opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Mass School Shootings: An Epidemic Sweeping Across America
I would like to begin this article by personally asking you to read it all the way through, whether or not your beliefs fall in line with mine. I put a lot of time and effort into this article, not for it to be condescending or intentionally aggravating, but to educate. I simply want a safer America, and no matter what, I think you, as the reader, want one too. If, for any reason, you feel that I have published a false report, or something offensive in nature, feel free to email me via the email address located at the end of the article. I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts an opinions, and I hope I may serve as a voice for my fellow students of America.
By Heroic Renegade8 years ago in The Swamp
The Left
In history, there are many who claim that the left is immoral, that its precepts are unlikely, that it is itself as bad as the right. However, these analyses are flawed, quite fatally, according to the words of Che Guevara—"The true revolutionary is motivated by deep feelings of love," a compassion that goes deeper than the surface of liberation and goes into the details of liberation. Guevara was not wrong. The left has always had a strong emotional appeal—children starving tends to wake one up from the illusion of capitalist paradise rather quickly and angers one to the point of radical actions. The Right, on the other hand, is motivated by hatred and greed. As I see black children killed, I am disgusted by the police and the criminal justice system that has failed them. But the right does nothing, sees nothing, and if it addresses these it chooses the side of the police, not the side of those who have less, who are persecuted, but the side of the privileged.
By Thomas Sebacher8 years ago in The Swamp
You Ignorant White Supremacist
White supremacist types are all fairly ignorant, you people really are. Why bother with so much hate? You have hate in your heart for something dumb—outward appearance or religion if we are talking about your hatred of Jewish people. Racism, however, goes both ways because Jewish people occasionally prefer not to intermix or marry outsiders. White nationalists do not want to do anything about their racism. They want to create their own White state. To which I think to myself, why bother? You people are twisted. Hating somebody for their race or looks is so futile.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez8 years ago in The Swamp
School Shootings, Gun Control, and the Media
I am sure by now we are all aware of the latest school shootings in Parkland and Santa Fe. These shootings are devastating tragedies that our entire nation mourns. Our country goes into a frenzy each time these horrific events happen. Immediately, there are news reports flooding social media and passionate debates on gun control laws among the people. One thing we can agree on, no matter what side of the debate you fall on, is that something must be done. What we cannot agree on, though, is what must be done.
By Elizabeth Horton8 years ago in The Swamp
Why This English Girl Supports Repeal the 8th
Why Irish Abortion Laws matter to me As a fan of BBC’s Call the Midwife, I’ve seen the desperate lengths women resorted to in order to abort unwanted children: backstreet abortions, taking unprescribed drugs, and self-abortion that was too graphic to describe. Of course, this was reflecting the lives of women 50/60 years ago and to most of us, it seems unimaginable that scenes similar to those portrayed on TV in a 1950s based show can still occur today in the UK and neighboring countries. I am, of course, referring to Ireland, both North and Republic. For those who are unaware, abortion is currently illegal across Ireland, but this could change Friday 25 May when the public gets to vote on whether the laws should be overturned.
By Ellen Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
If You Got Mad at Starbucks, YOU Are the Racist
This Starbucks situation is really pissing me off. That might not be an eloquent way of describing the thoughts within me right now, but it is an accurate one. The corporation, whose products I am actually quite fond of, announced today that it will begin instituting a new policy where anyone, regardless of being a customer, is free to use their lobbies, couches, tables, chairs and bathrooms at any time, for however long they need. Some are calling this a perfectly reasonable and acceptable response to their racist policy of throwing out two black men for just sitting there and not buying anything, but then again, some people call Larry The Cable Guy the pinnacle of stand up comedy. Some people say a lot of things, and the diversity in intelligence that the human race is subject to is truly a detrimental thing to have happened. That 5%, 10%, 85% percent quote Edison has makes a lot of sense.
By Regular Person8 years ago in The Swamp
Social Respect and Its Effect on Governance
Social respect and the result when it is missing: While it is not a science-based observation, it does seem that respect is declining in all societies. Respect for others, even your enemies, used to be normal, but now it is rare.
By Peter Rose8 years ago in The Swamp
Crisis Mode
Due to foreseen events, the world has become a meaner, more hostile place. Trumpism has given credibility to the madness. The lust for power and wealth by men have always given way to the anguish so many suffer. And too many suffer still. The words of Thomas Jefferson have no place in the America we see today. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, well, it is suffice to say they have all been taken away. They have been replaced by an oligarchy rule. An oligarchy rule that has tarnished the respectability and shattered the credibility that was our birthright when our founding fathers first penned the Constitution.
By Dr. Williams8 years ago in The Swamp
Republicans Are Now Completely Immoral
In the 9th grade, I took great delight in pissing off my sociology teacher. He was a WW2 veteran, had literally marched on Auschwitz, was an evangelical Christian, and deeply conservative. In classroom “discussions,” I used to quote anarchists from Camus to Sid Vicious just to infuriate the man. One day, as I argued the benefits of anarchy, he became enraged like I’d never seen him. He pounded his fists on my desk and leaned in close enough that spittle flew into my face. His eyes gleamed, and he savored what he said next with the delight of a wonderful fantasy. He said, “If there were no law, Mr. Bulley, I would shoot you.” He cocked his head to the side, considering his options, then continued, “I would use a high-powered rifle with a scope, a 30.06 and I would wait on the hill behind your house and when you stepped outside, smiling, confident, cocky, you would never see it coming. You would never realize you were dead until your own chest burst apart and your front door was littered with gore.” He grinned, I think because he finally shook me. “That, sir, is why we must have law.”
By David Bulley8 years ago in The Swamp
Kanye Is Right: Slavery Was (and Still Is) a Choice
I've seen a lot of outrage recently. A lot of hate mixed with joke telling, name calling, and meme making. I'm reading long, curse laden, and often grammatically incorrect rants every single time I'm stupid enough to log onto social media. Kanye West, a man no stranger to pissing off large sections of Earth's population, is back at it again with the controversy (Damn Kanye!). This time though, instead of white people obsessed with Taylor Swift or South Park, he's been busy earning himself a reputation as an Uncle Tom by those once considered his faithful followers.
By Regular Person8 years ago in The Swamp
The Starbucks Boycott
Apparently, two people arrested for trespassing at a Starbucks location is worthy of national news, Good Morning America appearances, and a call for a boycott of our overpriced, trendy corporate coffee house. The reason? The men arrested were black.
By Brian Dollard8 years ago in The Swamp
