| Point/Counterpoint: Hillary vs. Bernie | |
|---|---|
| Why I Support Hillary Clinton By Andrew Mayzak |
Why I Support Bernie Sanders By Michael Ryan Blackwood |
| During the presidential primary in 2008, I remember remarking to my family how “masculine” I thought Hillary Clinton had become. She had cut her hair short, spoke in a monotone voice, and was exclusively wearing dark suits instead of a skirt and heels. I used this to justify why I wouldn’t vote for her: I didn’t want a woman playing at a “man’s job”… I wanted a woman who looked and acted like a woman. My sister in law eloquently countered with a simple phrase that has stuck with me: “Maybe she wears suits because she doesn’t feel like showing off her legs anymore.” In retrospect, I pride myself on being an early supporter of Obama, but I am ashamed that my assessment of Hillary Clinton came from a position of gender bias. Because she didn’t fit the mold of what I thought a woman should be, I disqualified her from politics. Her views, advocacy, and policy work didn’t matter… I was willing to cast those aside because of an expectation of women that men, the media, and eventually conservatives had spent centuries constructing. I’ve warmed considerably to Hillary since then, but even last year, I still wasn’t certain about her. Wasn’t she shifty and untrustworthy? Willing to change her mind and “evolve” whenever it suited her political interests? And what was up with her damned emails? Surely, with all the controversy and investigations and conspiracy theories, she *HAD* to be guilty of something. But as part of my ongoing personal work with feminism, I checked myself. Was I truly suspicious of her? Or was I holding her to an unfair standard because I’m part of a society which scrutinizes women more than men? Her rally Tuesday night was a comparatively intimate gathering, a few hundred people packed into Rainier Beach High School’s gymnasium. Mayor Murray made some remarks and then there she was: the most famous woman in the world, shorter than I expected, laughing with that famous open mouth wide-eyed expression we’ve all seen, and holding onto a Secret Service agent’s hand as she traversed the stairs... Continue Reading |
I support Bernie Sanders because I'm a progressive. Hearing Sanders speak at Safeco field inspired me, because he speaks in a wholly new way for mainstream politicians. His ideology resonates with millions of disillusioned voters who have grown tired of—or entirely given up on—the political process. But merely speaking in a new way isn't such a new thing. I may have been tempted to offer the same praise to Obama in 2008, because candidates make promises. They are politicians who fight to win. However, when Bernie Sanders outlines his platform, he has earned the right to do so. No, he is not a God. But I have to admit, he is somewhat of a unicorn. We have rarely seen a politician with such a consistent record of upholding their values. You see, he's not all talk. He is credibility. We somehow forget that he has experience, lots of it, which bolsters not only his electability, but his ability. He is a stalwart of equality. When he speaks to us about the plight of the disenfranchised, we can look as far back as his youth, when he was arrested as a civil rights protester.He is vehemently opposed to big money in politics. When he decries the influence of major banks and corporations in government, we can look to his campaign, which continues to be financed by small donors. During his tenure as mayor of Burlington he fought for public works in place of corporate development. He is a staunch anti-interventionist and advocate for veteran's rights. When he is the only major party candidate to denounce "perpetual war," we can look to his opposition to military action in Nicaragua, Kuwait, Iraq, and more. He charges America with the task of caring for our veterans, and indeed the first bill he ever introduced as a representative was a bi-partisan bill on veterans of the Gulf War, and as recently as 2014 he brokered a bi-partisan deal on the V.A. He's not some phoney "revolutionary" from the outside, some unknown who's spent no time in politics. He's been working for the American people for 35 years. He has more experience as an elected official than any other candidate. He even has more experience inexecutive office than any other candidate, including sitting Ohio governor John Kasich. We somehow forget that this anti-establishment candidate has himself been a Washington "insider," serving in both houses of Congress, where he has sat on various committees, authored legislation, reached across the aisle, and fought for progressivism. Sanders co-founded the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which he went on to chair for eight years... Continue Reading |
Invisible: LGBTQ Homeless Youth and Mental Health
By Aric Markl
April 4, 2016
I was diagnosed with a type of mood disorder known as cyclothymia three years ago and since middle school I’ve been treated for ADHD. I had struggled in school for most of my life, but after developing cyclothymia at the age of 20 things became a lot more difficult. I began finding it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, I would have mood swings going from hypomanic to hypodepressive...
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I raced down the street, bare feet pounding against pavement until asphalt gave way to gravel to grass then the soft earth of the woods. This was my last chance. They were going to force me to go to rehab, so I knew I had to drink to die. Hopeless, defeated, and too tired for my usual suicide tactics, I begged the universe to take me away from this life as I drowned myself in alcohol. I fell to the earth, unconscious...
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We had recently met through mutual friends, connected immediately, and stumbled home together after a flirtatious evening out. ..
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I hated chocolate. Yet whenever I went out for dessert that is what I ordered. My friends always ordered chocolate and I followed suit to fit in.
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