activism
Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.
Still The Carnage Continues
History is ripe with incidents that reoccur most times through different scenarios but tragically so much of the outcomes remain the same. We are living in an age where we have yet to learn from our mistakes of the past so as not to repeat them in the future. It was in the Capone era in Chicago when the infamous St. Valentines Day massacre occurred. The movie of the same name tried to glamorize the horrific violence that took place that day. So much of Hollywood has succeeded in profiting from movies that showcase mayhem, death, and destruction. Still guided by profits and nothing more they continue to pump out those types of movies. Our society today seems we can't get enough of the shock and aw. It shows with the ticket sales that make millions for the movie studios.
By Dr. Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
What We Know About Mass Shootings
It has been two days since the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida that has left 17 dead. While we mourn and share the stories of those who have died, it's also important to look forward and ask: what can we do next time? Because we're at a point in history where when it comes to mass shootings, the question is not if, but when.
By Kath Clarke8 years ago in The Swamp
Should We Boycott the NFL?
I have heard a lot of talk about boycotting the NFL on both sides. Some want to boycott because of the way the players protest, and some want to boycott because the NFL and the NFLPA has not properly addressed it. There are even talks about keeping teams in the locker room until after the national anthem is over next year, to avoid controversy.
By James Howell8 years ago in The Swamp
It's Ok to Be...
"I see no changes, all I see are racist faces, misplaced hate makes disgrace to races.”- Tupac Shakur There has been a rash of flyers popping up in North Carolina as well as other states. These flyers state that “It’s ok to be white.” These are being put up by hate groups such as the Loyal White Knights of NC, among other groups. I’m not saying it’s not ok to be white. I am saying that this is a slogan of oppression and fear mongering, and that is not ok.
By James Howell8 years ago in The Swamp
Never Forget Where You Come From
There has been a trend lately among NFL players and others. I’m not talking about kneeling, I’m talking about making changes in their own community. It started with Colin Kaepernick, who has been raising money and handing out backpacks in lower income communities. It continues with Nick Foles, a Super Bowl winner and MVP who decided to be a pastor in schools in his own community. There is also Chris long who donated his entire years’ salary to Charlottesville after the horrible and tragic events that left one person dead and others severely wounded. This was his hometown, and he felt compelled to help it heal.
By James Howell8 years ago in The Swamp
Endangered: Coral Reefs
Imagine scuba-diving in the shallow waters of the ocean and seeing the beautiful variation of colors on every single unique reef fish, giant clam, lobster, seahorse, and sea turtle swimming above the vibrant corals. Coral reefs are home to all of those amazing creatures and many more. They depend on the reefs for survival—without them, those species wouldn't exist.
By Sam Villemaire8 years ago in The Swamp
Single Payer Health Care: How We Can Achieve It, a Call to Action
Republicans don’t want single-payer because they really would prefer we pay for everything, from healthcare, to education. Forget about conceding to party lines. Think about who needs health care and why they need it. The CDC figures that as of 2012, 117 million people have chronic illnesses. We Americans are not as healthy as we would like to imagine. Our entire system is in decay, with extreme bills making people unable to keep up their payments when treating a chronic health condition. This is frustrating to many of us average folk who see billionaires getting immense tax breaks. The money just piles on, since the majority of Americans are far from being the 1%.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in The Swamp
What Does Our Future Hold?
Humanity is at its peak of development. We live in the age of advancement, whether it's space travel, cancer treatment, or virtual reality. With such an exponential growth of wealth and technologies, one must wonder, what does our future hold?
By Patrick Wilson8 years ago in The Swamp
Homelessness
I love sports! Specifically the NFL and the NBA. I want to play in the NFL when I'm older. All the players are role models for many people. For example Jimmy Butler, a 3 time NBA all-star, a 3-time NBA all American, All American defensive team and the NBA's most improved player in 2015. He is one of the most consistent players in the NBA right now. But if you don't already know, he has been homeless. Kicked out of his house at the age of 13. He couldn’t get a job. But grew up to be one of the best players to play for the Bulls and the Timberwolves.
By Matthew Riet8 years ago in The Swamp
To the Gentlemen That Walked Out During My Pro-Black Speech
Picture it: On January 25, 2018, my organization hosted an open mic night for students to get on stage and share their stories with one another. It provided an opportunity for people to be more transparent with one another about the good and bad things that helped make them who they are. As president of the organization, I volunteered to start the event.
By Azaria Brown8 years ago in The Swamp
