opinion

Opinion pieces from the left, right, and everyone in between.

Dear Trump, You've Destroyed My Respect For The People That I Love
Am I the only one getting tired of explaining why human rights are more important than the economy? I come from a republican family. I was born and raised Irish catholic. I am the only one of my siblings that is gay, a woman and suffers from mental illness. It’s only me and let me tell you, it’s draining. Have you ever felt like the support given to you by people who just simply don’t understand isn’t enough? Do they belittle you without knowing or twist everything you say to make your feelings feel invalid? Are they defensive when you ask them to educate themselves a little more? Welcome to 2020 folks, the election from hell.
By Emily Noonan-Phillips5 years ago in The Swamp
What Happens Now?
We’re still waiting for the final results of the Presidential election as I write this. By the time this is published to Vocal. Media we may very well know who will be the one running the country for the next four years. Much can be said about the brutality of the actual elections, but that’s not going to be what this piece is about. Trust me when I say I have an axe to grind and will share my thoughts about it, but in a productive manner. For this piece though, I want to talk about how we can do our best to move forward after what has been a traumatic saga for many in this country.
By Chloe Medeiros5 years ago in The Swamp
Dear Black America...
So here we are...literally in between the rock and a racist place. We just witnessed one of the greatest heavyweight bouts of white supremacy the world has ever seen and it did not disappoint. Donald Trump vs Joe Biden! Red vs. Blue! Bloods and Crips. Same ol shit.
By DreadPirateBob5 years ago in The Swamp
Too Close For Comfort
The night before the election I was not optimistic. I remain in the same cloud of pessimism. After four years of watching that walking talking pile of rotting buboes, incite violence, get endorsed by every white supremacist group in the country, Strip away rights from queer communities, force sterilization on women whose children he ripped away, all while they are sitting assholes to elbows in a cage, and cause the deaths of over 230,000 Americans by downplaying a Virus with a global infection of over 45 million people.
By Paige Graffunder5 years ago in The Swamp
Make Being Black Legal in America
I know as I write this that we are currently awaiting election results from this Presidential election. To me, it really doesn't matter who wins. It will still feel illegal to be a Black American. Even the statement Black American or African-American bothers me. Why can't I be just an American like any other person in this country? No one refers to White people as White Americans or European Americans. Why must my ties to this country include a hyphen? I was born here. My family was born here. I am not from Africa. Not all of my ancestors are even from Africa. However, I must identify myself with a country that I know nothing about for the comfort of other non-Black Americans. What most don't realize is that hyphen in African-Americans is to remind us that we don't belong here.
By Marcherie5 years ago in The Swamp
What Does Election Mean for Black Americans?
In school, you learn of how the world was created and the evolution of mankind but they failed to teach us how to survive as a non-white.
By Iriana J.5 years ago in The Swamp
How The 'Trump Train' Took America Further Off the Rails
I am not a conservative, but I think one thing must be admitted: Donald Trump's incarnation of the Republican Party is quite skilled at navigating through scandals, emerging relatively unscathed. Sure, there are a few conservative fall guys and scapegoats who get jail time, littering the media landscape here and there. Still, by and large, most of them just "power through" batshit crazy moments like they're all just a figment of our imaginations, and they skillfully rely on our cultural desensitization and collective amnesia.
By Wade Wainio5 years ago in The Swamp
E Pluribus Unum:
In the simplest way to understand choices, you can say that there are always two paths; Coke or Pepsi, Black or White, Male or Female, etc.
By Samir M Goradia5 years ago in The Swamp
It's Show Time 2020!
BRYCE ON POLITICS - Finally, it's election day. Put the signs, the flags, and the hate away, it is finally time to make a decision; it is election day. Many of you have already voted by absentee ballot and early-voting, which is to be commended, but understand this, the lion's share of votes will come today. Out of a population of 331 million citizens, less than half will vote in the 2020 election. Estimates show a record high 150 million citizens will vote. As I recently reported, the candidates will end up spending another record of $11 Billion in campaigning, thereby assuring the media continues to grow unabated. At this rate, the candidates are spending approximately $73 on each voter.
By Tim Bryce5 years ago in The Swamp
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROPAGANDA: THE NEW POLITICS
Politics has now become reliant upon social media and propaganda as we believe and (even blindly) trust that the media will provide us with the facts and truth.
By Victoria Wu5 years ago in The Swamp
PANDEMIC IN THE TIME OF INEPT LEADERSHIP
We are facing a pandemic, people are dying while many others are being rushed to hospitals with symptoms of this horrible disease, -covid-19 or Corona Virus- And that lying criminal who is supposed to do everything in his power to heal the nation, instead goes on television on a daily basis to play down the situation, and criticize governor’s for asking for assistance and accusing them of being overly dramatic.
By Pedro A. Idarraga5 years ago in The Swamp
This is not good news
Last March the UK was put in coronavirus lockdown for 100 days. 100 days. But, it felt like forever. It felt like forever since we last had our hair cut since we had a chilled pint at our favourite pub since we wrapped our arms around our (still vulnerable) parents. For 100 days we couldn't go to the theatre or cinema. It was only March when Boris Johnson announced that Covid-19 posed a genuine risk to the UK and that we must "stay home, protect the NHS and save lives."
By Anton Black5 years ago in The Swamp