humanity
Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of politicians, legislators, activists, women in politics and the everyday voter.
Zig Zag #18
Last week, I failed to include one of the off-the-wall, i-can’t-believe-that-happened experiences because it deserved a post of its own.
Kathleen MajorskyPublished about 22 hours ago in The Swamp
On This Insurrection, And The Next
Because it was my son’s ninth birthday, I wasn’t supposed to forget that day. We decided to continue this tradition even though we were in the midst of a pandemic. Anchors on the news kept repeating that the proceedings of the day wouldn't get as much attention if it weren't for the president's constant obfuscation. He and his cronies began speaking one by one on a podium in DC, in a small picture in-picture setup in the bottom right corner, with no audio. However, the events of that day were not supposed to receive much coverage, other than a demonstration or confirmation.
The Biggest Lie About Homeless People
“Don’t give him any money. He’s just going to use it for drugs.” My childhood friend and I were walking down a shop-lined boulevard, in search of some ice cream to appease the thick humidity drenching our thick wool tights and heavy kilts. It was a Friday afternoon and we were nearing the final stretch of exams. Sunlight warmed our backs as we passed eclectic street vendors and artsy coffee shops, accompanied by the fresh aroma of coffee grinds and baguettes and kebab that beckoned to us from each of the bustling businesses.
Ilana QuinnPublished 4 days ago in The Swamp
False Binaries & Disabled Being
Disability is a popular topic while the world is still wracked by the COVID-19 pandemic, during which previously healthy and able-bodied individuals now grapple with post-infectious chronic conditions that have drastic effects on their lives. In social media spaces where disability and chronic illness are discussed, I continue to encounter a multitude of posts that revolve around whether one "counts" as physically disabled or is "disabled enough" to use certain resources that might improve their health and functioning in everyday life. These social media users typically cite physical symptoms that limit or entirely prevent many of their activities and responsibilities but have been led to believe that these limitations aren't significant due to misconceptions surrounding what qualifies a person as disabled. While this self-doubt may not seem like much on its surface, it comes from and exposes a pattern of ableism and medical neglect that occurs on both a systemic and individual level.
Pretty Social RejectPublished 9 days ago in The SwampAlienation, society of the spectacle, cryptocurrencies and behavioral economics Part 1
With the birth of capitalism, the notion of work became a civilizing ethos. Thus, in the 19th century, Marxism transformed workers into the subjects of social emancipation and, in fact, it was they who provoked the revolutions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The welfare state, for its part, turned them into the middle class. The neoliberalism of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries led them to absolute precariousness.
Pro ThinkersPublished 13 days ago in The SwampWho are we (good, damn) Hispanics?
Hispanic Heritage Month was created by President Ronald Reagan, as a way to expand the same idea of President Lyndon Johnson from a week to a month and commercialized by the major US media.
Pro ThinkersPublished 13 days ago in The SwampThe Difference Between 9/11 and Covid-19
It seems like every American has a story about 9/11. The memory of that morning is seared in the collective consciousness of an entire nation. It's not because of national pride. That day was the embodiment of trauma, a horror that unfolded in real time on the national news, a tragedy that struck straight to the heart with its brutal reminder of mortality's callous indifference.
Jay SizemorePublished 14 days ago in The SwampWhere were you on 9/11?
I don’t know how as teenagers we did it, but having to be at school for 8:00am did not seem as much of a chore as having to be at work for 9am as an adult now. That could be because work is like an antisocial campaign where too much laughter gets you called into the office and school is the epitome of teenage social life. High School was the place where you had all your friends, wore your best outfits, and had the most fun, most of the time. High School was not enjoyed by everyone and just like everyone we all have that one memorable story.
Christina DeFeoPublished 14 days ago in The Swamp
9/11 Remembrance
We never remember fleeting moments; we are lucky to remember what we ate the previous day and if we remembered to call our parents. We tend to live our day-to-day motions without worry or strife. Get up, eat, go to work/school, come home, enjoy your evenings, live your day. Repeat.
Jackie FazekasPublished 15 days ago in The Swamp
Bay of Pigs
When John F. Kennedy became President of the United States on January 20, 1961, he inherited every policy decision that Eisenhower had yet to carry out. (1) One of these was the planned invasion of Cuba to depose Fidel Castro and the 26th of July Movement. The Central Intelligence Agency had recruited and trained Cuban exiles to conduct the invasion. The operation became known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion after the point that the Cuban exiles made their landing. The planning of the invasion began with the 1959 defeat of Fulgencio Batista, the former president of Cuba. The CIA believed that the use of Cuban exiles would work because of their perceived success in the 1954 coup against President Jacobo Arbenz of Guatemala. In the 1954 coup against Arbenz, the CIA had used disgruntled Guatemalan military officers and Agency provided air support to aid in the coup. In the Bay of Pigs, there would be no such saving graces. The air and artillery support the US promised was either canceled or so delayed that Castro's forces easily repelled the invading forces. Additionally, the CIA had no understanding of the environment in which they were operating. In Guatemala, there had been differing factions to exploit within Arbenz's government. In 1961 Cuba there were no such factions left on the island. This was due to any that had opposed the 26th of July Movement fleeing the island in the wake of losing their benefactor. This meant that the invaders had no support to meet them once they arrived. This led to the spectacular failure that is now associated with the Bay of Pigs. By 1961, the CIA had grown confident enough in its abilities to conduct such an operation. However, they operated with undeserved confidence, as they had not learned how to conduct such operations in hostile nations. It is by looking at the CIA's overconfidence in their ability to pull off the Bay of Pigs Invasion that we see how Fidel Castro and the Cuban government were able to assert their sovereignty, and become a regional power despite the lopsided odds stacked against them.
Eric AndersonPublished 17 days ago in The Swamp
How Have You Experienced The Pandemic?
A single planet. One virus — but multiple mutations. A global population of 7.8 billion people. Everyone has a story to tell about what the COVID-19 pandemic has meant for them, their country, and how they view our planet’s response to this crisis.
Miles EthertonPublished 18 days ago in The Swamp
Integrity vs. Loyalty: How are we educating our future?
Almost two years ago, I embarked on a journey with my longtime colleague, fellow Prince super-fan, and chosen brother: the one and only Matthew Reynolds. Through his newly-minted Consulting company, Matthew hoped (and strives vigorously every single day) to build, to create, to craft something brand new for our world and its inhabitants... something founded in equity, justice, and liberation for All. Something with "integrity, accountability, responsibility, vulnerability, hard work, self-worth, and unconditional love at its core." Something rooted in action, aiming to serve and uplift all of humanity.
Orion BradshawPublished 20 days ago in The Swamp
