Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
HOW TO KILL A DEMOCRACY IN FIVE EASY STEPS
HOW TO KILL A DEMOCRACY: FIVE EASY STEPS If you were a doctor, and American Democracy was the patient, what would you conclude about the patient’s prognosis, after the shocking events of this week? Would you conclude that the patient, seemingly near death, had been killed by an acute injury, or a chronic illness?
By Grant Patterson5 years ago in The Swamp
4 Forgotten Queens of the Arab World
Few are the women who truly ruled in the history of the Arab and Arabized world, from Morocco to Oman. But those who did it did so with extreme grace and a sharp political genius, often outsmarting even the canniest male contenders. Yet, very rare are the books that tell their stories and celebrate their successes.
By ElMehdi ElAzhary5 years ago in The Swamp
Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz are hoping you're dumb
In the aftermath of the riot at the US capitol, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-TX) and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) are working overtime to try and distance their behavior from the actions of pro-Trump supporters. Hawley has spent the past few weeks, in a move surely meant to bolster his national profile, making himself the face of the election opposition. On December 30, 2020, Hawley announced he would object to the certification of electoral college votes. On the day of the riot, a photo circulated of Josh Hawley waving support to pro-Trump supporters outside the capitol. Hours later, he would be in protective custody as those same supporters stormed the capitol building.
By Marcus Paden5 years ago in The Swamp
Can We All Finally Agree That White Supremacy is Bad?
When I was in 3rd grade Wolfenstein 3D got ported onto the Super Nintendo. I remember renting the cartridge from my local Blockbuster on Friday, and spending the entire weekend with my controller heating up in my hands and my fingers developing blisters as I sent a storm of lead into the pixelated agents of the Third Reich. While charging a brain case cyborg with the face of Adolf Hitler on it with guns blazing and rockets blasting isn't exactly a subtle message, it was one I'd been hearing my whole life.
By Neal Litherland5 years ago in The Swamp
That Pro-Confederate Statue of “The Simpsons.”
. In the season 7 of The Simpsons, episode Lisa the Iconoclast, Lisa goes to the Springfield Historical Society--advertised as “Where the Dead Come Alive. (metaphorically)”-- to do research on town founder Jebediah Springfield. There she accidentally discovers that Hans had a secret double life. Before founding the town of Springfield he was a pirate known as Hans Sprungfeld who once tried to murder George Washington. The museum curator initially tries to cover up Lisa’s findings (this seems like a bad career move--a discovery like this would presumably thrill most historians) but eventually realizes people must know the truth. He and Lisa rush to Springfield’s bicentennial’s celebration to tell everyone, but at the last second Lisa decides to keep Jebediah/Hans’ secret. The reason why is simply because Jebediah’s slogan “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.” is just so darn inspirational.
By Buck Hardcastle5 years ago in The Swamp
What the...
I have thought long and hard about whether or not I should get into this discussion about the recent attack on the Capitol Building in Washington USA. I am not the best placed person to discuss US politics by a long way even though I do have personal history with the individual called Donald Trump who is currently, although not for much longer, the 45th President of the USA. The photograph above is taken from my TV screen on the night of the 6th of January 2021, 14 days before the inauguration of the next President of the USA.
By David Milne5 years ago in The Swamp
