Thesis

Although rap music can have negative lyrics in it, it is not the downfall of society and can have a positive influence or message on some people.

Napoleon Dynamite

Self vs. Role

Napoleon plays the geek at school that is trying to fit in. He says really stupid things, and he thinks what he says will make others think he is cool. He talks about his girlfriend back in Oklahoma and he also makes a comment about numb chucks in his locker. He is buying into cultural expectations because in Napoleon's mind all the things he lies about is what he thinks is cool. He thinks it is cool because other people do them.(but other people do not do as weird things as Napoleon says) He resist this role because he is trying to overcome being a nerd.
Pedro is the most self-actualized because he never says anything that makes you think he is unhappy with himself. I never felt that Pedro wanted to be or like someone else.

Social Artifact

Rap music can be considered a social artifact. Many people believe rap music influences young kids in a negative way. They believe rap music promotes drugs, drinking, and sex. Although, some songs may encouraged it more than another song I truly believe rap music is not to blame. I think it is how a kid is raised, and what they are taught is right and wrong is what is to blame. I am sure rap music can have an influence on young kids, but I do not believe that if rap music did not exist the world would be a better a place. Some positive ideas can be expressed through the music, and can inspire some young kids. I listen to all different kinds of music including some rap music, and I think I turned out okay. I think there might be a certain age a young kid should be able to listen to some songs, but they can not be sheltered their whole life. One day they will have to grow up, and be exposed to the real world. If rap music did not exist a culture would not be able to share some of their views with the entire world.

Thesis

CLAIM
Cultural blindness is always going to be a struggle for society because even though we do not want to believe it everyone judges and has stereo-types.

REASON
People in society learn from their own culture and parents. How they grew up in learning about certain issues is how they will judge different beliefs and people.

QUALIFYING STATEMENT
No matter what people have believed in the past they can always change their future. They can learn to grow, and except new experiences and different people. As long as they have the will to change.

Cultural Blindness

I have been a lifeguard for four years, and have worked at the pool in my town's rec center. Usually it is a fairly easy job until you have to deal with people complaining, or if people do not get what they want. I was working one night with four other guards. There was a birthday party there with about ten girls, and they were probably ten to twelve years old. One of the lifeguards told one of the girls she could not get in the water unless she had a swimsuit on because she only had on a shirt and shorts which is one of our policy. A patron has to have on a swimsuit, and if they want to wear a shirt or shorts they have to have a swimsuit on underneath. Later the girls mother, who was also in charge of all the girls came up to me and complained. I told her those were the rules, and we had to be fair to everyone and I could not make an exception. The lady was pretty upset, but finally we found an extra swimsuit for the girl and she was able to swim. Later, while I was on break one of the girls in the birthday party was not following the rules, and another lifeguard blew her whistle and told the girl to come towards her. The lifeguard told the girl she had repeatedly not listened to the lifeguard about breaking the rules, so she told her she had to sit out for five minutes. The girl started crying, and then all of the other girls starting crying too. They were being extremely rude, and then the mother came running over. She started screaming at the lifeguard saying they were just little kids, and accused all of the guards of being racists against Brazilians. Her claim was just ridiculous because that was clearly not the problem.
The kids were not following the rules, so they were getting punished just like anyone else would. They lady felt we were picking on the kids since they were Brazilian, but that was not true because no matter anyones race we would have had the same policy with anyone. They lady assumed that just because we were an all white staff we must be racists. That was clearly not the case.