Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
How Dangerous is it to be Black and LGBT+?
This month has been full of protests, activism and politics. I want to take this opportunity to gather some information and stats on what it's like to be black and part of the LGBT+ community. Being LGBT+ can already be extremely challenging for a lot of people, but statistics show it can be even harder if you're black. I'm not disregarding the fact that it can be challenging and dangerous for people from any race, but today I'm specifically focusing on the black community.
By Tone Breistrand6 years ago in The Swamp
Anti-Racism: How You Can Combat Systemic Racism, Educate Others and Support the BLM Movement
In light of the recent murder of George Floyd and the subsequent protests that have happened since May 25th 2020, I wanted to put this post together for a number of reasons:
By Lea Bella Blogs 6 years ago in The Swamp
Science and religion why the political conflict?
Science and religion why the political conflict? Science and religion can co-exist There seems to be such conflict, especially at the extremes of various belief systems, that science and religion are in opposition, so you can not consider both valid. Reading a fictional book by Raymond Khoury called The Sign, a fictional thriller with a complex plot that involves manipulation of religious fervor by use of a futuristic, and rather unlikely, scientific invention; the suggestion that religious fundamentalists do not accept science in any way is brought to the fore. So let us consider both and how politics gets involved.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
Perspective on "Fresh Fruit, Broken Bodies: Migrant Farmworkers in the United States," by Seth Holmes.
Seth Holmes composed a wonderful book based on his ethnographic field work. His vignettes were memorable and personal from his arrest by the Border Patrol, to his realizations of the social capital his skin color afforded him. He also intertwined several theoretical concepts throughout the book to break down the social/structural inequalities his Triqui friends experienced crossing the border, working on the farm, and through dealing with the medical systems. Holmes introduced the concept of the violence continuum to illustrate their suffering, and discussed how the clinical gaze can be dehumanizing; both ideas are quite interesting and dissect what is happening with precision in the lives of Triqui migrant farm workers.
By Katherine Shackelford 6 years ago in The Swamp
A frank letter to white people who may have disputed the fact that Black Lives Matter.
I was not initially going to write this, but with my attention recently having been caught by a fellow Vocal Challenge writer, I felt a significant and immediate urge to do so.
By Lizzie James 6 years ago in The Swamp
The Price of Human Life
How long must we weep at the altar of logic and reason before the world makes sense again? As a purveyor and lover of dystopian fiction and weird obsession with tyrannical governments of history, I can't help but feel this is the catalyst to the apocalyptic fallout looming over the horizon. Economic turmoil, civil unrest, groups of people wrongfully blaming other groups of people for the nation's problems, systematic maiming and murdering of political dissentors, a plague wreaking havoc faster than research can be conducted for a vaccine...the checklist has more checks than empty boxes.
By CT Idlehouse6 years ago in The Swamp
How to Get Rid of Bad Politicians in Congress
I'm not targeting anybody in particular, so I'm just going to speak in general terms. We need to vote out our fascist-leaning politicians, but Democrats and Republicans are empty distinctions. Our system of government is something the rest of the world never saw before. Bad politicians need to be peacefully voted out of office. History will be determined once the dust settles, but we need to take our democracy back as a collective. Democracy should be something we need to take back in general because it has been corrupted by the current administration.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez6 years ago in The Swamp
