Category: Trending on the Web

The Paradox of Terrorism

After 9/11, the American public lived in constant fear of another attack. Many believed that future terrorism was imminent, and that threats to American soil were going to be severe and frequent. I imagine the people of France felt similarly following the attacks in November of last year. For Western countries, whose military dominance, institutionally secured influence, and alliance largely provide safety, attacks by small pockets of international extremists are destabilizing and debilitating. Right?

Wrong. After 9/11, the deadliest attack on U.S. soil, one attack was used to start multiple wars that have caused more deaths to innocent civilians in multiple Middle Eastern countries than were lost in the attacks. The deadliest attack on U.S. soil, with over three thousand dead and wounded, incited reactionary, rash policy that haunts us fifteen years later. And that’s why terrorism is an effective weapon against Western countries: because we respond. It sounds harsh, and I am in no way discrediting those who lost their lives on that day of great loss for our nation. But on paper, the loss of life does not justify the massive response. Significantly more people died in 2001 from Alzheimer’s, suicide, or HIV.

Terrorism is used against large countries whose conventional forces cannot be challenged because these are the countries whose reputation in the community will be questioned if they fail to respond to an attack on their homeland. This is why ISIS, whose threat to the United States is limited and whose resources and recruiting are exaggerated by the media, keeps coming up in the news and in election coverage. These groups want to send a message to large Western countries whose values they perceive as imperialist, superficial, and corrupt. And because even small attacks promote national outcry and international recognition, these groups use terrorism as a tool to foster support, build their reputation, and challenge the “big players” at a relatively low cost to themselves.

Divisive Rhetoric and Unprecedented Conflict: The 2016 Presidential Race

Disappointment awaited all who tuned in to watch the first two presidential debates. Both candidates dodged questions, instead using their two-minute segments to attack each other and bring up clearly practiced talking points. Instead of digging into policy positions, Clinton and Trump presented shallow, soundbite-adaptable comments about their plans. They attacked each other on the basis of character, temperament, and career history, all while maintaining the divisive, aggressive posturing this election has characterized this election cycle.

Beyond who voters will choose to elect next month, the nature of this election brings up serious questions about the media, democracy, and the nation.

The Media

Since RNC and DNC nominated Trump and Clinton, there have been scandals, missteps, and lies from both presidential candidates. Although the distribution of these events has not been even, it has allowed the media to control voters’ access to information about candidates. News networks do not provide comprehensive overviews of policy platforms. They do not provide untainted records of Hillary’s career, or of Trump’s business transactions. They grab on to the nastiest rumors and the simplest of missteps, painting each candidate as a veritable ally of Satan himself. And while the candidates consistently inspire revelations that lend themselves to sensationalization, the bias from both sides of the ideological spectrum serves to further polarize people’s preexisting ideologies with quasi-truths posted on social media, online newspapers, and on television. The lack of integrity and objectivity has done nothing to inform voters struggling with an important decision and less than ideal options, or initiate informed conversations about policy.

Democracy

Democracy in America has always been grounded in the idea of participation. While the early eras of America barred access to political participation for many groups, including women and minorities, , equal rights have been expanded over time, allowing most citizens the opportunity to vote and engage in other civic duties. Yet those versed in civics, government, elections, and policy consistently provide evidence that the American public struggles with understanding issues, fails to vote consistently, and lacks a basic understanding of how the U.S. government works. When the media presents superficial criticisms or endorsements, voters adopt and internalize these overly biased perspectives, participation becomes arbitrary. When people are not informed, but vote based on Facebook articles, memes, comedy TV shows, and skewed broadcasting, voters can validate their own biases and point to sources like CNN and Fox that used to be credible. Instead of checking multiple sources, international news outlets, and academic writing, people share a questionably cited article posted on a shady website. Without looking into the issues, people go to vote on superficial understandings of policy platforms and propaganda based opinions.

The Nation

Many look at Trump and Clinton and fail to understand how either ended up as a presidential nominee. Trump’s problem is a lack of qualifications, consistently bigoted/racist rhetoric and generally poor presentation of policy. Clinton comes off to many as a cold, corrupt career politician with a cheating husband and a campaign characterized by defending two concepts: emails and Benghazi. With two candidates so aggressively opposed by the public, many have started questioning the state of our nation. Religious zealots claim that the end time must be near, foreign policy experts fear how the instability of the election will affect our international relationships. If half of the country is willing to support a seemingly xenophobic demagogue and the other half supports an alleged liar in regards to potential felony offenses, what does that say about our government and our citizens? Instead of ideological discourse and intellectually based disagreements, we see character attacks and grandstanding. This is concerning.

When Donald Trump claims he will “make America great again” and Hillary Clinton says “we are great because we are good,” it falls flat. This election cycle indicates that we need to reevaluate how Americans get their information, what students are taught about civil discourse, and what kind of people we want in charge of representing our nation.

This election has been more spectacle than substance, and neither candidate will suffer greatly – in terms of status, finances, or opportunity – in the event of a loss. Yet the outcome of the election will affect the American people and the status of the United States as an international actor for years to come. And that’s a concerning proposition.

Family Meals: Small inititative, Big Benefits

At the breakfast table, my father launches into trivia concerning Indian Classical Music, American politics, and World News. My sister and I fumble for answers, my mother holds herself back from revealing them, my grandma reminiscences of life 30 years ago, and my 11-year-old dog searches for scraps of food under the table. Missing breakfast or dinner is a cardinal sin. Even on weekends, my sister and I are hauled out of bed to the breakfast table at 8:00 a.m.

Eating family meals is more than just a tradition. It’s something that I had assumed commonplace for most families . But upon closer inspection and many sleepovers with friends, I realized that not all families place as much of an emphasis on family meals as my parents did.

I was obliviously lucky.

A recent article in the Washing Post strongly advocates the need for family meals, for a variety of reasons:

  1. Building vocabulary: Through conversation and dialogue with adults, children are exposed to unfamiliar words and concepts. Many an SAT words was learned at the dinner table in my house
  2. Physical health: A sit down dinner with parents means more fruits and vegetables.
  3. Mental health: Studies have demonstrated strong association betwen family dinners and a reduction in depression, suicidal thoughts, and high-risk behaviors.

My favorite memories have been made on the dining table, whether they involved distressing about impending exams, solving crosswords, or discussing the decline in pop music with my father. It has always provided warmth, support, bonding, and intellectual stimulation for me.

For most families, eating all three meals together is unrealistic, given work and school commitments. But creating a schedule that incorporates one meal together- to sit down, de-stress, and engage with one another – is not an impossible feat, and certainly worth it. 

Puppy Love

The phrase “man’s best friend” brings up dozens of fond memories, from my first dog, a Dalmatian named Kayla, to my current pup, a little Maltese-Poodle, Loki. Although Loki is not an emotional support animal, whose services to their owners are immense and incredible, he has served as a wonderful companion and brings me immeasurable joy. It turns out, science has proven that friendly, familiar dogs can reduce stress by lowering blood pressure, slowing heart rates, regularizing breathing patterns, and relaxing muscles. Interaction with a furry friend can have measurable changes to blood chemistry, actively combatting the creation of stress related hormones (AND these beneficial effects work faster than medication). Further, the bond created between a dog and its owner(s) can serve as social support, decreasing the risk for depression and anxiety as well as physical illnesses. The affection provided by a pet can also alleviate loneliness – which I can speak to personally, as my husband is often away due to his military service – and increase life satisfaction.

CMC brings dogs and puppies to campus during finals – but with the scientifically proven benefits of interacting friendly four legged pals, the administration might want to consider implementing additional programs. Since many of the finals week dogs are brought by local families, and many professors have dogs, creating a program where people bring their dogs to campus for a walk, a game of fetch, or a play in the fountains would only require organization. The benefit to students could be substantial, and many dogs would welcome the chance for extra play time!

#walkmewednesday #throwtheballthursday #fountainfetchfriday

Coping with Homesickness

I took a plane from Chennai, India armed with two carry-on suitcases and a VISA that confirmed my attendance to Claremont McKenna College. I landed in a country where the culture was foreign, interactions were different, and accents were alien.

I was fortunate to have my parents to ease my transition but that safety net was lost on day two of orientation, when they headed back to India. Orientation week was a blur of new faces, activities, and discussions where I had little time to breathe. But, as soon as it ended, I was lost.

In other words, I was homesick.

“Homesickness is not merely missing a house; rather, it encapsulates a wide variety of emotions, feelings, and warmth that one associates with a place,” says clinical psychologist Josh Kaplow [and make his name a link to the article]

I agree. I missed the humidity, sounds of traffic, my native language, my extended family, and the warmth of people that I grew up with. As an incoming international freshman, this was heightened. I experienced anxiety, difficulty with communication, and even a loss in appetite – all common symptoms of homesickness.

As a sophomore,  I no longer experience homesickness. I do miss my parents; however, I am lucky to have found my own niche at CMC . For those who continue to struggle with homesickness, here are a few helpful tips that helped me get through it:

  1. It is important to call your parents but not too often. It’s always good to touch base with them but you need to establish your independence, too
  2. Don’ot be afraid of seeking help.Talk to a counselor or a friend if you are unable to cope or are experiencing any kind of physical or psychological difficulties
  3. Try to get involved on campus. This will allow you to immerse yourself into the campus culture while also getting to meet new people
  4. Put yourself out there, talk to people, and always try to maintain a positive attitude.

There is no easy fix to homesickness. A tendency to miss home is natural feeling. But, by being patient, positive, and being willing to seek help, you might find yourself slowly adapting to a new environment.

It’s hard to completely replace a home, but it’s not impossible to find your space in a new city, country, college, or continent.