Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
2 Years From Grenfell
Friday June 14, 2019. Two years since the horrific wildfire tragedy of Grenfell tower—a time for reflection has never been more haunting on the brain. Upon such reflection I’ve found myself trying to piece together the right words, or even the words that are just about adequate enough, to express how two years of government and public apathy have simply flown by. Finding in that time the word “tragedy” would become a sentimental and whitewashed concession for indicting our government with social negligence, and preventable slaughter of working class people of colour. Maybe you, like me, woke up this morning, and thought “wow, has it really been two years?” The world in recent times has been saturated with tragedy and sensationalism. Perhaps, this “tragedy” just fell to the wayside as they all do in a time so swiftly gratifying as this digital age. As they may forever do. And as the news cycle roles on, and the world makes a spectacle of more unnecessary horror, we may forget to ask ourselves if anything has ever even changed.
By Kofo Ajala7 years ago in The Swamp
Jury Nullification
Jury nullification is an important concept in the United States, and one that prosecutors really don’t like. It has the capacity to allow individual citizens to exercise independent judgment about the criminal law and the guilt or lack of guilt of any criminal defendant, which is why prosecutors really don’t like it.
By William Turner7 years ago in The Swamp
Bryan Watch June 1
We have a first this week on Bryan Watch. Representative Steil’s first extreme vote, Roll Call #232 (June 3). Steil was one of 58 Republicans to vote against HR 2157, the supplemental appropriations bill for FY 2019. The bill would provide $17 billion in relief for victims of hurricanes in the Carolinas and Georgia, typhoons in the Pacific, and flooding in the Midwest.
By John Heckenlively7 years ago in The Swamp
"Facing Homelessness" vs "Homeless"
Rashema Melson’s story is amazing. She just graduated from Georgetown University after facing a lot of life struggles, including homelessness. She speaks about how she coped with, lived and faced homelessness as one of this country’s most grueling struggles for black teens.
By Shanali Inchaustegui7 years ago in The Swamp
Democratic Presidential Candidate Speech Styles Part 1
In Iowa this weekend we were graced with the opportunity to watch many of the Democratic candidates pitch their views, and more importantly their personalities, on stage in a brief five minute speech. Think of it as presidential candidate speed-dating for the voters.
By Twelve Boots7 years ago in The Swamp
You Don't Need to Own a Gun
America is the world’s leader in gun-related killings. In the US, it costs as much money to own a MacBook, as it does to own an assault rifle. This is relatively little compared to the rest of the world. Additionally, the US has not tightened its gun legislation in response to mass shootings, as has been done in Australia after a mass shooting in 1996, or in New Zealand after the recent shooting in Christchurch.
By Craig Middleton7 years ago in The Swamp
The Corrupt Conception of the UK Conservative Party - Robert Peel the Prime Minister of Rotten Boroughs
Robert Peel made history on more than one occasion. He was a British politician who served two terms as Home Secretary, and twice as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the first half of the 19th Century. He wasn’t only the man who created the Metropolitan Police Force, but he is also considered to be the founder of the modern Conservative Party.
By Johnny Vedmore7 years ago in The Swamp
The Importance of Wording
Diction is the choice and use of words and phrases in writing; there is specific diction used by the media and people that manipulates the information that is being presented. Diction can also be used to minimize the importance or what is actually happening. For example, people use the phrase "abortion debate." A women's right to bodily autonomy is not up for debate, this is a religious minority's move to control the bodies of everyone who has a uterus. That cannot be called a debate because it is not a debate, it is a human rights violation. People also tend to call Nazis monsters, but they are not supernatural creatures or mythical demons; they are human, terrible humans. Nazis were young, they have parents, they are parents, they could be siblings, they eat, they sleep, they die, they still do not deserve forgiveness or empathy. When people use that wording, it dehumanizes Nazis and that creates a level of separation between us and them; that can be dangerous because people will then ignore the subtitle signs of anti-semitism by saying "Oh they're not monsters." Do not forget that they are human and they do not deserve sympathy.
By Selena Vazquez7 years ago in The Swamp
Along Intraparty Lines
We're a year and a half from the 2020 presidential election, and the campaign has already been a shape-shifting thing, with the biggest Democratic field in history, and a Republican president determined to prove that he and he alone can defy political gravity, a second time.
By Michael Eric Ross7 years ago in The Swamp
