Women in Politics-March

In her essay, A Room of One's Own, author and feminist Virginia Woolf advocates for equality between men and women. She argues that poverty, a hostile society, and a domineering male sect is the reason for the disposition of women. Today, the area of politics is criticized for its lack of female representation, largely due to ambitious male politicians and the unwilling electorate. Yet, most Americans would agree that 2016 and its presidential election might see the most powerful surge of women in American political history.
Not since they were granted the right to vote in the early twentieth century have women held such a presence. The days of Alice Paul and Susan B. Anthony and their goals lost momentum following their right to vote and women held a more traditional and submissive role in both political and social realms. Today, powerful women titans such as former First Lady, New York Senator, Secretary of State, and likely Democratic-candidate Hillary Clinton, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, Californian Senator Dianne Feinstein, former Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin, and Federal Reserve Chairman Janet Yellen, hold a great amount of publicity and influence within the political spotlight as well as our nation's policies. Even abroad, legendary figures such as former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazire Bhutto, and current German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have influence the global political, economic, and social landscape. If one is to succeed in the presidential race of 2016, I believe it will become a less controversial issue than previously thought. However, I do believe every action that she makes will be scrutinized and compared to her male predecessors'. But, if a woman does not win, I would except one to win the race within the next twenty years or so.

EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores, Inc., No. 11-5110

Mariam and Laila are subject to the ancient, ultra-conservative laws of the Taliban during their period of control in Afghanistan in A Thousand Splendid Suns. Here, there are encouraged, rather coerced into following their regulations on how a female should properly dress. Covering themselves from head to toe in hijabs and burqas, Mariam and Laila suffer not only under the scorching Afghan sun, but from the beatings and violence from the Taliban themselves. However, in the West, prejudices and ignorant bigots, like those at Abercrombie & Fitch, deny and prohibit Islamic women, like Samantha Elauf, a job because their traditional hijab (a small veil that covers the head and neck, but leaves the face bare) does not comply with policy dress code.
In the United States, politicians, businessmen, and ordinary citizens boast and covet at our freedoms such as speech, press, assembly, and religion. Members of the company denied Ms. Elauf (who is being represented by the Equal Employment Oppurtunities Commission) the right to work their because of their assumption that she would wear the hijab to work everyday because of her religion. This, according to policy, violated their rule "requiring any employee should not wear articles that do not comply with the brands aesthetic" which includes head gear and anything black. Abercrombie & Fitch's lead counsel stated to Supreme Court Justices that her clothing "did not appeal to the Abercrombie "East Coast" style." Both liberal and conservative justices are expected to lean in favor of Ms. Elauf although historically, they have sided with the defendants who are being sued on the grounds that they have violated the First Amendment. For example, the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Warren Burger reviewed the case of Goldman v. Weinberger, 475 U.S. 503 (1986) where they ruled a Jewish Air Force captain can be denied the right to wear his yarmulke with his uniform as the Free Exercise Clause pertains less strictly to military members. Yet, Abercrombie & Fitch's cologned-self-centered employees could use a little diversity and potentially expand their market towards Muslim-Americans especially as their populations continue to rise in the early twenty first century.

Cr(ISIS) in the Middle East

Cr(ISIS)

The Middle East. To most Americans it is just a common phrase heard on the news, by your relatives during holidays, or a far away place with sand in camels. To the international diplomatic community, it is an intense and constant area full of turmoil, instability, and distrust. To nations that promote democracy, republicanism, and liberty, it serves as a threat to those very institutions. In A Thousand Splendid Suns, Miriam encounters the difficulties of a traditional, often unfair culture that dominates the Middle East. She is wed to a stranger at just fifteen years of age, her husband is a victim of war, and her family places a stigma on her because of the circumstances in which she was born.

However the Middle East is much more than a faraway land with odd customs. They provide the oil that fuel our cars, airplanes, and industries. Yet, civil war in Syria, worldwide dislike of Israel, a weak governments in Yemen and Iraq, a power transfer in America's close trade partners such as Saudi Arabia, a the nuclear state of Iran, all combined with the growing dominance of militant groups such as al-Queda and ISIS threaten the very foundations that this nation holds dear. Simultaneously, their constant threats against freedom, foreigners, school children, and humanity itself divert the world's attention and funds from other causes such as disaster relief and environmental issues. 

Unfortunately, I believe groups like ISIS and al-Queda cannot operate as a fair, civil, and just state and therefore action by military means is required at the expense of the international communities and the American taxpayer. Yet, after dictatorships are toppled such as the heinous one in Iraq, the America recalls its troops far too quickly in order to appease the electorate rather than performing and completing the moral task at hand of reconstruction these war-torn, impoverished, and violent nations. 

Silent War-December

When one pictures a battlefield or a war, they envision crater-like holes in the blood-soaked earth from artillery, smoke drifting across dead corpses strewn over barbed wire, the sound of distant gunfire interrupted by the cries of men, bombs and shells raining down from the sky. When one is asked about the dangers, they think of rifles, machine guns, artillery, grenades, knives, and tanks just to name a few. The enemy is perceived as some nationalistic, immoral heathen from a far away land. Yet, one danger occurs off the battlefield; in homes, schools, office buildings, the park, shopping centers. The most powerful weapons here: fear and  terror. The enemy: the mind. In Slaughterhouse-Five, author Kurt Vonnegut narrates the story of Billy Pilgrim; the disturbed veteran and former prisoner of war (POW) from World War II. Pilgrim exhibits tell-tale signs of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) exemplified in his visions of the Tralfamadorians and unstable emotional state. He, like many of his combat brethren, are plagued with PTSD as a result of the horrific nature of their duty. Yet, one new and underrepresented group faces a different type of PTSD. Every year, hundreds of women in the United States Armed Forces are victims of an atrocious, silent war: rape.  
This "second battle" is a fight against a corrupt, negligent bureaucratic system that denies victims the medical care and compensation (let alone the acknowledgment) that they deserve and so desperately need. In the winter of 1981 in a cold barracks of Fort Danvers, Massachusetts, Army Private Judy Atwood-Bell was violently thrown onto the cold floor and sexually assaulted by a fellow soldier. It took over twenty years for the Department of Veteran's Affairs to compensate her as she was suffering from panic attacks, insomnia and severe depression. Atwood-Bell, unfortunately, isn't the only one with a recent VA survey finding that one in four women said they experienced sexual harassment or assault. And the problem is becoming more alarming because female veterans represent the military’s fastest-growing population, with an estimated 2.2 million, ten percent, of our country’s veterans. While serving with the United States Navy in the Pacific, Elena Giordano was raped by two other sailors and when she reported it to her superiors, she was discharged for "pre-existing personality disorder." The Pentagon released new data on December 4th that showed that sixty two percent of those who reported being sexually assaulted had experienced retaliation or exclusion afterward, whether from superiors or peers in the service. The military has long been a male-dominated organization since is beginnings, but it is absolutely crucial that not only that these women (and sometimes men) receive the care and treatment they need, but that military officials and legislators become proactive in preventing ease cases rather than shuffling their paperwork along or discharging them in hopes it goes away.
I believe that the men and women who serve in the armed forces deserve the utmost respect and should be held in the highest regard as the protecters of freedom and justice, but they never have the right to violently assault a fellow soldier or anyone for that matter in such an inhumane, cowardly, and dastardly manner.

Cultural Harmony-Cultural Relativism

Not a day goes by where one doesn't hear an elderly relative begin speaking with the phrase, "Back in my day..." or "When I was a kid..." Although we are apart of the same culture, the generation gap shows the inconsistencies within their culture. One hundred years ago, most Americans did not have instant communication nor could a majority of them vote. Today, we possess devices that allow us to hold the world news in the palm of our hand and encourage everyone to vote. Yet, there is an even more striking cultural gap between different geographic locations as exemplified in Things Fall Apart by Albert Achebe. The novel depicts the age-old stereotypical conflict between a foreign country and the traditional culture and its people. In an article written by James Rachels called "The Challenges of Cultural Relativism", he goes and explains in great detail how two different cultures, despite various and often contradicting values, are able to coexist. There are, I believe, positive and negative

elements presented from Cultural Relativism, as stated by Rachels.

One obvious of Relativism is we would be a more tolerant and subsequently peaceful species. Without the concept of superior versus inferior cultures, there would be less prejudicial action and conflicts which would theoretically lead to a much more peaceful world. A majority of the world's armed conflicts today are ignited by religious extremists and radical views against Christianity and the West combined with Western intervention due to the timeless label of "inferior" Middle Eastern nations. With the acceptation of other cultures, there would be little to no conflicts regarding race, religion, ethnicity, customs, etc. as we see today. If Cultural Relativism occurred, our customs could act as a simple pre-requisite checklist for our actions. Rachels gave the example of the South African man and the cynical apartheid system. If one were to compare the system to their own moral culture, they would see that is entirely out of line with it. 

While Cultural Relativism seems like an enlightened and modern way of thinking, there are some underlying negatives. If we live in a world where humans possess a "you-do-your-thing-and-I'll-do-mine" attitude, it could allow violence and inhumane actions to occur (according to other cultures). For example, if a culture, say Nazi Germany or ancient Egypt, has a strong anti-Semite attitude, according to Cultural Relativism, we cannot and should not interfere with that as it would violate their personal customs. Another issue is the hindering of "progress." Cultural Relativism revolves around a "nationalistic" attitude towards your own culture believing that it is perfect. If it were perfect, then there would be no change or progress. Therefore, the abolition of slavery or women's suffrage would have never existed and we would be in an agrarian, white-dominated society with breeches and tricorne hats!

Regardless of your position on cultural relativism, one cannot deny that this is an interesting and truly unique concept. Who knows, maybe one day the Earth will see no more prejudice or inter-culture wars (yeah right).

Closing the Gap-October

In The Importance of Being Ernest, satirist Oscar Wilde criticizes the luxurious and often frivolous nature of the upper-class in Victorian society. He uses their petty manipulation of others and infatuation with unimportant issues throughout the story. Meanwhile, men and women all over the Great Britain were starving, impoverished, and hopeless. As society advanced into the twentieth century, so did government and legislation. In an attempt to decrease the gap between rich and poor, many politicians and social activists pushed for reform and the twentieth century saw great change.
However, there still exists a substantial economic and income gap in America today. Some sociologists and economists believe the gap is more of a problem now than it has ever been. The New York Times has reported that the Federal Reserve says the economic recession in 2008 has in fact intensified the gap. After a three year survey, the Fed reports the, "Average, or mean, pretax income for the wealthiest 10% of U.S. families rose 10% in 2013, but families in the bottom 40% saw their average inflation-adjusted income decline over that period..." Also, the top 3% of families saw their income rise to 30.5% from 27.7% in three years. The Federal Reserve has also stated, "Wealth inequality has deepened over time. The top 3% held 54.4% of all wealth in 2013, up from 44.8% in 1989. The bottom 90% held 24.7% of wealth last year, down from 33.2% in 1989." Yet, the national median income has fallen by 2% in the recent years and the Times also states the middle and upper middle classes haven't recovered to their pre-recession status.
This issue has become an important and very controversial one for policymakers not only in Washington DC, but in state capitals such as Harrisburg. It has also become a major concern for lower class Americans as they are struggling to find employment and provide an income for their families like the lower class Victorians. Meanwhile, America's economic elitists have not only recovered, but are witnessing their own incomes rise to levels before the recession. Now I must say, I am an avid supporter of the brave and daring entrepreneur and agree that they should be able to do as they please with their income. I am also not a socialist, but I feel that in order to provide incentives for working, legislators and voters must push for a shrinkage in the gap. However, I also believe that voters and policymakers can only do so much. It is up to individuals all the way from company executives to the average American worker to make a difference. The government, by the nature of a capitalistic society, simply cannot and should not regulate the economy nor the workforce. We the people, armed with morality and will power, are tasked (now more than ever) to not lessen the elitist's wealth, but to further ours and raise it to the top. By going to work, going above and beyond our previous limits, and putting are energy into our job performance, we too can prosper economically. In turn, our society, culture, and government will strengthen knowing that we as Americans have gotten back up when the recession knocked us down.

Traces of Racism-September

Traces of Racism

As we all know, the legislative acts of Abraham Lincoln's abolitionist themed government, the treaty after the Civil War, the thirteenth amendment, the marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King and President Lyndon Johnson's Civil Rights Act all should have publicly and legally ended racism in American society. However, as evident in this article, racism is still a very serious and threatening problem to American society and the fundamental values that this nation is based upon. The narrator in Invisible Man and Peekay in The Power of One have all seen or experienced racism in some shape or form. The Invisible Man lives in the United States during the early half of the twentieth century which is arguably a mere continuation of the Reconstruction period after the Civil War for blacks. Peekay grows up in South Africa during the mid-twentieth century where their society, culture, and government is shrouded by the Apartheid system.
A young male describes his life in modern American suburbia. Defying the stereotypes of bigoted humans, he lived in a nice house, was educated to the point where he could speak multiple languages and went to a well-off school, and despite what an intolerant person may say, he was actually (wait for it) well liked by his peers! Despite his experiences of success and enlightenment, he and so many others have grown up to learn and exhibit one thing: fear.
As a child, most of us are reminded to "share with the other kids", "color in between the lines", and to drink our milk at dinner. These children, however, are raised on a different set of guidelines. Their guidelines, unlike our whimsical ones, are the difference between life and death. At the age of six, most of us didn't even know what Miranda Rights were and actually trusted law enforcement officers. If it was cold, we were scolded if we did not but up our hood or put on a jacket. If we didn't know people, we were encouraged to make friends. The young African Americans today are taught to fear the police and not to provoke them, keep their hood down, and sometimes are forced into criminal gangs.
Today, after the movements from men like Mandela and King, you would think America (the beacon for liberty, freedom, and justice) would be a shining example of anti-racism. A nation that promotes democracy, freedom and other synonyms of that nature should not be hypocritical  in these matters. I am appalled that so many children, especially in this great nation, are subject to unfair, dishonest, and inhumane treatment just because of their skin color to this day. It is up to us, not the government nor future generations, but us; to enforce the wills of our ancestors who have battled and lost their lives in the crusade for civil rights. This is our nation, our neighbors, our fellow countrymen, and therefore, our problem.