Productive Disagreements

I recently had the pleasure of viewing a presentation (which I've shared below) called "Productive Disagreements: How to Have Civil Conversations,” lead by Dr. Terri Easley-Giraldo. Hosted by Janette Jasperson of the International Education Office at JCCC, this event provides a relevant discourse on the current polarized nature of our society, and discusses a way … Continue reading Productive Disagreements

The Ineffectiveness of Online Advocacy

In the article “The Problem With Social-Media Protests,” published in The Atlantic, author Antonia Malchick argues that online social movements are likely to experience faster burnout and result in less actual policy change than in-person activism. Before the internet increased the speed at which information travels, it’s claimed, advocacy in general was slower growing, but … Continue reading The Ineffectiveness of Online Advocacy

Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Analysis and Critique

Note: I am finally biting the bullet and starting a new category of posts called "Lost Writings." Digging through all of my old files has been a reacquaintance with intriguing content from my past. Whether from a formal prompt in English or a free-write session in Writer's Workshop, they will be shared here. This next … Continue reading Invasion of the Body Snatchers: Analysis and Critique

Political Apathy and the Status Quo

Columbia, Missouri — With the recent midterm elections resulting in a voter turnout rate of only 36.4 percent, it's becoming quite apparent that a plague of political apathy is taking the United States by storm. In fact, according to the New York Times Editorial Board, this has been the worst voter turnout in 72 years. … Continue reading Political Apathy and the Status Quo

Fog of Glory

Throughout colonial Boston Massachusetts, until about 1770, Pope’s Day was celebrated to commemorate the discovery and thwarting of a Catholic plot to overthrow King James in 1605. Occurring on the 5th of November, this anti-catholic celebration served as a way to unify the colonists religiously and through their mutual hatred of the Catholic church. The … Continue reading Fog of Glory

Satirizing Fat America

Throughout the entirety of the western world, corporations and entrepreneurs are heralding the mass adoption of a single moral philosophy: self-indulgence. The lynchpin of these ethically hedonistic nations is none other than the United States of America, where morbid obesity is on the rise. In response to this unfortunate and reprehensible trend, I propose to … Continue reading Satirizing Fat America

Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?

"There is nothing permanent in life except change," said philosopher Heraclitus. The nature of the universe is relative in every regard, and infinity is only a concept that can be applied to the ever-evolving nature of the cosmos. This notion applies to many facets of life, including civilization and society. It even applies to humanity, … Continue reading Is Our Constitution Still Relevant?