Week 7: Social Class

Segregation in the United States was abolished years ago, yet at some levels it still exists.  Race is not the only contributing factor for segregation. Segregation is separation of race, CLASS, or ethnicity.  The US is known as the land of opportunity.  It’s common belief that a young child from a poor background may one day grow up to be President.  Here in this great land, anything is possible.  

Unfortunately, regardless of all the endless possibilities, segregation of class still exists.  According to our textbook, separation exists from the working class, middle class, and upper class. But it also applies to children.  At school, social class is marked by brands of clothing or the latest technology the student owns.  Cliques form based on similar characteristics.  Among those characteristics are possessions.  Kids hang out with other kids from a similar social class, because they best relate to those kids. As lamentable as it is, social class matters.

Social class in the United States matters on so many levels.  Some choose to not be seen with or associate with certain people in fear of being lowered in status.  Others associate with people of a certain class to elevate status or to be seen as charitable. Social class matters because those of higher social class have better access to a higher quality education and therefore better opportunities in life.

The PBS website People Like Us was both decorative in style and informative in knowledge. The website had stories, games, and resources available.  I believe that it’s important to know there is an issue in order to fix it.  PBS is known as an educational organization. It addressed quite well the issue of social class.

Week Six: Changing Social Connections

Today Americans are far more isolated due to technology than ever before.  We have so much available such as phones, webcams, and social networking websites. It’s easier to utilize the technology available than to actually make time for others in this fast paced society.

Technology hinders growth of socialization and builds a freedom to personify something they’re not.  Ever heard of the country song by Brad Paisley “Online”?  The lyrics are so true as to what could and probably is happening.  Technology enables people to pretend they’re something they’re not. Who’s to know better? Americans need to be careful with depending too heavily on technology.  Many are becoming socially awkward when it comes to face to face time.  Let’s not forget the importance of physical interaction!

On the other hand, technology can be a good thing.  Many such as soldiers and Marines that are away from home depend on technology to keep in touch with family.  Telephone calls, text messages, webcam videos over Skype, social networking on Facebook and so much more are a blessing.  These avenues of communication are like glue that keeps families or groups of friends together.

Technology has both pros and cons.  It’s something that like everything else can be abused if overused.

Week Five: The Criminal Justice System

According to the International Centre for Prison Studies 2007, the United States has the highest incarceration rates when compared to fourteen other countries.  How is this possible when the United States is a world leader? How can we police nations when we can't manage to police our own?  Over the past forty years the state and federal prison population has increased dramatically based on information provided by the US Bureau of Justice Statistics.

In my last sociology class we watched "Waiting For Superman".  In that documentary I learned that more taxpayer's money is spent on jails rather than on schools.  Ridiculous!!!!

Instead of focusing so much on prisoners, we should be focusing on our future- the children!  Children are impressionable, soaking up the good and the bad.

The government should enforce harsher punishment on criminals which would deter them from committing the crime in the first place.  Our government should invest more resources on our children.  Preventive care is far more inexpensive than damage repair.

Week Four: Nature vs Nurture

For years there has been a debate on nature versus nurture.  Is a person a product of their parents’ genes or is that person a product of his parents’ nurture?  There is evidence to support either claim.  As for me, I believe that both nature and nurture play a big role in how a person turns out.

I’ve always enjoyed observing others. I observe how they react to situations.  Then I wonder why they chose what they chose.  If a child from a broken home ends up bouncing from foster home to foster home until he turns of legal age and is thrown out to the real world, unequipped, turns out to be a “low life,” is that to be expected?  Would you expect a person from the same situation to grow up to be a successful contributing citizen? Most would probably not think he could end up well.  But why?  Was it because of his environment?  Were his parents uneducated, lazy or disgusting?  What if he succeeded even though his parents were unfit in all ways to be a parent?

When I was young, my mother did foster care.  I’ve seen children come in and out of our home over the years.  Some were helped, but not all.  Not all of those children’s parents were awful. Sometimes life just happened.

Humans have free will.  Although our experiences or nurture may influence our decisions, ultimately it falls upon the individual to choose his path.

A man doesn’t commit murder because he has a “killer gene”.  A man may kill because he chose that.  Although he may have had a mental illness which is inherited through nature, in the end, its up to that man. Nature and nurture go hand in hand, but in most cases, free will is the deciding factor.

Hugh Laurie's Song For America

As much as I love Hugh Laurie starring in “House,” I don’t like him so much in this video!  In the video from the BBC Network, the Brits are mocking us Americans.  Laurie symbolizes the average Joe (American) musician. It’s apparent the Brits believe that American music is repetitive, pointless or without substance, and mostly about patriotism. Those things listed, in the eyes of the Brits (the audience) are of laughing matter.  Another interesting observation I made was Hugh’s attire.  I’ve been in Europe and many Europeans feel or at least act superior to Americans.  Many view Americans as fat and lazy. The crazy thing about it all is that the United States of America is a super power that many nations rely upon.

After watching this video, I googled on YouTube other videos of differences between Brits and Americans.  One video was of Hugh Laurie and Ellen DeGeneres.  Both celebrities were playing a guessing game on each other’s slang terms.  It became apparent to me that both British citizens and American citizens are cocky by nature. The UK, more than anything, may still be bitter about losing the States (America…America…America…) and since then have been forced to hide behind the great shadow of the United States.

This video on YouTube misinterpreted American music and Americans.  Truth is we Americans are awesome!