Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
AmeriAid
Recently, while reading George W. Bush's memoir Decision Points, I began to wonder about my own contributions to my community and society as a whole. I realized I helped to better my community in minute ways: reorganizing and writing the bylaws of a non-profit community store that helped people with clothes, food, utility payments, and even rent while supporting their growth through faith based initiative; organizing and speaking at an event to bring together a city falling apart to drugs and crime in Ohio; starting temporary programs of my own that helped families with winter clothing, paying their bills, paying their rent or getting an apartment, or having a meal to prepare for the holidays. Overall though, I was missing a greater contribution to help the nation I love to regain a lost independence. I contemplated what the hot topic of debate was that was serious enough to attract my attention. Then, I had it come to me. Healthcare! Therefore, in the following, I will expound upon my epiphany.
By Dr. Brian Smithberger9 years ago in The Swamp
Philosofail
Every once and again some philosophical dilettante gifts us with unparalleled sapience in video format. Incredible largess is displayed as complex philosophical ideas are broken down into bite-size pieces. Everybody's a fan. However, by that same token, we are, at times, treated to a buffet of word salad where sentences knot themselves together into argumentative catastrophes. I am speaking, of course, about one Philosophy tube. For some time now, Olly, who runs said channel, has amassed a considerable following, thanks in part to his unmistakably charming accent. Sometimes, however, his arguments are rendered far less persuasive than his character. For one thing, Olly pushed out an unscheduled video recently imploring viewers to imbibe his message about conservative voters. Clunky, disoriented, and haphazard, this video portended what calamity might unfold if Olly doesn't reorient his channel's ethos. Specifically, towards his videos end he, perhaps inadvertently, bifurcated his audience between those regular, left-leaning individuals, and everyone else. Needless to say, everyone else cocked their head at this unusual gesture. Philosophy tube, we thought, was dedicated to relaying important philosophical information in a manner that is both digestible and entertaining. However, on this occasion, Olly seemed to have pivoted his channel's purpose to pedaling those political issues that he regards as particularly exigent. Worse still, our gracious host closed the video's comment section to avoid potential squabbling. To me, Olly's actions here represent anti-philosophy's apotheosis. The imperative to close discussion unilaterally in an effort to have one's voice "heard" is an unpersuasive argument all together. On the one hand, scientific journals that pass peer-review gain clout as they demonstrate their robust defenses. Consequently, we generally revere articles that result from this process. On the other hand, theories or opinions that are produced without any analogous peer-review are, in a similar vein, looked down upon. This fact, of course, begs the question of why anybody militating on behalf of those thing's philosophical would decide to close himself off to criticism. So, for his credibility's sake, here I will offer a brief criticism of just one point made in his video. At one point, Olly indicated that America's invasion in Iraq was immoral on account of how many casualties there were at day's end. I find this reasoning wholly unconvincing. To Olly, our moral analysis of wartime conflict ends partially, if not wholly, when every body has been counted. There is one problem with this; that is, that this argument draws no meaningful distinction between consequences that are intended, and consequences that are foreseen. Intended consequences are subject to moral criticism because their agent desired them actively. Whereas foreseen consequences are pardonable by definition due to their un-intended nature. To illustrate my example, two thought experiments are required. For our first thought experiment, imagine that John was strolling in his local park when, suddenly, a drowning child arrested his attention. Impulsively, John flew into the water in an attempt to rescue this endangered child. Unfortunately, however, John’s efforts were thwarted when an alligator swallowed the boy. Now, would we judge John's actions as morally neutral? Surely not. His intentions speak volumes about his moral character. From what evidence has cropped up, we could surmise that physical limitations were all that prevented John's well-intentioned rescue mission. In other words, if John had possessed perfect rescuing-technology, then the child’s demise would have been averted. We should expect this conclusion in light of John’s impressive moral character. If, after all, John was eager to save the drowning child, then we can expect a fortiori that he would perform the task instantly if he had the right technology.
By Roger Smith9 years ago in The Swamp
Must Read Books About American Presidents
If you are interested in learning more history about the United States, then I recommend you get these must read books about American presidents. These books will allow you to go back in history and understand the lives of each of these presidents. You will be able to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of each of these presidents and their personal lives.
By Jessica Herring9 years ago in The Swamp
The Failure Of Leadership
The dystopian condition that much of the world today the plight of humanity continues to languish in desperation praying for better times ahead. And it can't be more evident than right here in the United States. While the media continues to focus on the immediate troubles of Trump and his Russian ties lies a juggernaut of calamity ready to pounce on an unsuspecting public. The untold carnage that the Republicans and the Trump Administration are getting away with will decimate the entire foundation of America. The main stream media is playing right into the hands of these infamous Republicans. The greed and selfishness of too many of our elected officials have categorically dismantled the basic rights of mankind.
By Dr. Williams9 years ago in The Swamp
Best Election Themed Movies
Though they aren't really as popular as other genres, election themed movies still are pretty well-liked. Whether it's because of the drama, the dystopian-ism, or just the realistic scripts, there's a lot of reasons why people love watching these movies from time to time.
By Ossiana Tepfenhart9 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Trump, You're Embarrassing Us
Dear Trump, You have been pretty busy since becoming the President of the United States. You have pulled out of foreign deals, tried to pass orders, and you have not passed up any chance to speak your mind. And of course, I cannot forget to mention undoing all of the work put in by the previous administration. That's quite a lot! Your words and actions have not gone unnoticed. In fact, all over the world, people are talking about what you've had to say. However, we would appreciate if you were to stop talking, because you are embarrassing us. No more misspelled or insensitive tweets, no more ridiculous claims, and please no more unwanted commentary. Here are some examples of the how you have embarrassed the United States so far.
By Cato Conroy9 years ago in The Swamp
No’SoHa,’ NowOrEver
When I lived at 125th Street and Fifth Avenue in the borough of Manhattan, it was a hard-won badge of honor. I’d hopscotched around New York City for more than a few years, moving from Hell’s Kitchen (in what is now predominately known as Chelsea, in a victory of urban planners with no sense of urban poetry) to Greenwich Village, and even vacating the city altogether, spending a brief stint in Jersey City.
By Michael Eric Ross9 years ago in The Swamp
Dicey’s Parliament in the 21st Century
‘…sovereignty is incompatible, both internationally and internally, with another concept which also has a lengthy history, but which today is widely regarded as a paramount value: the rule of law’. Professor Sir Francis Jacobs – The Sovereignty of Law: The European Way
By Jim Gilliam9 years ago in The Swamp
Education Reimagined
Education Reimagined is a book that was self-published to tackle the issues facing the U.S. education system. The book takes a student's perspective to inform and give students a voice to speak up and speak out against the bureaucracy of the system and the U.S. government. The book looks at nine major issues facing the U.S. education system in part one of the book and lastly looks to the future of the system. The second part of the book is narratives from students that volunteered to write for the book. It allows students to freely speak on an issue they care about and share their personal story regarding the topic they choose to write about. Lastly, it ends with the students giving a solution to the problem they discuss and how to go about changing or fixing the issue.
By Maruf Hossain9 years ago in The Swamp
