Article #4, The phantom of the Races the myth of Race and the Reality of Racism, By Dr Charles Quist Adade, Dialect reading

What question did the text raise?How different “races” effect society?

How did the text answer this question?We can see the different races physically, as in the different colour we all possess. Black, Yellow, White, Brown, we can all physically see the differences among us. That effects the way we look at others and the way we feel about ourselves. If I am yellow and you are white, we naturally think that we are different, and distant from one another. Which leads to no contact or interaction between the different races, and the interaction even becomes avoided.

How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences? When we walk out into the streets and see a person of different colour, we automatically judge that person for their colour. For example when we see an African American businessman, we cannot ignore the fact that he is “black” and therefore think to ourselves, “oh look at black businessman”. We cannot just simply erase the colours we see so clearly,although perhaps erasing the different colours would ultimately eliminate “racism”.

Article #3, Who will liberate Liberia, By Dr. Charles Quist Adade, Dialect reading

What question did the text raise?Why American chooses to continue the war in Iraq and ignore Liberia?

How did the text answer this question?

The Bush administration chose to continue the war in Iraq because of the profit they will make. But as for Liberia, no profit will come out of solving issues and helping problems. The Bush administration acted like Iraq had imaginary nuclear weapons, but ignored countries that actually did have them like North Korea. The simple answer was money, there was greater profit to be made in democracy then helping out a country like Liberia.

How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences? I believe that money is the ultimate form of power. If you have money you can virtually have anything in the world. That was what the Bush administration was going for, atleast that is what i believe. They wanted the money they gained from Iraq for forming “democracy”, and eventually ending up with more power and wealth. 

Article #2, Forgiveness is not part of the lesson learned, By Charles Quist Adade, Dialect reading

What question did the text raise?Do different races value lives of  people of other ethnicity less important?

How did the text answer this question?There are many examples showing different races valuing the lives of other ethnicity to be less important. For example the Vietnamese war, the Americans trained and financed the rebel movement, letting the two sides of Vietnam tear each other apart, with not much direct combat intervention. Another example is the atomic bombs dropped on Japan. The two bombs killed hundreds of thousands of people, is a prime example how those lives were senselessly killed off by an American bomb.

How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences? I believe that it is true to a certain extent that we value lives of other races to be less important. Sure like the examples given humans do value lives of their own race superior than other races. But that is not always the case, have you ever wanted to save a life stranger of your own race over your best friend who happens to be of different ethnicity? I believe everyone would save the life of their best friend over a stranger, even if it means defying race.

Article #1, Negotiation, Not retribution, By Charles Quist Adade, Dialect reading

What question did the text raise?Did cultural differences play a role in the U.S going to war with terrorism?

How did the text answer this question?The Bush administration had declared war on terrorism due to cultural differences, that is not the only reason but played a vital part. The difference in culture fueled the hatred Americans felt towards the terrorists of 9/11. If the terrorists had been Caucasians from Canada, the Bush administration would have never declared war on Canada, nonetheless Caucasians within Canada. This shows the impact culture has among our decisions.

How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences? In our everyday lives we experience some sort of hatred towards other people. But when the hatred you put is on a person of certain ethnicity or culture, you tend to look upon the entire culture or race as the same. The hatred you feel for a certain person or group expands into culture.

 

Video #3, Police arresting people giving out food for poor people, Dialect reading

What question did the video raise?Are law enforcements preventing food to be given out to the public? To people who cannot afford any food for themselves?

How did the video answer this question?
Sadly the answer is yes. Police arrested the individuals trying to give out food to the public. The police prevented a crowd of homeless people to form, for the generosity the individuals tried to give out.

How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences?Here in Vancouver, during the Olympics, homeless people were put on buses and removed off the streets, trying to avoid the embarrassment of showing poverty in the streets of Vancouver. Society today has become a place where being homeless means failure, and anyone who tries to help them by simply giving food will also be put on a path to failure. We are segregating the poor people from the rest of civilization.

Video #2, Standford prison experiment, Dialect reading

What question did the video raise?Do people get influenced by the power of the situation?

How did the video answer this question?People are very much influenced by the power of the situation. As seen in the experiment when given reflective glasses, authority and power the regular people became prison guards. Also the normal people given the degradation ceremony over time started to act like real prisoners.

How does the answer match our own ideas and experiences?I personally experience “the power of the situation” a lot in real life. When you are with your parents, or any adult with authority, you will act differently then when you are with your friends. That is because when you are with your parents, you are to follow their directions in that certain situation, they control the situation. But when you are with your friends all of us are free to do what we feel like because I, myself, are in control of the situation.

 

Video #1 Power, privallge and difference, Dialect reading

What question did this video raise? Does the white population really have an unearned privilege over the other races?

How did the video answer the question?Everyone might no recognize it and see it but it is true that Caucasians have unearned privileges granted to them, simply because of the colour of their skin. The white population have majority of the power in the public, they reach peak status in business faster than others and have a better standard, and often easier time of living.  When we recall the word “hood” we automatically recall gang related African Americans, and we don’t consider white people to be involved in anything against the law, as much as other races are.

How does the answer match out own ideas and experiences?  In the media today we may not acknowledge the fact, but we perceive all the different races differently. We see African American associated with rap music, blondes being dumb, Mexicans being illegal immigrants, and so on and so on. When we also imagine power primarily within the United States, we imagine a white male, because they are essentially the ones running all powerful business in America.