opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Putin's Strategic Style Explains Afghanistan Bounties
The current uproar in the U.S. news cycle concerns Russian bounties offered to criminals and Taliban militants in Afghanistan, in order to incentivize them to kill U.S., British and other NATO personnel. This short piece seeks to clarify why Russia pursued this course of action and counters far-fetched proposed explanations.
By Shahaf Rabi6 years ago in The Swamp
Why I Believe What I Believe
My content is usually pretty well-organized and thought-out. But today, things are coming at me a little differently. It’s Independence Day, the 4th of July. Previously known as one of my favorite holidays. But this year? It feels wrong. It feels wrong to celebrate a country that still holds so much racism, sexism, and the like. As I push into my late twenties, I’ve felt more comfortable and confident to stand by my morals and beliefs, whether people despise me because of them or not. I am anti-racist. I am anti-sexist. I am against any belief or moral that diminishes the value of another human life or strips them of their rights. In America, these beliefs and morals are still very much alive and practiced by millions of people.
By Shaley Speaks6 years ago in The Swamp
Fixing a Broken Society
In a time when human beings are seemingly more divided than ever, there is one thing I am willing to say that we can all agree on. The reality of human existence, the systems of the global human civilization is broken. Though this is not a startling revelation to any reader, it is interesting to note, that you could ask any human if they thought the current structures and state of humanity are functioning the best that they can, and I would be confident that the answer would be a resounding no.
By Jeff McCarty6 years ago in The Swamp
Taking a bullet for a President
There are jobs in the world that I am thankful that I do not have. Lion tamer. Plummer. Dentist. A postal worker. These are all professions that I am glad are carried out by other people. My gratitude is based in part on my understanding of my relative strengths and weaknesses. This understanding has allowed me to understand why the job of taming lions and repairing other people's pluming belongs in the hands of other people. If forced though to identify one professional position that I would be profoundly ill suited too, particularly at this juncture in our nation's development, it would be that of a secret service agent, tasked with overseeing the protection of our current protection.
By frederick Hurst6 years ago in The Swamp
Why is everything a -gate?
Watergate was a political scandal in the United States that occurred in 1972 that resulted in the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon. It was called "Watergate" because the Watergate hotel was where employees of the Nixon campaign broke in, to attempt to steal information about the Democratic Party's plans during the election. Those employees failed, were arrested, and were eventually traced back to the Nixon campaign. It was referred to as the Watergate Scandal because it had originated at the Watergate hotel, and resulted in the resignation of a president.
By Rory Hoffman6 years ago in The Swamp
Festivities of The 4th of July
As the 4th of July is upon us, I cannot help but wonder how many of us will be celebrating the day 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. The birth of America became a federal holiday in 1941 but has long been celebrated since the 18th century. The question of independence in 2020 has surfaced on the entire world. It has made us aware that we may not be as free as what we have thought from generations before us. History is being abruptly brought down and hidden away to leaving the question, is our history being taught with truth to impressionable minds that ultimately hold the future in their hands. In today’s world, independent is defined as “not influenced or controlled by others in matters of opinion, conduct, etc.; thinking or acting for oneself: an independent thinker” according to Dictionary.com. As wearing masks is still being touted to be worn and celebrations are not allowed in many places, how are many proud Americans celebrating their patriotism to the land they call home?
By Heather Cash6 years ago in The Swamp
Questions on war
I’ve been thinking about wars from various perspectives in last few days and wondered that history has been repeated a million times, so many wars have been fought, whether a kingdom invaded other kingdom only to be invaded by some other kingdom and this loop continues without an end but what ends are uncountable human lives and what remains is pain, sorrow and hatred which many a times triggers another war.
By Aayush Mishra6 years ago in The Swamp
Intolerance is killing democracy
Intolerance is killing democracy Is this deliberate? World wide wars have been fought, millions of people have died, all in an effort to save us all from the extreme intolerance of fascism. Governments through some form of democracy has been maintained, at least in part, to ensure intolerance does not take control. Yet, if the media is to be believed, intolerance is silencing opinions, declaring that some views are not “acceptable”. Acceptable to who? To a democratically elected majority? Sadly no. Ideas are declared unacceptable by a self appointed un-elected group who consider themselves so superior to everyone else. Is this an accurate statement? or is the truth far more sinister. Is the present politically correct intolerance actually an extremist plot to destroy democracy? Is it extreme socialism or extreme fascism, that is trying to suppress ideas they do not agree with? Could be either, as in actual real effect, as experienced by the governed, they are the same.
By Peter Rose6 years ago in The Swamp
Where women lead, the virus loses
Today I became aware of a country I'd never heard of before: Sint Maarten, somewhere in the islands of the Caribbean. It's only 34 sq kms in size and has a mere 42,844 people, but it's a full fledged parliamentary representative democracy. Its prime minister is a 51-year-old teacher called Silveria Jacobs.
By C Y Gopinath6 years ago in The Swamp
Covid makes a clear case for UBI
Discussions over Universal Basic Income are anything but new. Though this pandemic has demonstrated just how frail our global economy is. Leaving millions unemployed - for potentially the first time - thus victimised first by markets and then by a creaking 20th century welfare state.
By Dayna Latham6 years ago in The Swamp
