Sociological Ideas on Race, Ethnicity, and Terrorism

    The structural-functionalist perspective believes that racial and ethnic inequality is dysfunctional for society. Inequality aggravates social problems such as crime and violence, war, unemkployment, poverty, health problems, family problems, urban decay and drug use. Inequality also makes it hard to utilize the resources of minorities. Not only minorities are affected, but whites as well.  Conflict perspective examines how competition leads to racial and ethnic tensions. Some racism is a response to perceived or actural threats to economic well-being or cultural dominanceSymbolic interactionists focus on how conceptions, meanings, labels, and definitions affect racial and ethnic groups. The persepective is concerned how people learn negative stereotypes and prejudiced attitudes through language
     According to the structural functionalist perspective, war offers societal benefits such as social cohesion. War brings people together creating a sense of unity and pride in ones nation. Economic cohesion is another benefit. War is very profitable for some people. By having so many people in another country fighting a war, jobs become available to people who didn't have the opportunity before the war started. Scientific and technological developments are made during wartime, for example during the cold war many useful things were discovered and created that we still use today. Social changes also occur. Conflict theorists say that wars often occur because of economic reasons because some people benefit from war. For example gains of oil, land, water resources, and raw materials are all ways that governments profit from war.  Symbolic interactionists believe that the developments of attitudes and behaviors that support war begins in childhood.  It als o helps to explain how military recruits develop a mindset for war by defining war as acceptable and necessary

To Be or Not to Be....AFRAID!

The causes of War

http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills/WPP.CHAP16.HTM 

This is a link to a website that lists some causes of war and how they are aggravated.

This website talks about nationalism, what it is, how it develops, and the history of nationalism.

http://education.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/entry/natlism

Terror, Terrorism, Terrorists... this is a link to an article that explains the sociological theory of terrorism

http://www.terrorism-research.com/

Donkey Conflict Resolution

What is Terrorism? this is a link to a website that explains everything you could ever want to know about terrorism. http://www.terrorism-research.com/

Terrorism-Keith Bell

Terrorist threats predicated by ideology
Of a sick mind who worships idolatry
Cowards disguised as martyrs
Who destroy and slaughter
Innocent people
Who worship under steeples

Terrorism is not a war
It’s fear from those we abhor
Religious epithets and ethnic slurs
Produce a monster like swine before pearls
Innocent children
Hearts not yet hardened

Terrorism will not be defeated
Until nations unite against those conceited
Misguided souls propelled by delusion
That life is but an illusion
Governments cannot win this war
But each person must face this chore

Terrorism is part of our history
Since Abraham, it’s not a mystery
Inhumanity and humanity co-exist
Between the precipice and the abyss
For we reside between heaven and hell
Where will you be when He rings the bell?

     I decided to blog about terrorism because I thought it tied in well with my blog about race, ethnicity, and immigration. I think that racism is a form of terrorism. I also believe that terrorism and racism are both two completely unessesary evils that could be completely avoided if people were more accepting of diversity. Many wars are fought on the basis of race, religion or ethnicity,a nd everytime there is a war many people are harmed, even people who are not directly involved in any way.

     I chose the mushroom cloud picture as my first picture because like war and racism, a mushroom cloud is hard to ignore. My second picture of the world with all of the labels is a map of some of the different wars that are going on or have happened in the world. My next picture of the donkey conflict resolution symbolizes that if people would stop fighting over things, then everyone would have more. My last picture is a picture made of words of a man with a gun and I feel that is sums up terrorism completely by saying at the end of the day only tears remain. The websites I chose talk about the causes of war and about nationalism. I thought these sights were good information for readers and they help to provide background information. The journal article I chose explains the sociological theory of terrorism which fits in perfectly with this blog. I chose the poem becasue  the part that says: "Terrorism will not be defeated Until nations unite against those conceited Misguided souls propelled by delusion That life is but an illusion Governments cannot win this war But each person must face this chore" was really powerful to me. It says we can't rely on our government to end terrorism and war, but we must take a stance against war ourselves in our everyday lives we can fight terrorism.

Born This Way by Lady Gaga

It doesn't matter if you love him or capital H-I-M
Just put your paws up
'Cause you were born this way, baby

My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir

There's nothin' wrong with lovin' who you are
She said, 'cause He made you perfect, babe
So hold your head up, girl and you you'll go far
Listen to me when I say

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way

Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be a drag, just be a queen
Don't be

Give yourself prudence and love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice of truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M
I love my life, I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah

I'm beautiful in my way,
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way

Don't be drag, just be a queen
Whether you're broke or evergreen
You're black, white, beige, chola descent
You're Lebanese, you're orient

Whether life's disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
'Cause baby, you were born this way

No matter gay, straight or bi
Lesbian, transgendered life
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to survive

No matter black, white or beige
Chola or orient made
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave

I'm beautiful in my way
'Cause God makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret,
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track, baby
I was born this way, yeah

Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
Baby, I was born this way
Ooh, there ain't no other way, baby, I was born this way
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way
I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey

I was born this way, hey
I was born this way, hey
I'm on the right track, baby, I was born this way, hey

"...new immigrants and minorities are an important life blood, and in a way they are a gift..."

This is a link the the website that has useful information on how to become a United States citizen

http://www.visaus.com/citizen.html



Social construction and the Concept of Race http://www.pitt.edu/~machery/papers/The%20concept%20of%20race_machery_Faucher_%202005.pdf This is a link to a scholarly paper that examines race as a social construct



Immigration,
it's what built this nation,
the audacity,
to crush hopes now,
without hesitation.

Build a wall?
Build a way,
feed some child so they don't go hungry today,
buy a book to help educate,
embrace our diversity,
in the end we are the same,
we will hear the chorus sang.

The American dream,
land of the free,
tearing up families,
leaves questions,
with disbelief.

https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/us.html

This is a link the the CIA website that provieds informationi on populations, migrations, ethnicities, religion, etc for America and other countries around the world

     I decided to blog about race, ethnicity, and immigration because everyday I hear negative jokes or words spoken about another race or religion and quite frankly I think it is stupid. Race is a social construct, and science has proven that there are more biological differences between members of the same race than there are differences between members of different races, so what is the point?

     I chose the song by Lady Gaga because I think it is probably the most inspiring piece of music that is on the radio right now and it is a perfect example of how I feel about diversity, it should be embraced not shunned. I chose the paper called social construction and the concept of race because it describes how race is not biological and I think it is important for people to realize how similar they really are. The video I chose is explaining the 2010 concesus and how the white popultion is aging and not really growing but how minority populations are growing. The video also explains how the different ethnic groups are migrating around the U.S. I chose the CIA website because I think it is interesting to know all of the different populations of ethnic groups and where they live not only in the United States but in other countries as well. I also chose the government website that explains how to become an American Citizen because it was also interesting to me that people trying to become citizens must know our history but most native Americans don't know our history.  Finally, I chose the poem on immigration becaue the first line- "Immigration its what built this nation, the audacity to crush hopes now, build a wall." really caught my attention. I feel that as a nation of people who were misfits in their homelands we have no right to deny the same freedoms we take for granted now to other people.

About Me

My name is Krista. I am a third year student at the University of Idaho where I major in Sociology and Anthropology. I decided to major in sociology because I felt like it helped to round out my anthropology degree and make it into a whole picture rather than simply a half. I enjoy learning about people, specifically cultures. More specifically I am most interested in the ancient cultures of Europe. I am happily married and have a beautiful little girl and a crazy cat.

I believe that by learning sociological theories and ideas a person can learn alot about themselves. I also feel that understanding sociology makes it easier to erase boundaries and embrace diversity in everyday life.