What could be scarier than imagining your entire culture collapsing? With the current demographic projections, this may be a reality for Japan in the not too distant future. Population decline, starting around the 1970s, has been steady and consistently troubling there. The widely accepted causes of this decline include very low birth rates, very long life expectancies, and a lack of foreign nationals living in the country.… [Read more]
Before we get started, I’d like you to picture university science professors in your head. Now, what did you see? Maybe they’re messy and disheveled, with unkempt hair and an untucked, wrinkled shirt. Perhaps they are more meticulous in appearance and have on a crisp, starched button-down with a pocket protector. Maybe they’re carrying the tools of their trade: a graphing calculator, a protractor, a clipboard full of data and equations.… [Read more]
In another progressive victory lately, a favorite national institution may be amending its stance on the matter of gay rights. The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) are considering officially changing their stance on acceptance of gay and lesbian scouts and scout mentors. This amendment would, if effect, remove the official national ban based on sexual orientation and leave the decision up to the local chapters and organizations to decide upon.… [Read more]
With the sacred oath of office and the conclusion of the inaugural address, we have officially entered the second term of Barack Obama’s presidency. Presidential inaugurations are typically very formulaic: left hand on the Bible, right hand up in the air; a nod to equality here, a toast to freedom there. But this year’s address has left all of us aflutter for one reason or another.… [Read more]
Newt Gingrich recently announced that he has had a change of heart. No, no, not any new extramarital affair that I’m aware of. In an interview with Fox News recently, Gingrich came out with this remarkable statement:
“I think this is a very complicated human problem and Republicans need to take a deep breath and understand we need to deal with the human side of this equation…”
Ah, sandy shores, blue water, and…liberals?? Well, doesn’t sound like a bad vacation spot to me, but our friends over at Fox News made the trip to the startling, new liberal bastion of America: Hawaii. No relaxing here. Oh, there was so much investigative journalism to be done! Interviews to be conducted! They even managed to find one conservative willing to speak to them who wasn’t their standard rich old dude.… [Read more]
As the New Year unfolds before us, we find ourselves falling off one rock and headed down toward another. We’re a bunch of Rockhounds, really, with an excellent collection going. While we’re busy arguing about the Fiscal Cliff, however, there are other dramas unfolding around the world.
Across East Asia there have been huge political changes following several important national elections this year.… [Read more]
With Christmas behind us and a new year about to begin, we are drawn to reflect on the events of the year just passed. Overwhelmingly, we have been accosted with news of more tragedies than we should have to endure, and some days it has been difficult to find the bright spots in it all. I wanted to wrap up the year here with a list to remind us that 2012 was more than just a year of rapidly escalating protests, political upheaval, and tragic gun violence.… [Read more]
In the aftermath of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, a heated debate has surfaced surrounding gun laws in our country. This debate is more of an eventuality than a spontaneous outcry. As we continue to suffer killing sprees and unsolicited violent outbursts in our public places, I’m increasingly bothered by the monotony of the arguments.… [Read more]
While Fox Nation is bolstering up its defenses for the War on Christmas, many of us find ourselves wondering whether or not they have anything over which to be so upset. Fox continually reminds us that religion in America is under attack, at constant risk of being extinguished. We are also implored to be mindful of the “reason for the season”, and take in to account the religious underpinnings of the holiday season.… [Read more]
Last Saturday, we had the honor of witnessing a milestone for our military and a victory for the LGBTQ community. Brenda Sue Fulton, a West Point graduate and her partner, Penelope Gnesin, were wed in the Cadet Chapel at West Point Military Academy, a first for the school. We can be proud to add this same-sex wedding ceremony to the growing list of victories and accomplishments for the LGBTQ community, and also to the list of improvements in the military’s views on “non-traditional” members.… [Read more]
The season of giving has just gotten started.
With Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday over, we as Americans may be out of the shopping spirit. Even though we might not be hitting the malls or online outlets so hard from here on out, I’d like to encourage us to embrace the spirit of giving, as you might have done on this year’s Giving Tuesday.… [Read more]
In keeping with his promise to pivot to the region, President Obama conducted a tri-country tour through Southeast Asia earlier this week, his first trip abroad since winning re-election. The president’s journey began in Thailand, then on to Burma, and concluded in Cambodia. The choice of this region and these countries for a presidential visit was significant, but perhaps most important was the decision to visit Burma.… [Read more]
Heading in to work recently, I turned on the radio (yes, just a good old-fashioned FM car radio—I’ll bet you didn’t know those were still in use!) and caught the news mid-story. This is what I heard:
(Interviewee) It was great, the first time I vote for the American president. It’s very amazing, and I’m honored.… [Read more]
Scrolling through the world and Asia news sections on CNN and NPR like I do most evenings, I came across a poll summary that was a refreshing change from what I usually spend my time scouring over. This poll was conducted by AFP-Ipsos, a Hong Kong-based think tank. The survey targeted two major economic forces with which we share incredibly important ties: China and Japan.… [Read more]
Hunkered down in my apartment in Virginia Beach, VA, I’ve been running circles from the windows to the TV to the computer, obsessing on Hurricane Sandy since 3:45 Monday morning. I noticed something unusual—little to no political ads. Not much in the way of campaign propaganda whatsoever. Was I simply sleep deprived, or was something unusual going on?… [Read more]
The third and final presidential debate is over. And, despite the idea that this was the time for the voting public to learn something new about the candidates, looking back all three debates it turns out that there was nothing new to learn. The same things were said over and over again, and it was the same talking points we’ve already heard before.… [Read more]
Now that the second round of presidential debates is over, I’ve been revisiting last week’s Biden-Ryan debate because something Ryan said bothered me and it’s still unresolved. While watching the Vice Presidential debates, and trying not to get too irritated with stream of nonsense coming from Paul Ryan’s verbose answers, there was one thing Ryan said more than once that stuck out to me: “Mitt Romney is uniquely qualified to be President”.… [Read more]
Coal has become THE hot button for Republicans to push in order to take some pot-shots at President Obama. It’s been pushed at campaign rallies, during attack ads, and was brought front and center during the first presidential debate last Wednesday. Romney has made it very obvious—he likes coal. But why focus on this in particular?… [Read more]
When you go to the polls this November, what questions will you answer by placing your vote? What questions have you been asking yourself up to that day? A recent series of attack and defense ads drove home to me the point that we no longer care as a society about policy, or values, or credentials — the only thing that matters by voting day is that you as a voter have made a decision about who you hate more.… [Read more]
