The Problem Isn’t Comparing Refugees with Skittles, It’s Comparing Refugees with Terrorists
Comparing Skittles to refugees is stupid, but not because you’re equating people to candy. It’s because broad generalizations are the …
Politics
The Most Important Thing for You to Do on Independence Day
It’s Independence Day, and of all the things you can do to celebrate the holiday, I think there’s one thing that’s really important. And that’s to disagree. Let me explain.
The 4th of July is the celebration of the American colonies declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776. The holiday celebrates ideals like freedom and democracy.
Brexit: Don’t Mistake Racism for Freedom & Independence
The United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union and turned the world upside down. Some praise it as courageous move where the UK chose to take back their sovereignty. Most see it as a disastrous move that will weaken the EU, but hurt the UK much more (as it already has).
Here’s my take on it: Brexit is plain fear and racism masking itself as sovereignty and independence.
When Our Emotions Hijack Our Politics
When you think of the election, your response puts you in one of three camps. You love candidate A and despise candidate B. You love candidate B and despise candidate A. You despise both candidates and are weighing your options between voting for the lesser evil, voting third party, abstaining, or threatening to leave the country (again).
Most of the conversations I hear tend to revolve around the question, “How did we get here?”
I am a Refugee. And I’m an American.
In another life, I might have been poor. I might have been malnourished. I might have worked long days to make $14 a month. I might have grown up in a post-war environment and been one of the 100,000 people killed from undetonated landmines. I might have struggled under a repressive government.
But I didn’t. It’s all because of the sacrifice of others on my part. I am in the top 1% of the richest people in the world. And I don’t deserve any of it.
We’re Killing Ourselves with Arrogance & Selfishness
Another day, another shooting. The reality that it’s become so normal is more repulsive than the act itself. This most recent one in San Bernardino hits close to home – about 45 minutes away from home. So we go on with our routine. We’re in shock. Then we’re in sadness. Then we’re in anger. Half the people will fight for gun control. The other half will fight to arm people. People will blame mental health, race, and religion. I’d like to believe we’ll get this problem solved soon, but I don’t think we will. Because we’re incredibly arrogant and selfish people.
The Conversation After Terror Attacks
The terror attacks on Paris were horrific. For a day or two, we’ll all be in a state of shock and mourning. But what inevitably comes next is the conversation on what to do. That’s when it’ll get ugly. Battle lines will be drawn. It’ll be us versus them.
Boy Holding Severed Head is Our Collective Responsibility
You may have seen in the news the disturbing image of a 7-year-old boy proudly holding a decapitated head. It’s horrific, disgusting, and tragic. And it’s our fault that we’ve allowed this.
Reflections on Good and Evil
Being in my International Relations (IR) classes and learning about all the different theories on how the world works has made me think a lot about how it integrates into my theology. One of them that I have been mulling over is the Realist/Idealist debate.