Final Thoughts

I have learned so much in this class. I think more than anything I have not changed my opinions on certain issues but I am able to say that I have a deeper understanding now of these issues and have understanding of why people may think the way they do, for example gay marriage. I still disagree with gay marriage, but I have had my eyes opened more to their side of the story and have more empathy for them, even with disagreeing. I am glad to have had my eyes opened to the health care system and the politics and power that influence everything from health care to our food. I am glad for not being naive about it anymore. I have already made a change toward the way I eat and where I choose to buy my food. For the most part I will not support people who are for profit and not the benefit of animals and people. I cannot think of any other changes I am making or will be making, I think I am just more aware, and with this new awareness I can now live my life differently then I did when my blinders were on.

Ch.15

I think the government probably has created a sort of chasm between them and "us". There seems to be a disconnect in our government and it has always been hard for me to understand it or articulate where is possibly comes from. I believe that people who want to work in the government probably go into it for noble purposes, such as righting the wrongs that are there. But I believe there is a system in place, a culture if you will that can suck you in and influence your values. I see it as the music artist or actor that wants to go into performing. They want to be something and have a purpose and make a difference but the culture of the music wood or Hollywood has a way of influencing people in negative ways. People get "lost" in the fame, and pressure of it all and "sell out" as people say. I think we have a government full of sell outs. There may be that few that still hear the people and work for the people but they are overpowered by the others who have put power and profit before the people.

Ch.12

The subject of arranged marriage has been one where my view has changed drastically. I used to think that arranged marriage was stone age and controlling. I was coming from an American view where one must be madly in love with someone before they marry them and that no one should be forced to be with someone they don't already love. THEN, I GOT MARRIED! After four years of marriage I can say that butterflies and fireworks fade over time. To "be in love" is not enough to make a marriage last. There needs to be deep commitment, friendship, strong values, good character, and last of all love. True love encompasses these things but love does not always need to come first. There is no reason someone cannot GROW to love and respect someone.

On a personal note, my dad is not perfect, but now that I am older and wiser, I see my dad's wisdom that he has given to me throughout my life. He has always been able to honestly tell me what would be the best course for me when I ask for advice. I would wholeheartedly trust my dad in picking a mate for me. I believe that he would choose better for me than I would for myself because I do not love myself as he loves me. He thinks MUCH more highly of me then I think of myself. We tend to pick people out of our insecurities and woundedness, we overlook weak character and lack of values because we are "in love". There are people in our lives who love us very much who would not overlook these things in picking a mate for us. I know for my dad that only the best would do, and nothing less. That is why for the most part, I am for arranged marriage. I also hear they have lower divorce rates, which is a good thing.

Ch. 10

I have to say that I am very unaware of how my race and ethnicity influence my life. I am becoming more and more aware that the color of my skin and where I was born give me somewhat of an advantage, but it's always harder to see clearly when you are submerged in the water if you know what I mean. I think race and ethnicity probably play a big part in the obstacles someone faces. Part of me wants to believe that race isn't the issue anymore, but dealing with my own prejudices and stereotypes that I hold I can believe that there are many more out there with the same feelings and thoughts. I have a hard time with the notion that white people are the only one's who discriminate though. I have felt more prejudgment from African Americans then I have from any other race. There seems to be this notion that I already am a racist and so I am treated as such. I am avoided and looked at strangely by African Americans and feel the hate they have for me, when I have done nothing to deserve it.

I believe in the hardships other races face and have faced in the past and I have compassion towards it. I think that people have probably faced hardships primarily due to race or ethnicity, but I also think that people almost expect people to look at them differently and any little wrong look or discomfort is looked at as a racial issue and nothing else. Race is a VERY sensitive issue in our country and we are so afraid to interact with one another because no one trusts the others intentions.

Ch. 8

To the first question, how much are we responsible to our success, I would say that we have mostly full responsibilty. I think that those who are born into wealthy poor families are likely to stay in that social class, and it is easier for those who are born wealthy have an easier time moving up, but it is not impossible to come from poor circumstances and to take yourself to the top. There have been numerous stories of people over the years who started out in poor circumstances. They somehow found the drive to push forward and move on and up from where they came. A lot of these people are very successful today.

No doubt there are difficulties for people who want to move up the social class latter, but it can be done. It is not always easy to move up, which is the second part of this question. Although it can be done, the easiness is not always there. Some people run into good luck, winning the lottery, having a million dollar idea that catches on and makes you money, these experiences are the exception and not the norm though. For anyone trying to work their way up, they will most likely be met with many obstacles.

Personally, I would like to move up from middle class, I don't know many people who don't want to move up and make more money and have better things. But I have experienced the obstacles of climbing up the latter. Just when I have thought my husband I and I were getting ahead and building a savings for us then something unexpected comes along. Cars have been stolen and broken down, teeth need to be fixed without dental insurance, etc. Also, school is my vehicle right now to getting to a career to make more money, but school has been slower than planned because of lack of financial aid and not being willing to go into debt paying for my classes. It will now take me 6 years instead of 4 to finish school. Being in my late 20's this is not ideal because these are the years when I should be in a career, buying a house, and getting ready to start a family.

So while it may be possible to move forward, it is not always easy. Those are very much two different things.

Ch.7

My opinion about making prostitution and drugs legal is that they shouldn't be. I am against drugs for Biblical reasons and personal reasons. I believe that our body is something that should be stewarded with care, from what we eat to everything else. I do not like the fact that cigarettes are legal and alcohol, biblically is OK but not in excess. Drunkenness is not OK, but Jesus even shared wine with his disciples. Wine is actually supposed to be beneficial to the body in small amounts. That leads me to the marijuana issue. I have no biblical basis for saying that marijuana is OK and I have had personal experience with it taking over my life to the point where I drop out of high school. Weed was my first drug, and when that was no longer enough I moved onto bigger and better things. My life was completely taken over by hardcore drugs by the time I was 20. This is why I cannot condone the legalization of this drug. People then argue with me and tell me then we should make cigarettes and alcohol illegal, my response is this: we tried that once and it didn't work. We have to lay in the bed we made in regards to cigarettes and alcohol, but why add to the problem we already have by legalizing another drug? Just so we can save money by not arresting so many people for petty pot dealing? It's just not worth it to me.

The positive consequences (if I look objectively) to legalizing pot are things like saving money state wide because we are not arresting so many people for pot. Another positive may be the medicinal side of it. Easier access for people with chronic illness.

Negative consequences: More people driving high and smoking it in the car. More people being led to other drugs because pot is not getting them high enough anymore. Lung issues and much much more.

Prostitution has no positive benefits the way I see it. When there is prostitution there is violence, rape, drugs, and lifestyles that do not add to society but take away from it. I have known prostitutes personally and have seen first hand the emotional destruction it can do to a woman and even men.

Gambling to me is not an issue, I know that some people end up being addicted to it but I have no basis for saying its 100% wrong.

In connection to the book, making things legal or illegal impacts our jail and prison systems. We either lower the amount of people in the jails or we increase them with the decisions congress make things legal or not. Sure states may save money with less prisoners, but what will be the social consequences for making certain things legal? Are we so concerned with "MY" freedom that we are willing to sacrifice the health of our nation?

Ch.5

The social statuses that I found for myself were as follows:

1) Wife

2) Daughter

3) Sister

4) Nanny

5) Student

6) Caucasian

7) Female

8) Middle income

My achieved statuses are wife, nanny, student, and possibly middle income. I believe income status is both achieved and ascribed because you are born into a certain financial status but you can also achieve a different status later on. It is something you can change, although many people stay in the class they were born into because that's all they know. I was born into a middle class/income home, I have stayed there into my marriage and maybe someday it will be different. I am a first generation college student and because of that I may break the generational status quo.

My ascribed statuses are female, Caucasian, sister, daughter and middle class. These are the things that I have been born into.

The roles I am expected to play as a consequence of these statuses:

Wife- As a Christian woman I am expected to be submissive to my husband when the decisions he makes are not against what God would want. I am expected to be selfless as a spouse, to spend time with my husband.

Student- I am expected to get good grades, be attentive, present, and respectful.

Nanny- Follow the parents wishes, attentive to children, helpful, productive (making sure child's duties and my own get done).

My role as a student and a nanny conflicts with my role as a wife a lot. I have to sacrifice time with my husband at night because I get home from work at 6:30 and then I have homework to do. This takes up a lot of time and sometimes I don't get to see him until 10:30. My role as a wife tends to take a back seat when I am in school. I am constantly thinking of ways to bring balance into school, work, marriage, and all the other roles I hold. This is role conflict at it's best and it is not easy to prioritize sometimes.