Group Essay

Racism is an all to common discussion that takes place in America these days, and it is not without reason. Racism is something that has been a problem in this country for centuries, and though some believe the problem is all but erased in the modern day, the issue still persists. According to activist Time Wise, "Racism is an ideology that says certain people, by virtue of their race, are either inferior or superior to others of a different race, and with race usually being defined by skin color." (Cook, 4). As Americans, this definition seems very fitting. For years, and even in certain places today, people of certain races are denied luxuries that are given to some whites.

This advantage given to whites is also known as "white privilege." Tim Wise again describes this as "any advantage, head start, or protection the system grants whites but not people of color. It's the flip side of discrimination." (Cook, 4). This is something we see all the time in America. For example, if people of color are discriminated against for something such as jobs or housing, that provides that many more opportunities for whites.

This "white privilege" that Time Wise explalins throughout this interview is, I dare say, something that effects my life. Often times, as Wise says, "We have tobe honest with ourselves and realize that we're conditned tohvecertain reactions, andthat doesn't make us bad people, as long as we catch ourselves." (Cook, 12). In this instance he's talking about the racist tendencies that we sometimes have towards others. It's something we're all guilty of, but s long as we make the effort to train ourselves, and stop these tendencies, there's no reason racism cannot be greatly reduced to the point of being a non-issue.


Works Cited:
"By The Color of Their Skin: Time Wise on the Myth of a Postracial America." Interview by David Cook. The Sun July 2009: 4-12. Print.

Omnivore's Dilemma Ch. 15

This chapter was interesting because you get to see just how difficult it is to live like a "hunter and gatherer" in today's society. Pollan tries to make a meal that he has hunted and gathered himself. In the meal, he wants plant, animal, and fungi represented. Needless to say, it didn't turn out to be the easiest thing in the world.

I think this chapter truly showed just how stuck we Americans are in our decisions on what to eat. Our land could not support us if we tried to hunt and gather. Not to mention we would probably starve before ever getting our hunter's license. It very much reminds me of when I was in grade school and my best friends great grandfather would sit around and yell at us about how our society would be so much better if we picked up a gun and shot what we wanted to eat. He was very angry about how wasteful "the government" has forced us to be. I thought he was crazy but there might have been some truth in his words. But even if we wanted to, there is no way to return to that way of life. So what's left? McDonald's. Because in reality, the average person would rather go through a drive thru window then take the time to get a gun license, buy a gun, get a hunting license, and then attempt to hunt.

Omnivore's Dilemma Ch. 12

This chapter, titled Slaughter, was one I found to be very interesting. Pollen is describing his experience with a farmer named Joel who raises, slaughters, and sells his own chickens. Joel is very opinionated about his process versus the "government approved" way of doing things. He talks a lot about how the USDA has always been trying to shut down his operation.

Joel makes good points about how we don't even really know where our food comes from when we buy and eat it. At his farm, his customers are welcome to come and watch every step of how their food, in this case chicken, is being prepared for their purchase. He talks about how different things would be if the slaughter houses approved by the government had no walls or had glass windows, because we really don't know what goes on behind those closed doors. And even though the process gets somewhat graphic, I agree that we should be about to see what we're purchasing. Though I wonder how many people would take the time to actually do so.