Barack Obama is “Fancy” & Other Reasons to Love America Right Now

In the midst of all the Ebola talk, the release of the CIA “torture” report, new sanctions against Russia, and a threat to impeach the current president, the United States seems like a pretty bleak place to be living. I, for one, have decided to look for all the great things surrounding me in the land of the free. So, I would like to take a moment to talk about all the amazing things about being an American right now.

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25 cent Chicken McNuggets: This one speaks for itself. The 25 cent chicken McNugget promotion is back at McDonald’s. No, they’re not paying me to name-drop here, I’m genuinely excited about this. I’m on a college-student budget, and enjoy being able to reach into my pocket of change knowing I can afford 20 McNuggets if I please. And yes– I do usually have that much change on me.

Kim Kardashian’s Claim-to-Fame Revealed: For years people have wondered “why is Kim Kardashian famous?” I am not unlike these people. She has not done much to merit fame- until the Summer of 2014. Kim Kardashian now has a free game, available on Android and iOS. I know, from experience, that this game is the end to most Candy Crush addictions. I’ve stayed up until 2 AM playing this game, and I am up to 17 million fans (I’ll be signing autographs after this post). I now believe Kim K has a reason to be famous- developing a life-consuming game for people with too much time on their hands. Let’s close that case, folks.

“Big Brother” is back on CBS: If you have any extra time while waiting for your energy to be full in the Kim Kardashian game, you should be aware that “Big Brother” is back on CBS. This season started off just as dramatic as ever, with people quickly turning on their own alliance members. Now, the house might be flipping, and I can’t stop checking Twitter for live feeds and leaks. I also spend 4 of 7 nights of my week wishing it was Sunday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Nothing says “America” quite like watching people be locked in a house for the entire summer hoping to win $500,000. #TeamAmerica #TeamCobyBB16

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I don’t live in New York, so I still get large sodas: Once again, this one speaks for itself. Large sodas are my happiness. Polar Pops from Circle K might be the greatest gift of all. If I can put my sugary, empty calories in a Styrofoam cup with gas station ice, I know I’m going to have a good day. Shout out to Illinois for not banning a cup full of happiness.

Barack Obama is “Fancy:” I’ll just go ahead and make your day by linking the video here.

So, if you find yourself feeling a little down, like the economy, just remember that you live in a glorious land of 25 cent McNuggets and lip-dubs of the ruler of the free world.

 

 

Boko Haram

Nigeria has always been known for its corrupt government. Most people, however, do not realize that one of the most lethal terrorist organizations in the world has been operating in Nigeria since 2002, with a huge spike in lethality since Abubakar Shekau assumed the leadership role in 2009. It’s no surprise that people who do not have much interest in comparative politics, international relations, or foreign affairs know very little about this group, or even know of them at all. For example, I just wrote a term paper on the terrorist organization and discussed it with my mom, until I brought them up to her, she had no idea who they were.

Recently, Boko Haram has received global media attention after the kidnapping of nearly 300 school girls to be married off or sold. The girls were attending one of the last operating Western schools in the area, and that is why Boko Haram targeted them. So, who is Boko Haram?

Boko Haram was created in 2002 as a group to oppose Western ideology. The term “boko haram” loosely translates to “Western education is forbidden.” After the death of the first leader in 2009, the Nigerian government thought they had defeated the insurgency. What they did not foresee, however, was that a new leader would come to power–and that he’d be even more radical.

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The key event in Boko Haram’s radicalization was after the assassination of the first leader. The Nigerian government had captured a significant amount of people involved in Boko Haram, but in 2010, a strike on the prison freed over 700 inmates, and put the terrorist organization back on the map. Typically, terrorist organizations do not have a predicted lifespan of over one year, Boko Haram, however, has proved itself to be a strong organization unafraid of government threats. The dedication to their cause seemed to grow stronger, while violence increased after Shekau took over.

The group has always opposed the Nigerian government, but attacks in recent years have proved that the group is more ruthless than ever. The article on the Council of Foreign Relations goes into much more detail about the state of Nigeria and the threat from Boko Haram, along with the most recent attacks, but the issue I would like to address is the current threat to the already fragile Nigeria (the article is linked above if you would like to read it for specifics). Nigeria has always had a religious divide. The Muslim North is almost completely separate from the Christian South. Not only that, but the oil-rich Niger Delta is located in the south, bringing more profit to that region of the country, and animosity to the North. Throw in a lethal terrorist group like Boko Haram, who is looking to end Western influence, and the threat to national security is apparent.

As stated before, Nigeria is an extremely corrupt country. With police officers and government officials that are easily bribed, it is no wonder that Boko Haram is still able to thrive. This group does have a leader, but not much of a hierarchy, which should impede the growth of a terrorist group, but it continues to grow stronger. In my opinion, the group is feeding off the already corrupt state and using it to its advantage. Without a true semblance of government structure, it is easier for Boko Haram to conduct attacks and not feel true pressure from the existing government. With that, I also believe that this group will continue to be a large force in the country for years to come. Without a strong government to actually overthrow, this group cannot win. It is almost fighting an enemy that does not exist, so the battle will continue to rage on.

Voter Interest and the Two-Party System

I came across an interesting article on National Public Radio this week. It seemed to highlight what most people already know, but it got me to thinking about American politics and the way the country is run. The article, “As Political Disenchantment Soars, Lines at the Polls Grow Shorter,” focuses on why people are losing their interest in American politics, but does little to explore the sources of the issues.

American politics features the two-party system, one in which a third party will see little to no success. In recent years, this system has generated an immense amount of gridlock and even caused a few government shutdowns, the most recent being in October 2013. Without seeing much action from Washington, it’s no shock that voters aren’t showing up to the polls. If it seems like nothing is getting done, then coming out to vote, or even supporting a candidate in the first place, seems pointless.

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So why does the two party system matter? In my opinion, based off of what I’ve learned in a few Comparative Politics classes, our system is set up perfectly to ensure gridlock. The system of checks and balances in our country has been tailored to make sure nobody has too much power, which is theoretically a great idea. At times like these, however, it can almost guarantee that no branch of government finds success, and that the American people are left feeling as though progress is nonexistent.

I also find issue with people being forced to, essentially, pick between two parties. If a new party is created, or someone supports a party that is not one of the primary two, political success seems to be unachievable even as far as representation is concerned. In other countries, like Great Britain, a two-party system does not necessarily mean the same thing. In their parliamentary system, there is still a majority party, but even the smaller parties will have opportunities for political success and representation.

When looking at all the variables, it’s not hard to believe that political interest is at an all-time low. America’s two-party system forces people to put their beliefs on one side of the line or the other if they want any chance of representation. Without seeing action from Washington, support will continue to diminish. It’s far too late to go back and alter the party system, so action from Congress will be needed to really generate interest on both sides of the party line in the coming elections.

Florida & The Same-Sex Marriage Ban

A big topic in politics lately has been same-sex marriage. Recently, homosexuals looking to marry have been granted the right to marry in Illinois. Nineteen states now allow for same-sex couples to get married, while this is progress for same-sex couples, it is obviously not a ruling that has taken the country by storm.

Florida has been a state where the same-sex marriage battle has been lost until recently. Judge Luis Garcia of Monroe County has overturned the same-sex marriage ban in his jurisdiction. As of next Tuesday (July 22, 2014) same-sex couples will be able to marry in Monroe County. This includes Key West.

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The reason this is significant? Same-sex couples have been fighting for the right to marry for decades. In a state that has banned same-sex marriage, seeing an overturn is a sign of hope for those fighting for the cause. An article on National Public Radio quoted advocated Evan Wolfson saying “We can now add Florida’s voice to the urgent need for the Supreme Court to take a freedom to marry case and bring the entire country to national resolution, ending marriage discrimination across America.”

This bold move of overturning the majority vote will likely draw more attention, both positive and negative, to the fight for marriage equality. The significance of this case should not go unnoticed, and will likely generate a lot of talk along with some action. The coming months in Florida will be some to watch.

Feminism vs. Equality

If there’s one thing I’ve learned thus far in college, it’s that being a feminist is encouraged. Not only is it encouraged, but it is expected. Students today are expected to come into their own beliefs and views in college. We are learning about the errors of past generations, and using history to shape our own views especially along the lines of sexism and racism. So, it only seems fitting that college students, when asked if they are feminists, respond with a “yes.” After all, wouldn’t it be in poor taste to say anything else?

That answer is “no.”

After taking classes like Political Theory and Gender & Communication, I’ve learned that Feminism is a topic that finds its way into nearly every academic discipline. In these classes, I learned how far women have come, and how far women still have to go. Equality is the basis for nearly every feminist argument I’ve read. Women want to be treated as men’s equal. They want equal pay, to shatter glass-ceilings, and to be able to hold powerful positions without being looked at differently. Personally, I stand behind those views 100%. So, when I say I’m not a feminist, I do not want you to confuse it with being anti-woman.

If equality is the basis for the feminist movement, then I surely am not a feminist. In 2014, I find the feminist movement to be outdated and irrelevant. When I think of groups who are still struggling for equality, I look at the “new” issues that have come up. I don’t want to support feminism if it means leaving other groups behind. Sure, there are some groups of feminists that add other groups to the struggle, but shouldn’t they have their own cause? Are these groups so insignificant that they must be attached to the feminist movement?

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I’m an advocate for equality. I do not believe that sex, gender, race, sexual orientation, or anything remotely related to that are grounds to consider another person as “less than.” I do not think that feminists are wrong, and I do not think that inequality between the sexes is nonexistent. I advocate equality across the board. Here is where I find the premise for my argument that feminism is irrelevant today. There are more inequalities in 2014 than just that between the sexes. Racism still exists. The idea of defining gender to only two is proving to create its own battle. Homosexuality and bisexuality are still discriminated against. Transgendered people are looked at as “freaks.” Women have come so far, it is time to give other forms of inequality their chance to come forward. These issues should not be tacked on to the coattails of the feminist movement, because frankly, they aren’t the same.

So, there it is. I’m not a feminist. Maybe on most college campuses that would be taboo to even contemplate saying, but I think it is what society needs to have being said. In order to get a movement towards equality to happen, all preconceived notions of feminism and the struggles related to it must be abandoned. If we want to see a future without discrimination, we need to see more minorities (not limited to race or ethnicity, but also in terms of sexuality, etc) being supported and advocated for. The feminist movement simply cannot handle all that has been put on its plate.