Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
A 50-Year-Old Murder
A 50-Year-Old Murder: Why does it matter? My first awareness to the historical controversy surrounding the death of President John F. Kennedy arrived when I was about 12 years old. It may have been on the 30th Anniversary that I listened to my Dad recount his memory of that November weekend of 1963. He recalled it crisply, clearly and I remember it precisely. After graduating from Allen County High in 1962, he found employment at Woodmaster and was at work when the news came that the President had been shot. One of his coworkers told me that Dad left work early that day in tears.
By Drew Lindsey7 years ago in The Swamp
Pulling Rank: Best Ways to Determine That the Illuminati Is Emotional from Rumors to Complete Fallacy
In a question proposed by an audience member during a taping of the Donahue (1967-1996) show to Ayn Rand regarding the existence of the Illuminati and whether that played a factor in Rand’s novel Atlas Shrugged (1957), Miss Rand simply rejected anything like those “conspiracies.” As of late, the talk has resurfaced about secret societies running the Earth like Adam Smith’s invisible hand twirling the globe. But it was another Adam that fostered this whole debacle over what these behind doors groups do to the planet. Mr. Adam Weishaupt originated the name and the thrust behind the entire alleged organization. This includes, allegedly, the wealthy families of the Rothschilds, Rockefellers, Bilderbergs, and other names that have sprung up over the last few centuries. These names represent the “masters of the universe” who shape history and the intellectuality of a given age. People put faith in Illuminati because it resonates with the non-thinker. It gives automatic, canned, digestible tidbits of half philosophy half faith.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Flowers & Thistles
Flowers, Thorns and Thistles—Lessons from 1968 By: Andrew L. Hogue It is a fact in history as well as a promise from biblical scripture that “whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” In taking a retrospective look at the last forty years, this fact becomes more and more evident to me. Reviewing the political wins and losses of each of the two major political parties—the Republicans and the Democrats—I feel it an accurate conclusion to state that this present political climate is one whose beginnings are found not in 2008 but in 1968. I would like to point to some less costly and priceless lessons we ought not to have forgotten from our recent past.
By Drew Lindsey7 years ago in The Swamp
Pulling Rank: Best Strategies for Preventing Gun Tragedies in America Listed From Pick up a Tablet to Lift up the Nation
When shots rang out during a video game conference, the jovial, buoyant atmosphere turned to dread. Yet another shooting had rocked a sector of the United States. The Jacksonville, Florida NFL Madden Championship Series gaming tournament became the scene of carnage. Police sirens blared and officers patrolled the premises as medical professionals carted off the wounded and the dead. What stands as stark is the fact that more and more quotes from people at the scene reverberate about more gun control, mental health for the future perpetrators (the tourney killer took his own life), and the push for politicians to do all of this work.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Elegy for a Maverick of Mixed Premises
Most men are gray in terms of their convictions. They hold onto good and life-affirming ideals while also clutching toxins at the same time. Many men have exhibited this dichotomy much like the late Senator John McCain. As he espoused “Duty, Honor, and Country” during his lifetime, the words encapsulate the man’s entire outlook on politics and life as a whole. Two out of the three ideals show a sense of what is the worst in an individual, duty and country.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Shut It Down!
I am not sure why is has taken me almost two years to tell this story. My first story got deleted. That's life. But this story is too important not to document. I want to take this time to write an open letter to the 45th President of the United States and his administration. I have so much anger against them. These are not just my feelings! I have black folks saying that they feel that white folks seem to carry themselves with an ego towards black folks, and even our elders! It has never felt tighter or more difficult to land a job as a Black women. Even if I am pursuing my college degree, the education system continues to teach in the format that benefits white and Asian folks at the expense of black student understanding. The administration seems to be getting passes for hate-speech on social media, stripping away immigrants' safety, the right to be able to serve in the military, our access to voting, and to safe homes to live in. This is such a violent culture!
By SAYHERNAME Morgan Sankofa7 years ago in The Swamp
Plastic Straw Bans
The plastic straw ban has everybody in frenzy mode because some of us need straws. California is closer to a ban on plastic straws at full-service restaurants. Some scientists hope the idea will spread across the United States just like the plastic bag ban. That particular ban caught on in a very fundamental way. The vote passed 45-20. California is a major trendsetter as history has proven. The plastic bag ban happened in 2014 from Governor Jerry Brown. The plastic bag ban has succeeded somewhat since cloth bags are an easy replacement but straws are more difficult to just phase out.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
Pulling Rank: How Freedom of Speech Must Be Protected Listed From Silence to Say It Loud!
The word “censor” is sometimes reserved for radio and television busybodies who seek to curb the content that a program or presenter offers to an audience. Often the joke goes, “this won’t get past the censors.” But is this the case? The only censorship, as it is understood properly, that can be carried out is by the government. Private institutions cannot censor material. This task is left to the United States government to block material that is not offensive but could incite riots or worse. Private organizations may sift through, reject, or slap ratings on a given work, but that is not censorship. That is due diligence on the part of private individuals who want to bar pornography, graphic violence, or other material that they might find to be unworthy of posting or publishing. This is free speech. This is the act of discerning what a given platform has the liberty of disseminating to its audience. Big Tech corporations like Facebook, Twitter, and Alphabet all hold the right to block any content that they deem to be beneath their standards for excellence.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
The Super Tweeter!!!
I just remembered something. It just goes to show you just how tired I am. In any case, it involves the POTUS. As we all know, a certain guy in the White House has a huge infatuation with his Twitter account. I am sure that he has many followers, both supporters and non-supporters. I obviously do not know how many supporters he actually has, but I will say, for the sake of my point, that he has one billion followers. The actual number can be higher or lower, but I will use this to make my point.
By Maurice Bernier7 years ago in The Swamp
Pulling Rank: Best Ways to Combat the Opioid Crisis Listed from Light Buzz to Overdose
Throughout American history, epidemics such as influenza and smallpox have ravaged various populations. Influenza and smallpox are illnesses among others that have plagued the Americas. But what is not an epidemic is opioids. It is, properly, a crisis. And it is also a crisis that ought to be fought by private means, exclusively. Chris Christie is chairman of President Trump’s Commission on Combating Drug Abuse designed to “study ways to combat and treat the scourge of drug abuse, addiction, and the opioid crisis.” At least here it is referred to as its proper nomenclature. Further down the article, the writer chooses to use the word epidemic. This is an error. Opioids are not an epidemic because no infectious disease is involved in the conscious decision to do harm to one’s own mind and body. It is not an issue of a spread of a virus or harmful bacteria that is at hand here. Choices cannot be constituted as a crisis. Abusers possess the ability to engage in the abuse of opioids and any other substance. And that is the root of this problem. The feelings of the abuser worsen the situation. The simple thought of an abuser ingesting powerful agents and expecting to be cared for by the government, no less, because of their own choices, is sick.
By Skyler Saunders7 years ago in The Swamp
Was a Summary Judgement by a Federal Court Granted in Favor of a Kansas-Based Employer That Allegedly Violated Civil Rights?
In May of 2018, the 10th Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals affirmed the Kansas Federal District Court’s decision to dismiss a Kansas man's lawsuit under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title VII protects against discrimination in the workplace based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin. The man who brought this suit is named Jerome Christmon. Christmon is a practicing Hebrew Israelite and filed suit against his former employer, B&B Airparts Inc., an aircraft parts supplier based in Wichita, Kansas.
By Victor Trammell7 years ago in The Swamp
