opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Who Watches the Watchmen? An Examination of Police, Racism, and Law
After I finished with college just last December, receiving my bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, I have been searching for jobs in law enforcement and related law fields. Interested in my subject of professional study and being a long-time supporter of the Fraternal Order of Police union (my father is a retired union ironworker and an ardent supporter of unions), my father has kept an eye out for police related newspaper articles in the local paper. Dad saved an article from the February 18th, 2018 printing, an article in the opinion and commentary section by a Peter Moskos, who is apparently “Special to the Washington Post.” The article is entitled “Baltimore’s Police Problems Go Beyond a Few Criminals in Uniform”, and this article is a response to Mr. Moskos’ piece.
By Johnny Ringo5 years ago in The Swamp
On “Fake News”, Newspeak, and American Apathy and Exceptionalism
The popularity of the phrase "fake news" is infuriating. Every time it is seriously uttered by a Trump follower, or said mockingly by a Trump critic, the fact that anyone can possibly give such an obvious propaganda term serious thought at all is creepy to me. It makes me feel like those who use this phrase unwittingly give more power and more meaning to something that poignantly captures everything about Orwellian newspeak, in a way that just makes my skin crawl.
By Johnny Ringo5 years ago in The Swamp
If the Devil Wins, No More News for Me
Look. There’s only so much a person…and a country can take. At this juncture, here in the U.S., votes for the 20/20 Presidential election are still being tabulated and will be throughout the day. Everyone who’ve I’ve talked to is wiped out. Beyond drained. In mind, body and spirit.
By Sherry McGuinn5 years ago in The Swamp
RED and BLUE make PURPLE
Do you see it yet? I didn’t at first. I saw a reason to lament, to shake my head in disgust, to say to myself “Are you serious??”. A Voice, That Voice, cracked open the door and quietly asked “Why would it be different?” Then I saw it, and once I saw it, I couldn’t unsee it. It’s like that optical illusion plate picture where all the plates are upside down but once you see the one that is right side up, suddenly ALL the plates are right side up. And once you see it, you can’t unsee it. I can’t unsee what I have now seen. “Why would it be different” indeed. Good one God, got me.
By Nadine Buxton-Whatoname5 years ago in The Swamp
TODAY IT IS ELECTION DAY, GO OUT AND VOTE!
Tuesday morning I drank coffee and went to vote. I only had a five-minute drive to the polling place. The elementary school had two buildings to vote. I went to vote but they did not have me registered to vote. I should have gone to the school right next door. I am a registered voter and I had no problem with the ballot. I received the ballot and I went to an open station to cast my vote. After I voted I waited in line to put the ballot into the machine. I had to wait until the machine validated the ballot. I was there for about half an hour. I was done, I walked to my SUV and went home. At home, I did my chores and later I would watch the election.
By rose m lewis5 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Trump, You've Destroyed My Respect For The People That I Love
Am I the only one getting tired of explaining why human rights are more important than the economy? I come from a republican family. I was born and raised Irish catholic. I am the only one of my siblings that is gay, a woman and suffers from mental illness. It’s only me and let me tell you, it’s draining. Have you ever felt like the support given to you by people who just simply don’t understand isn’t enough? Do they belittle you without knowing or twist everything you say to make your feelings feel invalid? Are they defensive when you ask them to educate themselves a little more? Welcome to 2020 folks, the election from hell.
By Emily Noonan-Phillips5 years ago in The Swamp
What Happens Now?
We’re still waiting for the final results of the Presidential election as I write this. By the time this is published to Vocal. Media we may very well know who will be the one running the country for the next four years. Much can be said about the brutality of the actual elections, but that’s not going to be what this piece is about. Trust me when I say I have an axe to grind and will share my thoughts about it, but in a productive manner. For this piece though, I want to talk about how we can do our best to move forward after what has been a traumatic saga for many in this country.
By Chloe Medeiros5 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Black America...
So here we are...literally in between the rock and a racist place. We just witnessed one of the greatest heavyweight bouts of white supremacy the world has ever seen and it did not disappoint. Donald Trump vs Joe Biden! Red vs. Blue! Bloods and Crips. Same ol shit.
By DreadPirateBob5 years ago in The Swamp
Too Close For Comfort
The night before the election I was not optimistic. I remain in the same cloud of pessimism. After four years of watching that walking talking pile of rotting buboes, incite violence, get endorsed by every white supremacist group in the country, Strip away rights from queer communities, force sterilization on women whose children he ripped away, all while they are sitting assholes to elbows in a cage, and cause the deaths of over 230,000 Americans by downplaying a Virus with a global infection of over 45 million people.
By Paige Graffunder5 years ago in The Swamp
How The 'Trump Train' Took America Further Off the Rails
I am not a conservative, but I think one thing must be admitted: Donald Trump's incarnation of the Republican Party is quite skilled at navigating through scandals, emerging relatively unscathed. Sure, there are a few conservative fall guys and scapegoats who get jail time, littering the media landscape here and there. Still, by and large, most of them just "power through" batshit crazy moments like they're all just a figment of our imaginations, and they skillfully rely on our cultural desensitization and collective amnesia.
By Wade Wainio5 years ago in The Swamp
