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(09/13/15 2:28pm)
Donald Trump is the perfect reflection of a sick society; one which is consumed by consumerism, financed by greed, lobbied by corruption and which bathes in the murky waters of ignorance and chauvinism. It is a society which sees intellectualism, community and respectful, civil discourse as weakness. In this age of political scorn and deep societal issues, Trump is king.
(06/28/15 2:52pm)
History was made on
Friday, when the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-4 vote that same-sex couples
have a constitutional right to marriage. This incredible and heartwarming
victory has been a long road for the gay community, and I am absolutely elated
that marriage equality has finally been achieved. It is my hope that this is a
sign of things to come.
(06/21/15 2:59pm)
Wednesday night at Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, nine people were shot and killed by domestic right-wing terrorist and white supremacist Dylann Roof—a horrible and terrifying act of pure hate and violence brought down upon the black community— and, while I absolutely and wholeheartedly share the feelings of disgust and sadness felt by many following this event, it’s time that we stop neurotically fixating our attention on these mass shootings, because it is unhealthy and creates the right atmosphere for further extremism to come slithering out of the mist and rear its ugly head.
(06/14/15 2:52pm)
When I think of democracy, I do not think of the pure incarnation of the political system wherein the majority rule, but rather the philosophical term in which all people, no matter their differences, are considered equal and possess all of the same rights. This is, I would posit, how most people think of democracy – as a set of egalitarian ideals – not as a sort of mob-mentality system of political tyranny. This is fairly straightforward and most people praise this ideology of liberty, but it is being threatened by an ever-expanding and much more powerful system – capitalism, which flaunts the opposite of pure democracy, in that the very few have a monopoly on the many; an even more dangerous model.
(05/31/15 2:52pm)
While smoking cigarettes certainly is an unhealthy habit, the idea of banning its use on a public campus infringes upon our rights as individuals. Of course, I’m not denying the health issues associated with smoking or being exposed to second hand smoke, but we cannot ban something that can be avoided in other ways. I think it would be better to require smokers to smoke in designated areas and to be attentive of those around them.
(05/24/15 1:22pm)
In 2013, according to the United States Census Bureau, about
45 million people were living in poverty. At the same time, big corporations
like General Motors continue to bring in millions of dollars in profits – $278
million in 2014, according to Standard & Poor – while paying zero taxes.
That’s right, while millions of Americans are living under the poverty line,
struggling to survive, major corporations are reaping the benefits of loopholes
and policies put in place by special interest lobbyists. This figure should
disturb you, as it does me, because when the focus of the government and its
policies is on the benefit of those with the most economic power, the system is
very clearly broken. Yet, those responsible have somehow managed to avoid any
real blame by shifting the focus to those who have no power at all: the poor.
(05/17/15 2:47pm)
In a time when the wealthiest people in the nation have more wealth than the bottom 90 percent combined, when they hold more influence than those in office, and when the voice of the people has virtually no effect on the policies being put into place, it is entirely evident that we need a major change in the ways we think and do things. We need a paradigm shift in not only our government, but in our culture and society as a whole. I believe that Senator and 2016 presidential candidate Bernie Sanders is that change.
(05/10/15 4:36pm)
A study was recently conducted by two
professors of Princeton University and Northwestern University, Martin Gilens
and Benjamin I. Page, respectively, in which a single question was asked: “Does
the government represent the people?” The study, which “took data from nearly
2000 public opinion surveys and compared it to the policies that ended up
becoming law,” according to represent.us – an activist website – found that the
“opinions of 90% of Americans has essentially no impact at all.” The results of
this 20-year-long study is extraordinarily disconcerting, since the will of the
people is meant to carry an exceedingly powerful influence in a democratic society
such as our own; yet, the reality is the exact opposite, thanks to big money
and special interests.
(05/03/15 3:19pm)
Religious fundamentalists who believe that the Rapture is coming should not be elected to public office.
(04/15/15 3:39pm)
The presidential elections are coming, and once again we’re wrought with a colossal number of candidates who have enveloped themselves in the flames of fundamentalism, extreme conservatism and globalist-capitalist rhetoric. It’s no surprise anymore to see such fantastically bombastic and absurd candidates, such as Ted Cruz and the retuning Rick Santorum wildly grasping at the presidency with hands soaked in the blood of phony-patriotism, superfluous financial backing and traditionalism-turned-fanaticism.
(04/08/15 7:51pm)
Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act has been the subject of many heated debates across the country lately. The bill supposedly “protects the rights of business owners” to refuse service to anyone for any reason so long as that reason is based in religious belief.
(04/01/15 6:28pm)
All people, without exception, are entitled to a good quality of life. I deeply believe that no matter who you are or what you’re doing, you deserve comfort. It shouldn’t be about productivity nor should it be about contribution to society. Rather, it should be about the understanding that all human life is inherently invaluable and that everyone deserves to have decent housing, food, clothing, clean drinking water, education, healthcare, a livable wage if they are working and a safety net for those who aren’t or can’t. It shouldn’t be about the cost. You cannot put a price on human life; it is not a commodity.
(03/25/15 8:32pm)
There is no question that religion has been a prevailing force throughout our history as a species. It has served many purposes -- both good and bad -- but what is it about religion that seems natural to us as a species?
(03/08/15 3:59pm)
I recently watched a documentary from 2009 called “Tapped” which talks about the controversies surrounding the bottled water industry and how it is virtually free to do as it pleases and that the water it sells is actually unsafe to drink. Naturally, I didn’t take this independently made film at its word, but after a bit of research what I have found is actually quite disturbing.
(03/04/15 6:58pm)
In English, “freedom” is a word often used to describe the literal or mental state of being free, free from worry or utilizing your right to free expression. I do not feel that this particular use of the word properly exalts the deeper meaning of the concept itself.
(02/11/15 7:26pm)
Capitalism, being a naturally oppressive and adversarial system, will always lead to the subjugation and disenfranchisement of those at the bottom of the social ladder while those at the top become akin to divinity – with money and material gain being the gateway to this illusory and superficial paradise.
(02/04/15 7:02pm)
Politicians are supposed to be our representatives to the government. They’re supposed to serve the public and, despite their personal opinions or beliefs, present the will of the people to Congress and the President. Their primary duty, aside from this, is to do what they believe is best for the people; but they do not fulfill their duty.
(01/28/15 4:19pm)
I understand the desire to believe in a higher power. I understand the need to know that there is an ever compassionate, wise and powerful being out there looking over me. The desire to know that once I have moved on from this existence I will be greeted in another more perfect one, surrounded by people I know and love. In this new world there is no pain, no conflict, no hunger – just pure love and peace.
(01/25/15 5:58pm)
Undeniably, America is not a Christian nation. It is, in fact, a secular nation. In order to properly understand whether or not the U.S. was founded as a Christian nation, it is necessary to first understand the ideals and backgrounds of the Founding Fathers and the times that they lived in.
(01/22/15 12:10am)
With the recent attack in France that killed cartoonists at Charlie Hebdo after they offended Muslim extremists, there has been quite a bit of talk about terrorism and how to deal with rising radicalism. While the attack at Charlie Hebdo is certainly tragic, it is also very selective.