Racism

1. What does the word racism mean to you?  What behaviors and attitudes does a racist person display?
Racism is discriminating or treating others differently based on their race.  Racist people might behave normally but keep their opinions to themselves.  Others voice their opinions by using racial slurs.  You can't tell a person is racist just by looking at them.

2. Do racist publications, such as song lyrics or Web sites, influence people's opinions and attitudes toward others?  How do they make you feel?
In my opinion, racist publications won't influence a person if they have already established their position on racism.  Racist publications are more likely to offend a person than to change their opinion on racism.  As a teenager, I don't mind racist publications, but I don't consider myself a racist.  I do feel uncomfortable when adults are around when there are racist publications, though.

State of Iowa v. Alex McGee

I would have found Alex innocent if I were a juror.  This case was very vague, but I don't think there was enough evidence to incriminate Alex.  He didn't have an alibi for the time the murders took place because Stan claimed he never saw him leave work that night and no one was there to see him arrive home.  Alex had to motive, capability, and opportunity to kill his wife and maid, but that doesn't necessarily mean he did.  He was a very small, nice guy so I don't think he would want to kill his wife.  He had reportedly been drinking the night of the murder (according to the testimony of his best friend), which may explain his strange behavior.  Alex may not be innocent, but he couldn't have been proved guilty with the evidence given.