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.