HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 1 Discussion
Discuss the role of language in cultural and ethnic diversity. Identify terms and/or phrases that were “acceptable” when you were younger, but are now considered insensitive or offensive. Are these changes for the better?
In addition to your main response, you must also post substantive responses to at least two of your classmates’ posts in this thread. Your responses should include elements such as follow-up questions, a further exploration of topics from the initial post, or requests for further clarification or explanation on some points made by the classmates.
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 2 Discussion
Listen to or read the following letter to the editor:
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending someone or their culture. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to America. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand. This idea of America being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Americans, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language, and our own lifestyle. This culture has developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. If you wish to become part of our society, learn the language! “In God we trust” is our national motto. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, based on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is entirely appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don’t care how you did things where you came from. This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our First Amendment gives every citizen the right to express opinions, and we will allow you every opportunity to do so. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our pledge, our national motto, or our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of one other great American freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE. God Bless America.
Discussion Prompt:
Who is intended to be included in the “We” of the last paragraph of the letter?
Is our society more accepting of some immigrant groups versus others?
After writing your initial post, reply to at least two of your classmates.
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 3 Discussion
Choose one of the following incidents involving religious freedom.
A Jainist student attending public high school has requested that the cafeteria staff clearly list the contents of each dish so that he can be certain he does not eat any animal products.
Native American members of a church want to be allowed to ingest peyote because this drug has historically been part of their religious rituals.
Following his baptism, a Sikh student wants to wear his required symbolic knife (kirpan) to school.
An employee who is a Seventh-Day Adventist wants to be excused from work every Saturday because it is their Sabbath.
Discussion Prompt:
Describe how each of the different perspectives on diversity (Anglo-conformism, melting pot, separatism, and pluralism) would assess the situation.
Are the individual’s rights to behave in accordance with their faith in danger of being violated?
How do you think the incident should be resolved?
Remember to respond to two of your classmates’ initial posts with your own opinions and ideas.
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 4 Discussion
View this TED talk on racism, politics, and solutions and then post your answers to the questions below:
Discussion Prompt 1:
Do you think racism is predictable?
Which factor mentioned do you think plays a larger part in the prevalence of racist attitudes: education level or geography/neighborhood?
Discussion Prompt 2:
What do you think of the solutions to the problem of racism that were proposed in this talk?
How do these solutions address or fail to address the types of racism we learned about this week?
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 5 Discussion
View the following video, and then post your answers to the questions below.
Discussion Prompt
Who do you think the poor are in the United States?
How do you define welfare?
Remember to respond to two of your classmates’ initial posts with your own opinions and ideas.
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 6 Discussion
View this TED Talk on violence against women and then post your answers to the questions below.
Discussion Prompt 1
What is your understanding of the “bystander” approach?
Discussion Prompt 2
Explain an incident you have witnessed or participated in that demonstrates the “bystander” approach mentioned in this video.
Remember to respond to two of your classmates’ initial posts with your own opinions and ideas.
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 7 Discussion
View the TED Talk, “What the Future Looks Like” and then answer the questions below:
How did you respond to Gabriella Huggins’s film?
Which, if any, images or narration spoke to you personally?
Remember to respond to two of your classmates’ initial posts with your own opinions and ideas.
HUM370 Cultural Pluralism
Week 8 Discussion
Let’s discuss disabilities as being sorted into three groups: physical, emotional, and physiological.
In your discussion post, choose one of these groups and profile a person (real or imagined) who has a disability from that group.
Describe the disability. To which group(s) does it belong? What are its effects on the person you are profiling?
Explain some of the challenges that this person has to overcome to function in everyday society.
Remember to respond to two of your classmates’ initial posts with your own opinions and ideas.
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