Pinker Ink - Comments

Planes - 3024 comments on When You Love Your Job...You'll Feel It

Planes - 3024 — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:22:37 +0000

"You can't see the tears coming down my eyes so I have to make this posting cry!"

I'm really happy you enjoyed our second to last class together, I'd say bye but I realized bye sounds like it's forever. Instead I'll say, "see you around!" You've made me feel like we were friends and if you don't mind I'd like to keep in touch. I'm not going to say before your class I was lost, because I've been in school for some time now. However, I can honestly say no one has had an effect on me like you have had. It was definately your book that put the icing on the cake. On top of you dedicating it to us (your students) you wrote it in a way where we could relate to it whether we were black or brown. You made me feel comfortable in my skin, as I have so many wounds I thought would never heal. (Eventually I'll be comfortable enough to speak more in class) I thank you for everything you've taught me and you can rest assured knowing I'm going to teach what you have taught me to my children, family and friends. Your words are powerful and your thoughts are inspirational. I've had an amazing expericenc in your class and I thank you for that too!

See you around!

Falkenhainer - Bls 3024 comments on When You Love Your Job...You'll Feel It

Falkenhainer - Bls 3024 — Wed, 12 May 2010 22:14:36 +0000

Thank you Professor! Your book really brings the semester into such clear content. The book brings about the passion and excitement that you bring to class every single day. Reading about who you are and where you have come from growing up just enables me to understand everything you have taught me during this semester so much more. You have opened my eyes to allow me to really look into certain things, not just pass them by as if they were nothing. You have changed certain views about life that I did not think were possible and I would not be able to thank you enough for that. I know that I have not spoken much during class discussions, but please know that that does not mean that I have not learned so much from you. I have never had a Professor like you before, and to be honest I never will again. Thank you for everything Professor, and good luck with your baby and everything else that comes your way. Hoping to keep in touch!

Stacey A comments on When You Love Your Job...You'll Feel It

Stacey A — Wed, 12 May 2010 18:52:00 +0000

Hey Profe!

How are you? Congratulations! I'm just now finding out you're expecting. That's what I get for not coming back to visit. I'm happy you continue to find renewed enjoyment in your career and life. Miss you dearly.

Stacey

Ravenel - 3024 comments on When You Love Your Job...You'll Feel It

Ravenel - 3024 — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:07:48 +0000

Wow. A tear just fell...

I cannot even put into words the experience I have had this semester. With the luxury of having you before Professor, I know the impact you have had on me and my educational development not only in this class but previous classes as well. The discussion of your book yesterday was great and I have told many people before that reading your book is like taking your class for a semester. So for that, I thank YOU! You said you wrote the book for us, and we read and critically understand it for you :)

As for the gifts, whoop whoop! I'm glad you liked them. I saw some of the flowers, and they were beautiful. As tomorrow's class is my last class of my undergraduate career, tear tear, I know I will look back on my last semester at school with a smile. Thanks Professor for everything you have done. And to my class, you all were great!

Bah-BLS 3024 comments on Ethnic Studies Programs Banned!

Bah-BLS 3024 — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:59:36 +0000

SMH This is a damn shame, how long does Arizona thinks this will last... forever?? I feel like 1968 will come again but worst. I totally agree with Castill3085. I have looked up the Amendment particularly #14 and Civil Rights Act of 1964, something very interesting: "Once the Act was implemented, its effects were far-reaching and had tremendous long-term impacts on the whole country. It prohibited discrimination in public facilities, in government, and in employment, invalidating the Jim Crow laws in the southern U.S. It became illegal to compel segregation of the races in schools, housing, or hiring. ....its duty to guarantee all citizens equal protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment and its duty to protect voting rights under the Fifteenth Amendment."
What is up with this non-cultured conservative Americans who are so against with ethnic studies?? IF they haven't realized that America was made by every immigrant that is from all of the continents(except for Antarctica of course). I call them ignorant fools, I will not want to visit Arizona (I hope they lose money from Congress for implementing this racist law. They will lose money and I hope Senator McCain is crying for his state. Now imagine if I was living there with my parents, (my dad is an American citizen and my mom isn't).... I wished they would come and true to deport her when she's been here for over 21 years. United States need to get there act together.

Moxy comments on Ethnic Studies Programs Banned!

Moxy — Fri, 07 May 2010 19:27:18 +0000

The impact of this one bill is just plain scary. If this type of logic, a very twisted one at that, spreads and corrupts surrounding states, what kind of world would we live in in 2010? It wouldn't be progression. It would be uniformed and "American". To teach students to "to be Americans and to treat each other as individuals, and not on the basis of their ethnic backgrounds" is to completely erase one's identity. While I think this is ultimately the goal of this bill down the road, this will create a country of extreme homogeneity. If America prides itself on being diverse and having hundreds of cultures and ethnicities within its walls, how then is something like this okay? Why then, should one sit next to someone in a classroom from the other side of the world but not ask or engage in a historical/sociological conversation about his/her culture? To only treat someone as an individual without the added components of their history and culture is to not understand that same individual. Humans exist with culture. The two cannot be separated. This bill is asking for just that and quite frankly, it's ludicrous.

Not to mention those educators who have spent years mastering their field. What will happen to them? Are they then not important? Their degrees all for naught? Their intellectual capacities in these fields mean nothing? The oppression that results from this bill is immense and further undermines the fields of "ethnic studies.” In other words, the subjects and their educators are unimportant and therefore serve no purpose in an academic institution.
Well…that makes me feel great about my degree and culture. Just freakin great.

Castill3085 comments on Ethnic Studies Programs Banned!

Castill3085 — Wed, 05 May 2010 03:28:05 +0000

I for one am deeply disturbed! The rights of the people...of students are being undermined. Who the hell is someone to ban ethnic studies and undermine other cultures. If Arizona can get away with this then it will set a precedant for other states todo the same. WHERE IS THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION? First of all, to those who want immigrants out of this country..unless you are a Native American, you are most likely an immigrant. trace your ancestery to that of Native Americans and then come and say something. I am so disgusted with society anti-immigrant rants at the moment. HOW DARE YOU (ARIZONA) BAN EDUCATION? If you take out one part of education now, you are taking out many parts in the future..FOR THOSE WHO ARE PRAISING WHAT ARIZONA IS DOING,,SHAME ON YOU..I stand up for my mother, for me, for my family, and for all those who came to this country looking for a better life and doing so decently..HAVE PEOPLE FORGOTTEN HOW TO BE HUMAN??? ARIZONA YOU DISGUST ME.

Nolasco-3024 comments on Gender Watch Journal No. 9: Lolita in Tehran

Nolasco-3024 — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 03:50:47 +0000

I think the experiment was interesting but personally I did not mind being without my bag or cell phone. I think that by not having the constant distraction of checking my phone or shifting my 50-pound bag around I was able to focus more on the discussion. I was glad that I did not have everything on me and it was great just having the book in front of me. As for the gender separation, it was a little bit weird but nothing out of this world I guess because we outnumbered them. Therefore, I would assume it would be more uncomfortable for the men. The underground learning annoyed to me to a certain extent because I am use to the idea of women being free enough to attend class when and where they want. Seeing the barriers they have to go through just to have a discussion on books is simply crazy to me. They have too many rules and regulations such as woman must be accompanied by a man, the wearing of the scarf and robe really gets under my skin because who regulates what men wear… nobody. Therefore, for a man to impose his ideals on a woman and mandate her to wear certain articles of clothing is total oppression and unacceptable. Although they go through barriers, I do believe that their system is better than our system or the classroom structure. They know the risks and consequences of reading and attending these underground meetings and they do not care. They show true dedication by going week after week. Their way is better because they show a passion for reading and they go because they want to go not because they have to go. Some students have this pressure that they must attend class and by making, others do what they do not to do stunt the person’s interest and passion. By pressuring individuals, their lack of interest decreases and the student learns nothing because their mind is not set in learning the material. I do not have a favorite character in the book. I enjoyed Nafisi’s writing because it was a personal dairy of sorts. She wrote out her thoughts and feelings, it was her own first hand experience. I love that in her writing she expresses that she is taking a stance against the revolution and against the veil.

Manon-BLS 3024 comments on Gender Watch Journal No. 2

Manon-BLS 3024 — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 00:01:11 +0000

-Late
I know most of you have seen or heard about the series called Lost. Well, my cousin is hooked on this show and has never missed an episode. Usually when she doesn't have time to see it she makes sure it gets recorded and that way she can watch them over and over. A few days ago I sat down with her to watch one of the episodes because i was curious to see what she's always bragging about. This episode is from the 3rd season i believe and this Caucasian guy named Sawyer is teaching a Korean dude named Jin to speak English and also how to deal with women. Jin has problem with the Language and after one of the Korean girls told him she would only speak to him in English she got motivated to learn. Sawyer therefore tells Jin that "I’m sorry, you were right, and those pants don't make you look fat are the only three things a woman needs to hear." What in the world are these men thinking? It's so upsetting to witness that such a stereotype about women even exist! First of all, not all women act the same, talk the same, feel the same way or even want to hear the same things. Some women are very emotional and their feelings get hurt easily others are “tough” and don’t get hurt easily and some rather keep their emotions to themselves. But guys guys guys...we come in all colors and sizes and with different tastes just like you all do. I am not…under any circumstances accusing all men of thinking in this way about women but for those who do…all of you need a reality check, you need to get off from that cloud before you fall and hit your heads real hard because you can’t be stupid enough to think that with those
3 little phrases you’re going to keep a real woman happy. In order for this stereotype to end there’s should be commercials created about women having all the qualities opposite to those of being clueless, dim-witted, naïve, easily persuaded and fooled. Women need to also take it upon themselves guard their reputation and to not give these men any reasons to think this way of us. We’re intelligent and we deserve respect.
Here is the youtube video link that contains part of the scene that i was referring to. Feel free to comment.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0EAA4lSuNA

Planes - BLS 3024 comments on Gender Watch Journal No. 9: Lolita in Tehran

Planes - BLS 3024 — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 04:24:06 +0000

Honestly speaking I did feel weird, only because I can’t live without my phone, at least I’d like to believe that. However I thought it was a great way to demonstrate what the girls in Iran go through. As for being seated by gender I thought it wasn’t fair that all of the guys were by the door making it easier for them to leave the room first. It made me think about how the women are oppressed in Iran according to what Nafisi explains – the men are entitled to everything leaving the women with whatever that is left, which is normally nothing at all. Their underground learning was great for their situation. They were not free to do what they wanted to do in the public eye, so the underground learning allowed them to be themselves without having to worry about being hurt or even worst killed because they were doing something they weren’t supposed to do. Although our learning system and structure happens to be very oppressive, it’s somewhat appropriate for our situation. As Americans we have a lot of freedom, its up to us to liberate ourselves. My favorite character is Professor Nafisi, a brilliant writer who has great theories about literature, and such a clear, alluring writing voice. She also gives us an inside standpoint of a country and culture that us Americans are in essence taught to despise. She didn’t take her students for granted, she picked them all for her own reasons and thought they helped her just as much as she helped them.

The banned book club sounds like a great way for people to express their deepest thoughts about things the world is afraid for them to read. Sadly my schedule is so busy I can barely make time for myself. However I’ll take the initiative and read at least 1 banned book a month, which will give me more than enough time to analyze the book and the reasons why I think it might have been banned.