controversies
It seems every time one racially-charged incident ends, a gender or religious controversy takes its place; Ruminate on the issues dividing our nation and world.
The Hypocrisy Argument
Why do all the good stories break when I'm on vacation? Back in 2012, I was in NYC when Katie Holmes fled from the Cult of Scientology. This year, I go to San Diego for some R&R, when The New York Times decides to go viral by publishing an expose on Harvey Weinstein. There had been rumors about him being a disgusting, horrible human being going back as far as I remembered but no one had ever leveled allegations on him so publicly before. The story had me on the edge of my seat; I read practically every article that I could on the story. And then I read the comment sections and that is where it got me to thinking about our current culture.
By Edward Anderson8 years ago in The Swamp
Meeting Housing Needs
What can we do about homes for all? How can we provide decent homes for everyone? If each nation is to provide homes for all those permanently living within its borders, the first thing necessary is that all authorities and their political opponents become honest, find and face facts, and act to deal with the realities shown by those facts and not play politics with peoples' lives just to get ahead in the opinion polls.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
Artists and Gentrification
The word “artist” coincides with a sense of mysticism, curiosity, and creativity. These qualities are seemingly tactile, but they ultimately enhance human capital and make the artist an ideal figure sought after in gentrification. This furthers the divide between social class and economic values.
By Mars Shore8 years ago in The Swamp
American Carnage, Trump Edition
What happened Sunday night on the Las Vegas strip was perversely, singularly American. The nation’s sense of its size, its culture, its broad existential vistas, its romance with armada, its literal and spiritual wide-open spaces — all collided with its tragic irony as a nation whose pugnacious, futurist identity derives from the ballistics of 250 years ago. Sunday’s events were a malign form of so-called American exceptionalism: What took place outside the Mandalay Bay Hotel probably couldn’t have occurred in any other country in the world.
By Michael Eric Ross8 years ago in The Swamp
Guns Among Us
I wish I could say I’d been blindsided by the most recent shooting, but I’m old enough to remember Columbine and frankly, the horror has become mundane. Sometimes I wonder if this was the way New Yorkers felt in the 80s, when muggings were so commonplace as to be a running joke. I could quote statistics about gun crime and domestic terror to fill a thousand articles, but we have all already seen the data. We know that there is something wrong about the rate of gun crimes in America, we don’t need depersonalized numbers to bring that home.
By Haybitch Abersnatchy8 years ago in The Swamp
Trump Didn't Create Racism
The world is full of very minuscule disappointments. Some people are angry about musicians or homework. Some are disappointed in their children or themselves. However, I think everyone can agree that we are all disappointed in each other and the direction our country is going. I don't want to be that person who has something to say about politics daily. I hardly feel like talking to people for more than a few minutes, most days. That's the issue. The world is changing into a living, deadly inferno and we must sit here and watch while thinking that no one else is paying attention. The thing is, everyone is paying attention. We all just have our heads stuck so far up our own asses that we don’t know what’s happening to the right or left of us. That includes me. There are no exclusions.
By Deanna Davenport8 years ago in The Swamp
Dissent is Patriotic
There's been a lot of divisive talk about the NFL players kneeling in protest of the racial problems in this country. I've seen service members both applaud and denounce these players. What bothers me the most is the people who think that they should be fired, or the people who think that they should protest differently. The funny thing is, I’ve been here before. I’ve seen the ugly side of people who vehemently disagree with a peaceful, personal protest. I’ve seen it because it happened to me, a few months after September 11, 2001.
By Kelsey Allen8 years ago in The Swamp
First Things First: Somebody's Got to Make a Change
Since the beginning of the NFL 2017-2018 season, there has been an opinion divide among fans, critics and President Trump about some players protesting by taking a knee during our country’s national anthem. This silent protest was started last year by former NFL Quarterback Colin Kaepernick because of the injustices happening to Black people and other people of color in America. Kaepernick said:
By Darryl C. Richie8 years ago in The Swamp
Time to Take a Knee
In the military, the American flag is lowered each evening at sundown as they play Taps over the loudspeaker. This is in line with the US flag code which says that the sun should never set on the American flag unless it is brightly lit. When I was in the Navy, around sundown sailors scurry for cover, trying to get inside before Taps began playing and they would be stuck outside standing at attention and saluting until the flag was lowered completely. I used to do the opposite. I would wander outside.
By David Bulley8 years ago in The Swamp
In Defense of the NFL and Its Players
You may not agree with the stance NFL players have taken, but you should back their right to speak their minds peacefully and constructively. As an avid football fan, educator, and Christian, I believe that NFL players should be celebrated for their stance. Jordin Sparks may have said it best, silently, when she sang the National Anthem last night. She had written Proverbs 31: 8-9 on her hand. These verses read, “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” NFL players are using their platform to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves, which should be admired and celebrated.
By Cody Perry8 years ago in The Swamp
