Why that stirred up so much controversy is baffling to me.
I think that since there have been few women running for president, our most recent example being Hillary Clinton, women stand out because it is typically a white-male dominated position.  Obama has changed the "white" part of that stereotype, but the "male" part still stands.  When a woman makes it that far to be in the Republican primaries, I think that we should listen to what she has to say rather than critique her fashion sense.  You can't really critique the male fashion sense because it's so set in stone - black suit with a subtle tie, dress shoes and whatever make-up the stage people use to dull the shine on their faces.  Women are new on this scene, so if they wear more make-up than deemed appropriate or normal, or they have fancy nails, people are going to notice.  I would agree with the Boston Herald columnist that suggested an old-fashioned radio debate. That way, we wouldn't be swayed by the looks of different opponents and would hear their opinions more clearly, rather than be distracted by appearances.  After all, we are voting for a president that will give us the best chance to succeed as a nation, not the one that will give us the most fashion-forward advice.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/michele-bachmanns-manicure-tasteful-tacky-totally-off-limits/2011/10/19/gIQAY62mxL_blog.html

What Do You Know About Black History?

I came across a viral video the other day about what BYU students know (or don't know) about black history. A white guy dressed up as a black guy (including face paint) to get the opinions of BYU co-eds on what they knew about black history or the black population in general. What I saw was a little shocking and disheartening, especially on a campus full of so much diversity.

It seems that, from the clips that were shown, BYU students don't know too much about black history. The only historical figures they can think of were Martin Luther King and Malcolm X. One student had to think for a while to get the name "Rosa Parks" to pop into his head. To celebrate black history month, the students said they did things like watch specials on  the history channel or listen to Jay-Z. But the most shocking part was that only 3 people of all the people he interviewed recognized the interviewer as not really black, even though they all said they knew a black guy when they saw one. Why is a culturally diverse campus so naive about black history and other cultures?

It could possibly be that even though the campus is diverse at BYU, the majority of students are still white, and LDS. Even more, Utah as a whole is predominantly white, so the only ideas of black culture many people get is from television and movies. Hence, the horrendous impressions given by some students in the clip. I hope that as America gets more diverse in the future, that BYU students especially learn about and try and understand other cultures.

-Kimberly Anderson

A new ruling on Prop 8

News about the econony and what it means for various social classes

Do Not let the Chain of Love end with You

People do not care how much you know until they know how much you care.

It is so true and those who do not show their love do not love. These are some bits of wisdom that I have learned over the years. I have an increased attitude of gratitude. It increases every time I hear stories of people like Kathy, Cole, and Canada who pay it forward. I have been taught principles like these all my life and that is the key, to be reminded all throughout life. The word “remember” is what I consider to be one of the most important words in the English language. I pray that we might always remember and never forget to be Christ-like to others. I realize it is often overwhelming to think of helping everyone, and discouragement seeps in when you think of how small your contributions are, especially if they are monetary. Although I do not wish to belittle the millionaires for their contributions I cannot help but think that those people will be in another pinch as soon as the financial reservoir is drained. My dad never gave me much material wise, but he taught me how to fish and I will use that for a lifetime. I think we need to realize that our time, talents, and energies, can be of great worth if we do not abuse them. If we devote them to investing in the futures of others like Canada did, according to circumstances that are in our control, I believe this world will be much better off. I was always taught to pray for peace of mind for the things I cannot change, for courage for the things I can, and for wisdom to know the difference. If nothing else, remember this, do not let the chain of love end with you.

Daniel Souza

Grateful

My eyes were open today while watching "The Secret Millionaire" today in class. It really put things into perspective. I thought about how much I take for granted, and how much I have to be grateful for. I admire the women in the show for her selflessness in helping others with all that she could give (her own social security.) She opened her home to all, and expected nothing in return. Think how wonderful our society would be if more people were like her. She was so trusting of everyone, and loved all.

On the other hand I think I often take my good health for granted at times. I feel for the young girl who struggled with cancer, and yet she wasn't complaining. I get sick with the flu, and I act as if I were to die.

I admire the millionaire for his generous contributions, and hope that I could have a heart as generous as his, and the women who opened her house to all. Selfishness destroys lives. My hope for myself and others is to think of others every once and a while, and count our blesses. Heavenly Father has given each of us so much to thankful for, sometimes we just need to step into another's shoes to see more clearly.

In closing I would like to share a quote that got me thinking from Pinterest (my favorite website,) "If we all threw our problems into a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back." I hope be a little more optimistic, and be grateful for what I do have! 

Brooke Irvin

I'm a student, a Democrat, and I'm a Mormon

In the words of senator Harry Reid, “I am a Democrat because I am a Mormon, not in spite of it.” I share the same sentiments as the senator, as my religious and political beliefs cannot be separated.

I believe in progressive taxation. I believe that universal healthcare should be extended to all citizens of this nation. I believe that illegal immigrants should be treated with compassion and kindness. I believe in diplomacy over military action. I believe in environmental protection. I believe in equal marriage for same-sex couples. Also, I believe in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

This post is not about my specific stance on gay marriage, immigration, or tax law, but my overall sentiments as a Mormon Democrat.

I have faced a lot of opposition and shock from fellow ward members and friends upon learning that I am a Democrat.

“You mean… you’re not voting for Mitt Romney?!”

or,

“So, you voted for Obama?!” *look of disgust*

or my personal favorite,

“You’re a…. a….. D Word?”

Yes, I have actually been asked these questions… On more than one occasion. All I can do is smile, answer their questions, and enjoy the look of shock on their face.

On a more serious note, I have actually had my salvation and worthiness as a member of the church called into question due to my political affiliation. Some of my like-minded friends have even been told that their temple recommends should be revoked.

While the church is predominantly republican, I am not alone as 17% of Mormons are democrats (see: http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-infographic.aspx). In fact, even prominent Mormon leaders have been democrats: best example James E. Faust, 2^nd counselor in the First Presidency, politician, and self-proclaimed liberal.

While I could go on all day about how I believe the Democratic Party best represents the teachings of the gospel, I won’t go into specific detail. I’m not asking all the conservative Mormons to jump ship and join the Obama-train, but I would ask for a little respect, understanding, and open-mindedness.

All too often, there seems to be an assumption that all faithful members of the church hold conservative ideologies. I cannot begin to count the number of times I have heard an impromptu Mitt Romney rally given over the pulpit in sacrament meeting, offensive jokes about Obama told in Sunday school, or outright derogatory comments made about liberals.

There are faithful members of the church from every point on the political spectrum. We should appreciate the wide variety of opinions held by members and the subsequent opportunity to learn and grow. All I ask is that we respect member from every political affiliation, and don’t jump to hasty generalizations about the worthiness of those of differing political opinion.

I believe in equal marriage, progressive taxation, and universal healthcare, and at the end of the day I still believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord, Savior, and Redeemer.

-- Melanie Nelson

The forgotten man

I came across this painting by McNaughton. The link to the painting is here: http://www.mcnaughtonart.com/artwork/view_zoom/?artpiece_id=379

This painting really made me think about poverty and the American government. The economy today that is really suffering is being blamed on Obama. In the painting, he is even stepping on the constitution which is a very unpatriotic thing to do, just like most of the things (in most people's opinion) that Obama is doing. Coming from another country, I do not know much about the American government, but I do hear that a lot of people are blaming the president for their problems. As is apparent in this painting.

I love the fact that the older presidents that were really liked are concentrating on the average man. I think this is something that a lot of people feel. The older presidents would care much more about the people than the current ones who only care about themselves. They are the true Americans, the ones who really made a difference and today, Americans are looking for someone like them to direct to country once again.

I really like all the messages that are found in this painting, and all the small bits of information that the artist provides. I think everyone should take a look at it and spend a few minutes learning from the painting.

Michelle Lupien

Alabama's Sweeping Immigration Bill & Self-Deportation

Learn everything you need to know about the toughest immigration law in the country and who is behind not only the law, but Romney's new policy of self-deportation.  Will it work?  You be the judge.

Crossing the plains and kicking up dirt, a new Mormon pioneer

Check out this interesting story on Joanna Brooks, an unorthodox Mormon, that was the cover story on CNN.com:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/05/crossing-the-plains-and-kicking-up-dirt-a-new-mormon-pioneer/?hpt=hp_c1

Tolerance

After our class discussion on race the other day I was reminded of Elder Oaks' recent talk on tolerance. He said, "Living together with mutual respect for one another’s differences is a challenge in today’s world.  However—and here I express a second absolute truth—this living with differences is what the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us we must do." I think we, more than any other people, have a responsibility to be tolerant because we understand that we are children of God.

On that subject, I also discovered a movement to fight against social in-tolerance...

It began in Billings, Montana and encourages social acceptance of religion, race, or difference in general. This campaign calls for communities to ban together against hate crimes- no matter who they are against. The lyrics of the song "We are the World" truly have meaning. We as a race, the human race, are all alike. We share family values. People are intrinsically good. Believe that. Love them for what they are even if that means accepting that they think differently than you.

Stand up against any form of intolerance whether it be in school, in the store, or at church. Be willing to be someone's hero. Take the time to care enough to learn about them and why they are who they are.
Watch the videos that are posted on this website http://www.niot.org/videos and get inspired to act. As it is so beautifully said, silence is acceptance, so if you are against how someone is being treated-SPEAK UP.

 

I think this campaign is a major movement towards solving social issues. If we can speak up rather spiraling into silence with the majority, we will be serving others.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil only is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke
"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -Mother Tereasa


(Jessi Packard)

Discrimination in an Unmentioned Topic

Discrimination, prejudice, diversity, cultural differences – can you guess what I am talking about?

“Let’s see, he used those words, so… it has to be about race! Or gender! Or wait, maybe sexual preferences.”

Nope, keep trying.

“Is it Class? socioeconomic status? Religion? Disabilities?”

Any other ideas? No? Do you think that list covers them all? Is there nowhere else people are divided or discriminated against?

This post is about a culture that is the subject of prejudice and discrimination that millions in the USA participate in, but no one seems to realize that what they are doing is discrimination. This culture is homeschoolers.

“Homeschoolers? Is that a culture? Is that something discriminated against?”

Take a moment and think about this… Are you starting to understand what I mean? How many time have you heard – or said yourself – comments like, “that guy is so awkward, he must be a homeschooler,” or “homeschoolers are so weird,” or any one of the hundreds of such phrases that I have heard.

If you haven’t guessed already, I’ll go ahead and tell you: I’m a homeschooler. Have been since the fourth grade and up until coming to BYU. So, we’re different? Sure, I’d say we are, or at least can be. We have a different lifestyle, a different culture. But, a worse one? Really, what are the differences in the two cultures?

 Maybe a list will help:

1)      Public schoolers have to learn how to make friends – Homeschoolers have to learn how to keep the friends they have.

2)      Public schoolers learn with their peers – Homeschoolers learn with their parents/family.

3)      Public schoolers have to learn at the class’s pace – Homeschoolers learn at their own.

4)      Public schoolers interact with people their own age – Homeschoolers have to interact with people of all different ages.

5)      Public schoolers have to learn how to “fit in” with the group – Homeschoolers already fit into their group.

There are more things I could list, and of course these I do list don’t define everyone, but at least it is a start in forming a picture of what is going on.

So then, what do these differences cause? Obviously the difference causes homeschoolers to be socially awkward and inferior – right? Might as well go up to a black person and say “hey, your culture makes you poor, lazy, and dumb!” or approach a woman and say “hey, your gender makes you flighty, emotional, and weak!” Please don’t be that ignorant…

Take myself, for example. Am I socially awkward? Sometimes, yeah, but obviously not so bad that people are afraid to bash homeschoolers in front of me (I usually just silently listen, and let them continue on in their ignorance). But in exchange for my possible weaknesses in socializing with peers, I instead have become much more proficient in socializing with adults. In fact, I can usually hold a conversation with someone twice my age far better than my public schooled peers. Can I make friends as easily? Probably not, but the friendships I do make are rich and full, and are likely to last for a lifetime. Aside from these two things, my homeschooling also taught me how to self-motivate (I had to set my own time for finishing assignments long before college), I had the opportunity to spend more time with and become even closer to my family, and I learned more in my studies than almost any public schooler I meet.

Now I don’t say these things for the sake of tooting my own horn, or to say that homeschoolers are better, but I think it is important to understand that a different culture doesn’t mean a bad one. I chose to be homeschooled, and while I missed out on many aspects of a public school life, I also gained in many other areas. So, yeah, I might not fit precisely into your culture, but don’t diss mine – because I wouldn’t change it for the world.

-John Richardson

Mormonism

http://www.pewforum.org/Christian/Mormon/mormons-in-america-infographic.aspx
Here is the link for my post if you are interested in taking a look!

The statics of this forum may come as a surprise to many members of the church. Even as I went through and looked at the different subject matter, I was shocked to find that some information about Mormons were statistically lower than expected. As I grew up in the church, there were fundamental principles, such as going to church or prayer, that were put into my head that I followed and thought that many followed as well. To my surprise, this forum has proven me wrong and that there are many who identify themselves as Mormon but do not follow those simple principles as strongly I thought everyone did. 

As members of the church, we do feel much discrimination against in many aspects of our faith. We currently have a candidate for the republican presidential nomination who identifies himself as a Mormon. Unfortunately, many do not fully understand what Mormon’s really believe and look on websites that are incorrect on the doctrines in which we believe. These issues have been brought up to this candidate and he has handled these issues well but many are still unsatisfied with his answers. As citizens of the United States of America, we have amendments that protect our rights. It still fascinates me how many citizens are still discriminated against, whether it is for their religion, race, or sexual orientation.

As I read this forum and looked at the graphs, I began to understand why maybe the statistics were as I thought would have been. This survey was only asked to people who identified themselves as Mormons, therefore, they may not live the lifestyle of a Mormon but just identify themselves as such. I also observed that the candidates who were asked the questions were eighteen years of age or older. Some of the statistics would not necessarily be applicable to those of younger age than to those of an older generation.

Growing up in a community where my close neighbors were not members is a blessing given to me. I have been able to share the gospel with those around me. Even if it is not the first discussion, the presence I share of happiness and caring has been able to bless those not of my faith. I think by understanding that many are inactive or struggling to come to an understanding of the gospel or even those not of our faith will benefit us and give us opportunities to share our testimony or even give a helping hand to these individuals in need.  

Merrili Taylor Gardner