Why support the future generation? How many of you have sat through commercials advertising for the support of children in poverty around the world, and yet have done nothing to contribute to their well-being? Heck, I am at fault myself, but it is time that we begin to think about what the future entails for the next generation. According to the World Bank’s Developmental Indicators, … Continue reading The hidden truth:
The perfect storm The new sesquicentennial sculpture on campus has aroused a lot of conversation. The poem that initially inspired the sculpture describes the growing and turning of the Gustavus community, and while this does represent much of what Gustavus is, the sculpture itself seems to represent another piece of what Gustavus is, a piece of its history, the infamous Tornado of 1998. The tornado … Continue reading Cloudy with a chance of musing
The innocence of Muslims, the guilt of social media In June of 2012, a low-budget YouTube film, “The Innocence of Muslims,” was released depicting the Muslim religion through an anti-Islamic, Western perspective. Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, an Egyptian-born Coptic Christian, illustrated his disgust for the Muslim faith with terrible sets, a lackluster cast and an atrocious blue-screen desert. However, when the film was translated into Arabic … Continue reading And so it goes
Slacktivism, a dangerous pastime OMG Joseph Kony is such an awful man! All those poor little children, they need my help… There’s only one thing a middle class college student like me can do! Hit this “Like” button! Has the world changed? Has Joseph Kony been brought to justice? Does anyone care about that any more? Don’t get me wrong, people absolutely should care. There’s … Continue reading Riley’s rants
Finding our silver lining I don’t think it’s possible to overstate the effect of one’s outlook on their experiences. We are a generation living in a time defined by gradual, global crisis. It’s tempting to develop a fatalistic attitude towards our prospects, but I contend that re-envisioning our situation is crucial if we hope to manifest a brighter future. I found one hopeful perspective in … Continue reading Food for thought
Oh, first-month-of-school-Gusties. I’ve missed you dearly these past ten months. Your willingness to lend a helpful hand, sit with a lonely person at dinner or smile as we pass each other on the sidewalk is a welcome sight after such a long hiatus. For now, smiles abound and you are the friendliest creatures imaginable. But every year, something in you clicks, and that mood dies. … Continue reading Cheer up Gusties, show me a smile
The internet is a wonderful place. The internet is a horrible place. I’ve read plenty of articles showing how great the web is for those without means to get a start on an entertainment career considering how quickly one can put material online. However, it is also a place where one can quickly put material online, no matter the quality. Due to the ease of … Continue reading The media diet
Politics is as much a war of words as it is a forum for ideas, perhaps more so. Some of the biggest shifts in the history of American politics have come about as a result of changes in political language rather than in candidates or policies. Candidates will come and go, but winning an election does not secure a victory for their ideas. A true … Continue reading Reclaiming Convervatism
Most people would agree that climate change is a major issue in today’s world that requires immediate action. One of the most prominent proposals is “Cap and Trade,” also known as emission permits. Cap and Trade is a system where the government auctions off or grants a limited number of permits to polluting companies. These permits give the company the right to discharge a certain … Continue reading Cap’n Trade
Imagine you’re about to go on a date with a significant other you really like. You dress cute, pick a nice restaurant and arrive fashionably early. They enter, greet you and sit down across the table. Everything is perfect, and then they pull out their phone. The time has already passed in which they could quickly check the time, which means they are texting or … Continue reading TTYNever
