opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
The Fourth Of July Has Become a Day of Mourning
My Mayflower ancestors, illegal immigrants from England in 1620, invaded a country not their own. Those immigrants, including Isaac Allerton, Mary Norris, and their children including four-year-old daughter Mary Allerton, were Pilgrim Separatists, seeking religious freedom in a new place. They had been forced to flee their home in England in order to worship as they were called to do, and build a new life in a country far different from what they knew. It was worth giving up everything they had to start a new life, where they could worship as they chose. They stole the country of my Indigenous ancestors, and started a history of genocide, yes. They were seeking freedom, but their Christian religion was a martial one, so they did what they had been taught. Today, we know better. But are we doing better? I have my doubts.
By Hillora Lang4 years ago in The Swamp
You Don’t Get a Free Pass On Being Racist Because You’re Family
If your family and extended families are anything like mine, you know what it’s like to have a racist, bigoted, sexist, homophobic, or xenophobic family member. Maybe several. Perhaps a number of them have terrible views about all five things I just mentioned.
By The Mouthy Renegade Writer4 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Prime Minister...
To the Right Honorable Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau: Hello! Prime Minister, let me first say that I am a fan, as is most of my family. My mother still waxes poetic about your father and has remained loyal to the Grits (the Liberal Party for those not in the know). I think that she may have even met him when she first came to this country and was just beginning her life as a Canadian citizen as he was beginning to take the reins of government. Myself, I barely remember the man while he was in office, but I have seen films and read plenty of books and papers to be impressed by his achievements. And then I think about you and what you have accomplished as his son. No one likes to be compared to their parents too often for too long, but I think that in your case it is impossible to ignore. So, I think that you might need to do something quite dramatic to keep you name in the history books besides being a footnote to Trudeau pere:
By Kendall Defoe 4 years ago in The Swamp
Of Employees and Americans
She couldn’t help it. It stood out in a sea of business and business casual. She found herself drawn to the color of his t-shirt as the man meandered his way through the restaurant following the hostess. Well, it was not so much a color as it was the sum total of a variety of shading which gave the overall appearance of wearing an aged document. As he approached her and her table she was fascinated with how the sun light danced on and off the hues of his shirt when he came from the bright day light to the filtered of the pergola which covered the café seating. He continued to come closer to her and she could recognize the familiar calligraphy of the first three words of the constitutional preamble, “We the People.” As he continued to approach her she could make out the crimson spray paint graffito styled addition stating, “Are Pissed.” She was so captivated by the shirt she hadn’t realized he was headed to her.
By V. H. Eberle4 years ago in The Swamp
Boris Wants To Lead Government Into Next Election.
Boris despite two by-election defeats wants to lead the Tories into the next general election. Boris admitted he wants to lead the Tories into a third general election. Is Boris delusional or does he know something we don't?
By Nicholas Bishop4 years ago in The Swamp
The Rights of My Daughter
I live in Missouri where they signed a law making abortions illegal within moments of the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn Roe V. Wade. At first, I was thanking the heavens that I had a tubal ligation 13 years ago and that this isn't going to affect me fully. In thinking that, I wasn't seeing the bigger picture. I began watching videos of countless women angry that our right to choose was taken away. Again, I thought, "Well I don't have to choose anymore, I don't need to voice my opinion." As the day moved forward, I began to think more and more about the effects this is going to have on women. Women are going to seek illegal, backdoor abortions and potentially not survive someone who may or may not be a doctor. They might die on the table or later when they get home from a hemorrhage. What if they have a miscarriage? Some states are going to make it punishable by law to have a miscarriage. I had one, it was not in my control at all. I can't imagine looking at jail time over something that had already destroyed me. Women can't even purchase the Plan B pill to keep from getting pregnant or seek medical assistance to get an abortion pill if needed. What does this mean for women who have an ectopic pregnancy? Oh well, you're going to die but at least we gave the child a shot at life? I'm pissed. I am overwhelmed at the possible future my daughter and my step-daughter are going to have to face. What about the women who were raped and now are forced to have the child of a predator? I can't imagine. I don't want to imagine.
By Cynthia Paul4 years ago in The Swamp
Hypocrisies of The Party View
In a world of designated echo chambers, that decide your views based on left or right, sometimes an issue comes along that shows how flawed their thinking is. I used to try to make sense of what I would see in videos or on social media from these types, but I realized that there’s no point in trying to make sense of the senseless. The non-stop finger-pointing and blaming from both sides does amazing things for the leaders of the party. Knowing that at any moment, they can release a story that will spark debate, and the same ones on the same team will have the same views. Every once in a while a heated topic comes up and shows in reality their views hold no weight, and they don’t believe in what they’re saying.
By Kevin Viani4 years ago in The Swamp
January 6, 2021
14th Amendment. Section 3. No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability. (Copied from archive.gov/founding docs)
By Joseph Barrow4 years ago in The Swamp
