Mckenzee Blog Post 3

When you think of Arab what the first thing that comes to mind… could it be terrorist? After the 9/11 attack on the twin towers the term “terrorist” has become a familiar definition to the term Arab. After doing some research and looking back I found something interesting. This definition had terrorist involved with it long before 9/11 and Hollywood had a lot to do with it. Here’s a perfect example, “True Lies” with Arnold Schwarzenegger, in the movie he was a spy stopping a terrorist attack by Arabs. Movies such as this influence society that Arabs have a stereotypical definition involving terrorism. Not only movies but also series involve stereotypical judgments such as the series “Lost”. This series had a segment which focused on an Arabian man’s past in his act of torture to punish a woman who had committed treason. The torture he performed was heinous and related to how Americans see their way of punishment in general as cruel. Defining Arab in a stereotypical manner would include terrorist, cruel, unmerciful. Teachers can help by teaching more cultural lessons, explain different cultures and the understanding why and how certain cultures live the way they do. I think activities that require student to think outside the box or to stretch their minds about what certain meanings to words may also communicate to children and help explain the difference between stereotypical and correct definitions of certain people and cultures. Parents can also help by not being bias in front of their children. Most children believe whatever their parents believe, which can interfere with learning what is correct and what is opinionated.


I was known as the “creative one” in the dance department. I was the stare choreographer and always had great reviews of my works. This label affected me with both positive and negative aspects. The label pushed me to be better, to always be on top, but also caused me to stress. If people saw me as being creative I had to live up to their expectations. I had to constantly think up fresh idea that would flow nicely, as well as bring something different to table that no one else had done. That was probably the worst aspect of being labeled; the stress of living up to the label itself. On a positive note, the label had me constantly working my ideas pushing myself to try new things and to work hard.