Greg Albin: Crossing the Color Line

I found this article by Dace and McPhail to be the most interesting article I have read so far this semester. They opened up a topic that seldom is discussed or heard; one about which I definitely knew little. I agree completely with how the push from empathy to implicature is an important one. As a white person, the idea or practice of empathy towards a black person seems to have been ingrained in me since being a youth. This is not necessarily a bad thing. But, as the authors recalled from McCall's "Makes Me Wanna Holler", this has "crippled and limited their humanity". I had never thought of this idea, and how it seemed so true. I believe that, as a white person, the move toward empathy with actions along with feelings, or implicature, can definitely change the problem of racism in the 21st century.

1.) What do you think of the move toward implicature?
2.) Do you believe that it is altogether possible to reframe society from merely empathy to implicature?

Ch 36: Crossing the color line - Tom Cameron

This is a very important topic in today's society, but unfortunately, growing up in rural northeast Nebraska offered me little experience in the area of interracial communications and empathetical understanding of the various differences it presents. So in my experience growing up, there really wasn't a "color line" to cross because there was only one color. College has changed this somewhat, as I have met several people of different racial backgrounds than myself and formed some friendships, but none of them are really that close. With that said, I found the article very interesting. And it got me thinking about how friendships even form in the first place. What is it that we seek in a person that makes them more likely to be a friend? Usually people who share a common interest are on top of the list, as they are the easiest to relate to. Dace notices on page 346 that she had three categories for diffent types of friendships. One being a situation where talking about race was a taboo, one where it was completely open, and another where there was a feeling of guilt from her friends. I'm not sure what factors affect these different relationships. All I can say is that everybody sees the world a little bit differently, and that it is easier for some to empathize than others. The factors that affect this are numerous and difficult to quantify. Questions: 1) What are the barriers between white people and black people that make it difficult to empathize with one another? 2) What does the phrase "color line" mean to you? 3) How much do individual experiences and circumstances affect a person's ability to empathize?

Crossing the Color Line-Katrina

This week’s reading started with a discussion of the definition of empathy. I really enjoyed hearing how different scholars have come to define the word. It’s interesting to see how the idea of empathy has evolved over time to where it is now. While the reading didn’t explicitly address it, the different between sympathy and empathy becomes every so clear in that empathy involves “feeling with” rather than “feeling for.”

Dace’s concludes her writing stating “empathy may just be the key.” Personally I feel that this is critical to any relationship. Keeping this in mind, empathy play a part in explaining why we (people) tend to gravitate towards people they share commonalities with or who we consider similar to us. It is not essential to have experienced the same situation as someone to be empathic towards them. Empathy can be achieved by reflecting on a situation that involved similar emotions. However, empathize comes far more naturally when you have experienced firsthand what someone else is going through. For the same reason, empathize with someone who has drastically different life experience than you own could be challenging. Knowing empathy is a crucial component of developing relationship, I would make an argument that we are attracted to those similar to us because it is easier to empathize with them; the relationship progresses faster and with greater ease.

I’m always surprised when people give so much attention to the diversity of their contacts (in turns of race and ethnicity). I can honestly say race has never been a point meriting specific recognition. This is not to say I’m not interested who they are and where they’ve come from but rather I’ve never define someone as their race. I focus on describing them by their personality, character, and interests. It’s hard for me to grasp why skin color merits so much attention from both the majority and minorities. I know when you are in the minority you are more sensitive to the majority. Trying to emphasize, I tried to come up with a situation(s) in which I was in the minority and made conscious mental notes about it. Two examples came to mind (1) classes that were male dominated and (2) situations in which I was the non-native speaker. Thinking back to these help me relate and understand the notion of viewing from aspects far more superficial than character and personality. In both those situations, nothing was really changed about the potential to form relationship but I’m sure in some aspects it had an impact on how I communicated.

(1) When do you find it easiest to empathize? And most difficult?

(2) How can we further develop our ability to empathize with others?

Crossing the Color line

This essay brings up some food for thought. Coming from where i come from, I've grown up in a neighborhood that is predominantly African American populated. I grew up having more Black friends than white friends mostly because where I lived. Coming from my perspective, nothing in this essay relates to me but everybody has different experiences and a different up bringing. I grew up respecting the people in my neighborhood and our neighbors, which have lived by us for 15+ years now, had 2 grandson's that were a little younger than me and these guys have become my good friends. They are Black and we've grown up from little kids to young men. Not once, has race ever been issue or a problem. Its not even worth talking about between us all. What happened in the past happened in the past. We didn't live through the days of Dr. King or Malcolm X. The difference we have is the color of our skin. We are still human beings. We all have a brain and a heart and the same organs, nothings different. So why judge by skin color when we didn't live through those days of history? I consider me and my friends blessed that we had each other growing up so that we didn't have problems later in our life dealing with racial issues.

The quote by Nathan McCall makes me laugh when he says that," Its sad, this gulf between blacks and whites. We're so afraid of each other." Afraid? Ive never been afraid my Black friends just like they aren't afraid of me as a White person. I think if people stepped out of the box and realize that respecting each other goes a long way to breaking a color line. So what if somebody is a different color or different ethnicity than you? Its skin color, if you take away skin there isn't anything different inside. Its like what the ol' saying goes" Dont judge a book by its cover."

1. Do different up bringings affect a person's outlook on issues? Such as race?
2. When will people realize that the color of a person's skin doesn't matter?

Crossing the Color Line

Growing up in a small rural farming community, I was never really exposed to the African-American culture until my later years of high school. The lone black guy in my high school was raised in a white household so he acted like the rest of us. So I never really had to worry about crossing the color barrier until I got down to Lincoln for college. I was never too worried about making friends with a black person, as I really don’t think that they are all that different from me. But as I visit with people around campus at times, I have found that not everyone is appreciative of the black community. The first part of this article talks about how we, the white people, need to show empathy to the black community so that we could eventually cross that color barrier. I don’t really think that it is just that easy though, because the black people are still being discriminated upon and so there is no way that I could relate to that. I think that the best way to eventually get to a point where there is no color barrier is to just to become color blind. I think then if you can become good friends with a person of a different race then they would be willing to talk to you about your cultural differences. I just don’t think that when visiting with someone that you don’t know, that they would be open to their view about the color barrier.

Even though slavery ended almost 150 years ago, why are we still not to a point where whites and blacks can be seen by something other than color?

Will we ever get to a point where people are able to view other races without being judgmental?

Crossing the Color Line - Dylan Goodell

    I liked this article because it shows both races assumptions about one another and proves the bad assumptions wrong.  One of the parts that I found most interesting was when McCall says "The notion that one of them cared, really cared, about what I thought moved me.  Danny was the first white person I met whome I actually saw trying to understand."  I found this very interesting because I thought it was kind of weird that this is the first person he met that actually cared.  I almost find it kind of hard to believe that there has been no one else that he has met that has cared and has tried to understand.  I think this kind of shows both sides of stereotypes and assumptions.  Like in our previous article whites have the stereotype of blacks being angry and to have random outbursts of anger.  I believe that this article shows the stereotype that blacks have on whites through the statement listed above.  Because McCall said this was the first white person that he had met, leads me to believe that he wasn't close enough to any white person before Danny to actually talk to them about this topic.  Sure it might have actually been the first but I believe that because McCall kind of pushed himself away from getting close to white people. 
    I believe this article shows that we should put ourselves out there and ask those random and hard to ask questions to our friends of different races.  Sure it's probably going to be hard to just bring it up out of the blue but if we ask these kind of questions we can learn a lot more about each other and understand each other better.  In the end it should make everyone understand each other better and strengthen our relationships with future friends.

1. Do you believe that it might have been partially McCall's fault that Danny was the first person that he met that actually cared?

2. After reading this article will you ask these kind of curious questions to your friends of a different race? or do you think it would hurt your friendship?

Crossing The Color Line - Nico Bohm

The thing that stuck out the most to me in Crossing the Color Line was how much the authors talked about empathy. The first definition was “the inner world of private personal meanings as if it were your own, but without ever losing the as if quality”. To me this means, we need to respect each other’s differences. We are all from different parts of this country (and world) and no two people are exactly the same. We need to be empathetic towards each other. Another definition of empathy that jumped out to me was, “a qualitative, developmental process in which individuals not only come to share and understand another’s feelings but also consider the reasons and context that inform the other’s feeling”. This makes a bit more sense to me. I really think the most important part is being able to understand each other’s feelings and hence, setting boundaries to make sure everyone stays happy.

One final part of this essay that caught my attention was when the author said Blacks and Whites are afraid of each other. I mean, there are differences between the two groups, but I wouldn’t call it a fear. Some people who give into stereotypes may fear crossing a black man in a dark alley, but I think that is more fear of a stereotype than fear of an entire race. I could pass a black man in an alley and be cautious, but in turn pass one in the middle of the day downtown and not even notice him. I would be interested to hear this from a black point of view.

1. Do you think blacks fear whites or vice versa?

2. What does empathy mean to you?

3. What advances have we made in erasing the color line and how much is left?

Crossing the Color Line - Brian Elsasser

This chapter seemed to have a large focus on empathy. A more appropriate title may have been Empathy Race Line Breaker, Race Line Maker, but that is a little long. It is discussed how empathy is important for understanding racism but then it goes on to say that empathy without trying to understand it leads to more racism. Understanding the other parties side is important for any conflict if you completely ignore the other side no one is going to win. But if you understand the others side and do not make an attempt to honor it or see where they are coming from you are standing in place.

I found it entertaining when the author mentioned the 3 types of personalities. One been the type that understands and can talk about anything with anyone including race issues. Two being the "guilty liberal" (my favorite) those whites that try so hard to relate with blacks that they feel more pity for their oppression than understanding their culture. And finally those who can be friends and talk with blacks about most anything other than the race issue. I am not positive that there are only the 3 types of personality but it is an entertaining thought.

One thing that I am glad was brought up in this chapter was when he mentions a white friend of his saying that he should give more white people a chance and that he may be pleasantly surprised, meaning that not every white person is racist. I have run into experiences with a few black friends who every time they meet a white person they automatically assume he is a racist, I have always found this interesting as it parallels the some whites attitudes about the black stereotype. In that making those first assumptions you are automatically seeing that person in a worst light and then that person has little chance to win you over.

The last thing I want to mention is at one point it is brought up by the black author that he is often angry and that that anger stems from he racism he deals with everyday. "The black male as inherently angry" is a stereotype that we discussed in previous chapters and I do not believe this proves the stereotype. It is not an excuse but it does bring to light that black men sometimes struggle with a constant shadow of prejudice hanging over them.

Crossing the Color Line

Racism is one of the most talked about topics in our society today, everywhere you go you see different people from different ethnic backgrounds. But the way people view race and ethnicity in today's culture is much different than how they may have viewed it 20 or 30 years ago. In my opinion one of the biggest reasons for this is due to our pop culture in today's society. African Americans have helped shape what we know as pop culture in today's society and they have taken it places it might not have gone if the color lines were never crossed. Growing up as a white male in the 21st century I never really knew a whole lot about the "color line", we talked about it a little in high school but I never really had a deep look into it. The way in which our culture and society is run today, most people don't stop and think about how a color line might affect things today. Growing up in a mostly white school, I didn't really get the whole experience other kids may have got coming from more of a minority school. When I think of the "color line" I think back to high school when we learned about African Americans only being allowed to do certain things and use certain things in society, obviously you see none of that in today's society and you will never see any of it in the future.
While I didn't really get to experience much as far as different backgrounds and cultures as a child, I did get a few chances to go on trips with my church were we helped kids and families who were living in the inner cities. It was a real eye opening experience every time we went because we got to experience how they lived their life and how it was so much different from ours. The children we came into contact with acted just the same as I did and just about every other kid growing up, all they wanted to do was play and have fun. But the adults on the other hand knew they were living a tough life and it was hard for them to get by from day to day. just because they were from a different ethnic background or grew up less fortunate than someone else didnt mean they were not going to have the best life they possibly could.

Questions:
1. How has the color line helped shape the culture and society we live in today?
2. What would our culture look like today if there was even some sort of color line still around?

Crossing The Color Line - Tate

This article proved to be very interesting to me for a few reasons. One is that I am from the South, and two that I get to see everyone's opinions from a Midwest (or mostly midwest) perspective in class about the issues from this article. From my upbringing I always noticed that the color line was rarely crossed or even touched. If it was, it was usually where a white woman would date or marry a black male, or vice versa, and when the color line was crossed, you could sense it was strongly frowned upon. I personally tried to ignore this and be open to all kinds of friendships. One of my good friends was an African American male, and he would sometimes share his opinions on the color line and give me and my other white friends a little, but still not much, insight to how the African American community feels about that issue. Like how in the essay it talks about how Dace says that a lot of black people avoid white friendships, my friend told me that he believed this was very true. He believes that most do not want to actually seek out a white friend, it just happens. People in the South are definitely, as Dace says, still scared of the color line. My friend said he respected me and some of our other good white friends and our little pack of friends so much because we never treated him any different just because he was black. Alot of how he described that relates to Dace talking about how she respected Bill because helped the black community and team and asked for no recognition or "That's great because you are white" praise from anyone. He was just casually being normal and treating them as people, not races of people. My friend frome home even said he feels we still hold back sometimes because he can tell we think some things might offend him. At times he will say "I don't care what yall say man, yall are my friends. Who cares!" It was shocking sometimes growing up with him in our close knit group of friends. The part of empathy in this essay is very intriguing and thought provoking for me. Obviously the fact is that no one can "truly" know exactly how another feels at any given moment or about a certain issue. The essay talks about how one must not only try to know what another person is feeling, but should learn to "share" those emotions as well to be truly be empathetic. Another side to that mentioned was that you must always keep the "as if" aspect in your mind when trying to empathize with another. One line from the essay says, "...noting that although it is impossible to put oneself in another's place, it is possible to 'behave as if one understands the world as others do' '' From my experiences growing up in the south, I believe African Americans do not want white people to do so, because they say there is no way we could understand what they feel and why. I have heard that numerous times from black people growing up through the years at home. So while empathy is said to play a strong role in this essay to help cross the color line, I believe there are still some issues that might come up in doing so. 1. Lustig and Koester say "although it is impossible to put oneself in another's place, it its possible to 'behave as if one understands the world as others do' ". In doing so, could that make empathy a dangerous thing to use in trying to cross the color line in some way? 2. Can empathy ever "really" serve its purpose and accomplish the goal of undestanding what others actually feel, or is it a hopeful myth?

Herink - COLOR LINE

I grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood in North Omaha, as a result of this, most of my childhood friends were black. As a child I had little problem empathizing with my black friends, I had little problem feeling apart of them and forming deep friendships with them.

When I began junior high, my mother and father moved us to West Omaha and I started school in the Millard Public Schools system. There I had little interaction with black individuals. All of my friends were white, all of my teachers were white and now all of my neighbors were white. The article helped me to realize just how much my high school years had informed my perception of race and how approach relationships with individuals of another race. While I do not consider myself explicitly racist, I do think that I along with a majority of America demonstrate implicit racism. This article really discussed this concept of a lack of ability to empathize with individuals of another race and a disservice this does to white individuals. Being a member of the dominant culture it is my responsibility to attempt to approach individuals of other races and try and form friendships with them in similar ways I would do with a white individual.

1) Is it bad to be implicitly racist?

2) What can be done to help curb the tensions that exist?

Ch. 36 Crossing the Color Line, Tylor Robinson

The separation and segregation of whites and blacks is an interesting and touchy subject throughout history. I think that this history plays a big role in the communication between races today. In the reading the author says, “all of my friendships with people outside of African American culture are initiated by those people.” This is also true for most people I think, this could be caused by the history that is pounded into us throughout our childhood. She says in the reading, “that the education system in this country has failed white people more than it’s failed anybody else. It has crippled them and limited their humanity.” In some ways I think this could be true.

The book also says, ”But Danny didn’t seem to care. I conclude it must have been because he was secure in his mind that he wasn’t racist, and he had nothing to hide. He simply was curious. He didn’t know, so he did what any intelligent person should have done: He asked rather than assume. I respected that about him and found that, in spite of myself, there was something about this dude I really liked.”

This quote made me wonder if the real reason I don’t attempted to communicate with people of other races is not because they are different, but rather that I am afraid that I am inherently racist or will be labeled a racist. This brings up the point the author makes when she says, “I am often curious about whether I have refused – out of fear—to admit others who are often different to my circle of friends.”

Discussion Questions:

1)      Do you think the school system helps interracial relations or hurts them?

2)      How do you feel about letting people of different races into your circle of friends?

Crossing the Color Line Sarah Harvey

The article reiterates the point of empathy, and the author gives us a variation of definitions of the term. I agree with the article on how we should learn and accept differences in people. In my opinion I think it is incredibly false when people say that they don’t see color or ethnicity, because we all notice these differences in people lets be honest. I don’t think there is anything wrong with learning and experiencing the differences of the people that surround us. It is better to learn and accept instead of just ignore and forget about others. Communication is the largest issue that hold people back in this integral part of learning about other people, it seems there is a fear of the unknown, and so instead of trying to talk and learn, we mainly just pretend we don’t see what is really there.

This article just really pushes the envelope for pushing past our stereotypes and boundaries, in order to learn about others and in essence ourselves as well. It is clear that none of us are colorblind, and rather than pretend we are, lets put our differences to great use and further educate one another.

1. It is easy to say we need to see past the color line, but do you think you would randomly discuss this subject with someone of another race, without the context of this article?

2. Do you remember noticing the differences between people as a child, if so how old were you when you started to notice differences and similarities?

3. How does empathy play a role in everyday life for those who have not read this article?

Ch. 36 Crossing the Color Line

This article talks about how the Color Line is the main problem of the 20th century and about different ways to eliminate this line so it will no longer be a problem in the 21st century. It mainly focuses on empathy, or the ability to "feel with", another person. Being able to identify and relate to other people rather then pointing out differences is a large step to take in erasing this color line. I agree with one certain part a lot where it says empathy encourages individuals to respect and appreciate cultural differences instead of simply erasing or ignoring them, and encourages communication that is nonjudgmental and accepting of others. Another good point that is made is when it talks about implicature which is the notion that human beings are linguistically, materially, psychologically, and spiritually interrelated which I think is very true that everyone is involved with everyone somehow and we need to learn to get along and help each other rather then split up and not communicate with each other. I think that our generation is a lot more open to accepting people of different races and cultures then generations in the past and I do think it will only continue to get better and hopefully we can install a sort of rhetorical ideal of life that they talk about where it means taking implicature and not just acknowledging that it exists but working with it and knowing that no matter what everyone is interdependent and interrelated. If people can branch out and become more open I think everything would go better and this Color Line could possibly be erased for good.

Questions: 1) Would you feel comfortable asking personal questions to a person of another race knowing that you weren't racist and were just curious?

2) How long do you think it will take for the Color Line to be erased? Or do you think it is possible to be erased at all?

3) Why do you think the whole Color Line got started and why?

Sarah Milem - Crossing the Color Line

As I was reading this article the first thing I thought of was my best friend growing up.  We were two different races (she’s black and I’m white) and I was trying to remember if there was ever a time when I saw these two plain differences between us and I honestly cannot.  I simply saw her as my friend that I would ask to come out and play.  She was the friend I rode bikes with, sold lemonade with, and swam with every day in the pool.  But as I continued reading this article I wondered if there was something that I did not remember or that my friend may have thought of differently.  Did she ever think that I said or did something because she was black?  At that age was she aware that we had two major differences between us?  I had never thought about how my friend perceived or looked at our friendship, until this article.  Even today when I think back on my childhood friend I do not think about how she was black and I was white.  I think of her and the fun we had.  But I wonder with myself if I really did understand her and her thoughts and what she was feeling.  Forty years ago the friendship that we shared would not have been encouraged, rather my white mother probably would have kept us from playing together.  Does this mean we have come along ways?  Does this mean that no longer do people see one another’s color but just their character and who they are?  If this is true I first think that to understand a person and their beliefs we have to understand their history as an individual and an individual part of a larger group.   And to understand how that group had suffered and at who’s hands they have suffered.

1.       How do you think empathy plays a role in individual relationships?

2.       Do you think blacks and whites will be able to look at one another, see each other’s color, acknowledge it, and move on?

Periago Jessica – Crossing the Color Line – Chapter 36

The first part of the article focuses mainly on empathy. The author gives us a variety of definitions regarding this term. The one that I like the most is “empathy encourages individuals to respect and appreciate cultural differences instead of simply erasing or ignoring them, and encourages communication that is nonjudgmental and accepting of others.” The most important part of this quote is "encourages communication". I think people need to express what they think without having the fear of being judged by their audience. In return, the audience should not judge the person who is talking but instead try to understand the message that she is trying to convey. At this point, both sides can have a constructive conversation.

Race always has been a big issue, especially between people of different color. This is emphasized by the fact that on both sides it is taboo to talk about race and culture. I can’t imagine how frustrated this can be for the people who actually try to step out of their comfort zone and are willing to understand what is happening on the other side of the “Line”. I am glad that there is more and more people like Bill who try to do the right thing without thinking that they “deserve a medal” for what they are accomplishing. Karen brought up a good point when she said that she developed friendships where people “feel comfortable enough to ask uncomfortable questions.” I think this is the way people should approach this race and culture issue and also be more open-minded.

The message that comes out of this text is that people of both sides of “The Color Line” need to first show empathy to one another. Second, try to be implicate with one another, when people would reach that step then the relationship between people of color will be able to get better.

Questions:

1. When someone talks to you about his or her problems do you always show them your full attention, empathy and really try to help them feel better?

2. Would you admit and address your fear about people that are different from you to any of your friends?

3. Would you feel comfortable enough to ask uncomfortable question to someone from another color?

4. What are some of the barriers between races?

Ch. 36 Crossing the Color Line

Race has been one of the biggest road blocks in intercultural communication. As people have developed so have our ideals and ability to open up to different ideas. When people think of culture one of the biggest things that comes to mind is race. This article “Color Line” talks about the fear that whites have for blacks as well as the fear that blacks have for whites. It tries to help us explain the differences and how to overcome this large obstacle in communication.
One of the main ideas they talk about to help us look past race to communicate with people with out prejudice is true empathy. The define empathy as the ability to understand another’s “inner world of private personal meanings as if it were your own, but without ever losing the ‘as if’ quality” of the experience. It is basically telling us not to judge with your pre-conceived stereotypes and to try to understand them as a person and who they truly are. I believe this is useful in every type of communication with whomever it may be. This is the only way around prejudice. Everybody comes from different cultures but they should be seen for who they truly are rather than their culture. They talk about how Bill volunteered how he did because he truly empathized with the children and enjoyed it. He didn’t do it for the publicity or to look good he did it because he enjoyed it. Also, McCall speaks how Danny asked many questions that most whites wouldn’t but didn’t fear being labeled a racist and McCall concluded that it was because Danny was secure in his mind that he wasn’t a racist and had nothing to hide. He was simply just curious.
People need to not be afraid of one another and see past the stereotypes. They must empathize with others and recognize who they are rather than make communication a battle. They must use empathy to acknowledge the psychological and implicature to acknowledge the physical. Everyone is different and we must see that in our communication.
1. Are race issues simply built solely out of fear?
2. Once labeled a racist by one of the opposite race is it possible to overcome the label that is already built inside themselves even with empathy?

Crossing the Color Line

In this reading, the overall message that I received was that of mutual self-consciousness in regard to relationships with the “other” race. The main races addressed were African American and European American. Each main idea was either the appearance of unease in the company of the other race or the small ideas that could help bridge the cultural gap.

One point in particular, the author identified 3 types of friends. The one type of friend, personally I would consider more of an acquaintance, was deemed the “guilty liberal”. They are the worst kind in my eyes, and not worst as in they actively do harm to a minority group, but their belief creates this entitlement for the minority group in a reverse racism way. Ultimately saying, this should make up for things that unjustly happened many years ago. They are hurting themselves and dampening our ability to move forward. Maybe I’m the only that feels that way though.

I did like the portion that drew attention to Bill’s coaching and his indifference to whether it was acknowledged or not. Those people are the kind that can truly bridge any cultural void. They don’t see a group that needs to be coddled into a safe environment. They see individuals and people that they can offer a service to, not to be praised for their action, but out of genuine concern. I=

Discussion Questions

When evaluating your interracial friendships, is the first thing to come to mind your differences or similarities?

Would you consider someone, that you have to censor yourself around, a true friend?

Performing Commitment - Nico Bohm

I did a project in high school about gay marriage so I feel I can relate to this article very well. Normally, I see myself for gay marriage. I feel if two people love each other, they should be together. Who are we to say someone can’t be with the person they love? Plus, people need the benefits of marriage. I didn’t really understand where Jackie was going with her article before I figured out she was gay, then I realized why she was analyzing wedding so closely. I think it was good that she had a “wedding” for her close friends and family. In different relationships such as these, the more normal things remain, the better.

One thing I am not sure of is adopting children. I have read studies that say children come out just fine and are not changed at all. Them being raised gay is a myth. I don’t think gay parents would want their children to grow up without a choice. There are plenty of places that a child can grow up that would be detrimental to their health, but a same sex parent family is not one of them. If they were loved and in a stable household they could easily grow up to be a great member of society. Jackie does speak about this when she says she believes a same sex family would be better off raising a child than a family that is fighting or breaking up.

1. What are your thoughts on same sex marriage?

2. Do you think same sex children will turn out the same as other children?