opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
The Kool-aid We Willingly Drink
I've never fancied myself an activist - or "attacktivist" as I have often called them. I've never known a self-labeled activist that was pleasant. They were passionate to the point of combativeness. They were consumed with their cause and they struck down anything in their way - not with pretty words of persuasion, but with words wielded like swords, felling anyone or anything that stood between them and their goal. I was both appalled and in awe. I am outspoken. Sometimes very much so. But I've never fancied that anyone cared what I had to say. That anything I could voice would carry on the winds of change and make any difference at all. And where do you sow these seeds of opinion sent out to change the world? On social media? That seems most common because people can raise armies of followers. But I have grown weary, battle fatigued I suppose.
By Pam Reeder4 years ago in The Swamp
Willingness to follow
Conspiracy theories are the most significant way to clickbait me. I admit it I am a self-proclaimed junkie for the latest time traveler or political plot. I have my own theories about how long it will take a country to invade America. I think I am really on to something. It all started with a prince and an ex-president, but that is all I can say. And just like that, a chemtrail of ideas fall from the sky, see what I did there? I took my hunch and turned it into not one, but two unrelated theories wound together by words and thoughts. Are conspiracy theories a way humans bond with each other even if detrimental to their own fate? I asked this question to myself as I designed my theory about the takeover of America. Here are some things I found during my journey into the conspiracy world of theories.
By Page Neihoff4 years ago in The Swamp
World Embassy Speech
World Embassy Speech The world is witnessing a crisis in Afghanistan that is the result of an illegal and disastrous war in Iraq which was instigated 20 years ago under the invented war on terrorism. The aftermath of this war has left us with defenseless global nationals and de-humanized citizens who face political terrorism locally as we all, at the same time, face both corporate and political terrorism globally.
By John Bowen4 years ago in The Swamp
Afghanistan Failure, Vietnam 2.0
The break down of security and safety for the citizens of Afghanistan has me concerned. As I watched bodies fall from the airplane on Monday, it brought to mind another tragic day, September 11. I have many friends from that area of the world, whose families are still there. Today, a military cargo flight with 823 passengers took off from Kabul, now departures are halted because the refugee centers are full.
By Lawrence Edward Hinchee4 years ago in The Swamp
Making the Case for Afghanistan
Afghanistan has become the most politically captivating story of the day. Nothing has grasped the attentions of the American people so tightly probably since we watched a mob of rioters storm our nation’s capital. Over the course of this document, I will make the case for Afghanistan. I will give my two cents of what I believe are the failures of the current and previous administrations. The case I will make is not one in support of abandoning thirty million people to the oppressive rule of the Taliban, but rather one of American projectionism and protectionism. But first. Who am I to make these claims or to believe I have any insight into this matter?
By James Graham III4 years ago in The Swamp
Get Them Out Now
Afghanistan is experiencing a horrible humanitarian crisis. The Taliban for all their claims of moderation are already showing their true colors. Whatever commitment they might have to preventing Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for terrorism will vanish in a year or two as the West sanctions them for how they treat women, children, interpreters, and minority ethnic groups. Likely, the best-case scenario right now is that the nascent resistance forming in Panjshir turns into the real thing, which would result in a bona-fide civil war. Especially since I’m sure someone, possible even a different US administration come 2024 will provide aid.
By Farah Thompson4 years ago in The Swamp
Lehi High Chemistry Teacher Let Fear Turn into Bullying Some Students
Scrolling through Facebook, a post mentioned chemistry teacher Leah Kinyon’s berating students on the first day of school. I searched through the news and my Facebook feed. Some parents on Facebook understandably called for her to be fired. After school on the first day, Alpine School District put the teacher on administrative leave. In the afternoon, the district announced she was no longer an employee (either fired or resigned).
By Eileen Davis4 years ago in The Swamp
Polarization, Fear, and Loathing in modern America
I moved to the US Mid 2015 not knowing that I would end up staying, not knowing that society would turn this way, even when it was pretty obvious that Bernie would not secure the nomination – I stayed and I was a fairly blind leftist hopeful 20 something. I have since lived out a journey of trial and tribulations laced with lofty idealism with attempted shortcuts to fame and glory, none the less. As I write this, as far as I can see, American Exceptionalism is in full swing again this Election season. Here is another fabled attempt by yours truly to give the gist of what is happening.
By Conner Williams4 years ago in The Swamp
America Is A Communist Country
In the truest sense of the word, Communism is meant to mean a system of governance in which the workers own the means of production. However here in America we have developed and popularized a very different meaning for this word, whereby we use it to describe any country whose government is really a form of dictatorship and where the people have no real freedom (e.g. China, Russia, and North Korea). In some weird way we have conflated this misuse of the word communism with socialism, and it is now seen as an irrevocable disability to be labeled as a socialist in this country, even though most of the people if asked without the stigma of socialism attached actually like and support socialist policies (Social Security, anyone?).
By Zane Larkin4 years ago in The Swamp
