Category: Current Affairs with Brittany Gamlen

Here in the United States, we are lucky to live in a country where we play a direct role in shaping the policies of our country.   Unfortunately, most people do not take advantage of this great system.  Our age group gets an especially bad reputation for being out of touch and uninvolved in the world.  It might even feel like there is no way to get involved.  There are a few things you can do to increase your political participation.

First, understand that the political process is messy and often you are not going to agree with what is happening. That is not always bad thing. Congress moves slowly because there is more than one view on the way policies should function in our country and there are disagreements over legislation. That might seem frustrating, but the great Leslie Knope once said, “….what I hear when I’m being yelled at is people caring loudly at me.”

We have a beautiful political system where laws are not passed without expressing varying views on the issue.  If you do not like something, the good news is that there is room for you to change it. Brush up on high school government and make sure you have an understanding of how everything works.

Next, realize that you do have a say in this system, and it is crucial that you engage in the political process.  The most obvious statement is vote regularly.   We live in a republic, not a democracy, which means that we elect people who represent us.  Make sure the person you are electing is a good representation of yourself.  Many people wonder why Donald Trump is the GOP frontrunner.  During presidential election cycles, less than thirty percent of citizens vote in primary elections.  Thus, one of the reasons Trump is winning is that only one third of registered Republicans are voting.  Even fewer people vote in non-presidential election years. It is important to note that many more elections than the presidential election occur every year.  Sometimes state and local elections get over looked in favor of larger races, but it is your local officials that shape your communities and in some ways have a greater impact on your daily life.

Moreover, you need to be an educated voter.  Too many people do not know what they are voting for, or do not vote because they do not know what is going on.  Download a (credible) news app and spend five minutes you would normally spend on social media reading up on the current issues.  It will even send you updates when major stories break.  It is important to realize that most news outlets are biased, so it is a good idea to look at a few and do not always believe everything you hear.

You can “like” several news outlets on Facebook (or other social media) so that whenever you scroll through your newsfeed you get a glimpse of actual news.  Part of being an educated voter is not being a single-issue voter, so it is important to have a good grasp of all issues.  It is natural to have certain issues that you are more passionate about than others, but it is problematic when you vote for a particular candidate based on their stance on one issue.  There is usually no candidate whose views align perfectly with yours.  Check out each candidate’s website, do not just rely on the media, and read up on their positions on every issue.  Then, vote for the candidate who you think will do the best for the country, not necessarily for yourself.

Additionally, attend a local town hall and learn about the ways these broad issues directly affect your community.  I challenge you to learn the names and faces of all your local representatives. These are the people that are willing to fight for issues you care about.   Next time that you are bothered by something you see happening, call the appropriate representative and ask him or her what can be done about it.  I have a rule when it comes to politics: you cannot complain unless you are involved and working to change the situation.

Lastly, discuss politics with others, both your peer groups and older generations.  It is often considered taboo to bring up politics in many situations, but break that tradition. Politics is too important of a subject to ignore, and often times meaningful discussion can help shape our opinions.   Attend discussion forums on campus to better understand issues.  It is better to give up an hour or two of your time to stay informed than to give up your rights because you could not be bothered to get involved.   Remember, a revolution occurred to give us this privilege and we should not take it for granted.

Brittany Gamlen is a sophomore BIC student majoring in international studies. 

The United States Department of State recently declared that ISIS is committing genocide against Christians and other minority groups in the Middle East, including Yazidis and Shia Muslims.  Secretary of State John Kerry stated that ISIS committed “crimes against humanity” and “ethnic cleansing,” arguing that the militant group’s actions meet the United Nations’ definition of genocide.   This definition reads as follows; “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.”  Thus, the declaration makes a bold claim and calls for action against ISIS.  Yet, this statement is not as impactful as it appears, and it does not do as much as it should.   There is more the government can be doing to combat ISIS.

Three months ago, Congress ordered the Secretary of State to make known whether or not minority groups are experiencing genocide in the Middle East.  Kerry waited until the deadline, March 17^th, to announce that genocide is in fact occurring.  His announcement came as a surprise, as a spokesperson from the State Department alluded the previous day that Kerry would not be addressing the order.  Furthermore, a week prior to his declaration, the House of Representatives passed a non-binding resolution with a unanimous vote declaring that the violence committed by ISIS in the Middle East is considered genocide.  Hence, prior to Kerry’s announcement, the dominant belief was already that ISIS is committing genocide.

Additionally, this declaration does not mean that the United States is required to take action against ISIS.  Perpetrators of genocide must be brought to justice in a court of law where a complete trial must occur, but Kerry stated that the United States would not be taking ISIS to trial or taking any action to hold ISIS accountable. In his declaration, Kerry urged someone else to lead the investigation against ISIS, suggesting an international criminal tribunal as a good candidate.

The United States has only declared conflicts as genocide in five situations since the United Nations Genocide Convention in 1948.   Hence, there is no clear picture of what should precede such a declaration.  The UN Genocide Convention does make it clear that the perpetrator should be punished for their crimes, although it does not clearly state who is responsible for enforcing the punishment. Therefore, Kerry’s decision is in compliance with the treaty.

Even so, ISIS is killing innocent people because of their religion, which is a huge injustice.  While the United States is currently launching airstrikes and is partnered with Iraqi forces against ISIS, the increasing number of terror attacks makes it apparent that these measures are not enough.   Declaring genocide is important, but punishing those who commit genocide is equally as important.  Kerry’s declaration will help ramp up the fight against ISIS and brings awareness to an important problem.   Nevertheless, it does not solve the problem. Our country cannot stand by the side and encourage others to act.  We must lead the fight in not only holding ISIS accountable for their actions, but also in eradicating them entirely.

Brittany Gamlen is a sophomore BIC student majoring in international studies. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By now you have probably heard that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a man known for his conservatism, died last weekend, leaving a vacancy in the Supreme Court bench. Yet do you know exactly what this means?

 

This is a big deal, especially for our generation.  As justices are appointed for life, whoever fills the vacant seat will serve for many years to come.  The appointee will serve as we enter into the work force and start our families.

 

Therefore, at a time when our nation is divided on many issues, the Supreme Court will play a large role in the policy that will define our futures.   Sometimes we forget how much influence the Supreme Court has over the laws of our country, and it is important to remember that they hold one third of the governing power. This means they are just as powerful as Congress.

 

Scalia is seen as on of the most prominent conservative justices in history who upheld the principles of the Constitution and embodied Reagan’s beliefs.  His death is a huge loss to the country, and it means that the Supreme Court’s political alignment could undergo a major shift, thus changing the core principles of our nation.

 

The court is set to review a greater number of controversial issues than usual this term, including medical regulations of abortion clinics, President Obama’s immigration orders, and non-member fees for unions.  This means that Scalia’s death comes at a particularly unique time.  Prior to Scalia’s death, the court was composed of five right-leaning justices and four left-leaning justices.  Consequently, the new appointee will have immense power over the outcome of these decisions.

 

If a liberal justice were to fill the vacancy, the balance of the court would be eliminated in favor of the left.  Similarly, until a new justice is appointed there is a strong possibility of four-four decisions on some or all of these cases, meaning that the decision is split.  If that happens, the ruling made in the lower court will be upheld.

 

Furthermore, his death occurs just months before President Obama leaves the White House.  This is essentially the only time in history that the death of a justice has coincided so closely with the final months of a president’s term.  Hence, there is no protocol for this situation, although it seems that it would make the most sense for the next president to fill the vacancy. Even so, President Obama is attempting to fill the seat before leaving office in hopes to create a liberal majority on the bench.

 

However, it is unlikely that the Republican controlled Senate will approve of any of President Obama’s nominees.   If that is the case, it will be up to the next president to appoint a new justice.

 

Assuming that President Obama is unable to appoint a justice, it makes the presidential race more important than ever.  When the nation chooses a new executive in November, this executive will have the power to define the legislative branch.  This means that when selecting a presidential candidate in the current primaries, it is crucial that voters look at candidates’ stances on the role of the Supreme Court, their views of the Constitution, and potential nominees.  Your vote will directly affect two branches of government, and it is important to understand this fact.  It is also worth noting that the next president may also appoint other justices if the situation arises, giving him or her even greater power over the judicial branch.

 

The future of our nation will be defined by this presidential election and Supreme Court justice appointment.  Please carefully consider each candidate’s view of the Supreme Court before you vote.  Moreover, please, please vote in the primary!

 

As a younger generation, the policy interpretation emerging from the Supreme Court is going to have the most significant impact us, especially when our country is at such a defining turning point.  This means that it is up to us to vote for our convictions this election and ensure that the next leader we elect will use the immense amount of power he or she holds to create a brighter future for our country.

 

Brittany Gamlen is a sophomore BIC student majoring in international studies.