humanity

Humanity topics include pieces on the real lives of politicians, legislators, activists, women in politics and the everyday voter.

Immigrating to the US
Do you know how long it takes to get anything done within the government? Have you ever had to wait in the social security office or at the courthouse? The amount of filing and paperwork required for these types of changes is massive, and I believe that most of them do the best they can. I researched how to apply for a visa to the United States of America, and was shocked at how much waiting and red tape there is, even by government standards. This post outlines the necessary communication, documentation, and wait expectations for applying for a visa.
By Melissa Yinger7 years ago in The Swamp
Stop Ignoring These Connections
I assume he’s homeless. I assume he’s needy. I assume he’s broken. All these blades of assumption I use to carve the man crouching in the sun, a cardboard litre of Minute Maid Orange juice on the sidewalk at his feet. He leans his thin back against the bricks that house the liquor store and the neighbouring bank. The Canucks ball cap he holds out and open in hopes of receiving, shakes slightly in his pale fingers.
By Melanie Maure7 years ago in The Swamp
All Bandaids and No Solutions
(VLOG posted at the bottom for those who prefer to watch and listen rather than read.) Not a single soul should be forced to do anything in life that isn't fueled by their dreams and doesn't fill them with meaningful purpose at the deepest level.
By Eric Durland7 years ago in The Swamp
The True Leeches
(VLOG posted at the bottom for those who prefer to watch and listen rather than read.) Contrary to popular belief—to what the system propagates us to believe—the leeches aren't the individuals at the bottom of the pyramid seeking to take just a little in order to live their lives as comfortably as they can; the leeches aren't the people who have been forced to live passionless lives because the system that enslaves them steals from them any and all ability to pursue anything but slaving 60 to 80 hours a week at a job that means nothing to them, save providing them a sense of security and the ability to ensure food is on the table.
By Eric Durland7 years ago in The Swamp
Homelessness
I’m not a hero of any sorts, but I am in fact a dreamer for sure. One of my fondest childhood memories was sketching out blueprints for folks with no food or water to live and eat. I had it set in my mind that I was going to fast forward through life and buy out my local 99 Cent store and help those in need.
By Kendra Bennett7 years ago in The Swamp
Hidden Homeless, Hidden Stories
I live in Ireland, a country whose politicians proudly proclaim has one of the fastest growing economies and citizens now have more money in their pockets yet it is a country where the word 'housing' is invariably followed by the word 'crisis'. You see, the growth and improvement for businesses and our government does not measure how all the people on this island are managing and certainly not the many on the streets or on the brink, those of us living in and dying from poverty. There are over ten thousand people accessing emergency homeless services yet our housing minister does not count those sleeping rough on the streets who learned the hard way that emergency accommodation is worse than curling up in any doorway they can sleep safely in and those of us without a home of our own. I'm homeless but I don't turn up on the minister's reports because I am one of the thousands that are hidden homeless, people who cannot afford and our own place and who have been overlooked and failed by a system that casts us aside in the non priority trash can.
By Liz Wall7 years ago in The Swamp
We Need to Calm Down
First, I want to say that regardless of color, gender, sexual orientation, political, or religious beliefs, everyone deserves to have their voice heard. My past experiences are based off my being a conservative female in a time when the loudest voices around me are often liberal and/or men. The people around me who are liberal and/or men have the exact same right as me to say their opinion and I generally do not feel oppressed or put down by these people.
By Abigail Ooten7 years ago in The Swamp
America
America is indeed a melting pot. This concept can be seen in our everyday lives. The one thing that is most unique is the people within the United States. America wouldn't be the way it is without immigrants and without the different cultures that clash together. Through this clashing, there have been many unique and amazing food options. It has also changed many concepts such as music, family, art, etc. It is what makes each and every single one of us unique and amazing.
By Flying Ace7 years ago in The Swamp
New Build Houses Are Destroying Our Countryside
We all know one, that person that lives in a new build house, on the outskirts of a town or city, with a field in view. They wear Hunter wellies that have never been dirty, drive a brand new Range Rover with lowered suspension and road tyres and have everything 'country style' in their home.
By Leona Freebush7 years ago in The Swamp
O Canada, O World
Canada, the true north, strong and free. These words have been spoken about for generations. Our collective birthplace on this glittering blue and green globe.
By John Ames Birch7 years ago in The Swamp
Fears of Black Men
Race and color is such a power and pivotal issue in the US today. The racial issues of the country have taken a dramatic turn for the worst, and uptick since 2008. The conclusion of the 2008 election was a turning point of race and racial relations in the US. The Non-Minority American subconscious came out and rebelled against any black or colored. The Non-Minority population showed how fearful they were that an African-American, the first minority, was the face of the most powerful country in the world. Racial tension in the country has gotten worse since the election of Barack Obama into the office of president. For the most part, the general public made the assumption that Obama's winning of the presidency was the great equalizer in the name of race in this country, but we would soon find out that as a country; Americans were still not ready for a person of color or minority as the president. Even to this date 11 years after Obama was elected, we are in the presidency of a self-proclaimed nationalist who has done nothing but talk about blacks, Latinos, immigrants, and the handicapped. In 2015, Donald J. Trump announced that he was running for president and his rallying cry to his voting base was "Make America Great Again." That rallying cry brought all the most racist people out, and all it took was for him to say that he was running for president. Since Trump has taken office, every white nationalist, white supremacist, neo-nazi, or klansmen that has been hiding, has courageously stepped out of the shadows. Charlottesville was a blatant reminder that racism in America is alive and well; especially when the president will not condemn nor call out these groups for what they really are, groups of domestic terrorist organizations.
By A.J. Jones7 years ago in The Swamp
The Tap
What was that theory? If a tree falls in a forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? Well, Rabia was thinking of a similar one: if a girl is buried under rubble, can anyone hear her scream? The answer, it seemed, was no.
By Leo Dis Vinci7 years ago in The Swamp