Citizens!

Last year prior to the National Basketball Association, NBA, All-Star Game, Lebron James, one of the most well-known athletes in the United States, was interviewed by an ESPN reporter about the challenges of being an African American athlete in America. In the interview, Lebron goes on to talk about the problem of race in the country, President Trump and other political issues. In the days following the airing of Lebron's interview with ESPN, Fox News journalist Laura Ingraham on her program, The Ingraham Angle, criticized and denounced Lebron's comments on public television. She starts off her segment by saying, "this is a Jumb Dock alert" and later calls Lebron to just "shut up and dribble." More from this segment of The Ingraham Angle can be seen below.  The term "Shut Up and Dribble" spread qui ckly on s ocial media and became a rallying cry for athletes across the nation to stand up and voice their opinions about racial and politi...

Principle: a fundamental truth or rule that shapes or guides one's beliefs or chain of reasoning  As human beings, we all possess principles that shape the manner in which we live our lives. Who you are as a person is determined by the principles you carry yourself by. However, what allows us as Americans to determine the way we live stems from our foundation. The values and principles embedded in the Declaration of Independence empower us to have control over our lives . Therefore,  I believe that the most influential aspect of the Declaration of Independence is its principles. The principles established by the colonists gave them a foundation on how to live their own lives separate from the jurisdiction of the British. In her book, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality, Danielle Allen explains how, “The colonists have not been told by someone else that King George is now an enemy. They judge him to b...

On March 17, a few of my fellow colleagues from the Oklahoma Army ROTC program completed the Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, New Mexico. For 30 years, military members, ROTC cadets and ordinary citizens have particpated in this marathon in memory of the victims and heroes of the Bataan Death March which took place during World War II. Approximately 1,600 American Soldiers and over 9,000 Filipino troops were killed as the Japanese forces made US and Filipino Prisoners of War march approximately 68 miles over 9 days without while being beaten and have nearly no food or water. This race is more than just a marathon, it is so much more. As an American, I was proud and humbled to be a part of such an impactful event. It was great to see how military service and the sacrifices the Americans before us made united 8,600 people to partake in such a physcially exhausting course. What made this event even more special in my eyes was the fact that everyone volunteered to do the rac...

This Saturday, I spent my day in the library studying for my mid-terms next week. I primarily focused on the material for my US History course as it will be my hardest exam out of all my classes. When I was writing flashcards for all of the key historical terms we learned, I noticed that one term in particular caught my eye.  The image above is the logo for the Double V Campaign that emerged during World War II. The Double V Campaign was the slogan used by the Pittsburgh Courier to advocate for a "double victory" in the fight against fascism abroad and racism abroad. This movement was created by African Americans to expose the hypocrisy of America's involvement in WWII. They argued that America cannot fight for freedom and liberty abroad, while African Americans continue to treated unjustly and deprived their rights within the nation. Although blacks would fight bravely and selflessly serve in America's fight against fascism, they would come home and be discri...

Last Thursday, I was watching the news in the Army ROTC Cadet Lounge when I first heard the story about Hoda Muthana. If you are not familiar with this current event, Hoda Muthana was a woman who left the United States at the age of 19, and traveled to Syria in order to be radicalized by the terrorist regime, ISIS. Today, approximately five years after her departure, she wants to reenter the United States with her 18-month-old son and reunite with her family in the US. The current issue that is being debated is whether or not Hoda Muthana should be allowed to return to the United States. I firmly agree with the argument that the government should not let Hoda Muthana back into the United States. If there is one thing we can wholeheartedly agree on as a nation , it is that we do not negotiate with terrorists. This woman joined a terrorist regime and openly spoke against America in an evil and violent manner. When I was watching the news Thursday, one reporter stated th...

On January 22, 2019, Governor Andrew Cuomo of New York signed The Reproductive Health Act. This law codifies the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision into state law. Under the law, women have the opportunity to abort the baby in their womb during and after the third trimester . Now I am from the Tri-State area and when I received the news that New York passed this law, I was completely and utterly disgusted. It makes me sick to my stomach that these politicians think it is fine to rip the baby from the women and let it die. I am here to tell you that I will be the voice for those you cannot speak.  I am not ashamed to say that I am a devout Catholic. However, the Bible is not the only weapon I have to defend the rights of these unborn citizens. The Declaration of Independence is the shield I will defend these unborn babies with. As Americans, we turn to the Declaration to preserve our right to equality. The following line of the Declaration has been embedded ...

A few weeks ago, I watched one of my favorite football movies of all time, "Remember the Titans". After viewing the film in its entirety for the first time in years, I have come to understand the story's true meaning. Although "Remember the Titans" is a great football film, it is more importantly a story that reveals the true power of equality. This movie portrays the true story of the T.C Williams High School Football team in Alexandria, Virginia during their inaugural season in 1971. This was the same year that the school was forced by federal laws to integrate African American students. Therefore, the team consisted of both white and black players. The head coach of the Titans was Herman Boone, an African American man played by Denzel Washington. At the beginning of the film when the school first opened, there was a lot of racial tension between the white and black players. They did not sit together at the same tables and only associated with players...