opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Emotionalism in America.
Emotionalism is destroying America. It feels harsh but, it’s true... and this is coming from a recovering emotionalist. I say recovering, because getting to a level of maturity that enables one to lead with logic rather than emotion is a long, tedious journey of unlearning that I’m sure is going to take years, perhaps even a life time to reach. However, I am committed to living a life of radical truth and clarity. That means, living according to facts, not feelings.
By Karchye Aqui6 years ago in The Swamp
America Can't Do It Alone
It appears history has repeated itself and the world is once again in the Dark Ages. Millions are sicked with this disease and hundreds of thousands have died from this disease. It seems like the end of the world and no end of its grip in sight disturbing the very foundation of government. Overshadowing the economy, businesses no longer can operate without customers and employees. With all the world's advancement, inevitable diseases find their way to disturbing humanity. So what do we do and who do we turn to? Science and history have shown that we need our Allies to forge a relentless alliance against such epidemics. It was both immigrants and citizens alike who partnered in the laboratories coming up with vaccines and cures. And now the world faces the question, be at war with one another or be in truce to fight this invisible enemy. And now we know what the old war slogan means "neutrality is death". We cannot battle this alone, we are not big enough and we are not great enough. The world has to come together. America does not have to be best at everything and frankly, no country is the best everything. And even when a country declares itself the best, it is tested by the pride it proclaims. We are better, the world is better when it comes together. If we see our reflection in the world then we can make gains. Our reflection might tell us what we are weak at and what we can do better. On the other hand, pride and strife create chaos because it distorts the reality of the situation. We cannot hide behind the fact that we cannot wait. Do we know that the coronavirus spreads in the body through protein receptors, then why not invest in research that blocks these receptors? We know that the previous coronavirus drains the body of its immunity and vitamins and minerals, then why not invest in research that builds up these areas within the body? Time is running out and refusing to trust allies might be a dire consequence. The sacrifice we make today will make it a better tomorrow for the future. We see the success in other countries, why not share in the success? America is not the first empire that dealt with fatal diseases. America has to empower its research now and reconnect to the world with funding. There is no other choice otherwise we will be held back and our people will suffer from a lack of accountability and transparency. We will be immune to this disease someday, no matter if it changes form if we prepare the science. Science is not the enemy of the state. Science saved us from wars, helped us win, and empower forward-thinking. Science has brought about knowledge and power that has enlightened the ages even though it had its flaws, true science is proven research that tells informative and effective and efficient information. Enough with war, this is about civility and livelihood. We must not fight each other or be partisan dividing we will lose our chance to normalcy. Every general knows, and every captain understands never to declare war on an invisible enemy because that enemy is untraceable. Instead, you must find facts and distribute the truth with diplomacy and eloquence and administer justice. Yes we must keep social distancing, and yes we must wear masks, and yes we must be clean of germs but also we must hurry the science and research that focus directly on reasonable and rational data. Every world leader understands that technologies, science, and research enables a nation to stand the test of time and endure.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous6 years ago in The Swamp
Masks or Evil
I am out raged! The mandates of wearing masks around the country is out of control. I stand in the position that it should be one’s personal choice as to whether or not they wear a mask in public. I, however, am asthmatic and will NOT wear a mask. To be honest, I do not care what your choice is, nor will I condemn you for it. My real problem is, why are the people more concerned about whether or not your wearing a mask as to the fact over 800,000 children per year go missing according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. First of all, that is approximately 2,000 children per day and 115 children are abducted by a stranger. Pedophilia is coming forth in the media, but no one seems to be paying attention. Evil is lurking for our children, but yet, we seemed to be more concerned about a mask.
By Heather Cash6 years ago in The Swamp
"All Lives Matter" and the deep-rooted, misled, abhorrent nature of this sentiment
As a white person, a quote from author Sheri Faye Rosendahl resonates with me: “The only thing that should come after ‘I’m not racist but…’ is ‘but racism is so ingrained in my society and culture that on some level I definitely am and need to do my part to destroy the system of oppression that people like me have created and benefit from on the daily’ ”.
By Katie Kenyon6 years ago in The Swamp
What Republicans Will Look Like
Republicans are a dying breed and if you recall, in my last article of the prior meanings of the terms Republican or Democrat in the United States, you see why. A party that holds tight to racism, sexism, and lack of reproductive rights does not last long in the modern world. Any conservatism all over the planet does not last long. Nor does an obsessively liberal attitude. There will be a time when we move beyond political parties as a deciding factor in which way we vote, and the eventuality is that we will change our ways to vote based on character, track record, and gut feeling, not party lines.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez6 years ago in The Swamp
The Anthem-Star Spangled Banner
It's the battle cry of the republic. It's the symbol of patriotism. It's the hope and prays of the union to continue as one under God. Yet at one time it symbolism did not always mean free. The song creator did not always believe in his words that expressed the American ambition to always stay free. History has revealed the many flaws of our past and now we have to reconcile the wrong. Women and minorities did not have the say or right to think freely and this song of patriotism was born under that era. For many decades, this song was held dearly by former slaves and people without a right. It is up to us the next generation to understand our history and use what we know for good. We must adopt the words and apply them to our own lives and live our the true meaning of its creed. And now it is debatable to honor the words of a slaveholder. America can honor his gifted poetry which got many Americans thinking about freeing their slaves and denounce his livelihood which agrees with slavery. We must face the contradictions and break their trance on American society realizing that they have stained our past. We must break down the song that confronted America's transgressions. America must try to redeem its past and focus on a more equal future among the races. Children have learned these verses without understanding them. Children in belief in the betterment of their country proclaimed those verses as if they were written by God and in stone never to be changed. Our children must be told the truth and they must accept what their ancestors went through and know their place in the history of America. Education must teach the harsh truths of history so America can be better and learn from the mistakes of the past. Thus, America will not repeat the past's sins and emerge as a nation of unity and not division. Immigrants have come to our country believing that they too can become a part of the American Dream. Their truest desire to become a part of a nation where they could fight for it and dream along with it. We must end the attack on immigrants for this nation was made from them. We must welcome all who find our creed noble and our power divine. America is privileged to lead the world and we did not exactly earn it. Every life is precious to building up our nation and the protection of our borders. We must end the ridicule of immigrants because they are a part of America, we hope for. Soldiers have died with these words of the songs fighting endlessly in war and never seeing lasting peace. This song made it the American Way to fight for peace, "the bombs bursting in the air." We must end the idea that peace can only be accomplished through war. War is devastating and traumatizing. We must end the glorification of war. Generations have been lost at war, nations have been divided because of war. Peaceful diplomacy will save our union, not destructive ambitions. Silent soldiers with tears down their eyes hoping for a day without a battle and they secretly resist. We must find a way to bridge all these gaps in knowledge. We must put the song in perspective orchestrating the peace that can last a lifetime. May we never forget what our freedoms and rights are and never think too highly of ourselves preserving the union for ages to come. We forgot we maybe forged out of war and wars do that but we do not have to remain at war with others and ourselves.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous6 years ago in The Swamp
Putin's Strategic Style Explains Afghanistan Bounties
The current uproar in the U.S. news cycle concerns Russian bounties offered to criminals and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, in order to incentivize them to kill U.S., British and other NATO personnel. This short piece seeks to clarify why Russia pursued this course of action and counters far-fetched proposed explanations.
By Shahaf Rabi6 years ago in The Swamp
Why I Believe What I Believe
My content is usually pretty well-organized and thought-out. But today, things are coming at me a little differently. It’s Independence Day, the 4th of July. Previously known as one of my favorite holidays. But this year? It feels wrong. It feels wrong to celebrate a country that still holds so much racism, sexism, and the like. As I push into my late twenties, I’ve felt more comfortable and confident to stand by my morals and beliefs, whether people despise me because of them or not. I am anti-racist. I am anti-sexist. I am against any belief or moral that diminishes the value of another human life or strips them of their rights. In America, these beliefs and morals are still very much alive and practiced by millions of people.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in The Swamp
Fixing a Broken Society
In a time when human beings are seemingly more divided than ever, there is one thing I am willing to say that we can all agree on. The reality of human existence, the systems of the global human civilization is broken. Though this is not a startling revelation to any reader, it is interesting to note, that you could ask any human if they thought the current structures and state of humanity are functioning the best that they can, and I would be confident that the answer would be a resounding no.
By Jeff McCarty6 years ago in The Swamp
Taking a bullet for a President
There are jobs in the world that I am thankful that I do not have. Lion tamer. Plummer. Dentist. A postal worker. These are all professions that I am glad are carried out by other people. My gratitude is based in part on my understanding of my relative strengths and weaknesses. This understanding has allowed me to understand why the job of taming lions and repairing other people's pluming belongs in the hands of other people. If forced though to identify one professional position that I would be profoundly ill suited too, particularly at this juncture in our nation's development, it would be that of a secret service agent, tasked with overseeing the protection of our current protection.
By frederick Hurst6 years ago in The Swamp
