By, Sparrow

Announcements Quiz (or not…) Meditation (Guided Sanctuary) Discussion! SCHEDULE

Core Curriculum Goal is “To better prepare students for a changing world by making sure they graduate with the flexible skills they need” [2A] to be leaders in our communities,”* and better able to deal with [2C] a state and country that are more culturally diverse;* Multicultural Perspectives and Diversity [2A2] ETHICS [2A2] The second goal of the required leadership/ethics flag courses -- learn to make real-life ethical choices -- is closely related to the core purpose of the University of Texas, to transform lives for the benefit of society. It is also one of the basic education requirements of U.T.: “have experience in thinking about moral and ethical problems.” Our ethics goals are [2A2f] To practice replacing fear and greed with love, compassion, tolerance, and the sympathetic imagination. [2A2g] To practice tolerance for diversity for personality types and races/ethnic groups (African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian-Americans our prime examples), thereby advancing the goals of the Multicultural Perspectives and Diversity required flag courses [2C]. OBJECTIVES

KOALA -Elementary school: correlation between happiness and acceptance -Motivated by mom’s accolades / peer approval -Irritated by parents who do nothing to stop their child’s suffering -Wouldn’t want approval of closed-minded family members VULTURE -“I GET SO MAD ABOUT HOMOSEXUAL DISCRIMINATION” -Thinks sexual orientation is an integral part of who a person is -High school was unaccepting of homosexuality – students would use terms such as “fag” and “gay” inappropriately -Sexual orientation is not a choice. -Religious teacher responded well to brave, unexpected presentation on homosexuality LAMB -Knows what it feels like to be shut out of social situations – overweight in 5 th grade -Almost cried over Luckett’s essay, and could sympathize -Tries not to hold onto past mistakes -“College means growing up, and I plan on moving forward.” BLOG SUMMARIES

PANDA -“Going through the physical, metaphysical, and back has left me with one conclusion: God is absolute love.” -Raised in a society hateful of those who were different in one way or another -Questioned his beliefs/faith/perspectives -Questioned himself: who am I? -“We are merely reflections of the same image being perceived differently.” -Faith in God – inner knowing -Truly believes that life is a blessing BUTTERFLY -Believes in loving everyone until they give you a reason not to -Cannot put her hatred of homophobia into words -Tight-knit family; favorite aunt is gay -Johnny hid his true self from the world because of his mother’s influence -Member of a progressive Catholic Church -Homophobia has no solid foundation -Told friends in high school not to use “fag” or “gay” if they wanted to continue to be friends with her

MONKEY -Upset by stories -Angered by unfairness of family life depicted in essays (had a friend with a similar story) -Hates that being gay is viewed as evil -While it may be reasonable for parents to have a reaction to the obstacles their gay child may have to overcome, language such as “faggot” is inexcusable FIREFLY -Struck by Luckett’s foster parents’ “inability to be parents” -Most upset by the fact that his foster parents didn’t protect him from the assault he was subjected to -Most invested in Lee’s essay – reminded her how unaccepting people can be -High school friend transitioned from being accepting to judgmental -Can relate to Ng’s desire to fit in DOLPHIN -Indescribably angered by tonight’s readings -Wants to enter field of Psychology to be “an ear to someone who has been silenced” -Amazed by strength of those who have gone through adversity and made it through -Never known anyone who has been raped, rejected by parents for sexual orientation, or abused -Concerned that as a Psychologist, she may not have the best advice since she hasn’t experienced these atrocities first-hand (or witnessed them)

GREAT BLUE HERON -Angered by these stories because they were written about real events -Does not understand how/why Luckett’s foster parents didn’t stop the molestation -Touched most by Lee’s story, on a personal level -Shares the same fear about coming out to parents as Lee -Fears that family won’t love ALL of him FALCON -Increased emotional connection to stories due to the fact that they were real/raw -Posed questions to herself, putting herself in the shoes of the writers -“In general, more traditional Asian cultures discourage individuality and uniqueness n favor of conformity” -Has not shared the experiences of the writers, but shared in their pain as she read their stories. CHEETAH -Noticed that stories were largely focused on family dynamics -James was the first person Anthony considered as a part of his family -It is critical for everyone to feel connected to someone else -Johnny had no one to connect with until Jonathan came around

WOLF -“Sometimes, our parents just don’t get it.” -Has grown up with supporting, accepting, open-minded parents -Dad’s mother was the opposite of her own parents. Nonetheless, her father was incredibly successful -Her father, unlike Luckett, “overcame his fear and one son later, joined forever with who would be the most intimate person in his life.” -Friend from high school opened up to her about his sexual orientation. She, along with 22 of their friends, accepted him without hesitation. RACCOON -Saddened by readings -Believes parents should unconditionally love and support their children -Has two gay older stepbrothers. Their father wasn’t initially accepting, but “loves his sons enough to accept what he cannot change” -Understands a parent’s disappointment when a child comes out, but believes that their love should remain constant -Family should be the one thing that never fails

SPIDER -Has friends/family members who are LGBT in Austin, but not in Amarillo -Reacts naturally when people tell her things about their sexuality -Homophobia is widely accepted in Amarillo -Hates the fact that students from her high school committed suicide because their parents wouldn’t accept them -Hates that she didn’t say anything when her classmates made inappropriate comments about gay people DEER -Met two “fucking badasses” who happen to be gay, while in Carlsbad -Friend told her about how coming out is a process -Two friends had a debate about religion. One claimed that “you have to separate your faith, religious beliefs and sexual orientation” -Angered by jokes about gay people ELEPHANT -Questioning what it means to have a family -His family is a group of people who will unconditionally be there for him -Should we be obligated to help family members just because of shared blood? -His immediate family has always been a cohesive unit -Doesn’t understand why a person’s sexual orientation plays a big role in people’s opinions of others

ANGER SADNESS ACCEPTANCE (OR LACK THEREOF) OUTSIDER VS. INSIDER COMPLACENCY LOVE (CONDITIONAL?) PROTECTION (OR LACK THEREOF) COMMON THEMES

1.What do you think angers you so much about homosexual discrimination? Why does it seem to bring out more rage than discrimination against people of a certain skin color or religious affiliation? 2.Do you think it is okay to sympathize with the “bad guys” – the parents/peers/friends who make derogatory comments? 3.Do you think it is possible for a discriminatory person to make the leap and become an accepting person? If so, what could perpetuate this change? DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

4. What role does culture play in discrimination/lack of acceptance? 5. How do you feel about familial obligations? Should the fact that we share blood with our family members translate into an obligation to help them at all costs? 6. How far would you go to save a family member in need? Would it matter how closely related they are to you? 7. What are some of the most memorable instances of discrimination you have witnessed? What do you think the true cause was? MORE DISCUSSION QUESTIONS!