opinion

Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.

Our National Nightmare Decimating Dreams
We can’t seem to wake from this current national nightmare. Nearly 60 years ago this week, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. invited us to dream at the Lincoln Memorial’s steps. It’s a dream which some of us had been deluded into thinking would come true soon.
By Rev. Jason Carson Wilson6 years ago in The Swamp
Gentrification: A Viewpoint
Philadelphia is all that it was known for, from the LOVE sign down to the infamous cheesesteaks. Though all of those things were well and good; the bad was just as equal in the amount that happens in the city of Brotherly Love. With every success that came with the city, the failures and realities were much greater. Even as a young child, I knew that the city that birthed me had a strong duality to it. I would run up the infamous Rocky stairs only to walk down the old, piss-smelled subway tunnel to head home to the "hood." Neighborhood Murals done by non-profit organizations that have beautiful concepts is only to be mirrored by street artists paying tribute to a fallen homie. Artists tags their calligraphy, etching their existences in high places throughout the city. No one wants to be forgotten, erased out of history yet as I ride through the city; I see otherwise. History and beauty illuminate throughout every corner of Philadelphia.
By Jay Williams6 years ago in The Swamp
The Importance of Democracy and Freedom of Speech
Since mid-June, people in Hong Kong have been protesting against the extradition bill posted by the government. The main reason for the protests against the bill is essentially the lack of trust in mainland China's governing and justice system. This protest has brought a lot of international media attention to Hong Kong since the beginning, yet conflicts with mainland Chinese people.
By L Y6 years ago in The Swamp
Ejection of Breitbart Reporter from Beto Speech is Inconsistent with Democracy
I just saw the news, that a Breitbart reporter, Joel B. Pollak, who actually is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News, was ejected, apparently for no valid reason (he wasn't being disruptive, though his mere presence was deemed as such) from a Beto O'Rourke speech at Benedict College.
By Paul Levinson6 years ago in The Swamp
What Is Killing Democracy?
Dishonest politicians and their controllers, in every nations bureaucracy, are actively trying to stop democratic decisions from being enacted.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
Variations in Ways Politicians Think
Variation in thought processes of politicians. There seems to be an almost infinite number of variations in human appearance, but how about the differences in ways of thinking?
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
'These Are the Times that try Men's Souls'
"These are the times that try men's souls." Remember that quote? Some 250 years later we are again facing times that try men's souls. From wave after wave of violent carnage that shows no signs of abating, an economy all based upon a house of cards that is poised to crumble at a minutes notice, a world on the edge of a Global Warming catastrophe, to the massive depth and scope of corruption that is in not only our political system, but now has reached our legal system as well. These are all signs of the times that try men's souls.
By Dr. Williams7 years ago in The Swamp
Bureaucratic Thinking Must Go!
Bureaucratic thinking must go! Which style of thinking governs us all? In most decision-making processes, there are two ways of thinking about the problem: “Bureaucratic” and “Entrepreneurial.”
By Peter Rose7 years ago in The Swamp
Nationalism or Patriotism?
During many conversations on the United States and its problems, I hear the phrase "I'm not a nationalist, but I am a patriot." This phrase has inspired me to write on whether there is any appreciable difference between the two. As a student of the humanities, I'm down to debate useful definitions of nationalism, the meanings of particular words and their contextual or colloquial definitions. However, when I come across the words nationalism and patriotism, I find them to be rather similar. Is there any healthy difference between nationalism and patriotism? Does support for your country make you a patriot? Does any support for your country make you a patriot, or does it require a gradient? What fraction of supportiveness do we require for nationalism? What fraction of supportiveness do we require for patriotism?
By Ellen Howell7 years ago in The Swamp
Guns in America
After the latest massacre here in America, I feel it is time for yet another piece on my feelings. Yes, this time it was not in a synagogue, like my first article about this controversial topic, but I cannot help but think that perhaps Private First Class Glendon Oakley could still feel like a normal soldier, instead of being praised as a hero just for doing his job and what he was trained for. It is hard not to say that Oakley isn't a hero, he is, but he did what I would hope any kind human being would do. He protected innocent lives, children, the future of our world, the ones who we hope can make this world better.
By Erika Farrah7 years ago in The Swamp
Banning 8chan Won't Work
Matthew Prince's blogpost justifying the termination of internet protections for the 8chan website is a fascinating argument. Prince argues that "lawlessness" is the primary reason that he has decided to terminate protections for the site, although he concedes immediately that they have not broken any laws in their posts. So what does he mean by "lawlessness?"
By Steve Llano7 years ago in The Swamp
Finding the Root of Mass Shootings and Violence
As sad as it is, the reality is that on any given day anymore, we can wake up to hear about yet another mass shooting somewhere in the United States. While everyone of sound mind and any level of decency can agree that these events are tragic and senseless, what many cannot agree on is what to do about them.
By Jason A7 years ago in The Swamp