Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in The Swamp.
'When We Rise' A Powerful Examination Of Gay Rights Movement
If there's anything that's garnered much examination since the advent of the United States under President Donald J. Trump, it's the LGBTQ movement. In spite of claims to the contrary, it would seem as though the 45th president of the United States could be backtracking on his professed support of LGBTQ rights. When We Rise is then a well-timed, powerful miniseries that highlights the push for equality that those living in the LGBTQ spectrum are still fighting for.
Christina St-JeanPublished 4 years ago in The SwampTaylor Sheridan's State of the Union
Hell or High Water, the Oscar-nominated film starring Jeff Bridges, Chris Pine and Ben Foster, has won high marks for its gritty, understated portrayal of two bank robbers pushing back against the bank that's foreclosing on their family land, and the laconic Texas Ranger bent on one pre-retirement objective: bringing them to justice. For Taylor Sheridan, the actor and screenwriter who wrote the script (nominated for Best Original Screenplay), the film has parallels with the fractious, volatile state of the country today. West Texas is a stand-in for America.
Michael Eric RossPublished 4 years ago in The SwampArizona Legislation Clamps Down on Protesters
Information in an article in the Arizona Capitol Times has revealed that the Arizona State Senate has voted to move forward with a bill that will give police new powers, including being able to arrest and seize the assets of people who are involved in a protest that may turn violent. What has made many question this bill is the notion that, if passed in the House, it would give police the power to arrest people while a protest is still peaceful. Peaceful protests are currently protected as a 1st amendment right under the clause of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
Parker SimpsonPublished 4 years ago in The SwampPresident Trump Rescinds Federal Protections For Transgender Students
In spite of claims during his campaign that he would protect the LGBTQ population, President Trump has just done what many consider to be the very opposite: he has lifted the federal protections that were in place to protect transgender students in schools.
Christina St-JeanPublished 4 years ago in The SwampIranian Immigrant
Obviously, the obviously obvious stories are as boring as heaven. They do not excite the spirit but comfort the ego. With no purpose for any future engagement, the obviously obvious stories have no magical revelation, thus do not entertain the contemplative composite minds of the new world. Therefore, the obviously obvious stories are essentially blah.
Zorak IsraelPublished 4 years ago in The SwampWhat is AFROFuturism?
If you bump into someone who claims to be an expert on "AFROFuturism" immediately warp jump into a safer reality. There are as many explanations of AFROFuturism as there are superheroes and villains in Marvel comic's alternative and vastly conflicting universes. The term was coined by a white writer (Mark Dryer, 1993) but aspects of AFROFuturism existed before the American Civil War when Black abolitionists and political radicals dreamt of a better society. The term is popular today because many artistic creators have tired of typical depictions of futures where few nonwhite citizens exist or have positions of power.
Stafford BattlePublished 4 years ago in The SwampInsanity Gone Mad?
The question "Who are the good guys?" used to be easy to answer. But not anymore. There are still "good guys" around but finding them amidst the madness which is modern politics, is getting close to impossible.
Michael BlairPublished 4 years ago in The Swamp'Last Night In Sweden'
On Saturday, President Trump held a fiery rally in an airport hanger Melbourne, Florida in front of thousands of his supporters. The rally was reminiscent of the boisterous crowds who gathered at Trump rallies during the 2016 presidential campaign. Trump covered many subjects, but as usual, one confusing comment in particular made headlines and had the collective world asking questions.
Parker SimpsonPublished 4 years ago in The SwampTrump vs. The Mainstream Media: The Two Sided Issue
From the election to Trump's inauguration, there has been a growing conflict between Donald Trump and the mainstream media. Trump supporters complain that media outlets such as CNN and the New York Times have been unfair in their attacks on the President and that they promote "fake news." Democrats and others from the left complain of Trump and his administration's immature reaction to the media's attack.
The Content Of Our Character
It’s been a wild few weeks for Gwinnett County (Ga.) Commissioner Tommy Hunter. Hunter, who was elected into office in 2012, is in hot water for a series of Facebook rants on various issues. The most recent rant involved Commissioner Hunter taking to Facebook to respond to Ga. Congressman John Lewis stating Donald Trump is an illegitimate President. Commissioner Hunter weighed in calling Congressman Lewis, a renowned civil rights leader, a “racist pig”.
Parker SimpsonPublished 4 years ago in The SwampTrump’s Dark Triad, and Ours
A month ago we could only suspect what Donald Trump would do to lead a nation to the suspicion — voiced more and more often since his installation as president of the United States on January 20th — that (in the words of GQ Special Correspondent Keith Olbermann) “there’s something ... wrong with him.”
Michael Eric RossPublished 4 years ago in The SwampThe Story Of Truth & Lie
I often find myself fascinated with the intricacies of how we perceive the truth; how we are willing to accept the truth or reject it in order to give ourselves peace of mind when confronted with inconvenient realities. It seems we as a society have become experts (whether it be consciously or subconsciously) in deconstructing what we know are factual truths and then reconstructing them to be more appropriate, more righteous, and even more politically correct. We perform mental gymnastics; accepting certain aspects of a factual reality, while omitting or outright rejecting other aspects of that same reality in order to drive home a point we want to make.
Parker SimpsonPublished 4 years ago in The Swamp