War against Euphoria

 Hate Hope and Human Rights 

At least that's what the addicts describe it as. In 2020 alone, an estimated 9.5 million Americans, just Americans 12 years or older, admitted to misusing opioids. Between 8 to 12 percent of patients prescribed painkillers for chronic pain will end up developing an addiction and misuse them. They are killing us, our children, brothers, mothers, friends and family left and right, and they don't even have a gun.

It's hard to pinpoint exactly who is at fault for this. Do we blame big pharma companies for profiting off of the ill and over producing drugs, pushing them on doctors as an easy fix to many problems? Is it our doctors not paying attention to the dosage they prescribe, over prescribing, getting lazy with these killing machines? Is it the drug dealers, preying on the souls who maybe just had one shoulder surgery from a high school football game, had to take Oxycodone at first to relieve the excruciating pain, but then to numb all the other feelings? Or is it the addict's fault, who once was happy, but has now fallen victim to the dealers’ special ingredient of this week's batch of happy pills, now laced with fentanyl? 

The waves of deaths come and go with the decades, starting in the 90s when Oxycontin was promoted by Perdue Pharmaceuticals and approved by the FDA. Then a second wave crashed in from the heroin market, and most recently the monsoon of illegal synthetic opioids has taken out cities, literally. So? This isn't my problem. I don't do drugs, I'm a smart kid and I listened to the D.A.R.E. representatives when they gave their presentations in middle school. It matters, and we need to take a stand.

This is a full on crisis, which recently was masked and amplified by the pandemic. Isolation has allowed for addictions to go unnoticed by families and friends, it has increased the amounts of depression and anxiety people suffer from, and continues to hinder preventive and quality care. But I have hope.

It is important to recognize the issue. That we have a huge problem that cannot be solved overnight. The CDC has labeled the crises and epidemic, so step one is pretty much done on a large scale level.

As the pandemic regulations are starting to lift, accessibility to quality care is being increased, as well as stigmatization of the disease is being changed. Health professionals are changing their jargon, and substituting “substance abuse” with “substance use disorder” and stitching the reference of being “clean” or “dirty” when using, and taking advantage of the terms relapse instead, to help addicts in their road to recovery. It is an incredibly important topic to discuss, and make sure there is ample knowledge amongst your friends and family about the dangers of the war we are in. 

Where can we find hope in fighting a war that cannot be won with all the artillery in the world? 

 https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/features/what-led-to-the-opioid-crisis-and-how-to-fix-it/

https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html

https://www.cnn.com/2016/09/23/health/heroin-opioid-drug-overdose-deaths-visual-guide/index.html

https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/about-the-epidemic/index.html

The Relationship between Native Africans and African Americans Today

The black community in America today is known for the prideful and celebratory aura it possesses. Whether online or in-person, there is never a moment where Black people in America pass up the opportunity to highlight and acknowledge accomplishments done by one another. Under the surface level of things, a culture disconnect between 2 groups of black people in America today raises concerns with the genuine acceptiveness of the Black community. This is presented between Native Africans and African Americans. 

The connection between Afro-Americans and Africans stems from the time of slavery. This begins with Africans originally in Africa making a way of life through craftsmanship, farming, and cattle-breeding. With an already established government and area of profit, Africans possessed skills deemed highly profitable and advantageous for the colonialist world. When Europeans were aware of this, they understood that taking control of Africans and using their expertise would allow them to develop the New World. As a result, Europeans developed the idea of transporting Africans to America, giving them no choice but to submit to their authority and work under their orders. This developed a system where a significant influx of Africans entered America and across European nations as enslaved people. They were mainly placed on plantations growing and harvesting sugar, tobacco, and rice. This system, which we know as slavery, went on for decades until the rise of the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. With the signature of ex. President Abraham Lincoln, enslaved people were deemed free in 1865.

After eliminating slavery, the topic of race developed to be very controversial and problematic as Black people in America were not accepted as equal to the White race. This issue is still prevalent today. With the displacement of Black Americans, which resulted in them starting families here and further distinguishing themselves as African Americans, issues began to develop once native Africans were able to travel to America and moved to assimilate with African Americans established in America.

With this apparent difference in history that enforces a disconnect between Native Africans and African Americans in America, discussion frequently rises between the two parties regarding who has suffered and continues to suffer the most because of the history of Black people in America. In the perspective of African Americans, the perception of Africans who enter America now is taking advantage of the rights fought for by Black Americans. Because Africans who migrated to America came after slavery was outlawed, African Americans find it unjust that they can live off rights they did not fight for. On the other hand, native Africans find current African Americans insensitive to their upbringing in underdeveloped areas in Africa. Undevelopedment in Africa results from many factors, including the slave trade and colonialism. 

The upbringing of both native Africans and African Americans stands in the way of both parties' ability to sympathize with one another's unfortunate circumstances. This poses a risk to the Black community because it only brings further barriers to Black people from different ethnic backgrounds. With a history of trauma that continues to oppress the Black community today, the last thing needed is more separation amongst one another. While we can understand the different ethnicities present in the community itself, it does not serve to be used as a further categorization that blinds individuals in the Black community that we all represent one another.

Abua, J. (2020). The Fiasco between Africans and African-Americans. N.p.: UAb Institute for Human Rights Blog. Retrieved from https://sites.uab.edu/humanrights/2020/06/10/the-fiasco-between-africans-and-african-americans/

Economic Inequality in America

Money is one of the most prevalent aspects of any society. The financial status of a nation affects how they operate and how their citizens live. With this also comes abuse of money, and economic inequality. Some of the most prevailing issues with economic inequality can be seen in housing, education, and healthcare. However, the problem isn’t rooted in finances. The problem is that race plays a significant role in where finances are distributed. For instance, poverty is concentrated in low-income neighborhoods which results in limited resources. This is usually accompanied by a lower quality education for children in these communities. Schools are more likely to be underfunded and understaffed. Crime rates and litter are more noticeable because there is less attention and money dedicated to these areas. 

There is history to this form of environmental racism. In the early 1900s, there used to be a process called redlining. It was denounced as an illegal practice but it used to contribute to housing segregation (Gross). Redlining prioritized white and middle or high income families, excluding predominantly black families seeking housing. A way this has become modernized is with gentrification. While it may help support workers and businesses, gentrification ultimately makes it challenging for low income families by leaving them at risk of displacement. 

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Economic inequality was especially brought to light during the COVID-19 pandemic. In New York for example, the statistics for the Bronx and Manhattan were extremely different although they are both boroughs right next to each other. “Almost 60% of people in the Bronx pay more than they can afford for housing” (Morgan). This is why the Bronx has more multi-family homes and naturally less room for social isolation when a member of a family becomes sick. The Bronx also has more essential workers who can’t afford days off or can’t work from home. There are less doctors, hospitals, and lower quality infrastructure. More residents in the Bronx also have health conditions like asthma and obesity. This is again correlated to economic inequality because there is more air pollution and more access to unhealthy food at cheaper costs.

These are just a few small-scale examples of how economic inequality can be seen in everyday life. Now imagine this way of living in every state, not just New York. This is how people, especially those of color and low income backgrounds, suffer more and are at higher risks of death, sickness, illiteracy, poverty, and more. While this is happening, the wealthy continue to accumulate wealth and don’t feel the negative effects to the same extent. 

While this is a very challenging problem to digress, there are certainly many solutions. A large-scale solution is to reform the national budget. Congress needs to devote more funding in education and healthcare. Adults shouldn’t have to choose between their health or their jobs. Children shouldn’t have to choose between education or their safety. Some small-scale solutions that local representatives can do is allow taxpayers to have a say in where their taxes are spent on. There should also be more resources, funding, and efforts made for the most vulnerable neighborhoods and populations. There shouldn’t be priority given to those with the most money, but those who need the most help. The systems in place should be designed to help everyone succeed from the beginning, and that means reimagining race and equality in America.

Gross, Terry. “A 'Forgotten History' of How the U.S. Government Segregated America.” NPR, 3 May 2017, https://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america. 

Secon, Holly, et al. “The Bronx Has Nearly Twice as Many COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations as    Manhattan. These Charts Reveal Why.” Business Insider, 29 May 2020, https://www.businessinsider.com/why-bronx-coronavirus-crisis-worse-than-manhattan-2020-5#t.

Virginia's Critical Race Theory Witch Hunt

    Critical Race Theory, or CRT for short, is a practice that explains the framework of how and why racism exists in our current society. CRT originated in the 1980s and argues that traditional, liberal-based policies are ineffective in their attempts to combat racism and give the “full truth” to America’s discriminatory history. 

    Virginia's most recent Governor, Glenn Youngkin, banned the practice of CRT in all Virginia public schools in an executive order on his first day in office, despite it not being taught in any Virginia K-12 schools. With this ban, Youngkin established an anonymous tip line for any concerned citizen to report “inherently divisive practices, including Critical Race Theory” being taught in school. The tip line’s intended to serve as a sort of "witch hunt" to expose teachers who facilitated any conversations about race or racial discrimination. Youngkin’s actions received widespread criticism, with most arguing that the tip line is designed to intimidate educators. 

Governor Youngkin seen here signing Executive Order 1, banning critical race theory

    To a large extent, the tip line ended up backfiring. Thousands of people nationwide spammed the tip line email with content ranging from song lyrics to grocery lists to the entire Bee Movie script. One individual even went so far as to create a website specifically to auto-fabricate spam emails to flood the tip line with. The website reportedly has over 1,000 visits per half hour.

One of many spam emails sent to helpeducation@governor.virginia.gov

    More recently, in February, Youngkin refused to publicize the emails sent to the tip line, defending his rejection by adducing an exemption clause from the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. The governor and his office claimed that the emails were “working papers and correspondence of the Office of the Governor”. 

    So what? If the tip line is proving to be largely ineffective, why should there be any concern over it or the governor? Surely Youngkin’s attempts to smother the discussions of racism in America do not actually impact the lives of Virginia educators?

The thing is, it is still an issue. According to Roanoke County journalist Dan Casey, “There are roughly 1.25 million students in Virginia public schools…which means Virginia has somewhere south of 2.5 million parents with children in schools. If only 1% of them tattle on teachers…that’s 25,000 accusatory emails…”. That means that Virginia teachers are still very much in danger of losing their jobs for just trying to do their job. Even if the tip line is overflowing with spam mail, real reports can still be fished out, and teachers can still be hunted down. 

The fact is, Critical Race Theory helps take away the fear factor surrounding the discussion of race in America. In addition to encompassing all aspects of history, it creates a safe space for conversation and self-reflection, giving children a deeper understanding of how our society works and how to make it better. Without CRT, how are teachers expected to accurately inform their students about American history without acknowledging the exploitive systems which helped dictate thereof? What of topics like the Civil Rights Movement or the Reconstruction era? If people are too afraid to have the conversation, how will we ever progress?

Works Cited:

• https://roanoke.com/news/local/casey-could-virginia-teachers-get-arrested-for-discussing-this-column/article_62538d64-808a-11ec-bbd0-4b7dc7c6982c.html

• https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktokers-spamming-virginia-youngkin-critical-race-theory-tip-line-2022-1

• https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/glenn-youngkin-critical-race-theory-ban-executive-order/291-30a4d6e7-3fcf-4938-8d7f-7f82e5b24d44

• https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/gov-youngkins-office-denies-request-to-make-tip-line-emails-public/

• https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/2.2-3705.7/

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/28/problems-youngkins-snitch-line-teachers/

• https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/civil-rights-reimagining-policing/a-lesson-on-critical-race-theory/

• https://crtmail.netlify.app

Rainbow Corporate America

The terms ‘Rainbow Capitalism’ and ‘pink-washing’ float around on the internet every year during June, but they hold relevance all year, especially now. The name ‘Rainbow Capitalism’ makes this term sound more fun than real capitalism, but I assure you the hidden facets might change your mind. Allow me to explain: ‘Rainbow Capitalism’ refers to the use of LGBTQ+ themes, symbols, and ideas in marketing and products by companies to pander to individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. Pink-washing is a broader term, it encompasses any use of queer issues in a positive way to move attention away from negative actions from corporations or even territories.

Although Pride seems like the most elaborate celebration, its origins come from the Stonewall riots which began on June 28th, 1969. Police in New York City raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in NYC, and roughly mishandled bartenders and attendees. This was an immediate catalyst for protests outside the bar in the coming days and, in turn, the gay rights movement in the 1970s. The progress in the United States for the LGBTQ+ since then has been celebrated during June. It’s a time to recognize the beauty of our individuality, and the effort put in to reach this point.

Many companies, instead, have turned this special time into a great big marketing campaign. Have you ever walked into a mall during Pride month? I’m thinking of brands and stores like Converse, Target, and Hollister, whose shelves and walls are lined with advertisements for Pride gear. Brands change their logos on social media in support, and Disney especially has unveiled a lot of pride celebrations in their services and in the theme parks. In sum, Corporate America clearly is not lacking in ROY G. BIV. But how does this help anybody learn what we’re actually celebrating? And more specifically, what is it hiding? These companies really don’t have much to gain other than recognition, of course, and with that comes money. But underneath the flags and posters, a lot of corporations are causing true setbacks to the LGBTQ+ community. There are quite a handful of companies who are rainbow-washing that actually donate to anti-LGBT politicians and organizations.



The façade that companies present is entirely tarnished and worsened when their real intention isn’t even to help support the community. The first step in inclusion and equality is allowing people to feel like they’re accepted and integrated into society. When brands recognize them with rainbow merchandise or Instagram infographics, the world learns about LGBTQ+ terminology and ideology. The brands put in genuine work to seem progressive, modern, and forward thinking. So it hurts more, as a result, when LGBTQ+ people are only relevant from June 1st until June 30th; when the “PRIDE SALE” sign comes down from the windows, they fade back into obscurity and inferiority. Being queer or transgender may as well equate to being a fashion trend or a new movie release.

‘Rainbow Capitalism’ is the pinnacle of hatefulness and hopefulness; there’s a line that these companies approach to be progressive and inclusive, but money is the priority every time. It almost feels like a setback by its very nature of simulating support, but being wrong about it every single year.

Even though we’ve come a long way since the 1970s, the world is finding it harder and harder to have tough conversations. Society will find any way out of recognizing queer identities for too long (check out the “Don’t Say Gay” bill being passed in Florida RIGHT NOW), and no scapegoat is too outlandish. Companies, some of which actually have participated in pink-washing, are sponsors of the “Don’t Say Gay” legislation and homophobic lawmakers.











Again, this is merely a testament of how hard members of the LGBTQ+ community have fought to be equal only to face a new battle: economic manipulation and private enterprise.

There may always be a hidden agenda behind support from corporations, even when it feels sympathetic. It’s so easy to rejoice the fact that companies want to celebrate our love and our identities, but we must be mindful of the true battles and the harm of Rainbow Capitalism, in June and throughout the year.

The Uyghur Genocide

    Fans cheering on the sidelines, athletes pumping their arms in the air, winners holding gold medals. The 2022 Beijing Olympics illustrates a utopia where the world’s single priority is establishing dominance through their athletic competition–a world where genocide doesn’t exist. Yet, it does. The Chinese government has been accused of commiting genocide against the Ugyhurs population in Xinjiang, which is the western region of China. China is also being accused of targeting Muslim figures and banning their religious practices in the region. There are roughly 12 million Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, living in Xinjiang. They speak a language that is similar to the Turkish and they are in fear that their culture is going to be erased. 

Although it may seem this ethnic-cleansing has just begun due to the popularity of the Winter Olympics, China has been detaining Uyghurs and other Muslims ever since 2017. They are being victimized based on their religion, the Chinese authorities have labeled the Uyghurs “as extremists simply for practicing their religion (CFR).” There are reports of the sterilization of Uyghur women, so that China can stop the reproduction of their population and even the separation of families, however China has been denying all allegations that have been brought forth to them. There was evidence found by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute that there are more than 380 re-education camps and that was a 40 percent increase from the last collected data. The Chinese government released a statement saying that they liberated all of their detainees from the re-education camp system in 2019, however that is far from the truth. There are still many Uyghurs imprisoned in camps and serving prison time.

The Chinese government is masking their repulsive actions with the 2022 Olympics, they are partaking in sports washing – a practice by which a country uses sporting events to distract from human rights abuses or other issues. In the beginning of 2022, Amnesty International warned states to not partake in China’s effort to hide their violations, countries such as the U.S, Canada do not want to be complicit in the political propaganda of the Chinese Government. It is heartbreaking that the competing athletes cannot use their political platform to raise awareness to these issues, the athletes are being told not to make political statements or protest because there will be consequences. China is silencing the athletes' voices.

I think the United States should be more involved in this matter and not turn a blind eye; I think that only undergoing a diplomatic boycott is not enough to make a difference in the vulnerable lives that are being impacted in China. On the other hand, I do believe that the popularity of the Olympics is shedding light on the human rights violations that are taking place in Xinjiang, China; This increased publicity can potentially raise enough awareness where other countries can take action against China or make them cease to violate the rights of Uyghurs and Muslims. The United States can raise taxes on exported goods, so that we can weaken China’s economic power.

Sources: 

            - https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/chinas-repression-uyghurs-xinjiang

- https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-22278037

- https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2022-02-09/la-fg-chinese-reax-olympics#:~:text=China%20has%20denied%20the%20allegations,Games%20over%20risk%20of%20retribution.

Do Our Choices Have Consequences?

Chad Carswell is a U.S. Air Force veteran, who served during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF).

North Carolina local, Chad Carswell, is a thirty-eight year old double-amputee. In the last four years, he has had six heart attacks and suffers from stage 4 kidney disease, which has left him with only 4% kidney function. Carswell undergoes dialysis three times a week. While dialysis is a beneficial process, it is not a solution to his health problems. Without a kidney transplant, Carswell will die. According to Brigham and Women’s Hospital, “There are currently more than 100,000 candidates on waitlists for organ transplantation and a shortage of available organs — around half of people on waiting lists will not receive an organ within five years,” proving how long of a process it is for those who need a transplant. More than a hundred people have offered to donate a kidney to Carswell via direct donation. A GoFundMe has been created on his behalf and in a month he has received contributions amounting to $4,250. However, Carswell is unable to receive the readily available life saving medical attention he needs. Why? Because he’s unvaccinated.

Chad Carswell receiving dialysis at one of his four hour sessions.

Leilani Lutali has stage 5 kidney disease and refuses to get vaccinated as it goes beyond her religious beliefs.

DJ Ferguson is dealing with severe end stage heart failure and requires a heart transplant to live.


These people are running out of time and options. This is today's reality for unvaccinated people, even those who require basic medical treatment.


Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) articulates that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing, and medical care…” and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) defines “adequate” as “… the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” These doctrines express that medical care should not be considered a luxury. Denying a person's medical care who is making an opinion for themself is unethical, immoral, and a human rights violation. Doctors swear the Hippocratic oath, which obliges them to serve patients to the best of their ability and treat them equally. The Code of Medical Ethics Opinion 1.1.2 states that “physicians may not decline a patient solely based on their infectious disease status,” meaning it is the doctor’s responsibility to heal patients, not judge them for their choices.


Medical professionals have spoken out on treating unvaccinated patients and have expressed utmost hesitance. Trish Zornio, a research methodologist, went as far as saying “we should deprioritize the eligible unvaccinated patients…” citing how “choices have consequences.” Would the same be said about a smoker who has lung cancer? What about a drunk driver who kills someone? It is important to embody an empathetic attitude when considering these hypothetical situations, because they are still human beings and someone’s family members. Due to the heavy social media presence in society, it is easy to fall into the trap of following our peers, whether that be stereotyping, finger-pointing, or ridiculing those who are unvaccinated. These actions further isolate us as a community by producing the Us vs. Them conflict Dozier (2003) proposed (4).


Nevertheless, it is critical to acknowledge the nuances of the pandemic – refusal to get vaccinated poses a threat to the health of others. How do we resolve this on-going issue? Composing a solution is a demanding task and requires unity and understanding. While there are people who do not want to get vaccinated, we need to address inequity in access to the vaccine and to stop the spread of misinformation. In lower income communities, there are people who are not able to afford or receive public transportation to a facility offering the vaccine as well as people who do not speak the primary language on registration sites. Furthermore, we should support non-profit organizations, such as GOTVax, which produces educational resources and vaccine assistance for minority communities, low-income populations, and immigrants.

My questions are: Do unvaccinated people deserve the same medical treatment as anyone else? Are the rights of unvaccinated people different from other individuals? Do their opinions mean they deserve to die? Does it violate a person’s human rights to deny them medical treatment based on their vaccination status? Is it ethical to deny individuals medical treatment due to their beliefs? Is it dehumanizing to say unvaccinated people deserve to die? Is it selfish for people to resent those who choose not to get vaccinated? Who is at fault for this situation?


Works Cited

Dozier, Rush. Why We Hate: Understanding, Curbing and Eliminating Hate in Ourselves and Our World. Contemporary, 2003.

How Discourse Promotes Hate

    Criminal, Anti - National, Patriot, Terrorist. Did certain images come into your mind as I progressed with each word? If yes, that is exactly what discourse is. “Discourse is the production of knowledge through language” (Hall 291, 1992). That means while saying certain words and phrases, we already have an ingrained image we want to associate them with. The concept of discourse and hate goes hand in hand as we have experienced hate speech, misinformation and propaganda increasing in recent years.

    Mahatma Gandhi once said “When slogans are used for wrong purposes, their meanings too are misunderstood and they become curses instead of boons.” Keeping this statement in mind, we realize that hate speech propagating worldwide is often defended by phrases like “freedom of expression” or “freedom of religion”. However, when our freedom becomes a source of intimidation or terrorism to another group, it no longer holds the meaning that it was intended to. For example, In India, during the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) protests, a pro-CAA BJP leader, Kapil Mishra, said the following infamous lines at a rally, “desh ke gaddaron ko, goli maaro salon ko”. In this statement, which roughly translated means “look at these anti-nationals, let’s shoot them”, he refers to the Muslim population as anti-nationals and associates patriotism to their killing.

A Man standing in front of an entirely burnt area. Photo Courtesy: The Atlantic

    Within a week of this speech, violence broke out in Northeast Delhi which caused the horrific 2020 Delhi Riots where 53 people lost their lives, two-thirds Muslims. As Hindu mobs burnt, tortured and killed Muslims in the pogrom, chants of “Jai Shree Ram” (all hail lord Ram), “Vande Matraam” (Praise the motherland of India) and “Jai Hind” (All Hail India) were extremely prevalent. The discourse used to display hate through these otherwise positive phrases brings us back to the statement Gandhi’s argument made about using boons as curses. The way in which the killers used language as a way to justify their actions led them to create an “Us vs Them” mentality where you can justify almost anything if you consider the other to be your enemy who needs to vanish for you to feel safe.

    Following similar footsteps, we are witnessing a bigger scale, more current human rights crisis at the moment, with the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War. The Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin uses discourse t 

Ukrainian service members in Kyiv, on Feb. 26. Picture Courtesy: Bloomberg  

to manipulate facts and propagate false information and propaganda. He repeatedly refers to Ukraine as “artificial” and claims that Ukraine is “not even a state”.  According to Putin, Ukraine is an “illegitimate creation” and an act of theft from Russians and Ukrainians who still want to be under Moscow's rule. Putin claims that Ukraine and other soviet nations were manipulated into gaining independence from Moscow’s rule. However, his statements could not be farther away from the truth because an overwhelming majority, including east Ukrainians, who Putin suggested were forced out of Russia against their will, voted to establish an independent nation.

Russian Prime Minister Mr. Vladimir Putin. Photo Courtesy: The Atlantic Council

    Putin’s inappropriate language, however, is not a new affair. Previously, the president was known for using vulgar language against French presidents and the western world. While some might pass this for general rudeness, the way it has progressed can only be called alarmingly dangerous. The beginning of this series of unfortunate events was right after he was elected prime minister and he uttered the phrase “We’ll drench them in the outhouse”, referring to Chechen Militant Islamists. This expression was originally used for prisoners who would get their heads plunged in the toilets as punishment. Soon after, Putin started a running “joke” against French Presidents and breaking their male reproductive organs. His jabs have only increased in recent years, as he called America’s European Allies by their soviet name : satellites, which is how Soviets used to refer to Axis powers in WWII. According to The Atlantic, "No previous Soviet leader, neither Stalin nor the often crude Khrushchev, allowed himself to refer to the West in the terms that Putin has used. Zabaltyvat’ (“to bury in bullshit”); vrut (they “are bullshitting”); naduli, prosto naglo obmanuli (“they have swindled [us], shamelessly deceived”); protivno (“disgusting”); idite vy [na khuy, or “f*ck yourselves”]". 

    Putin’s aggressive speeches, used to manipulate facts, generate sympathy and instill false fear against everyone else makes the perfect recipe for discourse and hate. Similarly, the continuous exclusion of Muslims in India and painting them as the "other" has instilled fear and loathing against them. This language doesn't invite aggression, it incites war. 

Sources Cited :

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/23/world/europe/putin-speech-russia-ukraine.html

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/02/vladimir-putin-dirty-language-cursing/622924/

The Ukrainian Question

 February 24, 2022, will, for the rest of the days, be known as the day when Putin increased his aggression and launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Or, as he called it, a special military operation. During the first day, Putin's army destroyed 83 military infrastructure facilities and killed 137 Ukrainians. This raises the question of how NATO and other countries will react. So far, the world has created and is continuing to increase sanctions against Russia, which is believed not to do any significant harm to Russia's economy. 

Ukraine's situation looks a lot like a situation in which Czechoslovakia was before the Second World War—stranded with no guarantee of being independent the following day.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted on Twitter a couple of hours after the start of the invasion: “Russia treacherously attacked our state in the morning, as Nazi Germany did in WW2 years. As of today, our countries are on different sides of world history….Ukraine is defending itself & will not give up its freedom no matter what Moscow thinks.” Ukrainian president talked about Germany's free takeover of Czechoslovakia when the Allies used the policy of Appeasement and gave Germany part of the Czechoslovakia, Sudetenland. Afterward, Nazi Germany continued to seize control over Poland, the rest of the Czech Republic, and other parts of Europe.

The history and present both reflect similarities in the way Hitler and Putin state their intentions. Hitler's main reason for annexing Sudetenland was that he had intentions of helping fellow Germans from the atrocities that the Czechs have tried against them, which was one of Russia's central answers of why they are annexing Crimea and now invading Ukraine. Putin spoke out and said that the Russian minority is being suppressed and all he wants to do is help them.

The irony lies in another one of Putin's explanations of why he is launching a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Putin justified his attack as a fight against neo-nazism. In his speech, the Russian president explained that he is attempting to end neonazism and demilitarize Ukraine, and the Ukrainian president is its symbol. The fact is that rightfully elected president Zelenskyy is Jewish.

Ukraine's journey of continuous efforts to join the EU has been more than eventful. The first effort to join European Union and NATO came in 2008 while Viktor Yuschenko was the president. The attempts ended by electing pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych. The year 2014 was the year of change for Ukrainian civilians. Viktor Yanukovich, elected in the 2010 elections, is connected with rejecting the pending EU association agreement and establishing closer ties with Russia. Ukraine's civilians started protesting, which led to what we could call a civil war. On February 21, 2014, Viktor Yanukovych escaped and has lived in exile in Russia since. 

Viktor Yanukovych had been succeeded by acting president Oleksandr Turchynov and then by Petro Poroshenko. Poroshenko continued battling Russian rebels until the presidential election of 2019, when current president Volodymyr Zelenskyy defeated him by a big margin. Zelenskyy, a former comedian turned politician, received 72% of all votes. His goal was to “clean” Ukrainian politics of Russian influence and become part of the European Union. 

Five days into the conflict, the situation now looks like it is nowhere near done. The European Union, the USA, and the UK, as well as other states, have imposed sanctions against Russia and are supplying military equipment to support the Ukrainians. Ukraine has applied for immediate membership to the EU. Russian soldiers are still attacking the cities of Ukraine, trying to seize the capital, Kyiv, and kill or capture president Zelenskyy who is still hiding in a bunker in Kyiv. This goes against what Putin had expected. Russian military officials expected that Zelenskyy would take the first opportunity to flee the country, but the opposite is true. Zelenskyy seems to be the right person to be the Ukrainian head of state while going through this crisis. The true hero that Ukraine needed for so many years.

During the first few days, Russia has reportedly lost 5300 soldiers, 191 tanks, and 60 helicopters or other air support. Russia's officials have yet announced only one official death of its soldier. 

Russia uses its propaganda to ensure Russian citizens will not rebel against Putin and his presidential decisions. Most Russians use only Russian newspapers and websites and know very little about what is really happening in Ukraine and worldwide. A great example of that is Russian skier V. Barkov, who was asked about the war in Ukraine in an interview. “What war? It is a saving operation”, said Barkov.

How far will Russia go before it either ends trying to overthrow the current Ukrainian government or actually manages to do it? The same question goes for Ukrainian allies. How far are they willing to go in the fight against Putin?

“I still think that over the past few centuries there has always been that '“Russian problem”' because Russia does not really know where it starts and where it ends” (Václav Havel, 2008).

Sources:

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/28/russia-ukraine-crisis-in-maps-and-charts-live-news-interactive

https://www.seznamzpravy.cz/clanek/zahranicni-valku-jako-slovo-skrtli-na-pad-rublu-je-vsak-cenzura-kremlu-kratka-190904

https://www.vox.com/2022/2/23/22948534/russia-ukraine-war-putin-explosions-invasion-explained

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-48007487

https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-volodymyr-zelenskyy-kyiv-poland-europe-c270027c825e009ed66988bb98a3476e

Houston, I mean Colleyville, We Have a Problem

On January 15, 2022, a gunman held four hostages captive at a synagogue named Congregation Beth Israel. This attack on the synagogue located in Colleyville, Texas was considered an antisemetic act. Fortunately, all four hostages were able to escape before the attacker, Malik Faisal Akram, was shot and killed by the FBI. According to Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, who was one of the hostages, he was put through many training scenarios for how to deal with different types of threats. The Rabbi of the synagogue explained that his training was very beneficial for the attack on his synagogue.

This is not the only attack on the Jewish community in the past decade. For example, the Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh happened less than four years prior to the shooting in Texas. Then only one year after the incident in Pittsburgh, a rabbi and his guests were stabbed while celebrating Hanukkah at the rabbi’s house in Monsey, New York. These are just two examples of the many acts of hate towards the Jewish community in the past few years. In fact, an article from 2021 explains that around one of four Jews in the United States claimed being part of antisemitism over the past year. As Dozier would say, these situations are considered "Us vs Them" conflicts. Acts of hate are in response to "Us vs Them" and they are the result of anger, such as the shooting in an Oregon high school by one of its students, Kip Kinkel. Kinkel wrote, “Hate drives me… I am full of rage… Everyone is against me” (Dozier 3). This shows that he was driven to shoot his school by feeling alone, and saw himself against the whole school.

So, how do we prevent acts of hatred and violence towards Judaism? Well, the public needs to be aware of these actions going on around the world just as the Black Lives Matter movement did and many other movements and activists had done in the past. We need to protest and think of other creative ways to show that there are still specific groups targeted, such as the Jews, in the modern world. For example, support Jewish businesses. Attend a synagogue service even if it’s not your religion. Or even learn to speak Hebrew. In general, just do a small act because every small step helps.


While the world may never fully reach peace everywhere and eliminate hate and violence, it should be our goal as a community to make everyone feel as though they have a place in this world. No gender, race, religion, or ethnicity should feel scared of the world around them.



Citations:

Dozier, Rush W. Why We Hate: Understanding, Curbing and Eliminating Hate in Ourselves and Our World. Contemporary, 2003.

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/01/23/texas-colleyville-hostages-attacks/

https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/28/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting/index.html

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/hanukkah-stabbing-suspect-had-also-been-eyed-november-synagogue-knifing-n1109981

https://www.npr.org/2021/10/26/1049288223/1-in-4-american-jews-say-they-experienced-antisemitism-in-the-last-year