opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
Billy Graham’s Legacy
When Billy Graham’s last remaining sibling, Jean Ford, passed away recently, Ken Garfield, the former religion editor of the Charlotte Observer, called it the “end of an era.” Graham himself passed away in 2018, aged 99, and with the passing of Pat Robertson last year, we truly have probably seen the last of the big televangelists of the past.
Matty LongPublished 2 days ago in The SwampIt's fascism when standing up for humanity becomes extreme
Two poignant protests in Cardiff in the past few days in memory of the tens of thousands of innocent women and children slaughtered by Benjamin Netanyahu’s terrorist regime in Israel have been completely ignored by MediaWales newspapers, although Wales On Sunday did carry a report on Charlotte Church’s presence at the Palestine solidarity march in London on Saturday and her calls for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.
Steve HarrisonPublished 5 days ago in The SwampThe Trumpian Untruths of Netflix
Though not as brash or divisive as the man himself, Netflix has nevertheless embraced a decidedly Trumpian sensibility. It has morphed beyond the pale of entertainment, transitioning into a curated hub of misinformation. With no premium placed on factuality, ethics or integrity, the platform has become a sanctuary for documentaries, of health and of history, that cling to a lie of credibility. It is at once a spectacle of irresponsibility and a transgression that can’t help but strike an ugly likeness with the pathological antics of America’s boorish ex-president.
Brandon LeverPublished 5 days ago in The SwampAnarcho-Normieism Is On The Rise!
The old leftist refrain commences-Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality? Class politics, or intersectionality?
Iris ErdilePublished 6 days ago in The SwampMy First Caucus
This year the Utah Republican Party decided to do a presidential poll at their caucus meetings instead of a primary ballot. Personally, my husband and I were disappointed because it means fewer people would vote due to difficulties to attend a caucus meeting. We've always had children too young to care for themselves, so we rarely made it to any political functions.
Eileen DavisPublished 10 days ago in The SwampMy Thoughts on the US Presidential Primaries
Why have the Democrats kept Joe Biden as their candidate? It isn't about his age, but his cognitive ability. We know he is suffering from dementia and shouldn't be there, despite his clean health report minus a cognitive test (hmm?). It is unkind not to retire Joe Biden when he is not fully functioning. Instead we have a President, who many suspected from the beginning, didn't have enough cognitive power to reason through complex political matters. Voters let themselves believe he was the "centrist" and "civil" candidate. (Very few "loved" Biden or Trump; most votes were anti-votes.) Biden's inability to preside has led to out-of-control federal budgets, economic hardship, the border crisis, the deadly evacuation in Afghanistan, and emboldening authoritarian governments and terrorists. Have I missed anything?
Eileen DavisPublished 13 days ago in The SwampWhy Are Black-Specific Colleges, Caucuses, and TV Channels Acceptable, but Not White-Specific Ones?
Previously, I wrote an article that sought to answer the following question: Why does it seem to be more acceptable for Black people to joke about or criticize White people than the other way around? It received a lot of attention, and some of the comments others posted under it were questions that I wanted to address in turn.
Martin VidalPublished 13 days ago in The SwampAre there medical benefits to microdosing dried fly agarics?
Microdosing, the practice of consuming sub-perceptual doses of psychedelic substances, has garnered significant attention in recent years, particularly within the realms of personal development and mental health. Among the myriad substances explored for this purpose, fly agaric (Amanita muscaria), a mushroom renowned for its distinctive red cap with white spots, has emerged as a subject of intrigue. This article delves into the potential medical benefits of microdosing dried fly agarics, leveraging the scientific and anecdotal evidence available to date.
Susan ScavaPublished 13 days ago in The SwampBring Back the Maccabee Version
Max Romeo, the reggae artist, released a song in 1976 titled “Maccabee Version”. I remember hearing it as a boy in Jamaica. At some point, I became aware of something the Rastafarians called the “Maccabee version” of the Bible. They believed the Bible had been altered and the Maccabee was an older, more correct version. That's what Romeo's song was about. It implored people to "bring back Maccabee version".
Randy BakerPublished 14 days ago in The SwampA Biracial Man’s Plea to End Racial Categorization
Self Portrait in Black and White by “biracial” author Thomas Chatterton Williams is a memoir that makes the case for doing away with the racial categorization of human beings. He shares how the USA’s hyperracialized society forced him as a young person to exclusively identify as Black. However, relocating to France; marrying a white French woman; and especially, becoming the father of white-presenting children has now demonstrated to him the myth of race.
Clare XanthosPublished 14 days ago in The SwampThoughts on John Updike’s Short Story “A & P”
The short story “A & P” by John Updike dealt with some very confusing internal conflicts, experienced by the main character named Sammy. I cannot say I admired Sammy for quitting in the end of the story. It seems a bit pointless to me why he quit. I can understand how Sammy was sick and tired of his mundane job. Many of us can relate to mundane aspects of jobs. Although he could’ve been more thankful that he had a job at all. However, as humans we gripe and complain and then make life changes compulsively. Many people can likely relate to Sammy at some point in their lives. I know I sure can, in some slightly different ways.
Rowan FinleyPublished 17 days ago in The SwampOne person's sacrifice futile in a world that condones genocide
As Israel’s campaign of genocide heads into its sixth month, I’ve heard many people take solace from the knowledge they are “standing on the right side of history” by speaking out about the atrocities and condemning the United Kingdom government’s complicity in the ethnic cleansing being carried out in Gaza by Benjamin Netanyahu’s terrorist regime.
Steve HarrisonPublished 19 days ago in The Swamp