opinion
Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.
We Should Be Worried About How The Right Talks About Disney
I love Disney. I listen to its musical numbers on repeat on Spotify. I love traveling to Disney World and going on the rides (Magic Kingdom is the best, obviously). I can obnoxiously hold my own amongst the most intense Disney adults.
Alex Mell-TaylorPublished 3 days ago in The SwampHistory and Those Who Ignore It
Let me start by saying that I am neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I am a proud Independent and a follower of George Washington. To those of you who may be confused by this statement, let me explain. During Washington’s farewell address to the country, he stated (and please excuse the paraphrasing) that the creation of political parties will be the downfall of the nation. So far, he’s been right on the money!
Mark GagnonPublished 8 days ago in The Swamp
I’m Not Thankful To Be An American
Well, it’s Thanksgiving Weekend 2022. A day of family, friends, food, and thankfulness. I have a lot to be thankful for. I’m thankful for many things this year. One of the new ones for me is being thankful for being a writer. I couldn’t say the same last Thanksgiving. I’m thankful for the opportunity to write so many blogs and to make so many wonderful friends. It’s been awesome to have a voice these past 11 months.
Jason ProvencioPublished 10 days ago in The Swamp
Men Are Too Emotional To Own Guns
Mass shootings are one of the biggest problems we seem to face in our country. 99% or more of them come at the hands of men. Perhaps men are too emotional as a gender to be allowed to own guns.
Jason ProvencioPublished 12 days ago in The Swamp
You Keep Using This Word ‘Freedom’
Welcome to the Home of the Brave and the Land of the Free. Here is exactly what you are free to do on any of our stirring national holidays, Bruce. You are free to get drunk and burn the hamburgers on the grill. You and the Missus are free to hit the — ack — Independence Day, Memorial Day, Veterans' Day, and/or Presidents' Day sales at Walmart. You are also free to possibly blow your thumb off lighting one of the illegal cherry bombs you had Griffy pick up across the state line last week.
Remington WritePublished 17 days ago in The Swamp
6500 reasons to boycott the Qatar World Cup.
Since Qatar was awarded the right to host the World Cup by FIFA, ten years ago, more than 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka have perished building pharaonic stadiums in the desert. Some people say that history repeats itself, but I never imagined returning to the same work conditions from ancient Egypt to modern-day Qatar. Back then the workers were slaves, nowadays, they are called contract workers, but since no working conditions apply to them the term slaves, could easily apply to them.
Sergios SaropoulosPublished 23 days ago in The Swamp
Cultural Appropriation and Racial Identity
Among many things, the concept of identity is soiled in history, culture and socio-economic power. As second-generation immigrants of the Western world, these aspects about ourselves begin to blur. Thrusted into a world of a different culture, history and hierarchy of power, it becomes the responsibility of society and the individual to sort themselves among these lines. But when our concepts of identity begin to blur, so do our notions of right and wrong-- specifically, our ideas of what constitute as appropriate facets of our identity. As a result, we become lost in a cycle of taking on the different cultures and identities we are exposed to, mindless of the consequences that stem from that process. Consequently, not only does one stray further away from their own cultural identity, but they manage to take on facets of cultures they have no right taking part in, perpetuating the prevalence of cultural appropriation.
Aathavi ThangesPublished 23 days ago in The Swamp
The media war to capture the human psyche
Renowned Austrian psychologist Sigmund Freud considered the human psyche to be at the centre of an individual’s emotions, thoughts and behaviour, controlling everything from a person’s interaction with family, friends and colleagues to beliefs about religion, education, death and all else in between.
Steve HarrisonPublished 24 days ago in The Swamp
Ghana & Ghanians Aren't Very Accepting of Anyone Who is Different
Un-welcome to Ghana a country that uses the term 'culture' to treat others badly. Colorism is at an extreme high and lighter skinned Black Americans have issues being called 'White' at every turn, as you walk through the streets they'll shout Obroni if you ignore them they say hey "white woman/man" you hear me? Words from "Black Americans aren't Black people because they're not born in Africa!"
IwriteMywrongsPublished 28 days ago in The Swamp
Dissolving Evil Empire:
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the USSR, was actually just a euphemism for "Russia" in a delusional attempt at self-justification because, to my knowledge, not one of the countries making up this so-called “Union” joined willingly. Enormous threats, purges, incarcerations, torture, deportations, & genocides were employed to bring everyone into this bogus "Union."
Vytas StoskusPublished 29 days ago in The SwampRich =/= Right
I have a guilty pleasure. It’s looking up houses I’ll never afford. The million dollar homes, the five million pound manors, the thirty million euro estates. I’ve noticed a common thread between all of them; no taste. Often garishly ornate with gold this and crystal that, with simpering appeals to aristocracy, it’s what people think you’re supposed to like when you’re rich. New Money pretending it’s Old Money, hoping to impress someone.
Conor MatthewsPublished about a month ago in The Swamp
The Other Vegas
June 3rd, 2020. It was close to 10 o’clock at night, and my associate Mr. Wayne and I had been driving through this endless desert for some hours now. We had stopped in Primm, right on the border of California and Nevada. Home of Buffalo Bill’s Casino and his less sanitary cousin, Whiskey Pete. We took a good, glassy-eyed look at the massive casino road sign before us: the massive head of a bison adorned with a Native American headdress. Normally the lighting display on the sign would be putting on a sunset-colored show that can be seen for miles along the flat desert landscape. Now however, there is not a single light on. But enough sideshow sight-seeing. We had to hit the road. Though the cashier’s horrified reaction did shake us up a bit, it was not enough to dissuade us from our likely foolhardy mission.
Benjamin Paul BirminghamPublished about a month ago in The Swamp
