controversies
It seems every time one racially-charged incident ends, a gender or religious controversy takes its place; Ruminate on the issues dividing our nation and world.
The Bigger Picture Behind Marine Pollution
Marine pollution occurs when chemicals, particles, industrial waste, agricultural waste, residential waste, noise, or invasive organisms enter into and harm the ocean ecosystem. Each year, billions of pounds of trash and other pollutants enter the ocean. Some pollutants come from a single, known source, like an oil spill. In other cases, the pollution is caused by an overabundance of a natural organism, like an algae bloom. Even sound can cause pollution—busy areas with lots of shipping traffic are unnaturally noisy, which harms the marine ecosystem. But most marine pollution comes from many smaller, dispersed sources, like septic tanks, cars, trucks, boats, trash, or farming.
By Bentham Science Publishers6 years ago in The Swamp
My Brother Asked Me a Question Designed to Hopefully Cause a Paradox
My brother asked me a question designed to hopefully cause a paradox. He asked me my opinion on a UK law that will make it illegal to smoke in a vehicle where there is a child present that is under the age of 18. It was evident that he assumed I'd be in favor of such a law, and he'd then spring the paradox of an unborn child deserving those same protections. He even "warned" me with, "Be careful, I'm setting you up." Here's my reply.
By Craig Braquet6 years ago in The Swamp
Vaping is Under Attack and Why You Should Care
Recently, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer imposed a statewide vaping ban resulting in the restriction of vaping products. This angered a lot of people, not to mention those not living in the state. Other states are quick to follow it seems. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is in the process of putting out a statewide ban of vaping products, which is understandably angering a lot of New Yorkers who use vaping as a means to not smoke, not to mention my home state of Connecticut is working on a ban as well.
By Christina Scanlon6 years ago in The Swamp
Identity: It's Complicated
I got thinking about one of our age's main obsessions the other day: The obsession of identity. We're constantly talking about identity: racial, sexual, economic, cultural. As the cult of identity grows, the concern for individualism recedes. People are no longer judged on their unique character, but on their demographic.
By Grant Patterson6 years ago in The Swamp
Symbols and Soldiers
As you traverse the highways and bi-ways of the US, going down on the map in the direction known as “South” you will notice some changes. First, it gets hotter and more humid, and this is not just the weather I’m talking about: I’m alluding to the intensity in the air, the tension that is palpable and almost tangible. Second, you will notice that people speak as if they have all the time in world to say what they need to say, you’ll notice how people speak at each other but don’t really speak to each other. People of all races will be polite, respectful and cordial, layering on loads of that social lubricant known as Southern Hospitality. Now, what you don’t know is what they say when you leave, but never mind that for the time being. The food gets better, and this might be my own bias, but you have cuisine that some claim to be their “heritage” but was actually mastered by melanin-sufficient matrons who had to slave away in kitchens to create a sort of cuisine known for its liberal application of seasoning and soul, but I digress, this isn’t about that.
By Robert Burton6 years ago in The Swamp
Gun Control
Yet another mass shooting and people are saying that there needs to be gun control. What people forget is that the young men that killed and wounded people at Columbine got their guns illegally because they (or at least one of them) were 17. The guy who wounded and killed people at a Las Vegas concert got all of his guns over time and most of them if not all of them weren't banned or outlawed at the time. The guys who killed people at Aurora, Sandy Hook and several other places had mental health issues. The man that killed people at Pulse did so because he was an extremist or had an issue with gay people. So as you can see, it's not the lack of gun control, it's the lack of enforcing the laws. The only new law we need is helping those who are disturbed before they hurt someone else. There may be some laws about bigger guns that need to be passed but we don't need too many laws. Why make it harder on sane and safe gun owners because of the crazy unsafe people? Also, laws won't make a difference to criminals. If someone wanted to do something bad, they will find a way to do it. We also can't figure out or say who is going to use their guns or weapons for harm.
By Lena Bailey6 years ago in The Swamp
A Simple* Guide on What Happens Next for Exiting the European Union
When Hilary Benn put forward his Withdrawal Bill, it meant that the Prime Minister will have to come back from Brussels in mid-October with a deal that passes through Parliament, otherwise the United Kingdom won't leave until January 31, 2020.
By Matthew Broad6 years ago in The Swamp
Do People Need Freedom of Speech?
In our time, everyone knows that any person has the right for freedom of expression and thought. Injustice and humiliation of human ideas and sayings existed in ancient times in different countries and cultures. Therefore, freedom of speech is a positive phenomenon. Every person has the opportunity to be, develop as a personality, and make his or her contribution to the development of modern society. However, it also has a negative side, because very often people do not control their emotions and express their ideas quite rudely. Do modern world need absolute freedom of expression?
By Jeff Simpson6 years ago in The Swamp
