humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of politicians, legislators, activists, women in politics and the everyday voter.
Where the Heart Is
In a perfect world, everyone is equal, everyone is worth the time to invest in and show kindness towards. However, in spite of this vision, the application of such a notion in daily life proves arduous—especially when it makes people uncomfortable. As the hourglass of our lives rapidly moves through the sieve of “now,” each moment beckons minor decisions, which are seemingly innocuous. Nevertheless, these decisions are the ones that produce the big picture of our lives. To be effectively kind, we must ritualistically participate in the art of introspection handling each moment with grace and foresight. Metaphorically, each grain of sand in the hourglass of our lives builds on the other. Every frown, smile, and nod is a choice we make, as it slips through the bottleneck of present to past collected together as our individual stories. By all means then, are we not the sum of our attributes in their most diminutive occurrences?
By Sam Sapien8 years ago in The Swamp
Immigrants Have Trouble Assimilating
This is flat out because Americans who have been here longer cause problems for them. It is the pecking order. Immigrants have a hard time adapting sometimes; it doesn’t matter what country they move to. Their new country has different customs, as well as needs. Americans are pretty much able to give any new immigrant problems. Somebody from Mainland China, for example, has trouble adapting to driving habits in California. They drive differently in China, according to my family who has been there. You have to cross the street at a time that is good for you.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in The Swamp
Chaos? Nope, Just Bilingual
I recently moved to Connecticut for about 5 to 6 months now, originally from Puerto Rico and had to leave because of the hurricane Maria's aftermath because I basically had nothing left back home. So, here I am living in this new country and dealing with a language I am an amateur of, and I had encountered moments where I want to scream at people so they could understand what I am saying... Maybe even my writing is terrible, but I give myself a chance to be better. I come from a family where I am basically the only "fluently bilingual" one, because none of my siblings tried to even learn the language, and this has become a gift and a curse, especially when your mother wants to know about what she doesn't know.
By Angel Ruiz8 years ago in The Swamp
What Ails Asians?
This is a not-so-common moment in history, when a word gets added into the dictionary. The Chinese dictionary is where it is added. If you, like many other readers, tune out of this article once you read that it is a Chinese word rather than a new English word, ask yourself, why? Isn't China supposed to become more of a prominent force in the future? Isn't Donald Trump opposed to Chinese politics of trade? Isn't the sun going to rise from the east in the morning?
By Kevin Liou8 years ago in The Swamp
Surviving Your Next Family Gathering
If it’s Easter, chances are you spent yesterday sitting on a Megabus stranded in a sea of other people on their way to the house of the nearest relative who knows how to hardboil an egg. You’ve been preparing the speech you’ll casually rattle off to assure your relatives that everything is going just fine. Last night you probably slept on a four poster twin bed next to a cousin you don’t really talk to, on an identical four poster twin bed, in your grandparents' guest room.
By Sidney Morss8 years ago in The Swamp
A Talk Between a White, Big Sister and Her Younger, Half Black Brother
Never once did I think this day would come. Never once did I think that I, at age 22, a white female, would have to sit my little brother down, age 14, half black, looks mostly black, and have “the talk” with him.
By Kenzie Lane Stapleton8 years ago in The Swamp
The History of Genocide
The two world wars were about fighting the Nazi genocidal agenda. The term “genocide" came from Raphael Lemkin in 1948 after he fled the Nazi occupation of Poland, arriving in the United States. Lemkin had been horrified the Turks slaughtered the Armenians in World War 1. Lemkin felt he had to come up with a term to describe what the Nazis had done. The term “genocide” comes from “combining genos, the Greek word for race or tribe, with the Latin suffix cide, “to kill.” During the Nuremberg trials, the term “genocide” first began to be used in the charter of the International Military Tribunal set up by the Allies in Nuremberg, Germany.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in The Swamp
Racism & Stereotypes, the Incurable Social Disease
In 1986, a young boy born in the Philippines was told by his parents that they would be moving to the US. 1986 was a turbulent time for the Philippines, a time when the Filipinos wanted change, they were growing tired of the corrupt system, a corrupt President, and a corrupt government. His parents thought it would be a good start, and since they were petitioned by a family member, they thought it would be a great opportunity for the whole family. At first the boy was excited, happy, at the same time he was curious what life would be like in an unfamiliar land. 30 years later and already a US citizen, he questions that decision, if it was the right thing to do. He realizes that he has no time to regret, no chance of turning back time, only time to reflect on his past experiences, Unfortunately for him, racism was a big part of that experience. This is his story...
By Albino Lokoh8 years ago in The Swamp
Debating to Compromise
To start off, I am an 18-year-old college student. While to some this may be an indication that I don't know what I'm talking about, set that aside for a moment. I have had years of debating and arguing under my belt, and from that experience I have learned what works and what doesn't. The art of debate is more necessary than ever in America. With vast anti-intellectual and partisan movements across the country, the "You're With Us or Against Us" mindset has been unfortunately spreading.
By William Valleau8 years ago in The Swamp
I Am an American
My name is Katherine. I am an American. Wearing the badge of “American” on my lapel comes with a long list of freedoms and rights that have been fought for and that many have made the ultimate sacrifice so that I may have them. I do not take lightly the freedoms I have been born into, nor do I wish for any American to be denied or stripped of these rights. I celebrate our diversity and our ever-changing culture in America. Our freedoms are detailed in our Constitution, a collection of amendments that Thurgood Marshall referred to as “a living document” in his 1987 lecture. Just as our people and cultures evolve over time so must the freedoms that protect them. Without amendments to the US Constitution, our country would still practice slavery and consider men the “head of household,” preventing women from voting in elections. I hold the right to vote and the women who fought valiantly for me to have that right very close to my heart, but I have found that my elected representatives are now being purchased by NRA money, not by my vote. Recently I have found that adults, teenagers, and children are being killed more frequently and more violently than ever before. I do not blame the gun. I do not blame the NRA. I do not blame my elected representative. Now, once I begin to see a pattern in the weaponry used, I start to question the gun. Once I begin to read statements purely in defense of the weapon used and not a word in regards to the murders a particular gun caused, I start to question the NRA. Once I begin to see that certain legislation is not being brought forward and that action is not being taken because of large donations from the NRA to campaign funds, I start to question my elected representative.
By Katherine Smith8 years ago in The Swamp
On Poverty and Dignified Exits
"I don't understand the point of living in a capitalist society if the people aren't happy. And you know, I'm old I remember a time when you didn't have to work all of the time to make ends meet, just to pay the rent and get by..."
By Danielle Dragani8 years ago in The Swamp
