Describe yourself in words and phrases for only 60 seconds

hardworking
ambitious
caring
pacifist
intellectual
philanthropist
dedicated
helpful
thoughtful

Has your attitude changed about arranged marriages? If so, how and why?

My opinions on arranged marriage have certainly changed. I now see that there are more positives to arranged marriages than to simply keep money or a good reputation in the family, something that I viewed as a superficial and ridiculous reason. I now see, for one thing, that some people need arranged marriages in order to survive at all financially, and this process should not be taken from them. Additionally, I now see how it does not typically involve forcing a women into a loveless situation against her will, but can actually make life easier and happier, because she does not have to worry about choosing her spouse. However, the biggest reason I changed my mind about arranged marriages, as I had previously been a one on the scale and am now a three, is because it is such a huge piece of many cultures. Banning arranged marriages stripes people of their culture and, like Molly said in reference to The Wayfinders, creates a monoculture. Allowing arranged marriages preserves culture and also creates a familial closeness, which is something I definitely support.

I think about how the man who can to talk to us about Aboriginals said that most native Australians do not even know any of the stories that have been passed down to only a few. The fact that these stories, this piece of their culture, is lost forever, lost to them, saddens me. I would hate for something similar to occur with Indians, for example, if arranged marriages were taken away from them. Not a single piece of anyone’s culture should be lost, and so, though I would not have an arranged myself, I understand why people do, and I respect this.

Identify 20 "ridiculous" questions from the Literacy Test

1. What is the Constitution?
2. How many changes or amendments are there to the Constitution?
3. What is the legislative branch of our government?
4. What is Congress?
5. Can you name the two Senators from your state?
6. How many representatives are there in Congress?
7. What is the judiciary branch of our government?
8. What is the supreme law of the United States?
9. Who is the current governor of your state?
10. Who becomes president of the U.S.A if the president and the vice-president should die?
11. Who is the chief justice of the Supreme Court?
12. Can you name the thirteen original states?
13. Who said, "Give me liberty or give me death"?
14. Which countries were our enemies during WWII?
15. Who is the head of your local government?
16. According to the Constitution, a person must meet certain requirements in order to be eligible to become president. Name one of these requirements.
17. Why are there 100 Senators in the Senate?
18. Who selects the Supreme Court justices?
19. Why did the pilgrims come to America?
20. What is the head of executive of a state government called?
21. Who wrote "The Star-Spangled Banner"?
22. Where does freedom of speech come from?
23. What is the highest court in the United States?

How could these questions be viewed as racist or racially insensitive?

These questions could be racially insensitive because the only people they discuss are Caucasian men. This could be disrespectful or racially insensitive to African Americans, Native Americans, Chinese Americans, and Japanese Americans. They all played huge roles in the negative aspects of American history, and yet they are completely ignored in this test. They could have mentioned internment camps, the trail of tears, or, when they were discussing the emancipation proclamation at the end, they could have discussed the issue of slavery that President Lincoln finally addressed.

Voting Registration Simulation: Third Round

The last round Ms. Bibbo threatened to arrest every African American that came up. The first person that walked up, she accused of being aggressive when she hadn't done anything. They made outrageous claims about a distant relative or friend doing negative things to them. They also distrusted the African Americans, because Dr. Richards said that one African American worked at the gas station and they thought he was being dishonest by coming in and registering to vote. Dr. Richards said he needed to check with his boss and wouldn't allow him to vote. With the last person, it was actually threatened that his younger brother would get hurt if his registered to vote. That was the most impactful thing done this entire simulation, because that would surely make anyone want to get away as quickly as they could and warn all their family and friends to not even attempt to register to vote.

Voting Registration Simulation: Second Round

This round Ms. Bibbo appeared completely uninterested in the people who wanted to register to vote. She ignored them by reading the paper, talking to the security guard, or saying she was busy. She suggested the mundane and unimportant things she was doing (talking about apple pie) were more important than the African Americans. She made them wait, but never let them return. None of the African Americans wanted to return after they had been badly treated. Then she told one person they were closed when they clearly were not. At one point the security guard brought out a weapon to make them leave.

Voting Registration Simulation: First Round

Ms. Bibbo asked completely unreasonable questions that no one would be able to answer - even someone white. She made the African Americans that went up feel bad about themselves by saying they were uneducated, and that they should be able to answer these simple questions. She told the African Americans to come back once they knew the answer to the questions, which might give them hope, expect for the fact that she made them feel they were not good enough. They would be too ashamed to come back.

How will you treat the n-word going forward? Will you say it? Do you have it in you (in a negative way, given the situation)?

I will definitely treat it the exact same way I always have. I never want to say the word because I think it is horribly offensive and completely unnecessary for anyone to use in a way that is not historical. Even if I were referring to history, however, I would not say the actual word, because I do not think it is my place to. I don't think there will ever be an appropriate time in my life to use the n-word. I would never be in a situation, even if I was furious at an African American or Black person, where I would resort to using the n-word. It would never even occur to me to make fun of someone for their race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. If I ever got in a fight or was angry or upset with someone, it would be because of their personality or actions and nothing else.

Do you have a word that hurts deep? If not, why do you think that is?

I do not have a word that hurts deep. This is probably because I am a priviledged white person. Minorities are often attacked with terribly offensive words, but people who are the majority - white people - don't seem to have these words. There is the word honky, but that wouldn't have anywhere near the same reaction as the n-word, and if someone used it today, I would think they were making a joke.

There is also the word "kike,"which I was not even aware of until this unit on the n-word. Though I am not actually Jewish, because my dad - and not my mom - is Jewish, I would be extremely offended and upset by hearing someone use it now that I am aware of insulting it is. Obviously, I think anyone saying anything derogatory about a group of person is terrible, but "kike" (or "faggot" as I have family and very close friends who are gay) would affect me personally.