Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
A United Ireland
Ireland has been torn between two ideological religions; The Protestants in the North, and the Catholics in the South. This divide has led to bloodshed, and political turmoil for the Irish. As a proud Irish-American descendant, I would argue that what’s best for the island is a united Ireland. Economic status would be revamped drastically for the better. The benefit towards enterprise and business will generate employment and a better condition under infrastructure. The costs generated towards the upkeep of the hard border should be dispersed towards other factions of infrastructure that support the quality of living standards, especially in and around the border towns. Political identity will become political individuality in a united Ireland. Conflict will see a drastic decline, if not an end; but there are always factors that come into play when the game of diplomatic chess is being played.
By Benjamin Reese7 years ago in The Swamp
The Reparations Debate Is More Than a Dollar Figure
The topic of reparations for African Americans isn’t a new concept. America as a country has touched on this issue, albeit briefly, quite a few times during the course of its history. Recent political jockeying for the 2020 election season has brought the topic back to the forefront for both African Americans, and the greater public. What are reparations? Why is the debate taking place now? Wasn’t slavery a long time ago? Those questions and others are typical of how the dialogue on this topic has gone during my experience exploring it. Those questions will continue to be asked until arguably the simplest question regarding this issue is answered:
By Herbert L. Seward III7 years ago in The Swamp
The 15th Amendment
The 15th Amendment was about giving black men the right to vote, seeing as it stated that the United States cannot deny the vote based on race, color, or whether one had been a slave or not. The 15th Amendment was the beginning of a step out of class struggle, and into radical social equality when it granted black men the right to vote. The government could not be allowed to vote based on race, color, or “previous condition of servitude.” The Southern states, however, used intimidation tactics such as a poll tax, literacy tests and more to scare black voters out of casting their vote. Black men, many of whom had been slaves, were ruled to have the right to vote, because, by 1869, amendments were passed to abolish slavery as Republicans of the time felt that it was crucial to the survival of their party to be against slavery.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez7 years ago in The Swamp
The Ongoing Battle for Gay Rights
Growing up in the 70s and 80s was not always easy, but it was particularly hard if someone was anything out of the “ordinary.” This era was crucial when it came to things like human rights and tolerance. It was a turning point in how America viewed homosexuality and in how LBGTQ+ community members were treated both by the law and by the people.
By Tessa Giasson7 years ago in The Swamp
Politics: Two Sides of the Same Coin
In today's world of political scandal and smear campaigns, it's hard to know the truth. It seems that each politician instead of building a better platform and a clearer vision for their country instead reverts to their basest of impulses and tries to tear down the others. They attack the other candidates to weaken their position or character instead of strengthening their own position.
By John Ames Birch7 years ago in The Swamp
Why Republicans Should Love Mayor Pete
Pete Buttigieg is surging in the polls, recently beating such heavyweight names as Senator Elizabeth Warren and Senator Cory Booker, he also came within spitting distance of Senator Bernie Sanders. In fact, the only other candidate that Mayor Pete, as he is commonly called among his supporters, is former Vice President Joe Biden, but that might not be an issue should Biden bow out of the race before entering it. Such is Buttigieg's popularity that Republicans have already started the war machine against him in the hopes of giving Trump a boost before potentially facing him in the general election. And how are they attacking the potential 2020 candidate by using the very things they would support, and even rally around, one of their own candidates for.
By Edward Anderson7 years ago in The Swamp
The Birds and the Bees
It's a summers day, the grass is lush and green and soft beneath my feet. The air is full of butterflies and other insects, and the bees go about their daily task of pollinating the flowers and making honey, something they have done for thousands of years. To my right is a line of ancient oak trees. The soft breeze gently blows through the leaves, creating dappled patterns of light on the forest floor. In the distance, the light dances on the surface of the lake, sparkling like millions of silverfish and I feel peaceful. The year is 1983, and in my naivety, I think this is how it will always be.
By Jean Luc Lafitte7 years ago in The Swamp
Political Manipulation
All the kings horses and all the kings men couldn't put Humpty together again. One of the good things about social media, is that politics, which was once confined as a whole to the country that you lived in, has now moved into the geopolitical arena. So it may surprise many Americans that in Europe, in my case England, we watch the story of President Trump unfold with as much interest as many Americans.
By Jean Luc Lafitte7 years ago in The Swamp
