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.

Working Poor? Seriously?
How many times have you heard: dream big, work hard and it will pay off in the end? You lost count? Some are losing faith.
By Bonnie Simpson8 years ago in The Swamp
Stalin's American Spies
There is an old saying that truth is often stranger than fiction. Works of non-fiction can often prove that to be the case, revealing sometimes hidden or forgotten stories from our history. The Cold War, that epic conflict of ideologies fought largely in the shadows and still influencing the world we live in today, is just such an example. While so many great fictional spy stories were inspired by it ranging from Ian Fleming's James Bond novels to John le Carré's George Smiley, the real world of Cold War espionage can be just as fascinating as any thriller. The non-fiction work The Haunted Wood proves that to be the case with its exploration of the Americans who spied for the Russians in the 1930s and 1940s.
By Matthew Kresal8 years ago in The Swamp
How Do Democracies Become Dictatorships?
It's often been said that those who do not fight for freedom should expect to stop having it. In many points throughout history, democracies stopped being democratic — and started being the grounds that helped dictators rise to power.
By Cato Conroy8 years ago in The Swamp
Same Sex Marriage
We are living in a world where we have to worry about who is going to take our rights away, even though the First Amendment is to protect us from having our lives ran by someone who doesn't like our choice into whom we choose to marry.
By Melissa Landis8 years ago in The Swamp
I Gotta Pee
If you've been following social media and the news lately, I'm pretty sure you've heard about the big issue on which bathroom transgender people should be allowed to use. You have some people who are pro gay rights and support using the room which matches their gender identity, while others who strongly oppose the move for various reasons. I see this not as a social issue regarding rights to either party but as a ploy to stir controversy and trigger an emotional response.
By Wakai Safin8 years ago in The Swamp
Being Trans. Trans-ish
Before our cameras were on our phones, before Google owned the world, even before the internet itself there was me. This is me. I've been in various stages of transitioning into a man for twenty-two years. This train of thought started over a friend's offense at the image of Klinger in heels with a gun. Klinger. From M*A*S*H*. I'll get back to that.
By Mary McPherson8 years ago in The Swamp
Trump Threatens Removal Of Subsidy Payments For Health Insurance
Once again, the immaturity of the 45th president of the United States continues to shine through. Is there legislation that needs changing in the United States? Absolutely, and change is good for almost any government if it's done in an appropriate fashion. In the case of Obamacare, there are a number of flaws within that system which makes change necessary, but one way to execute change is not to simply remove subsidies to the insurers until President Trump gets his way.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in The Swamp
Democracy Must Rule
Democracy must rule if the world is going to cope with the future. It must be real democracy and not this mismatch of a mix of elites superficially controlled by political parties.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
'The Mooch' Launches Vulgar Tirade On 'New Yorker' Reporter
Anthony Scaramucci, the new White House communications director, apparently has quite the mouth on him. Although "The Mooch" seemed quite serene and conciliatory in his first appearance at the communications lectern, the man who called The New Yorkerreporter Ryan Lizza July 26 was anything but. According to Lizza, Scaramucci wanted to know who leaked information about a dinner that he had with President Trump, the First Lady, Sean Hannity and former Fox News executive Bill Shine. When Lizza refused to reveal his sources to Scaramucci, the communications director tried to appeal to his sense of patriotism.
By Christina St-Jean8 years ago in The Swamp
The Land Which Was Once Free
In case some of you have been living in a cave for the last few years, the former Land of the Free has changed into the land which common sense forgot. Gone has the get up and get things done. Replaced by the let's sit and watch dumbed down television and eat vast quantities of burgers etcetera.
By Michael Blair8 years ago in The Swamp
Revisiting Anti-Semitic Incidents
Remember me talking about the meanings of Zionist and Anti-Semitism? I think I might have ranted about how racist and cruel people are. Guess what, I'm back again writing a revisit about something that has caught my attention; that people are still hating people who dress differently or live differntly than them.
By Lizzy Arrow8 years ago in The Swamp
Justine Ruszczyk and Police Brutality
There is a concept in law called "Qualified Immunity" which prevents government employees from being sued when taking action in their official capacity. Furthermore, prosecutors and police officials have "prosecutorial immunity," which means that they cannot be prosecuted in many circumstances. For instance, if a prosecutor lies or withholds evidence or the police kill the wrong person, they won’t be prosecuted.
By J Reed8 years ago in The Swamp