Today's topic was minority rights. And as Dr. Oliver stated, our group is getting a little bogged down by all the similar topics. So I will pose upon you some questions and our answers and welcome any additional answers or comments.
Q: Should minority groups be required to learn English?
A: Yes. As a nation called the UNITED states of America, we feel if you are going to live and work here, and as a society to be able to function together, we should all understand one another and learn a common language. Should we embrace all languages? Yes! But in order to be a successful society, we should be able to communicate. I mean, we agreed on using a different form of measurement from the rest of the WORLD. The least we could do is all learn the same language, yes?
Q: Do you feel as if the "special" treatment towards minorities should cease to exist?
A: I will answer this with a question... if YOU were a part of the minority, would you then want them to cease to exist? Because studies show by 2050, our childrens' generation, white Anglo-Saxon groups and white ethnics will be the minority.
Q: We all know there are those who take advantage of the system, whether they are of a minority or not. What do you think about the continuation of programs that assist in minority upward mobility? Should they be kept in place? Should they be changed or simply retracted?
As non-informative as this was, I hope I intrigued your brains into some independent thinking.
I'd like to point out something that Kymlicka stresses: that there is an issue with "special rights" vs. "equal rights" for minorities. A lot of people feel like concepts like Affirmative Action are in effect "special rights". I used to think that way myself, but I've come around to looking at the bigger picture. We really do need equalizing rules when the group in positions of power have biases that prevent other groups from having a fair shot. I feel kind of frustrated about this topic, as it seems like there is no good solution. We *should* have no need for such policies, yet to pretend this is true is no answer. Any suggestions?
ReplyDeleteI really like how you posted today. The questions really got me thinking, and I am going to answer them with my personal opinion as well.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 1: I believe that we should have the people that move here from other countries learn English because that is the language that most Americans speak. They moved here on their own, so they should learn how to speak our language. This also applies if I moved to another country. I would want myself to learn the native language so I would be able to communicate and work with others in the country. Am I saying that the people who move here should not speak their language that they have learned to live with? NO! As long as the people learn our common language in order to work and communicate with us, then I see no problem with the people retaining their native language.
Question 2: You make a very good point. I would not want them to stop the special benefits for me if I was in the minority group. I think we give minority groups special benefits in order to strive in their lives.
Question 3: I believe there is always going to be people who take advantage of everything, especially the special benefits. However, what about the people who do not take advantage of this? I have a real issue about this. Let's say someone in the classroom talked when the teacher told his or her class not to. Then just one person talked. The teacher punishes the whole entire class because one person talked. Is that fair? Is it fair to punish everyone just because someone did something that they were not supposed to do? It really bothers me when something along the lines of this situation occurs. Therefore, I believe that the benefits should stay for those people who use them wisely, while the ones that abuse the benefits should have the benefits cut off for them.
Great post! Hope you are feeling better!!!
Any reference to Super Troopers is automatically a win. Yeah, just had to throw that out there.
ReplyDeleteYes, our discussions are getting a little repetitive with all the similar topics but the one thing that really stood out to me on this one is how we discussed about the next generation and how they will be the ones actually dealing with the decisions and laws we put into place now. It is obvious that America is changing. In my anthropology class today we watched a film that labeled the U.S. as the third most populated country on the planet, and it is going up everyday. We have so many cultures, languages, and traditions floating around out there that we can not simply ignore the change. The idea of the American dream is still with us today and more and more people want their piece. We've already seen so much change in our lifetime, and I can only imagine what the next generation will face. What I do know, is that it will depend on us as to where they embrace the change and move into the future together and cooperatively, or if we set the stage for more prejudice and racism. I don't know about you, but I don't think it worked out to well the first time. May history not repeat itself.
The first question that popped in my mind was where exactly do we draw the line between majority or minority in American society?
ReplyDeleteReading up on it I found and accumulated a list of what a minority is:
Minorities must always be understood in relation to others in the social structure. A minority groups lacks power, prestige, and privilege in relation to others. They are unable to achieve their will. They lack resources to support their own interests effectively.
Minority groups are people who are singled out for unequal treatment.
Minorities have a shared sense of identity.
Minorities may actually be a numerical majority (e.g., women in American society).
But according to this list almost ALL of America would qualify in some part of some minority. If we based majority on the opposite of this list then the old cliche of rich white men running the country would be the majority. Look at congress (except the MINORITY of the few women). Look at our presidents (except the present one, duh). Look at our most of our countries governors. Are these people mostly white? Yup. Are these people mostly men? Uh, pretty sure, yup. Are these people wealthy? I'd say so.
I think that keeping this in mind, we have a duty as Americans to speak up for each other and see that everyone's opinions are heard even if they aren't taken completely into account.
And I know this doesn't really go with what you guys are saying and I went on a little bit of a "LETS STAND TOGETHER FOR OUR RIGHTS" ramble but that's what I think it boils down to. People will stop feeling LIKE A MINORITY when we do come together and support one another.
All of our topics are very alike so it's hard to not make our discussions sound alike as well.
Sorry that my posts are always all over the place--my brain is always all over the place :)
LINK to my list I made: http://dmc122011.delmar.edu/socsci/rlong/intro/minority.htm
ReplyDeleteJust a tidbit of info, i will not be in class today. Still feelin the funk a little, hopefully will be back on thursday! So if someone else could author our post this week i would appreciate that!
ReplyDeleteAnother amaing post hon and yes I am bogged down with the last few topics, but I believe we should let them in. Special privildges are always a touchy subject when a minority might be the majority tomorrow. I love our discussions:))
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