How do we get our knowlege?

In American Studies, one of the most interesting things has been the critical analysis of where we get our ideas on race.  This made me think, because most of the time we don't ever wonder about what kinds of sources we listen to.  Our parents influence us, our classes and teachers influence our views on race and even the structure of standardized tests change our ideas about what race is, how many there are, and what kinds of people fall into each.  Not having had a conversation like this before, I was challenged to think of how I know what I think I know about race. 

I am most influenced by my parents, teachers and curriculum, and my church and missionaries.  Many missionaries have taken the time to speak at church about what they do in other countries, and I have learned about many different people groups.  Each group catagorizes themselves differently, and others have to be taught not to make generalities.  But now, I am wondering about my sources.  They are all some kind of caucasian person, who lived the most part of their life in America.  From there on out, it is their experience in travels and interaction only.  Not coming from a minority backround limits their perspective, and therefore mine as well.  How can I know if my sources are accurate?  Some of my ideas come from my own ponderings.  Do they hold water?  How can I test my ideas to see if they are right?  Can there be a right and wrong idea when it comes to race, or only different?

I looked online for something about race, and there wasn't much, I assumed because of the controversy.  Upon seeing the wikipedia article, I saw it had some good stuff, so HERE it is.  However, this article is very scientific, and I am not sure if race can be defined completly by science.  Does DNA hold the answers?  What about culture?  Is race only the outside appearance of a person?  How many races are there?

Has America Been Emancipated?

In class we talked about how some remnants of the slave trade and of Jim Crow times may still remain and not allow African American citizens to enjoy the full freedom that others have.  For example, statistics show that African Americans have on average lower income, poorer standard of living, higher percentage in jail, and a greater percentage have terminal illnesses than Caucasian Americans.  In Barack Obama's speech on race, (the full text of which can be read here) he purposes that many of the problems that African Americans face can be traced back hundreds of years.  To quote directly,

"But we do need to remind ourselves that so many of the disparities that exist in the African-American community today can be directly traced to inequalities passed on from an earlier generation that suffered under the brutal legacy of slavery and Jim Crow."

However, I am not so sure this is true.  There have been many African American people who have worked hard, sent their children to school, and are now living high end lifestyles.  Take for example Nelvia M. Brady, who has her PHD and is an author, columnist, and owner of This Mother's Daughter, Inc., Chicago, IL.  (Many more successful African Americans can be found HERE)  Have these certain few been given some sort of advantage?  I do not believe so.  They or their parents have worked hard in positions and jobs that may have been les than desireable, but through hard work they have ascended to the top of the socioeconomic ladder.  This is part of the American dream.  Like many presidents (like Obama himself), CEOs, and millionaires, an American can grow up poor, work hard, and die rich.  African Americans who experience poverty could climb the ladder too.  All they have to do is put their foot on the first rung.

Are Video Games Beneficial?

As I looked briefly at CNN's home page for a topic, I came across an article about how video games can help you make decisions in real life.  As I read the article, which can be read HERE, I found it was only a sarcastic reply to a thought provoking question.  The beginning of the article started that a study by the University of Rochester said that people who play action-packed video games have better decision making skills.  I believe that this can be a very interesting subject to discuss, because I have learned a lot from some videogames, and the study's results make sense.

In video games, it is imperative to make quick decisions.  If your character's life is in danger, it is important to do something quickly!  This helps teach skills necessary for emergencies, or even driving, when split second decisions must be made.  In some video games, history is a large part of the storyline.  For example, playing Age of Empires taught me to tell the difference between different types of weapons, how structures were built, and other militaristic details of history.  Playing video games also has been proven to help train surgeons because detailed surgery necessitates very slight and controlled movements of the hands, fingers, and arms.  These all are used in video games, where smooth movements are always valued.

However, video games can become addicting, take a lot of time for no immediate real-world benefit, and take time away from other things that could potentially be more rewarding.  While there is a definite argument in the defense of gamers, do these benefits justify the time spent?

Relief for America

Upon looking at my iPod's news app last night, I was hugely relieved to see that Pastor Terry Jones wasn't going to burn the Q'rans tonight.  I read on Facebook a long conversation about the burnings and the mosque that was the cause to much indignation.  A short summary of the controversy can be found there. (click here)  In short, the Pastor claimed that the threat was only used to try to open a door to talk with the imam who was going to build the cultural center near ground zero.  While I and my facebook friends agree that it was within Pastor Jones's rights to do this, it certainly would have been a very poor choice.  As it is, the threat has incited large anti-American gatherings in Afghanistan, larger than ever before.  Pastor Jones had recieved pleas not to burn Islam's holy book many times now, and he backed down.


However, the long term affects of this man's threat, will not be as trivial as we may wish.  Because of this one man, many groups look bad.  Americans were hated more than ever in countries where Islam is the dominant religion, and I have no reason to believe this will stop.  Our troops in Afghanistan could be in more trouble and experience more violence because of the threats.  Christians have lost face, which disappoints me.  As a Christian myself, I do not want to be judged based off this one man's actions hundreds of miles away.  In a way, I believe this helps me identify with muslims.  Most are peaceful, and only a small group are violent.  In the same way, I guess Christianity has radical sects as well.

Because of all of this, many questions have been raised.  Just because we are allowed to do something by law, should we do it?  Are our rights so important that we would compromise our image locally and globally in order to exercise them?  Do we sacrifice all our rights so that our image is preserved?  Where is the line?  How could we tell if one of our actions could offend others if we never could have imagined that they would be impacted?

Video Game Craze in Japan

In American Studies, the project so far has been to research as much as we can about Mr. Bolos.  We were prepared for a different lifestyle than ours, especially after seeing the rubber mouth, but I would never have guessed that people could have a lifestyle like this!  I read an article in the Wall Street Journal today about how young men play a virtual romance video game for companionship from their Nintendo DS gaming device.  It can be found here.

I will summarize a few key points.  A whole town has been inundated with young men who play a specific virtual relationship video game.  A vacation to an in-game town is granted if the men complete certain in-game activities to make themselves more attractive to the virtual girl.  The in-game town is a real town that can be traveled to in real life, and was once a romantic hot-spot.  It has since fallen into dis-repair and doesn't attract the same tourist traffic it once did.  It is now flourishing more under the tourist traffic it gets by playing along with the fantasy world of the gamers and continuing the illusion.

I found it hard to believe that a large group of males would rely on a video game for a friend, and talk to it, monitor it, and care if the game said that it was sad.  When I read that a town was being subsisted by the gamers however, I found my opinions conflicting.  On one hand, it is very quick thinking and business savvy for the town to accomodate the new arrivals to the town, with special foods based on in-game characters, and hotels that help facilitate the illusion that the young man is on a real vacation with a real girl.  However, I find it sad that the men are so obsessed with the game, and I wonder if it would be better if the town help snap the unfortunate men out of their reverie and away from their digital girlfriend.  Which do you think is more important?  The person's life or the town?  Should anyone worry about the people?  It is their choice, right?