controversies
It seems every time one racially-charged incident ends, a gender or religious controversy takes its place; Ruminate on the issues dividing our nation and world.
Will Racist Reactions To Covid-19 Deepen The Divide Between Races In International Politics?
Around the world, people are experiencing unprecedented difficulties as a result of the widely spread virus named Covid-19. The virus, of which there is no cure or vaccine at this time, has killed over 250,000 people since it emerged just a few months ago. The first case is thought to have been in Wuhan, China on the 17th of November 2019. This has led to a number of reactions to the virus being based on outdated and racist perceptions that have put many blameless people at risk of hate crimes. The short-term effects of this are evident in the hate speech and actions toward Asian people in both the media and in person. In the long term, the increase in paranoia and xenophobia surrounding people from China since the start of the pandemic can lead to deeper divides between races in international politics which is deepened by the negative media
Charlotte ElliottPublished 4 years ago in The SwampThere is no such a thing as a safe place in the world
I was born in Colombia. I am considered what the Colombian government would officially call a “victim of violence”. I have experienced different the different forms of it, commonly exposed by war. Call it sexism, racism, inequality, homophobia, xenophobia and “reasonable murder”. I have witnessed events I can now begin to describe to my fellow Americans: walls covered in blood, humans losing their breath, their arms, their legs, their heads, their lives, their loved ones. I saw humans losing their voices as well as their basic human rights.
Culture Wars 2020
By Dejaye Botkin, LPC A Divided Nation During the campaign leading up to Donald Trump’s election victory, I lost many friends along the way. I withdrew from family over my mother’s adoration of Donald Trump and my sister’s alt-right Facebook Posts. Throughout the election process, and after Trump won, I heard Fox News propaganda coming out of both of their mouths – and I was afraid they too, were becoming Trump Zombie-sycophants. Slowly but surely, my estrangement from loved ones grew into a larger circle – my mother, sister, cousin, peers, colleagues, and ultimately, I lost my best 45-year childhood friend. During the 2016 election, my whole world turned upside down. People whom I have known my whole life started becoming tribal. One group sided with Donald Trump, (A.K.A. the deplorables’), and the other side, was against him, (A.K.A nevertrumpers). I started noticing Trump seducing the minds of those in America who admired him for his wealth and also wanted to get rich quick. For those who want to be just like him – he is excellent at selling the fantasy with zero shame. He is the kind of snake oil salesman people talk about when they discuss dirty sales tricks. He made it acceptable to be greedy, selfish, and prejudice about anything and everyone not like him. He glorifies bullying and blackmail as everyday business tactics and allowed the white supremacists, sex addicts, and white-collar criminals to come out of the shadows.
Dejaye BotkinPublished 4 years ago in The SwampThe Power of Protest
George Floyd was killed by cops on a street corner in Minneapolis, America’s 46th-largest city. He was not famous, yet in death, he has galvanized Americans into action seeking social reform. More remarkably, Floyd has inspired protests abroad, from Brazil to Australia and Indonesia to France.
Fathima S MeerPublished 4 years ago in The SwampThe American Truth
History has been seriously watered down when it comes to the truth behind the Black experience in the United States of America. Some individuals (usually non-black) wholeheartedly believe that if Black people would just simply “obey the authorities” we would be fine, and everyone would get to walk away alive. Yes, do what you can to be a law abiding and respectful citizen, but It needs to be understood that after Slavery was abolished, most of white America was FURIOUS. For those who opposed the abolishment of slavery, simply being black and “free” was a crime in their eyes, and it was a crime that white authorities had to keep in order. White America’s economy and money making through slavery were disrupted, and now their purchased human beings who they whipped, bred, sold, hung, burned, maimed and raped were supposed to be their EQUAL??? It was unfathomable to them. Laws were established back then to help keep white Americans in power “for their losses”, and today many of those laws are STILL in place. This is where the systemic hate was conceived ... “hate that I am being forced to see you and treat you as an equal, and for that I will show you that you are not”. This mentality is embedded in American history and is STILL embedded in the minds of so many today, and it is called White Supremacy. People are still teaching their children that they are better than, or more worthy than Blacks simply because that ideology has been passed down through their families since slavery. Even if the teachings don’t go as far to say “you are better than them”, some are being taught that white people brought Africans to America to teach them how to be civilized, are were given free meals and living accommodations. That sounds like the propaganda that was spread about the “cafes” that Jewish people had access to for their “enjoyment” in concentration camps (look it up). All lies and cover ups for white corruption. I recently had the opportunity to explain to a white coworker, who is in their 50’s, that segregations was not meant to protect Black people. This coworker was under the impression that Black people went to and lived in black neighborhoods only because they were “safer there” …Can we talk about Tulsa??? I had to explain that we were FORCED to stay in our own neighborhoods because we were not allowed to be in white neighborhoods, sections of a bus, sections of a restaurant, section or a library, or any other facility that white people did not want to encounter a black face. This was a clear indication of distorted teachings! In America, there is obvious fear on bother sides of this white picket fence. On one side there is a fear of losing a way of life, and on the other side there is a fear of losing life all together. The fact is, a system and way of life should have NEVER been built on the backs of people who were stolen from their rich land to be forced into making someone else’s land rich FOR FREE. So, you see, it’s not about “obeying the authorities”, it’s about changing laws that were established to keep a specific group of people in power and protected. Should any white person who decide to hunt down and murder a former slave because they could no longer make money off them, THEY would be PROTECTED “in the name of the law”. This diluted version of American history has strategically hidden the truth behind people’s emotions, actions, and reactions, specifically Black people. America was never built to protect Black Lives; it was built to keep Black Lives in order.
Maya HoltonPublished 4 years ago in The SwampThe *Real* Meaning Behind Taking the Knee
In the UK we have once again been let down by our politicians. Politicians are in a position of power. They have the power to make changes in society. Somehow many don't seem to understand what changes need to be made.
Rebecca ClarkPublished 4 years ago in The SwampSwallowtail
The current global climate is boiling to a point of no return. This year is no different: the U.S. president blindly leading his citizens closer to war; protesters in Hong Kong fight for liberation; wildfires in Australia remind us of our dying planet; the coronavirus pandemic deaths brings light to economic flaws and ignorant leaders; now the staggering number of black lives lost to police brutality is fueling a racial justice revolution.
Rose HettichPublished 4 years ago in The SwampBlack Lives Matter
Joining together sharing our view points regarding the tragic murders of innocent black citizens across the united states teaches awareness as well as our own experiences living in america. Our voices create a positive impact as we unity together as one human race. Lets draw awareness in the motive of our actions to become a better people as a whole. If you are a non black citizen, ask your self these questions:
White Silence Is Violence
I just want to start off by saying to all the black people out there,that I am with you and although I will NEVER understand even a portion of what you go through everyday,I will continue to stand by you in your fight for human rights(something you shouldn’t have to be protesting for at all,ever). I truly believe that the time has finally come where we are not taking no for answer, we will keep fighting until there is equality for all.
Nicole StephensonPublished 4 years ago in The SwampA Violent Society Demands a Peaceful Police
There’s a contradiction central to the movement to, as a group of thoroughly woke Google employees put it, “defang” the police.
Grant PattersonPublished 4 years ago in The SwampThe Carmel in My Coffee
This morning, a pretty average almost summer morning in late May, I, a pretty average white guy had left for work to make my hour plus commute to the bank. A little rain, a little sun, the highway lightly traveled, and my mind drifted away from the pandemic of the century, to the sweetness of my coffee. Hazelnut with the delicious finish of carmel, just nutty enough to get that earthy feel and sweet enough to cover the bitter.
Jack RobertshawPublished 4 years ago in The SwampAs Well
I get it. I really do. I am a black man and it has been wearying, even for me, the worldwide movement that is Black Lives Matters. That is not to say I am sick of hearing about it. It is, unfortunately, a necessary movement but like the Me Too movement of recent years, a movement that was adopted by Hollywood but in truth was created a decade before to highlight sexual abuse and harassment, something related to half of the world’s population.
Q-ell BettonPublished 4 years ago in The Swamp