Ok, so today I'm sitting in my History of Modern Japan class. Me and a couple of my classmates were discussing the horribleness of having to buy textbooks. How expensive they are, and of course every year I end up buying double because they never come in when I need them.. So, anyway we got around to talking about buying books back and keeping some. I happened to have Cornel West's book with me, and I held it up and said that I would be keeping it, because even if I never read it again it looks good on the shelf. Then, the gentlemen next to me (he's a bit older, one of those students who has come back to get a degree) looks at the book and in all seriousness says, "I'd be disgusted if I had to read that book." Really??? We're in college!!!! We're supposed to be expanding our horizons and learning new perspectives and picking up books you've probably never heard of before. I couldn't believe it. Still can't believe. I mean come on.
And then of course, in my womens history course, we were discussing Caster Semenya. She is a South African woman who just won a gold medal in the 800 meter run. The officials for the competition are contesting her gender, they think she's a man who's been dressing like a woman just because she happened to be absolutely awesome. The officials have called in all sorts of scientists to test her on genetic levels to find out if she is actually a woman. Really?? Is this necessary? She's an exceptionally gifted athlete and they are trying to take that away from her by saying that she's a man. As horrible as it is, I can't help wondering if she were white, would they do this? (The video of her race will be up here soon..)
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Wow!! Absolutely. It is a real shame that some people, like the older gentleman in your class, are unable to see higher education as a life-long valuable investment. It's more than getting passing grades. It's more than getting the diploma. It's more than a means to a full-time job with benefits. It is so much more.
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