What do you think to be the cause of homosexuality? Have your views on homosexuality been affected by the study of this topic?

The cause of homosexuality has not been researched enough to begin to make an educated guess on the subject. I do not know what the cause of homosexuality is. Various studies have been done on this topic, some scientifically intriguing and some a little less enlightened. The major causes for homosexuality that are being debated are biology and choice. I believe it is a combination of both. Many homosexuals claim biology to be the reason they were born that way, just like others who have no control over the skin color they were born with or the gender they came in. Homosexuality isn’t a “lifestyle” but instead a way of living that is out of their control. And to a certain extent I understand the reasoning behind it all. I can almost agree to the gay gene. But no such gene has been discovered in the human genome, at least not yet. However, I have seen families share similar “lifestyles.” For example, out of a group of siblings, two lead homosexual lifestyles. Maybe others in the family are prone to similar feelings but instead of succumbing to them, they hide these feelings away in neat little packages deep down in a dark corner of their mind, never to accept themselves fully. Or maybe conditions arose during their childhoods that lead to this “lifestyle” decision. Maybe it was something both siblings experienced when growing up. Freud believed parental relationships play a large role on deciding a child’s sexual orientation, nature vs. nurture, yet another key idea in the whole homosexuality debate. Leading this type of “lifestyle” isn’t as simple as deciding to become a vegetarian. A decision of this magnitude has the power to change your existence in its entirety. Coming out is something that is both liberating and terrifying, and can easily put anyone off on the idea of accepting homosexuality as a lifestyle. Many people, however, sum up the courage and make the decision to come out to family and friends, coworkers and acquaintances. They decide they can only ever love someone of the same gender, a decision that will forever affect their life. When coming out you must be prepared to deal with others new found acceptance of you, rejection of you, and utter hatred of you. You will endure acts of discrimination, harassment, and even crime. With that one decision a wave of lifestyle changes will crash into you. I don’t know what the cause of homosexuality is, but I do know those who choose to live their life in such a manner risk much and even all for what, just some lifestyle choice? No, I don’t believe so. To live the life you know you should, risking some well being in the process, is to be propelled by more than just a “lifestyle” choice. It’s heeding the call and accepting who you truly are.

React to the article "Tale of Two Islands." Do you think a case can be made for charges of institutional racism?

In all honesty, I’m not sure. I decided to discuss this case with my Mother. She was born in the United States, but considers her home to be that of Puerto Rico. So, I thought she might have some insight on the situation with Cuba and Haiti. Before I could read the entire article, she explained that they were undergoing two very different situations. Cubans were considered to be political refugees, while Haitians were considered to be economic migrants. One group was severely affected by the political status of the country they are from, so affected are they that they fear for their life because of their political beliefs and will not return to their country for the fear of being prosecuted. The other group is severely affected by the economic status of the country, and has willingly chosen to the leave it for economic reasons. When I began to read the article, that explanation made sense. People who opposed the political agenda of the masses could be in grave danger if forced to live in a country that they didn’t see eye to eye with. It’s like letting a herd of sheep live near a den of wolves. Eventually the wolves will get hungry and start to pick them off one by one. But what of the ones willing to go, economic conditions so poor it drives away the country’s own people. Of course if one has the means, we always opt to live in a more economically stable environment. No one in their right mind wants to live in poverty. Why didn’t the United States extend that helpful hand once again to those in need? Haitians weren’t willingly going; instead they were being forced out by the deteriorating economic and political status they were practically being forced to live in. Unfortunately, with Papa Doc also came a lot of the similar treatment given to citizens based on their political standings. Papa Doc was a dictator, much like Fidel Castro, and denied all human rights. He also forced all political rivals into exile. Those whom were exiled due to their political beliefs were granted similar help like those coming from Cuba, but many Haitians were turned away if they couldn’t bring sufficient evidence of such reasons for leaving. The ones who were turned away were sent back to the deplorable conditions of their country. Yes, the situations are different, but not by much. A large part of Haiti’s descent into poverty was due to the United States’ hand in this whole fiasco. At times I even believe that the United States even found it suitable to leave Haiti in the state that it was in. Although, it is easy to claim institutional racism because both parties are different in ethnic looks, black and white, I would still need more information, more facts, and more accounts of the one’s who experienced these living conditions. I’m not sure if the United States have stopped being racist, but I do know often times they only act out when they can reap something of benefit.

Reflect on what you've learned about Race and Racism.

This has been one of the most taxing subjects I have ever had to address in school. There has only ever been one other subject to do that to me and that subject is Global Warming, two very important subjects with seemingly no connection. But there is a connection. How can we even begin to show an understanding and appreciation for the planet that sustains us when it is clear that we can barely show it to one another? In reading the first essay, "Race": A Most Dangerous Myth, it became clear that humans are only satisfied when they have categorized and compartmentalized the hell out of the human race. Excuse my blatant use of the blasphemous term. I was discussing this matter with a friend and I explained that humans want to categorize everything, from animal species to written works (like books) and even themselves. And they do so because they can only begin to “live” comfortably knowing everything around them has a label. She thought my use of the term label was a little harsh, maybe even incorrect, but I stand by what I say. Labels make the world go round, not intelligence or decency. I work at a bookstore as I may have mentioned before, and even the books have been labeled according to the subject matter. Okay, from a business perspective I can understand separating Math books from Fiction and History from Science books, but within those sections are even more labels. When selling a product your main goal is to get it into the hands of the consumer as fast as possible. But within the Fiction section there is a Mystery sub-section, a Romance sub-section, a Sci-fi/Fantasy sub-section, and even those sub-sections are divided amongst themselves. If you ask me, any story that is written from the imagination of another is Fictional and therefore belongs in Fiction. Why the need to further complicate life and separate what you already know is Fictitious? Well, that is what we have done and continue to do when we split up the human race amongst itself. We are all Homo sapiens. But that is not enough, because of some discrepancy in skin color I am not like you and you are not like me. So we separate people using the most significant difference, skin color, lights and darks. What, are we doing laundry? But you see it’s not as easy as that. Because among those two groups are others who vary in features (like facial), attributes (like hair color), and even skin color yet again. The whites not white enough? It’s as if we will never be truly happy until everyone around us is labeled, catalogued, and tagged. In Racism: The Most Pernicious of All the "Isms", a sort of timeline was created for the Civil Rights Movement. It chronicled all of the people who unwillingly but full heartedly gave their life for the cause, both men and women, “black” and “white,” like Emmett Louis Till, Medgar Evers, Michael Schwerner, and Viola Gregg Liuzzo. It mentioned iconic people who will, in the minds of all who acknowledge this powerful movement, be remembered till their own life comes to an end, like Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X. I also became aware of the fact that racism is an old habit and one quite difficult to rid the world of. Racism wasn’t just saved for the Africans. Many native people, and when I say native I mean Native to the country in which they were discovered on including Africans, experienced the hazard of racism. People, like the Taino and Native American Indians. These people who learned to live humbly and eco-friendly among their environment, using only what they needed. Savages, I think not. Savages are the ones that can’t value human life in any and all of its forms. I can only imagine the type of world we would be living in right now if the European travelers would have adopted the same lifestyle of these people. There would probably be acceptance of the other cultures and less, if no, racism and Global Warming would be to a minimal. Talk about two birds with one stone.

Reflecting on Asili the Journal Blogspot: Emmett Till: The Shaping of a People's Dream.

A strong and moving piece, a compelling read. Until I studied Emmett Till's case, he was but a stranger to me. I was always familiar with Rosa Parks and took the time to truly study and understand Martin Luther King’s contribution to the Civil Rights Movement. This piece encompasses several elements that set apart the movement and expresses the true nature of things in an era that ushered in so many changes.

After watching the film and reading the poem on Emmett Till I have been given a clearer vision of what it was like during the 50s in an America that was intolerant of its colored citizens. I have always felt this cosmic connection to the 50s. To me, it is one of the most powerful eras. So many things were happening at that time. But as I research the Civil Rights Movement I realize just how much was happening. It is unfortunate that any mother would lose their child in that manner, or that any group of people would be left to live under such fearful conditions. But their day came. Emmett’s mother showed great strength to do what she did, to expose the living conditions of the South, especially those being experienced in Mississippi, by revealing to the world the lifeless body that was once her son. Her son may have paid the price of ignorance and hatred, but his death ignited the movement that sparked the emergence of some of the most well known Historical figures of all time. Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on the bus took place December of 1955, the same year Emmett Till was murdered in cold blood (he died in August of that year). After being arrested for sitting in the seat of her choice, she decided she had had enough of this unjust treatment. And thus from this was born the Montgomery Bus Boycott and what breathed life into the Civil Rights Movement. If Rosa Parks is seen as “the Mother of the Modern-day Civil Rights Movement,” then it is only fair to say that Martin Luther King Jr. at the young age of 26 had become in 1955 the Father of the Modern-day Civil Rights Movement. Elected president of the Montgomery Improvement Association, on the 5th of December he became the official spokesman for the boycott. Wise beyond his years and known for his eloquence, he stepped into the position with a lot of heart and little certainty. But a family isn’t complete without the pitter-patter of little feet. And that role belonged to none other than Emmett Till, the Son of the Modern-day Civil Rights Movement. In August of 1955, Mamie Till wasn’t the only one to lose a son that year. We, as individuals, as a people, and as a nation had lost a son. A son we may never have known existed till word of his untimely death had reached us. A son we were never really there for. A son we hoped to offer the world to. In 1955 an entire group of people had reached their limit and decided that enough was enough. With Emmett Till’s death came the birth of the Civil Rights Movement.