May 15th CLASS ON THE STUPID MOUNTAINSSSS

 Studying at Starbucks with some cool people trying to proliferate our religion called Paterson Children.haha

Discussions

1. Why are the US and UK stereotype towards hoodies in Japan as well?
2. What age would be appropriate to divide the line between adults and children?
3. Reactions toward the US's intervention during the Vietnam War?

1. I still wonder why Rab's children were banned from wearing their hoodies in Japan. I understand how in the UK and US, people wearing hoodies are often accused of being drug dealers or in some kind of shady position to want to hide their faces. However, in Japan, I may not just have the information but there is not much of a cautiousness towards people wearing hoodies as much as there is for people who have tattoos because of the history of Japanese Mafias. Although we did discuss how when people are arrested, they wear hoodies to cover their faces in front of the camera. I guess in a way, the hoodies are figures of saying 'I have something to hide' when that isn't certain for everybody that wear hoodies.

2. This one was a controversial question. During the discussion, I thought that it would be clever to set just one age to divide the adults and children. It is definitely ludicrous and meaningless to think that some people are allowed to buy drinks but aren't allowed to drink until a certain age. The age most of us agreed on was 18 since it was the age most people graduate from high school. After class, I thought about the situation once more and thought back on the drinking laws in some countries. Some countries divide the age of people who can drink depending on what kind of alcohol it is. *1 For example, in Germany, people who are over 16 are allowed to drink beer and wine but in order to drink spirits, you need to be 18 or older. I personally think this is a very clever way to deal with the legal drinking age in one country. Some alcohols are too strong for people at a certain age so they selectively divide them in to categories. After putting some thoughts into this idea, I thought maybe it could apply to other issues as well; the age of consent, the driving age and the voting age. Maybe, dividing each issue with different ages is a clever idea. However, it all goes wrong when something contradictory happens like being able to have sex at 16 but not being able to watch those r-rated videos until you are 18.

*1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_drinking_age

3. I guess it's always been that way with America. America is such a capitalist country; however the problem is that the capitalism doesn't stop within the country but they also bring it outside. They omit any countries that are poor and strive to be number one. However, it isn't only America. The UK as well, completely destroyed the future of Palestine but act as if they have absolutely nothing to do with the current bombings that are taking place. Japan as well, killed so many Chinese people throughout history but still fail to apologize. The capitalistic countries are forcing their way of life that is capitalism onto other countries.

I can't wait to watch the video that Rab is making for us!