opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
The Importance of Wording
Diction is the choice and use of words and phrases in writing; there is specific diction used by the media and people that manipulates the information that is being presented. Diction can also be used to minimize the importance or what is actually happening. For example, people use the phrase "abortion debate." A women's right to bodily autonomy is not up for debate, this is a religious minority's move to control the bodies of everyone who has a uterus. That cannot be called a debate because it is not a debate, it is a human rights violation. People also tend to call Nazis monsters, but they are not supernatural creatures or mythical demons; they are human, terrible humans. Nazis were young, they have parents, they are parents, they could be siblings, they eat, they sleep, they die, they still do not deserve forgiveness or empathy. When people use that wording, it dehumanizes Nazis and that creates a level of separation between us and them; that can be dangerous because people will then ignore the subtitle signs of anti-semitism by saying "Oh they're not monsters." Do not forget that they are human and they do not deserve sympathy.
By Selena Vazquez7 years ago in The Swamp
The Cults of Brexit: Leave VS Remain - A Battle of the Antagonists
I am completely and utterly fed up with Brexit, you might be as well. But it seems as though the savage Leave and Remain armies, that do battle daily, have become stuck in a kind of ideological trench warfare, with neither side willing to budge an inch. None of the participants involved in the Brexit debate will submit to the will of the other, a massive democratic decision is being rolled back, and each side is looking more and more like fascist generals squaring off their infantrymen and preparing for death or glory.
By Johnny Vedmore7 years ago in The Swamp
Socialism v. Capitalism
Before I get started, I want to make sure everyone understands the definition of each system. The dictionary definition of socialism is a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole. Capitalism is an economic and political system in which a country's trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state. In other words it means “free-market.” Socialism being closer to a system of government called “communism.”
By Jacob Nelson7 years ago in The Swamp
World Leaders and the Power of Speech
For a few centuries, charming, angry, relatable, mesmerizing, or larger-than-life leaders have come to power with bad intentions. They manipulate the people who find out later that it was all for personal gain. The thing is, it's a recent phenomenon. Before the rise of democracy, there may have been tyrants, but none that had to manipulate citizens to gain their power. There's Napoleon in the early 19th century, who took France from revolutionary turmoil to nearly taking over Europe by becoming a charismatic, trustworthy tyrant hellbent on raising French nationalism and seizing all kinds of power. Then you have the rise of fascism with Hitler, Mussolini, Franco, and Imperial Japan, and arguably the rise of the Soviet Union, with controversial figures like Lenin and homicidal figures like Stalin. Of course, there have also been demagogue dictators in other areas of the world—Mao Zedong, Kim Jong Il, Robert Mugabe, Sadam Hussein, Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, Idi Amin, and Muammar al-Gaddafi.
By Keegan Roembke7 years ago in The Swamp
Universal Discredit: The Tory Disgrace
Ian Duncan Smith will not be neatly preserved by the pickling jar of time. His undoubtedly scaly skin will be further distressed from him being the third Tory Titan to fall to Blair. His already bald scalp will be stripped tighter by his sweetheart’s scandalous salary. His grisly cackle will be encapsulated by his fairytale accolades and achievements. But the dash that will finally turn the sweet cucumber into a bitter pickle will be his implementation of universal credit.
By Joe Southwood7 years ago in The Swamp
American Politics in the Eyes of a Filipino
One thing worth admiring about the United States of America is that it has continued existing for around 240 years, and its stayed almost the same, when countries around the globe failed and fell, including its former archenemy, the Soviet Union. Of course, the history of the United States has not been all rainbows and butterflies. It has suffered wars with other countries, and even with itself during the American Civil War, and it has gone through multiple economic recessions and depressions, the most recent being in 2008.
By Jakeson Eudela7 years ago in The Swamp
Just-World Hypothesis: Conservatism's Fantasyland
If people are asked to think of words they could associate with conservatism, it is certain that most of them would answer religion or free markets and we cannot blame them for that. Both a desire to uphold religious values and traditions and promote free-market policies had been a staple of conservatism, most especially American conservatism. However, asking people how conservatives perceive society and their surroundings would seem a more daunting task. Nevertheless, conservatives’ perception of the world could be summarised into three words: just-world hypothesis.
By Jakeson Eudela7 years ago in The Swamp
I'm a Black Democrat, Not a Fan of Trump, but I May Be Open to Voting for Him, Maybe
I've been a Democrat-leaning Independent ever since I became an American citizen in 2006. In the last three presidential elections I've voted for the Democratic Candidate for president. For the mid-term elections I've voted for candidates of all political stripes, my decision as to which candidate to vote for has been based on their specific policy positions as oppose to whatever party they belong to.
By Kubvoruno Dzimiri7 years ago in The Swamp
Is Real Life What We Want?
Is real life what we want? Could we cope with reality? It often appears that we—that is modern people living in developed nations—live our lives through images of other people. Some seem to want to live their lives through their children, wishing they live as their parents would liked to have done. Could any of us cope with "real life," whatever that means?
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
