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IN THE NEWS: Facebook a tool for hate?; September 28 Immigrant Protest; DNA Testing Bridges Continents
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| Sept. 28, 2006 -- Tolerance.org collects tolerance-related headlines with discussion questions and resources for classroom use.
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Facebook Becomes Twisted Tool For Hate
A high school group calling itself 'WP Forever,' established over the weekend on Facebook.com, a social networking website. 'WP' stands for 'white pride.' Besides posting a black and white photo of a KKK rally, members have names like "chief hanger," "tree specialist" and "rope specialist," making their racist intentions clear. After complaints, Facebook administrators removed the page from the website while law enforcement investigates the students involved.
Resources
Discussion
- Why is it easier to perform acts of hate online?
- Do you think the high school is responsible for the students' hateful actions? Parents?
- What kinds of consequences do you think the students should face?
- Why is it so difficult to curb hate online?
- When does a prank become hateful?
- How can you tell when a friend or peer has "crossed the line"?
- If you witness hateful activity online, what can you do?
September 28. Beyond Legalization: End the Abuse of Immigrant Workers
Thousands of immigrants who work in the hotel industry will rally in Los Angeles, Calif., on September 28 to protest abuse and exploitation. They are demanding living wages so they can rise up out of poverty.
Resources
Discussion
- What is a 'living wage'?
- How are the hotels "abusing" and "exploiting" immigrant workers?
- Do you remember when immigrant workers from around the country held protests last spring? Why did they protest then?
- Is this protest different? How so?
- Why does Dolores Huerta say "the people feel powerless"?
- Do you think protests and rallies are empowering? Why?
DNA Helps American Blacks 'Go Home' (free registration required from The Arizona Republic)
Advances in genetic testing allow people to cross the Atlantic in their quest to find genetic roots. One DNA database has more than 20,000 samples from 250 different ethnic groups. The test can determine whether someone is of European, Native or African descent and pinpoint a person's country of origin. The information is priceless for Americans who have lost family history because of the slave trade.
Resources
Discussion
- Why do you think it is particularly meaningful for African Americans to trace their roots with DNA testing?
- What information can DNA testing provide?
- In the future, how do you think the test will advance? Besides ethnicity, what else can it tell you about your genetic history?
- What other ethnic groups might benefit from DNA testing?
- In Diving Into The Gene Pool, what are some of the reasons the author says people would want to belong to a minority group? Are these reasons valid?
- Why is the author surprised to learn that her genetic roots are in Africa?
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