opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Indoctrination Into the Culture of Racism (and Clawing Our Way Back Out?)
Have I experienced my own personal indoctrination into the culture of racism? I'd like to think not. In fact, I'll be somewhat charitable to myself here and say that, where it counts the most, I don't think I have been particularly racist throughout my life. Then again, isn't that exactly what a defensive person would say? Also, I must accept that, ultimately, this determination is not solely mine to make. It is partly about how others perceive and interpret my words, actions, and general demeanor.
By Wade Wainio5 years ago in The Swamp
Ending Racism in America
Ending Racism Will Greatly Impact the Black Family- An ESSAY Racism has influenced politics for decades. White middle class values overrode black family values even with World War II, where the economy favored whites and progress was given over to white majority. One of the values of the white middle class was males being the breadwinner of the household. The black family had to survive in poverty with kin networking. The war was supposed to bring the country together and bring equality, yet racism kept the divide. Some whites did not want to be considered equal to blacks. Jim Crow laws in the South and ghettos in the North oppressed the black family. The Jim Crow laws would instill fear into the black family, which made them give in to racism. Racism prevailed in the country, and it greatly impacted the black family. They were seen as second-class citizens until the civil rights legislation, which ended this status. Moynihan diverted attention to the black family structure with his report entitled The Negro Family: A Case for National Action. Moynihan in his report stated that the black family was a pathology, which was racist because he did not take the time to understand their culture and the environmental factors that influence their lives. Education, wealth and income inequity, and sexuality were influenced by racism, therefore ending racism is a solution that will greatly impact the black family.
By Distinguished Honorary Alumni Dr. Matthew Primous5 years ago in The Swamp
Electoral College
TJ Hyland - November 8, 2020 The Electoral College is a system intended to give wealthy landowners greater voting power than everyone else. According to the 2020 census data compared to the voting results, Texas has 322% less voting impact per voter than Wyoming residents. It's time to abolish the electoral college because empty land is not human life and shouldn't get to have a say in our democracy.
By SNROCINUTAF5 years ago in The Swamp
The New Nobility and Royalty
A few years ago, I got into fantasy. I loved it. So much magic, so much possibility. I could be a warrior going off and fighting for what was right, for what I believed in. I could champion causes and stare down villains. Not long after I found D&D and got to do all those things. I became the DM and soon I was working on worlds of my own, making good guys and bad guys, plots within plots, allies, and enemies to throw my players against. Eventually, I became a fantasy author. I have to tell you, writing my world M’Diro has been one of the highlights of my life.
By R. F. DeAngelis5 years ago in The Swamp
Life to 28th November 2020
Wednesday was one of those days full of promise. Good weather, a chance to ride on one of our horses across the New Forest and a genuinely relaxing day. A promise that was soon to be broken by a loose rock and a hole but more of that later.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in The Swamp
Somebody Has to Care
Recently, I watched Hamilton for the first time, after putting it off for years. There's a popular Native American proverb about having two wolves inside you, locked in constant fighting. The one who wins is the one you feed. Why are these two things related? Because I have decided that the two in me are best represented by the characters Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. For a while, I have been feeding Burr by staying quiet and just trying to get through life. That stops now (or soon, depending on whether I can keep my anxiety about speaking up in check). I'm fed up with a lot of things and it's time I did something about it. I will be applying for law school at Boston University, to hopefully start in 2022 in one of their dual degree programs. It’s time to be more like Hamilton and not play it safe, even if it costs me.
By Kenneth May5 years ago in The Swamp
OpEd: Universities Provoking Racism?
In 2017, Michael Rubin, resident scholar of American Enterprise Institute, wrote an article titled "Are universities driving racism?". The entire tone of the article was condescending and the article lacked a poignant theme. I think Rubin misses a bigger point than he is trying to make about universities driving racism.
By Lyssa Wylde5 years ago in The Swamp
Pet Peeves About COVID-19
2020 has been a difficult year for everyone. The one headline that has been dominating news stations and the airwaves this year is the coronavirus pandemic. You can’t go one day or one minute without hearing about it. Honestly, there’s way too much coverage about COVID-19. I understand that it’s an important story and to keep people informed about it. However, it’s not necessary to report about it 24/7 and trying to scare us. That’s why many people have been panic buying and the media keeps instilling fear towards us. It can also make some feel anxious, especially to those who have mental illnesses. Are there even any positive stories in the news to report these days? Here are my least favorite terms and phrases that have been repeatedly said during the pandemic. Don’t get me wrong. This virus is real and has claimed the lives of thousands of people in the U.S. I’m in no way downplaying the severity of it. These are the terms that I dislike the most and not in any specific order.
By Mark Wesley Pritchard 5 years ago in The Swamp
American Taxes are built for cheating
The American tax system, or more specifically the United States Federal Income tax is not democratic enough. It doesn’t create an equal playing field for all Americans. By nature it is convoluted, and headed by a bureaucracy that does not hold people accountable for avoiding or cheating their taxes sufficiently. A system based in more direct democratic ideals would streamline the tax system and make it more egalitarian.
By Gus Krider5 years ago in The Swamp
Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Reflection:
I’ll be honest; I’ve been thinking about what to write for weeks; months even. As soon as the conception of ‘Philosofemme’ came to life and the blog was confirmed – I was thinking. I knew for certain that I wanted to write something poignant about Martin Luther King Jr. and his non-violent philosophy – which is not often considered as part of philosophy, but as political theory. We know him as an activist, but I was interested in his ideology behind his politics. However, I was aware this would be difficult. I wasn’t wrong – it’s been very difficult. How can you write anything new and insightful about the most documented civil rights activist in history? The man is on - a rightfully gained - pedestal; he is the king of love. Despite how loved he is, he is also a man who was murdered in a hate-filled vitriol for fighting for basic human rights for African Americans. This dichotomy and the magnitude of his influence means I feel the pressure writing about him. Especially in the tumultuous civil rights battle that is unfolding across the world - America particularly - around the subject of police brutality towards the Black community. Black Lives Matter campaigners are being silenced, harmed and arrested.
By Philosofemme.5 years ago in The Swamp
The Illusion of Difference
As I write this, it is 2020 in America, a year marked by division and unity alike. Divisiveness is driven on by the clash of political parties, while unity is being forced on because of the division of the world into seemingly competing parties. It would only make sense that in a glaringly bi-directional country that the two conflicting parties are doing their best to recruit new members, and sway those who stand in the middle ground between them. Thus, unity follows division.
By Matthew Burns5 years ago in The Swamp
