politics
Politics does not dictate our collective cultural mindset as much as it simply reflects it; We've got to look in the mirror sometimes, and we've got one.
Syrian Sovereignty Restored
With the United States withdrawing from Syria, the territories of Turkish and Syrian Kurdistan were being invaded by Turkish government forces. Western media has claimed that US withdrawal from the region was a failure and a threat to the Kurds. Turkey has not only started to reclaim Turkish Kurdistan, but also crossed over into Syrian Kurdistan. The government of Assad, seeing that Turkey is violating Syria’s legal borders, would send in their own troops into Syrian Kurdistan, not just to defend what the Syrian government views as their territory, but because of a deal they struck with the Kurds.
By Mike Johnson6 years ago in The Swamp
Wait, Let's Rethink This
If you live in Canada, you probably know that in less than a week, we will be heading back to the polls, and if you're from out of the country, then, Ayo! Suprise, Canada has another election that you may or may not have heard of. I think it's always an interesting idea to take a step back, and try to explain the election from the point of view of one outsider telling another outsider about the election, similarly to me talking about American or British politics to one of my friends, so I'll attempt to do the same thing here.
By Kelly Thompson6 years ago in The Swamp
My Non-Profit Idea
My non-profit is supposed to help disabled people get a job. It also would be a way for other non-profits to print newsletters since we’d have the resources available to be able to do so. Positive news for free is lacking. So in which case, we need to create resources that print good things done by good people, as an antidote to all the hatred out there. Good is hard to come by these days, in particular the greater good. I had family once tell me not to be friends with disabled people, when excuse me, I’m trying to rid myself of my own paranoia about myself, because as it turns out, I do not qualify for a discounted bus fare. Sometimes the world keeps getting darker, because the news is all about people wronging each other, doing wrong, hurting people, and often is made of stories about conflict resulting in tragedy. Our world is forced to deal with a darkness that has descended upon us because of the leaders we elected into office that do not deserve to be there. Not everybody is going to be happy about the way things are.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez6 years ago in The Swamp
How Can We Look up to MPs Now?
And breathe... Westminster has prorogued and has been suspended from sitting for five weeks. Or can we relax? Parliament, deeply divided on everything Brexit and beyond, are still swinging handbags on the radio, the TV, the media and in and out of court rooms this last week.
By Ian Peter Loftus6 years ago in The Swamp
Liberal Democracy
There is a slogan of the American Civil Liberties Union: "Dissent is Democratic." I find myself in awe of this quote. In the United States, dissent is supposed to mean something; it is important. Americans think that they have a voice that acts in their interest. Of course they do. We live in a liberal democracy. Of course, nobody thinks about what exactly that means. What is a liberal democracy?
By Ellen Howell6 years ago in The Swamp
War On Drugs: Why We Need a Better Solution
When you think of someone who takes drugs—a drug addict—what springs to mind? From my experience, people will offer a variety of replies. Usually, they describe how they perceive how people look, often saying things like dirty, homeless, rude, violent, problems. Then the description will move on to the crime and violence associated with drugs. The effects of the drug world impact all the communities we live in, but what most people don't realise is that it doesn't have to be this way.
By Nic Castle6 years ago in The Swamp
How I Want to Serve My City Hall
I’ve been a Parliamentarian before in student government. I’d love to be one again if I do De Anza student government. At any rate, I’m stuck in San Jose for a while longer until I can cope with crowds by myself, and I’m getting my A.A. in film and television in the process, because what I really want is to move to Los Angeles to work as a producer or something with the film industry while getting my MFA in creative writing. City Hall may have plenty of public service opportunities if we take a look at the website. I’m looking at the website just to see what’s happening.
By Iria Vasquez-Paez6 years ago in The Swamp
Aussie and Kiwi Rivalry
Australians tell jokes about New Zealanders and vice versa. Our countries are close geographically and in many other respects. We have fought together, everyone has heard of the ANZAC’s, Australian and New Zealand Army Corp, and there is even a popular biscuit named in the honour of these soldiers.
By Ian McKenzie6 years ago in The Swamp
