If 2016 was the year of realizing things, then 2017 is the year of trying things.
Former FBI Director James Comey testified before the Senate Intelligence Committee last Thursday regarding possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump in the FBI’s investigation of collusion between his campaign and the Russian government. Trump’s political opponents desperately hoped Comey would show that Trump’s behavior provided grounds for impeachment. While Comey’s words showed he did not trust the president and believed the president wanted to dismiss the investigation of Michael Flynn, a former national security advisor, I believe it yielded nothing incriminating. In fact, I think it did more to clear Trump’s name.
Last week I wrote about my renting experience with Watson Realty Corp. In my column, there were some misrepresented facts: after Sharon Giddens left the company on good terms — for she was not fired, nor did she quit — one of my roommates stayed in contact with another person from Watson Realty. I, however, was left in the dark for the period of three months. This was not Watson Realty’s fault. Though our relationship was not ideal, Watson Realty does not deserve the disservice of falsity. My sincerest apologies.
Sometimes people fail to recognize that when it comes to heritage and being part of a new generation, there is the median of people who represent both and should be given the availability to express and acknowledge it.
President Donald Trump withdrew from the Paris climate agreement last week in a move that set the U.S. apart from nearly every country in the world. The left responded with its usual rage and hysteria. Fareed Zakaria declared that the withdrawal was “the single most irresponsible act that this president has taken” and that “the United States resigned as the leader of the free world.” Many others echoed his claims. Statements like these mirror the left’s typical hyperbole when any political move doesn’t reflect the liberal agenda, especially on the ever sensitive issue of climate change.
I’d like to preface this by saying that by no means am I attacking Watson Realty Corp. I am merely recalling events and experiences with Watson Realty that my roommates and I had throughout our 15-month contract. I have attempted to avoid as much hyperbole as I can, so the facts in this column may remain facts, regardless of storytelling.
President Donald Trump took his first trip abroad last week and gave his first international speech in front of a coalition of more than 50 Muslim-majority countries in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Many Americans voiced concern about how Trump would be received abroad, especially in the Middle East, because of his notoriously harsh campaign rhetoric. The warm reception for his speech should alleviate those concerns. Overall, the speech sent a clear message to these countries — and the world — that the foreign policy of the U.S. is going to be entirely different than it was under former President Barack Obama.
History is written into our education, and it cannot be erased — I’m looking at you, “Old Joe” supporters. White privilege is taught, and that’s not just in the U.S. I’m half white — my mother is the last generation in her Portuguese family. But racists, white supremacists or really any other person who doesn’t ask wouldn’t know that. I wear my colors proudly, and I have consequently been taught from birth that this skin color defines me.
Before I get into the column, there are two things I must preface: One, I’m writing this column two days in advance, so things may develop that I cannot predict; and two, I am by no means well-practiced in law. I merely did some research to satisfy my inquiries.
I don’t mean to say the sayings included in this article are things that female, nonbinary or trans people have never said, but I think it’s important to identify the condescending language that men use to establish masculinity. “Masculine” and “feminine” are two words that have become problematic in the gender spectrum, but I’ll tackle that issue in another 600 words or so. For now, I’ll discuss the type of behavior that makes some cisgender, heterosexual men feel stronger in this incredibly heteronormative world. Behold: mansplaining.
Former President Barack Obama had high praise for many of the traditional adversaries of the U.S. during his eight years in office. From Cuba to Iran, Obama tried to mend past differences and bring former enemies to the negotiating table through generous rhetoric. Obama singled out one country above all others in his praise: China.
I am interning for an organization that helps alleviate global poverty called The Borgen Project. The project, according to their website, “is an innovative, national campaign that works with U.S. leaders to improve their response to the global poverty crisis.” Or, in other words, it is probably the opposite of what you’re imagining. Typical poverty relief groups are “boots on the ground” types of organizations that directly improve the living conditions of communities through physical projects, such as building wells, buildings, etc. However, The Borgen Project focuses on directly alleviating global poverty by lobbying representatives in government to vote on policies that would increase the budget for financial aid.
If you’re like the average sports fan, any leagues' playoffs are a confusing time for you. As more teams fall throughout the postseason, you find yourself not really caring about many of the matchups. Either your team has already been eliminated from the chase for this year’s championship, or you couldn’t care less about who wins. In case you find yourself in this position, I’m about to tell you exactly who you should be rooting on for the rest of this year’s NBA playoffs.
Did you know being a UF student entitles you to a free, yearlong digital subscription to The New York Times?
As 2017 nears its half birthday, it is only fair for people to reach a progress report-type summary of successes and failures. Society collectively established 2016 as a bad year, even though life as a whole is a photo of us with a radial blur filter. The only ones who truly decide this fate of perpetual misfortune are us.
The phrase my mother consistently used to persuade me to clean my plate at dinner gradually became more personal as I got older and as our country started entering hysteria. That phrase was, “There are starving children out there.” These children are not those we are appropriated to believe come from charity commercials. These children take the form of my family and other oppressed people in Venezuela.
President Trump fired FBI Director Comey, a move that was long overdue
If you’ve scrolled through social media recently, you’ve probably seen references to a new television show. It’s called “13 Reasons Why.” Now, before you aggressively leap to a positive or negative reaction to those three words, hear me out. I’m not going to spoil anything other than the general premise, so if you haven’t watched the series, don’t worry about me ruining it for you.
I have heard many times that “time” is one of those things you cannot get back. I also find myself occasionally repeating this same message when giving advice. It makes sense that time won’t be given back to you, and you should cherish it, but I feel people abuse the saying — even for the smallest of things.
The hallways of The Carolina Inn on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are filled with photographs and paintings of people who made a difference in the university’s 228-year history. After staying in the inn for three nights last month, I felt like I had a sense of how UNC was influenced by the two centuries of faculty, staff and alumni whose likenesses lined the halls.
Solutions by The State News
