Hate Speech

Hate speech is aimed to threaten a particular group by making unethical statements about them. People or group who engage in such a hate speech hold individual or public grudges towards the targeted group. Today’s humanitarian international society is against such hate speeches because they only create hate, and aggravate anti feelings for the targeted group. We all are aware of the mass eradication of Jews by the Nazis for no ethical reason. The Germans followed their leader who had personal problems with Jews. German leader Adolf Hitler popularized the anti sematic notion in the entire nation to target his discontent against the Jews. Therefore no such hate speeches, nor their writers should be encouraged on the web because they only result in creating anti social elements that disturb the peace of the society. The latest Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin was the result of hate crime by a certain group that led in killing innocent people. There have to be some regulations followed by the FBI to scrutinize such publications on the web, which can be completely censored or prevented from being published and creating destructive results in the society.

Metaphor of American Society

I am an Indian and I have traveled and lived in different parts of the world, but I have not seen such a vibrant place like America because of its diversity. There are people of all colors, cultures, and languages living here and trying to fulfill their own American dream. America is often referred as the melting pot where all the differences are melted and amalgamated in one form. America is also referred as salad bowl because different veges, fruits and dressings maintain their individuality and yet taste delicious together. I attended comm 172F class with Dr. Byrd in Spring 2012, who referred to America as tapestry, and tribunes because all the diversities are woven together to form one unique fabric design. Similarly, tribunes of river flow from all over to meet the sea together. Accordingly, I think the best metaphor for America would be a mix fruitcake. Different fruits, and other cake ingredients are mixed together to form a unique baked dish of mix fruitcake. All the fruits, which resemble diversities in America, taste different, but belong to the same cake as a whole like one nation, the United States of America.

SELF CONCEPT

I found the Self Concept mentioned in the book interesting because we see that mostly until we actually practice what we preach we cannot understand the intensity and meaning of our say. The book gives detailed steps to enhance our self-concepts, which are:

1.     Make a firm commitment to Personal Growth: Self-initiative for a change is the predominant factor to nurture individual development.

2.     Gain and use knowledge to support personal growth: Critically thinking about the social issues and sticking to the good ones is an important aspect.

3.     Set goals that are realistic and fair: Being genuine in adapting the changes to mold self-concepts in equally important.

4.     Seek concepts that support personal change: Create a healthy environment, which helps in boosting motivation for staying close to the self-commitment. Make friends and be in the company of people who are faithful to the social cause of your choice.

RACE

Race defines the physical attributes of people. In western society race is considered a primary aspect of personal identity. Factually, Caucasian race has been favored in the US. Similarly, wherever the British colonies were formed Caucasians tried to impose their domination over the locals on the basis of their white skin color.  The whites thought of themselves as superior because of the whiteness and others were treated as inferiors because they were black, brown or yellow skinned. The moment when Barrack Obama broke the old tradition of white Presidents by becoming the first African American President of America was historical.

In general race and identity revolves around the following categories:

Gender: Although US boasts to be the most liberal countries of all; there is a big disparity between men and women for equality rights.

Sexual Orientation: Socially and religiously heterosexuality is seen as normal sexual orientation in US over gay, lesbians and transvestites.

Interview With Older Adults

I spoke to this American couple living in my apartments who are in their late 60s. According to them the norms of 20-year-old men and women in their times were that they would probably be in their first or second year of college. In the 1980s there was a sudden plunge of smoking among 20-year-old men and women. They were high in consuming drugs and epitomizing musical sensations like Beatles. Also these 20-year-old men and women were activists who pushed for various causes for bringing about change in the society. This was the period when 20 years old were free spirited, open to cultural diversity, and on the verge of technological innovation. By this time more and more women went to college and became the part of post feminism era.

I met another couple of about 40 years older than me in the park and as per them 20yrs old is the age for men and women when sky is the limit. They further said in the 1970s, 20 year old men and women would be college students mostly influenced by hippies, Asian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Zen that took them to a different world of spirituality. However, family dynamics were conservative, 20 year old women often got married and became typical housewives who were supposed to take care of the house, and men became the breadwinners.