opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Philando Castile Recieves No Justice
More people are learning about who Philando Castile the man was following the hurtful news that his murderer would be acquitted of all charges. We now know that he was a cafeteria supervisor who memorized all 500 of his student's food allergies. We know that he's never been incarcerated or in serious problems with the police, and we also know that he had legal documentation to carry a firearm. What is widely unknown however is that between July 2002 and his slaying in 2016 Castile had over 46 traffic stops. NPR reports that out of the 46 stops only 6 offenses were things that could've been noticed from the outside. Castile was being systematically targeted by the police until they finally killed him.
What Would Our Forefathers Do?
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Jenna LoganPublished 7 years ago in The Swamp"Don't Say a Word"
I am a philanthropist, a humanitarian, a lover of humanity who just hasn't done anything big yet. I believe that human kindness and understanding opens the door to a better world. Life is time that never stops moving until we cease to live, then someone else will live on after us who will take the place that we once took, maybe they will take the next stand following our example not just our words.
Jordan Sophia ThomasPublished 7 years ago in The SwampGuns, Little Word, Big Fear
Guns. To some, the word sends shivers and thoughts of bloody death and assault on little children. To others, the word sends nothing more than happy thoughts as they think of hunting and security. To me, the word sends my eyes rolling, and my head aching, as we continue to see such a loud debate in the media, both news and social.
Jenna LoganPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWhat It Means to Be American
American. What does that mean? What does it mean to be "American"? Does it mean one should be proud for taking the land from the indigenous (who still do not have equal rights)? Does it mean to be proud of discrimination of minorities and those who do not share the "Christian" values? Does it mean that one should be proud of a man who is misogynistic and racist? Or does it mean to hold true to the pursuit of life, liberty, and freedom, regardless of gender, race, or religion?
Yoshio ChandlerPublished 7 years ago in The SwampThe Wedding Cake Debacle
Let me start right off with this disclaimer: I am a Born Again Christian. It took me until I was 31 to find my life in Jesus, and though I am not currently in a church, I read my Bible every night, and talk to Him throughout the day. I am stone solid in my Bible-based beliefs.
Jenna LoganPublished 7 years ago in The SwampYes, This Is Tone Policing
The logic goes something like this: critiquing the tone of someone’s argument is a tool of oppression. Accusations of “Tone Policing” are designed to limit the scope of a political debate to the content of one’s rhetoric, not its mode of delivery.
Dan JohnsonPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWill Divsiveness Be the Terrorism That Ruins Our Nation?
All the divisive negativity on the interweb has got to stop! I have been saying it for about a decade now, getting louder as I go. It seems no one is listening. I decided to blog about it, to try to reach more "ears."
Jenna LoganPublished 7 years ago in The SwampBlack-on-Black Crime Is a Reality
You know, sometimes I have a hard time understanding my fellow Americans. I really don’t understand why some white people believe that black people (as a whole), and Black Lives Matter (as an organization) are fine with black criminals killing each other as well as killing other innocent blacks… but seem to get pissed when the police do it.
Dre JosephPublished 7 years ago in The SwampFake President Trump
Fake President Trump, with his little hands, little brains and his small fragile ego, has been trying on the role of leader of the free world. It has been clear from the start that he has done more to damage our world standing as a nation. As this world’s only true superpower we have historically taken the lead on raising standards throughout the world despite our internal inconsistencies. There is nothing super about Fake President Trump’s sleight of hand.
Tomas AlejandroPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWestminster's DUP Deal Could Bring Equalities Reform
Finally, we actually have a government in Westminster. Sure, it’s not the greatest option, but the Conservative-DUP amalgam is the best we could hope for in the present circumstances. It’s been something of a worry to commentators across the political spectrum, as the DUP are extremely socially conservative, and Northern Irish politics, in general, are held back by religious influences.
Katy PreenPublished 7 years ago in The SwampWillful Blindness
It seems quite paradoxical to me how our state of affairs can be considered such serious business, yet as a collective, we continue choosing to ignore root causes of our systemic issues. I don’t know about you but I don’t think sticking our heads in the sand is quite the best form of risk management we could be taking.