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< Back Arizona's Book Banning Bill Written By: Kaitlin Nguyen Publishing Date: July 16, 2023 Amid the recent rising trend of school book bans and the growing discussion around transgender issues, comes another such piece of legislation presented to the 56th legislature in the State of Arizona - SB 1700 introduced by Senator Wadsack and Representatives Jones and McGarr. This bill proposes a system to allow parents to remove books they deem inappropriate. Senate Bill 1700 passed the Arizona Senate on March 20, 2023 and was introduced to the House on March 21, 2023 for reading. The Arizona Revised Statutes allows parents to withdraw their children from school assignments or activities for educational materials objectionable to the parent. SB 1700 takes it a step further by amending sections 15-102, 15-113, 15-189.07, Title 15 Ch. 2, Art. 2 to add 15-249.01, 15-341, 15-362, 15-721 and 15-722 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. Many of these proposed amendments concern and facilitate the ability of parents to review and request the removal of books that they deem “lewd or sexual in nature, that promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or that groom children into normalizing pedophilia” from libaries available to students and from classroom instruction. Section 2, Section 15-113, Section 3, 15-189.07, and Section 4, 15-249.01 is amended so that parents requesting the removal of a book found “to be lewd or sexual in nature, to promote gender fluidity or gender pronouns or to groom children into normalizing pedophilia” shall submit the book and their basis for objection to the Department of Education, where the Department of Education will establish, maintain, and add on to, a list of books prohibited from use and availability to students in Arizona. Supporters of the bill believe that SB 1700 will expand and strengthen parental rights, and protect children from inappropriate material and material discussing gender fluidity and sexuality. According to Wadsack , “This puts the power back into the hands of the parent, it’s not a book banning bill. We’re not setting books on fire, but what it does is it gives the parents some recourse, some ability to say, hey, I don’t approve of this book.. Then take it to the Department of Education and say, what do you guys plan to do about this and start the process of determining whether or not it is a book that is legitimately appropriate, especially for the age groups that they’re being introduced to.” However, critics of the bill include LGBTQ+ advocates that say that such bills are anti-LGBTQ+, with book bans being used to hide and shame LGBTQ+ youth , and that the bill falsely equates discussion on gender fluidity and pronouns with grooming and pedophilia. Librarians, educators, and other advocates likewise have challenged such book bans as censorship that undermines acceptance of and serves to isolate LGBTQ+ students and students of color. SB 1700 follows a alarming trend of book bans and challenges from states including Florida, Texas, and North Dakota, that have introduced bills to restrict material in textbooks and school curriculums that discuss LGBTQ+ issues and Black history. SB 1700 will limit school curriculums in Arizona and Arizona youth’s access to books and materials, particularly by providing the mechanism for which parents can remove access to material they see as lewd or mentioning of gender sexuality. This bill is part of a growing and concerning trend to prohibit LGBTQ+ material in libraries and classrooms in the U.S. Young people can get involved in this discussion through participation at their local school board, by contacting legislators, or by organizing through their communities. Sources https://19thnews.org/2023/02/book-bans-lgbtq-reading/ Arizona SB1700: 2023: Fifty-sixth legislature 1st regular. LegiScan. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://legiscan.com/AZ/bill/SB1700/2023 Miranda, E. (2023, March 11). Arizona Senate bill aims to prohibit certain books and material in schools. 13 News. Retrieved from https://www.kold.com/2023/03/11/arizona-senate-bill-aims-prohibit-certain-books-material-schools/ Rummler, O. (2023, February 23). Book bans internalize 'shame' for young LGBTQ+ people, advocates say. here's how they're pushing back. The 19th. Retrieved from https://19thnews.org/2023/02/book-bans-lgbtq-reading/ SB 1700. SB1700 - 561R - I ver. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.azleg.gov/legtext/56leg/1R/bills/SB1700P.htm Previous Next

< Back Missouri's Proposed Abortion Bill Written By: Kenzie Shelstad Publishing Date: April 20, 2022 In May, 2019, Missouri Representative Nick Shroer formed legislation that would ban abortions after eight weeks. Despite being signed into effect by Governor Mike Parsons, the bill was blocked by a district judge, Howard Sachs, and never went into effect. In July 2021, the Missouri Attorney General, Eric Schmitt, appealed to the US Supreme Court in an attempt to revitalize the ban. In March 2022, Missouri Representative Mary Elizabeth Coleman, in a move that evoked the similar Texas bill, included a provision that everyday citizens are allowed to sue individuals they believe have received an abortion and went so far as to apply this rhetoric to out-of-state abortions as well. Anyone found guilty of having an abortion would face a felony conviction with jail time. Missouri is the first state to include out of state restrictions in their abortion ban, and if passed, may set a precedent that will leave thousands of women at risk. Missouri legislators also included that terminating an ectopic pregnancy would also be illegal. An ectopic pregnancy is where the fetus is growing inside of the fallopian tubes, and will not survive the pregnancy. If left untreated, women are at risk for severe internal bleeding. As the Supreme Court debates the fate of Roe v. Wade, conservative representatives will continue to push the limits in their attack on women's reproductive rights. Sources Gerber, Cameron. “Missouri’s abortion law: A look at where it stands now”, The Missouri Times. 27 July 2021. Accessed 17 March 2022. https://themissouritimes.com/missouris-abortion-law-a-look-at-where-it-stands-now/ Lampen, Claire. “Abortion Bans Will Only Get More Punitive From Here”, The Cut. 17 March 2022. Accessed 17 March 2022. https://www.thecut.com/2022/03/missouris-new-abortion-bills-are-a-glimpse-at-post-roe-life.html Mayo Clinic. “Ectopic Pregnancy”, MayoClinic.org. Accessed 17 March 2022. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/symptoms-causes/syc- 20372088 Previous Next

Student Student Loan Op-Ed Written By: Laura Ruzicka Publishing Date: July 19, 2021 As of this year, the national debt has accumulated to $23.3 trillion, with student loans occupying a startling $1.7 trillion in outstanding debt. For most high school graduates, college is not cheap. According to a US news survey “the average cost of tuition for the 2020-21 school year is $41,411 at private colleges, $11,171 for state residents at public colleges, and $26,809 for out-of-state students at state schools”. The fact is that even though the average rate of increase in tuition and fees has dropped during the pandemic, the overall cost is still higher than most can afford without financial aid. As a result, students continually feel pressured to take out loans to fund an education that is getting increasingly expensive. In his article, Ezra Marcus (2020) says that “college students, in general, are often misrepresented as more privileged than they are – and that was even before the pandemic.” Some first-time borrowers lack the financial education to fully comprehend the deal they made. Others take out loan after loan with the hopes of acquiring a well-paying job in the future. Like many others, I was naïve and did not realize the full extent of what I was signing up for until it was too late. After four years of hard work, I graduated in 2019 with a debt of $7000 in student loans; this may seem small to some, but it is still a debt I need to contend with in the future. According to Insider (2021) “currently about 45 million people hold student loan debt with a total national outstanding amount over 1.7 trillion.” Looking at 2019 federal data provided by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System , the overall average education debt typically held by students is between $20,000 and $24,999. However, COVID-19 proved to be both a blessing and a curse as it gave some temporary relief under the CARES Act to individuals with student debt, putting about 23 million loans in forbearance until September 30th, 2021. Unfortunately, the pandemic also left college students who depend on campus housing struggling to find their footing after campus closures, with a lack of financial security and loss of jobs. Neha Tallapragada, a sophomore at Rice University emphasizes that very point in Marcus’s article (2020) saying that “the pandemic has obviously exacerbated a lot of the inequalities that exist on college campuses.” One is limiting access to higher education based on your socio-economic status, which became apparent during the height of the pandemic. For many students the financial instability and campus closures that they endured had an in-direct impact on their education, magnifying the deep rooted inequalities of our nation’s education system. According to a Liberal education blog (2020) “even though colleges have put in place remote learning and sheltering in place are, unfortunately, very different experiences for students who depend on libraries, computer labs, internet connectivity, and other on-campus services like food pantries, counseling, and financial aid.” For some, studying remotely can be difficult due to a variety of circumstances, one being poor wifi connection depending on where a student lives, as well as students in lower income families that can't afford a laptop. Some students are parents as well that have to juggle watching their kids and their online schooling. To compensate, students have created mutual aid networks where students raise money to cover housing, medical, and food costs. Upon request, network organizers distribute funds to fellow peers through payment apps, like Venmo or Zelle. Repayment plans were another saving grace for students looking for other ways to eliminate their debt. There are four income-driven repayment plans: Revised Pay as You Earn (REPAYE), Pay as You Earn (PAYE), Income-based repayment, and Income-contingent repayment representing a total of 8.29 million borrowers since early June of this year. These repayment plans make your monthly payments more affordable if you are unemployed or earn less than 150% of the poverty threshold. With the job market hitting an all-time low, borrowers can switch to these plans if they are unemployed, can not afford their current payments, or have a large amount of student debt in combination with a low income. The purpose behind these plans is to limit the borrowers’ payments between 10% and 20% of their disposable income and to possibly forgive any future remaining balances after 20-25 years. Unfortunately, switching to a repayment plan is not a perfect solution. One obstacle that is not clearly mentioned prior to signing up is paying more interest over time due to the extension on the payment period from 10 years to 20-25 years. Other potential snags include allowing interest to accrue on your loans until they are eventually paid off, and possibly having to pay taxes on the forgiven balance. Fortunately, as of June 2nd, Biden’s administration announced that they will be doing a thorough review of all the federal student loan programs, including the repayment programs. The president and his team will use a process called ‘negotiated rulemaking’. The process requires reviews and possible rewrites of federal regulations. The rulemaking system was used under the Obama administration, which established the PAYE and REPAYE programs we have today. Similarly, President Biden can utilize this to improve other facets of income-driven repayment plans. For example, borrowers have to pay 10-20% of their disposable income under all the repayment plans. But President Biden proposed a new plan that will only require borrowers to pay 5% of their disposable income. If this happened there would be a significant reduction in borrowers’ payments. Once the moratorium on loan forbearance ends, the idea of loan forgiveness will become critical, especially if the job market for students and recent grads does not improve dramatically. For most, the prospect of loan forgiveness would be extremely beneficial, and the possibility of it is slowly progressing. President Biden wants to cancel $10,000 of student debt per federal borrower, which would erase about 15.3 million borrowers with outstanding federal debt. However, we would then have to ask ourselves what forgiving all student loan debt would cost us in the long run. Would it add to national debt, increasing our already sizable debt to an even bigger one? The answer: yes, eventually. All federal student loans are tied to the national debt. While debt increases when the loans are created, the deficit decreases slightly. When borrowers make loan payments, they are inadvertently paying off a small portion of the national debt as well. According to Urban Wire (2020) “Cancelling student debt has no immediate impact on the national debt”. When the government cancels the student loan debt it will immediately increase our federal deficit. Deficits occur when you are spending more than what you are bringing in--(Spending - Revenue = Deficit). To understand the significance of our nation’s deficit, consider what would happen if your family continually spent more than they earned? Sooner or later, their debts would be so great that they would go bankrupt. When the government spends more than it takes in, it has to borrow money to make up the difference. Our government spending is divided into two types. The first is discretionary spending for such things as funding our national defense, education and transportation. The second is mandatory spending which funds social security, medicare, as well as interest on the national debt. All this spending currently totals $6.55 trillion. When you subtract the government spending from its total revenue of $3.42 trillion, which is collected from the taxes that Americans pay, you get a national deficit of over $3 trillion. Over time, all the borrowing the U.S government has done becomes the national debt, as a result of our recurring deficit and money owed to our creditors. Further stating that “The debt will eventually be higher because the debts don’t get paid back. The increase shows up over time when expected future loan payments do not get made.” According to Forbes writer Zack Friedman (2020), President Biden eventually authorized the cancelation of $1 billion of loans from 72,000 students, in cases of fraud or unexpected school closures, and another $1.3 billion from 41,000 student borrowers with total and permanent disability. However, even though this collectively wipes out $2.3 billion in student debt for more than 110,000 borrowers, that money has not vanished entirely. Instead, that $2.3 billion has been immediately added to our federal deficit, which will gradually increase our national debt. On the flip side though, as loans are forgiven, this frees up money that people could then spend on other things, potentially stimulating the economy and letting the government bring in more tax revenues. In his article Zack Friedman (2021) “student loan cancellation will lead to new business formation, increase consumer spending, increase geographic mobility, increase the marriage rate, help people buy more homes, and save for retirement, among other benefits.” For those 44.7 million Americans weighed down by their debt, forgiveness can rid many of the stress, fear, and overwhelming anxiety that comes with every looming payment. It allows for people to save and spend money that they weren’t able to before. This became evident as borrowers began saving a total of $5 billion a month for loans that were put into forbearance due to Covid. It’s important to note that when dealing with student loan debt there is no perfect solution. As I’ve said, loan forgiveness would give borrowers financial freedom, letting individuals save and spend money as they choose. However, all that money would be added to our national deficit, eventually increasing the national debt. Most (myself included) would say cancelling that amount of student debt is worth all the good that can benefit them individually without considering what the long-term effects to the national debt would be. Even though there is no perfect solution, it still needs to be discussed at the national level and addressed in a timely fashion. For more information regarding student loan relief, the deficit, or repayment plans you can visit https://www.concordcoalition.org/ a bipartisan political advocacy group dedicated to stimulating financial awareness among individuals. Their mission statement is to educate "the public about the causes and consequences of federal budget deficits, the long-term challenges facing America's unsustainable entitlement programs, and how to build a sound foundation for economic growth." Sources Powell, F & Kerr, E. (2020, September 17). What You Need to Know About College Tuition Costs. https://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/paying-for-college/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-college-tuition-costs Lane, R. & HelHoski, A. (2021, June 16). Income-Driven Repayment: Is It Right for You? https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/income-driven-repayment-right Baum, S. & Marron, D. (2020, December 22.) What Would Forgiving Student Debt Mean for the Federal Budget? https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/what-would-forgiving-student-debt-mean-federal-budget#:~:text=Cancelling%20student%20debt%20has%20no,payments%20do%20not%20get%20made Hoffower, H. & Hoff, M. (2021, February 17) The case for cancelling student debt isn't political — it's practical. Here are the benefits of erasing $1.6 trillion, no strings attached. https://www.businessinsider.com/economic-benefits-of-student-debt-forgiveness-2020-12 Friedman, Z. (2021, March 29) Biden Cancels $1.3 Billion Of Student Loans — His Plan For Student Loan Cancellation Is Becoming Clear. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2021/03/29/biden-cancels-13-billion-of-student-loans---his-plan-for-student-loan-cancellation-is-becoming-clear/?sh=6cc78e5979c4 Friedman, Z. (2021, March, 18) Biden Cancels $1 Billion Of Student Loans. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2021/03/18/biden-cancels-1-billion-of-student-loans/?sh=231bf7372460 Marcus, E. (2020 November 23) How College Students Are Helping Each Other Survive. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/style/college-mutual-aid-networks.html Sullivan, P & Tinberg H. (2020 October, 29) The Covid-19 Pandemic and Structural Inequalities in American Higher Education. https://www.aacu.org/blog/covid-19-pandemic-and-structural-inequalities-american-higher-education Friedman, Z. (2021 May, 14) Student Loan Cancellation Called Both A Stimulus And Massive Wealth Transfer. https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2021/05/14/does-student-loan-cancellation-stimulate-the-economy/?sh=770559f75e0b https://www.concordcoalition.org/budget-decisions https://datalab.usaspending.gov/americas-finance-guide/deficit/ Previous Next

The GOP's New Immigration Plan Written By: Emily Eames Publishing Date: June 25, 2023 Three US governors have made headlines recently as they try a new tactic designed to curb President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. Specifically, Governors Ducey of Arizona, DeSantis of Florida, and Abbott of Texas have been very outspoken about their opposition to Biden's new policies. Since the beginning of 2021, President Biden and Vice President Harris have made an effort to reform the United States immigration system. The goal is to create an “orderly, secure, and well-managed border while treating people fairly and humanely” (White House, 2021). Biden’s ‘open-border’ policies have been heavily criticized by southern border states as they view the administration's immigration policies as negligent, dangerous, and enabling further illegal immigration. "Our supposed Border Czar, Vice President Kamala Harris, has yet to even visit the border to see firsthand the impact of the open border policies she has helped implement, even going so far as to claim the border is ‘secure.’ Texas will continue sending migrants to sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C. until President Biden and Border Czar Harris step up and do their jobs to secure the border” (Abbott, 2022). Beginning in early April 2022, the three Republican governors started sending what would become thousands of migrants to predominantly blue U.S. cities. DeSantis and Abbott have stated that this new tactic is meant to demonstrate the effects that Biden’s immigration policies have on border states, and whilethese programs are reported to be voluntary to migrants as they enter the United States across the southern border, the degree of voluntariness is currently debated. New York, D.C., Chicago, and most recently, Martha’s Vineyard, have been the cities l picked for these new immigration ‘programs’ thus far. This led to the designated cities to be unprepared to provide instruction and services to arriving migrants. Fortunately, these cities have been able to quickly accommodate their new residents with food, medical attention, and shelter so far. State governments, churches, communities centers, and members have come to welcome and assist their new neighbors. Last week migrants arrived in Massachusetts without the state’s or local’s prior knowledge. This led to 50 people arriving in Martha’s Vineyard without a place to stay, food to eat, or any other resources. Thankfully, the local community in Martha’s Vineyard quickly responded to the needs of their new community members. Even going as far as to set up a play area for kids. Massachusetts Representative Dylan Fernandes commented on the actions taken by the residents of Martha’s Vineyard. "Our island jumped into action putting together 50 beds, giving everyone a good meal, providing a play area for the children, making sure people have the healthcare and support they need." Martha Vineyards is the newest city to receive migrants from the South. Previously, Abbott and Ducey sent buses to other major cities in sanctuary states and cities in an attempt to Protest Biden and Harris’s policies. Governor Abbott even went as far as to send a couple buses of migrants directly to VP Harris’s home. Photo from TheHill.com 2022 While Abbott, DeSantis, and Ducey have supporters for their new immigration tactic, they are also receiving backlash. Many are criticizing the governors for using innocent migrants (who entered the country legally) as pawns for their “political stunt”. A White House official condemned August the three governors' actions as both “shameful” and “wrong”. Others fault these programs due to the cost of funding them. DeSantis is reported to have used $12 million of the state budget to fly 50 migrants up to Massachusetts. Abbott spent a little less than $13 million funding his buses. Unlike Florida however, Texas doesn't just use taxpayer dollars, they also utilize private donations. This influx in new immigration programs developed by GOP governors has left many to shift from debates on immigration to instead focus on the ethics and efficacy of the governors' programs. Many argue that the governors are using migrants as political pawns in an attempt to refute Biden and Harris’s claims on immigration. Others see the governors' actions as contradictory to their previous efforts. For decades the GOP has been adamant about keeping ‘closed borders’ and limiting immigration into the US. However, their new programs are embracing ‘open borders’ and transporting migrants further into the United States. Sources Governor Abbott announces migrant bus arrivals at Border Czar Harris' residence in Washington D.C. Office of the Governor | Greg Abbott. (15AD). Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-announces-migrant-bus-arrivals-at-border-czar-harris-residence-in-washington-d.c Governor Abbott: Texas will continue surging state resources to secure the border . Office of the Governor | Greg Abbott. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-texas-will-continue-surging-state-resources-to-secure-the-border Governor Ducey signs the most meaningful border security legislation in state history . Office of the Arizona Governor. (2022, June 30). Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://azgovernor.gov/governor/news/2022/06/governor-ducey-signs-most-meaningful-border-security-legislation-state-history Governor Ron DeSantis takes additional actions to protect Floridians from Biden's border crisis . Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. (n.d.). Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.flgov.com/2022/06/17/governor-ron-desantis-takes-additional-actions-to-protect-floridians-from-bidens-border-crisis/ Griffith, B. (2021, March 22). Map: Sanctuary cities, counties, and States . CIS.org . Retrieved September 22, 2022, from https://cis.org/Map-Sanctuary-Cities-Counties-and-States Mueller, J., & Shapero, J. (2022, September 19). Here's where GOP governors have sent nearly 13,000 migrants . The Hill. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://thehill.com/homenews/3647988-heres-where-gop-governors-have-sent-nearly-13000-migrants/ Murphy, P. P., Santiago, L., Contorno, S., Santana, M., & Marquez, M. (2022, September 17). Florida budget language that created Migrant Relocation Program would not permit desantis' Massachusetts Flights Stunt . CNN. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/16/us/marthas-vineyard-migrants-florida-budget-language/index.html Simonson, A., Alvarez, P., & Cole, D. (2022, September 16). DeSantis claims credit for sending 2 planes carrying migrants to Martha's vineyard in Massachusetts | CNN politics . CNN. Retrieved September 18, 2022, from https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/14/politics/marthas-vineyard-massachusetts-migrants-planes/index.html The United States Government. (2021, July 29). Fact sheet: The biden administration blueprint for a fair, orderly and humane immigration system . The White House. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/27/fact-sheet-the-biden-administration-blueprint-for-a-fair-orderly-and-humane-immigration-system/ Previous Next

History of the Pride Flag Written By: Kaitlin Nguyen Publishing Date: August 15, 2022 The widely recognizable Rainbow Pride Flag , representing the LGBTQA+ community, encompasses lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, asexual, and other LGBTQA+ identities. Youth associate the rainbow with positive feelings, the the flag is a useful navigation device for LGBTQA+ youth to navigate physical and social spaces. The Rainbow Flag was created as a symbol for the gay community by Gilbert Baker in 1978 at the request of San Francisco City Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politican to hold public office in California. Baker was a openly gay community activist, drag queen, and later accomplished vexillographer that worked magic with a sewing machine and was at the time co-chair of the Decorations Committee for the city (The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center 2022; About Gilbert Baker: Creator of the LBTG Rainbow Flag; The Rainbow Flag: The Original 1978 Flag). The original iteration of the Rainbow Pride Flag displayed eight horizontal stripes: pink, red, orange, yellow, green, turquoise, indigo, and violet, the colors symbolizing sexuality, life, healing, sunlight, nature, magic and art, serenity, and spirit (The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center 2022; EqualityMaine “History of the Pride Flag”; Grovier 2016). This eight-striped version was first produced by a team of 30 volunteers and friends , including Lynn Segerblom (Faerie Argyle Rainbow), James McNamara, Glenne McElhinney, Joe Duran, and Paul Langlotz. They rinsed dyes at a public laundromat and stitched in the attic of a gay community center to create a massive 30x60 ft flag . According to Baker, the idea for the flag’s design came in 1976, the bicentenary anniversary of the United States’ day of independence as a republic, after the US withdrawal from the Vietnam War in 1973 and the resignation of Nixon in 1974 after the Watergate scandal left the American populace unsettled and in need of patriotic reassurance. Baker was impressed by the way in which the US flag was easily propagated, symbolically dense, emotional, and capable of inspiring great fervor even though the flag itself is simplistic in design. At the same time, he was aware of the competition his design would have with the pink triangle, a Nazi tool used to mark homosexuality in concentration camps (that was later co-opted by gay communities as a symbol of pride and reclamation). As flags “are about claiming power,” Baker wanted to distance his design from the negative historical connotations of the pink triangle, and believed that the gay community should have a positive emblem that was from and entirely theirs (Grovier 2016; Baker 2019). It’s been theorized that Baker’s flag was inspired by either gay icon Judy Garland’s song “Over the Rainbow,” the Stonewall Riots, the bright colors have often been used to imply homosexuality, and/or from the various historical instances of a rainbow flag being used as symbol for world peace, hope, social change, neutrality, faith, etc. (The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center 2022; Grovier 2016; Baker 2019). In an interview with the Museum of Modern Art, Baker confirmed that his reasoning for using a rainbow as a flag was because “It’s a natural flag.. It’s from the sky” (Grovier 2016). In his memoir , Baker saw the gay community, with its glamour and diversity, a “like a rainbow.” The rainbow aptly shows both the beauty and natural genuineness of the gay community. The eight-colored Rainbow Flag was first flown on June 25, 1978 , during the SF Gay Freedom Day parade at the United Nations Plaza, cementing its status as a symbol of the LGBTQA+ community (The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center 2022; Grovier 2016). The pink stripe was later removed due to a fabric shortage that made pink dye difficult to source and the turquoise stripe was removed in order make the flag more symmetrical and easier to display after the omission of the pink stripe (EqualityMaine “History of the Pride Flag”; Grovier 2016; The Rainbow Flag: The Original 1978 Flag). The revised flag , or the currently Rainbow Flag as we commonly recognize it as, is red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, representing life, healing, sunlight, nature, harmony and peace, and spirit respectively. The now six-color flag rose to prominency following the assasination of Harvey Milk and the San Francisco mayor George Moscone in November 27, 1978 . Since its appearance, the Rainbow Flag has grown tremendously and spread wildly as the well-recognized symbol for the gay community, commonly displayed in pride parades and LGBTQA+ conventions and in general - as a common symbol for individual and community use. Other flags created that entered into popular use include the bisexual pride flag designed by Michael Page (pink stripe representing same-sex attraction, blue as opposite-sex attraction, and the purple overlap representing both attractions), the transgender pride flag designed by Monica Helms (light pink and light blue representing girls and boys respectively, and the white to represent transitioning, neutral, intersex, or undefined genders), the Philadelphia pride flag created by PR agency Tierney which added brown and black stripes to represent the QPOC community, and the progress flag designed by Daniel Quasar which mashed designs from the Baker rainbow, transgender, and Philadelphia pride flags to make a pride flag that was more broadly inclusive (The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center 2022; EqualityMaine “History of the Pride Flag”). “Flags,” as Baker puts it, “are torn from the soul of the people” (About Gilbert Baker: Creator of the LBTG Rainbow Flag; Grovier 2016). Resilience and passionate determination sewn in every patch of the banner. No doubt, these flags were made and will continue to push progress in the face of continued adversity for the LGBTQA+ community. —---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The crowd was as much a part of the show as the band. Everyone was there: North Beach beatniks and barrio zoots, the bored bikers in black leather, teenagers in the back row kissing. There were long-haired, lithe girls in belly-dance get-ups, pink-haired punks safety-pinned together, hippie suburbanites, movie stars so beautiful they left you dumbstruck, muscle gayboys with perfect mustaches, butch dykes in blue jeans, and fairies of all genders in thrift-store dresses. We rode the mirrored ball on glittering LSD and love power. Dance fused us, magical and cleansing. We were all in a swirl of color and light. It was like a rainbow.” - Gilbert Baker. To read up on more, check out the following links and resources: https://www.unco.edu/gender-sexuality-resource-center/resources/pride-flags.aspx for images and short descriptions of various pride flags compiled by UNCO’s Gender and Sexuality Resource Center. https://gilbertbaker.com/ for everything Gilbert Baker. https://www.glbthistory.org/rainbow-flag to contribute to their 1978 Rainbow Flag History Project, an archival project that will “document the origin, creation, public display and legacy of the two original, eight-stripe rainbow flags first flown in 1978 in San Francisco” Sources About Gilbert Baker: Creator of the LBTG Rainbow Flag. The Gilbert Baker Foundation. https://gilbertbaker.com/biography/ Baker, G. (2019). Stitching A Rainbow. In Rainbow Warrior: My Life in Color. Chicago Review Press. https://www.chicagoreviewpress.com/rainbow-warrior-products-9781641601504.php EqualityMaine. History of the Pride Flag. EQME EqualityMaine. https://www.equalitymaine.org/history-pride-flags Grovier, K. (2016). The history of the rainbow flag. BBC Culture. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20160615-the-history-of-the-rainbow-flag The Gender and Sexuality Resource Center. (2022). Pride Flags. University of Northern Colorado. https://www.unco.edu/gender-sexuality-resource-center/resources/pride-flags.aspx The Rainbow Flag: The Original 1978 Flag. GLBT Historical Society. https://www.glbthistory.org/rainbow-flag Wolowic, J. M., Heston, L. V., Saewyc, E. M., Porta, C. and Eisenberg, M. E. (2016). Chasing the rainbow: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer youth and pride semiotics. Culture, Health & Sexuality. 19(5), 557-571. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2016.1251613 Previous Next

Join the conversation on racial justice and its effects on people, including youth, in the United States. < Back Racial Justice People often define racism as disliking or mistreating someone due to their race. Roberts, who directs the Social Concepts Lab in the School of Humanities and Sciences, says that definition is false. Instead, “Racism is a system of advantage based on race. It is a hierarchy. It is a pandemic. Racism is so deeply embedded within U.S. minds and U.S. society that it is virtually impossible to escape.” Despite the advances of the civil rights movement nearly fifty years ago, and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and recognition of police brutality today, racism remains a very real issue. This remains evident in the criminal justice system where despite only making up 13.4 percent of the population, black people experience 22 percent of fatal police shootings, 47 percent of wrongful conviction exonerations, and 35 percent of individuals executed by the death penalty. Black juveniles are also subject to higher rates of incarceration. It does not end there, as racial injustice also extends to the education system. There, black youth are more likely to be suspended or expelled, less likely to be placed in gifted programs, and subject to lower expectations from their teachers. However, they are three times more likely to be referred for gifted programs if their teacher was black, pointing to biases some white educators may harbor. Historically, black colleges have also experienced a lack of funding. Despite how deeply ingrained racism is in American society, it does not mean that the fight against it is a hopeless battle. The public must educate themselves about their biases to recognize and alter their behaviors. They also need to learn the effects and spread of racism to make improvements to institutions where it is concentrated (e.g., the education system, the criminal justice system, the healthcare system, etc.). Activists have already been successful in making some much-needed changes. One example of this is criminal legal reforms that reduce mass incarceration and expand voting rights. Joining voices with activists only adds to their influence by spreading awareness and helping change come about quicker. OTHER TOPICS Voting Rights Climate Change Environmentalism Gender Equality Healthcare Inequality Immigration LGBTQI+ Rights Labor Rights Medical Autonomy What can I do about this? 1. Take the steps to educate yourself. Try diving inwards and see if you yourself might be harboring biases that you were unaware of. It’s better to acknowledge those behaviors and take the next necessary steps to correct them, rather than ignore them. 2. Speak up about racial indifferences you see. Whether it’s joining activists and spreading awareness, or standing up for someone who you see is facing a racial injustice. Your voice may encourage others to speak up as well. USYF CONTENT Forum Chats with Lauren Payne by Melissa Ballard External Resources Racial Equity Tools: Core Concepts Racial Justice - Equal Justice Initiative Racial Equity Tools: Laws and Policies The Sentencing Project - Racial Justice Voices for Racial Justice NAACP The Civil Rights Project Fighting Systemic Racism in K-12 Education Previous Next

Local Nonprofits < Back Community Resources: Getting Involved Written By: Amanuel Bahru Publishing Date: September 10, 2021 Many youth find getting involved in local volunteer opportunities to be fulfilling. In addition to being beneficial to local community members and those in need, volunteer opportunities provided by many nonprofit organizations present volunteers with opportunities for personal growth. The benefits of volunteering include, but are not limited to: confidence/self-esteem building, new social and professional connections, exploration and discovery of new areas of interest, and resume building (Gabe, n.d.). Volunteering presents people the opportunity to make differences in the communities they live in and this is typically one of the main motivating factors for people getting involved in volunteer opportunities. However, complications such as lack of time, lack of resource, and not knowing where to start can make some youth hesitant about getting involved. But even if you are unable to devote substantial time towards volunteering, it is still possible to have an impact by promoting volunteer opportunities. One way to increase your impact, even with limited availability, is to volunteer as a team. By encouraging family & friends to join, you can make the volunteer experience fun and impactful for everyone involved. Some ideas for volunteering as a group are listed here . It is important to understand that not all volunteer activities are the same. The level and duration of involvement are important factors that can determine whether or not a volunteer is able to get necessary exposure through their volunteer work or whether or not they achieve the goal they set for themselves when they began the volunteer work. Therefore, consistency is a key part of volunteering. Helping individuals or communities with great needs or making a significant difference at a particular nonprofit organization may require volunteers to contribute consistently over a period of time. Consistency is important because the success of many nonprofit organizations is highly dependent on the level of contribution from their volunteers. Nonprofit organizations won’t be able to make a difference in the communities they serve without constant support from volunteers. Youth volunteers are most likely to benefit from long term and consistent volunteer involvement. There are several reasons why long term and consistent volunteer involvement is recommended : 1) consistency shows a genuine interest in being a volunteer, 2) It strengthens relationships with other volunteers and organizations, and 3) It allows volunteers to develop skills necessary for professional development through repeated and long term exposure (Bell, 2014). The personal benefits of long-term volunteering can’t be ignored either. According to one particular study, “it was found that long-term volunteers had significantly higher overall psychological well being and higher scores on three out of the four subscales of psychological well-being, namely, self-acceptance, sense of mastery and competency and sense of engagement and growth as compared to the short-term volunteers” (Elias et al., 2016, p. 12). Nonprofit organizations such as volunteermatch.org and idealist.org make it easier to find volunteer opportunities online. The process of finding various local volunteer opportunities through these websites is very straightforward. Initially, interested users are required to create an account to access websites. After signing up, all it takes is the user typing their zip code and inputting keywords that match their interests. Website membership is typically offered free of charge, however, user eligibility requirements may differ based on the nonprofit organization. For example, idealist.org has age requirements as indicated here . In comparison, volunteermatch.org doesn’t have any age specific requirements for its users. Although it has age specific recommendations as indicated here . Check an organization’s requirements to see if you’re each other's fit. Lastly, there are also other organizations and volunteer opportunities around the country that are worth considering as included in this link . Sources American Association of Retired Persons. (n.d.). Volunteer with friends. AARP. https://createthegood.aarp.org/volunteer-ideas/include-family-friends.html. Elias, J., Sudhir, P., & Mehrotra, S. (2016). Long-Term Engagement in Formal Volunteering and Well-Being: An Exploratory Indian Study. Behavioral Sciences, 6(4), 20. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs6040020 Gabe, E. (n.d.). 4 Reasons Every Teen Should Volunteer. VolunteerMatch Blog. https://blogs.volunteermatch.org/4-reasons-every-teen-should-volunteer. Bell, P. (2014, September 15). Consistency: The Knot that Ties Everything Together: LeaderTreks Youth Ministry Blog. LeaderTreks Youth Ministry. https://www.leadertreks.org/consistency-knot-ties-everything-together/. Previous Next

An Introduction To The Juvenile Justice System

Climate Change Reflection in Summer Heat Written By: Areionna Anthony Publishing Date: August 22, 2022 Summers are becoming increasingly hotter. Climate Central, a non-profit that analyzes climate science , shows that 235 out of 246 US locations have seen an increase in their summer average temperature since 1970, but we are also witnessing similar effects in other parts around the world. There's a severe heatwave happening in Europe and Asia, and people are coping with swamp coolers, cool foot baths, and popsicles. Unfortunately, it's looking like things are only going to get worse from here. The United States is on its third heatwave of the summer. Temperatures have been in the triple digits or are expected to at least feel like they are in more than a few areas in the US. Dallas, St. Louis, Memphis Tennessee, Little Rock Arkansas, Birmingham Alabama, Atlanta, and Raleigh North Carolina, all have been warned of scorching temperatures during July. Above normal temperatures are projected to soar into the 90s and 100s along central and southern plains to the Southeast. Paired with high humidity, the weather will feel even hotter. This is expected to get worse before it gets better. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere will continue to increase unless our annual emissions decrease substantially. Increases in the average global temperatures are expected to be within the range of 0.5°F to 8.6°F by 2100 due to the Greenhouse Effect , and changes in precipitation and storm patterns will occur as well. While temperature changes are a bit more concrete, we know for certain it'll get hotter if we keep going at this rate, storms and precipitation patterns are a bit more unpredictable, varying by season and region. Some areas may experience less precipitation and storms during certain seasons, while others may experience more. This could result in droughts in other parts around the world and heavy rain in other regions. Climatologists advise that storm tracks are projected to shift poleward. On an individual level, there are a few things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint to prevent this from worsening. We can change what we eat by consuming more organic foods and less red meat and by using reusable water bottles rather than plastic since this produces less waste. Changes in travel and transportation can make a difference by walking or biking for shorter trips to reduce cars on the road, and it also helps to keep stuff out of the landfill by selling, donating, or repurposing items that are no longer needed. It's important to keep the tires on your car inflated too and get regular tune-ups because when your car’s tires are low on pressure, it has to work harder to get around, wasting gas and increasing emissions in the process. Additionally, using the cold-water cycle for washing your clothes is a good option when possible, and doing your laundry in full loads. This will decrease the amount of water and energy used, helping you save time and money, and drying your clothing on a clothesline helps because it takes a lot of energy to power a dryer. To help change things on a larger scale, it's important to remain vocal and get involved with environmental organizations by volunteering and donating if you can. One nonprofit organization that helps the environment by reforestation, planting trees, and restoring ecosystems is Green Forests Work . You can even help just by adding your voice to these organizations, being politically aware of what is and isn't being done to fight climate change so that you can make informed decisions when it comes to electing officials, and by being active in your daily life to fight climate change. It's important to act now before it gets worse. In the meantime, here are some ways to cope with the heat. First, it's important to drink lots of water and don't wait until you're thirsty to drink. It also helps to limit the use of a stove or oven since this will increase the heat in your home, and the CDC suggests taking cool showers or baths to cool down, staying in an air-conditioned indoor location as much as you can, and not relying on fans as much during hot weather, and not leaving children and pets in the car. Sources Future of Climate Change . climatechange.chicago.gov. (2022). Retrieved 29 July 2022, from https://climatechange.chicago.gov/climate-change-science/future-climate-change#:~:text=Key%20global%20 projections,mitigation%20of%20 greenhouse%20gas%20emissions . Keep Your Cool in Hot Weather . cdc.gov. (2022). Retrieved 30 July 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/features/extremeheat/index.html . Major, P., et al. (2022). 3rd Heat Wave Grips the South This Summer, and Experts Say it Will Get Worse . CNN. Retrieved 29 July 2022, from https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/07/07/weather/excessive-heat-us-south/index.html . Top 10 Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save Money . austintexas.gov. (2017). Retrieved 29 July 2022, from https://www.austintexas.gov/blog/top-10-ways-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-and-save-money . Previous Next

The New Climate Bill: Inflation Reduction Act Written By: Anna Špirochová Publishing Date: September 18, 2022 The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), was passed just last month, and although the bill has become popular amongst voters for its clause on climate change, it acts upon many other pressing issues within the US. So, what is the Inflation Reduction Act and what does it mean in the long run? Like most proposals, the IRA has a vast and turbulent history of negotiation and amendments. The bill got its start in Joe Biden’s Build Back Better Plan at the beginning of 2020. It consists of three parts: the American Rescue Plan (ARP), the American Jobs Plan (AJP), and the American Families Plan (AFP). Although the American Rescue Plan and aspects of the American Jobs Plan were introduced to the Legislature in March and November of 2021, valuable parts of the Build Back Better Plan were left untouched. Soon after, the Biden Administration combined unsuccessful parts of the AJP with the entirety of AFP and put them forward as the Build Back Better Act. Unfortunately, even with a reduced budget of $2.2 trillion instead of the desired $3.5 trillion the Build Back Better Act failed due to the opposition of Senator Joe Manchin who rejected the act due to its high price. However, Senator Chuck Schumer then took it upon himself to negotiate with Manchin and developed the Inflation Reduction Act. Although the Act has a decreased budget of $737 billion, it includes resolutions for several of the most pressing issues in the country. It was introduced into legislation on August 16th, 2022. The foundation of the Inflation Reduction Act is based on three main pillars: Healthcare, Clean Energy, and Taxes. The healthcare clause focuses mainly on cutting costs for prescription and health insurance. This aims to have free vaccines by 2023, lowering the cost of insulin to $35/month as well as forcing drug companies to curb prices to lower than inflation. If the plan comes to fruition, the White House says1 , up to three million Americans will be able to afford and obtain health insurance. The Clean Energy Clause revolves around building the infrastructure for the development of clean and sustainable energy in the United States. The Act aims to build 950 million solar panels, 120 000 Wind Turbines, and 2300 grid-scale battery plants which should all contribute to creating homes with sustainable energy technology. In addition, the plan focuses on lowering the energy costs of non-sustainable households by $500 to $1000/year. The clause also has hopes of recovering our natural resources by devoting $60 billion of the budget to clearing pollution and preventing it by the reduction of greenhouse gasses by one gigaton in 2030. The clause on taxes is where the Act got its name – it intends to make taxes fairer as well as lower the deficit reduction. It claims to close the loopholes utilized by the wealthy and therefore force them to pay more tax such as the 15% corporate minimum tax and 1% on stock buybacks. This would create a much more balanced ground for all taxpayers in the United States and generate an income of $124 billion in the next 10 years. Sources “By the Numbers: The Inflation Reduction Act.” The White House. The United States Government, August 15, 2022. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/15/by-the-number s-the-inflation-reduction-act/. “Inflation Reduction Act .” Senate Democratic Leadership. Chuck Schumer, August 11, 2022. https://www.democrats.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/inflation_reduction_act_one_page_sum mary.pdf. “Build Back Better Plan.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, September 5, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Build_Back_Better_Plan. Previous Next

Medical autonomy is a human right for everyone, including youth. Learn how you can increase activism in the United States. < Back Medical Autonomy Our Human Rights set the foundation for some of our most fundamental American principles. These rights allow/ ensure people would give people the freedom to live how they choose and by the choices they make. Yet, over the past few years our medical autonomy has come under attack and become an imperative issue for many Americans especially while we await the final decision of Dobbs v. Jackson’s Women’s Health Organization. Laws like the Texas Heartbeat Bill and others have drastically corrupted our medical autonomy making it difficult for people to assert their medical independence. Planned Parenthood alone is one of the most notable providers on sexual and reproductive health providing services to over two million people. Specially to marginalized communities like, LGBTQ community, people of color or those who reside in low-income communities who are uninsured or in economic hardships. Even the idea of bodily autonomy can spark up many misconceptions. Saying that it undermines group decision making, and undermines traditions and religions, or that it is just another woman's issue. When really all we want is the right to make decisions for ourselves and not let the choices be made for them. But the bottom line is that no one has the right to violate these rights; it is a human right, and everyone should have the right to pursue their autonomy how they see fit. Therefore, it is important now more than ever to stay up to date on information and continue to educate and practice bodily autonomy by advocating for ourselves and for others. OTHER TOPICS Racial Justice Social Class Discrimination Voting Rights Climate Change Environmentalism Gender Equality Healthcare Inequality Immigration LGBTQI+ Rights What can I do about this? 1. Find the time to educate yourself on how the body works. There is no need to go back to school to learn the basics of how and why bodies function the way they do. Pick up a book, watch some educational videos, or listen to a podcast that will give you the correct resources to help you start learning more about bodies. 2. Use your opportunity to vote. Stay educated and active so that you can quickly vote against any policies that seek to govern our bodies. USYF CONTENT Restrictions on Disability Aid (And The Case For Removing Them) by Joseph Sweeney External Resources Center for Reproductive Rights Bodily autonomy: Busting 7 myths that undermine individual rights and freedoms Human Rights and Health - WHO How Anti-Abortion Laws Could Affect Affordable U.S. Health Care Previous Next

In Times of Trouble: The Political Pressure on the White House During Crisis Written By: Carson Watkins Publishing Date: October 13, 2023 During the presidential election cycle, the candidates go out and make their pitches to the voters about why they are the best option for the position. When looking into the candidates, the voters look for a candidate they can trust to lead the country through times of prosperity and times of tragedy. The public's perception of the President's handling of catastrophe can flip an election. However, advances in media have changed the landscape of presidential public relations, making it imperative that tragedy is navigated with procession. Pearl Harbor As the Nazi party started to take power in Germany, nations were looking to the United States for assistance to curb the rise of authorism. However, the United States was unwilling to intervene. This policy was called Isolationism. President Franklin Roosevelt was reluctant to provoke the Germans. While attempting to navigate the rise of Nazi power, the United States faced the threat of other foreign adversaries. Secretary of State Henry Stimson urged President Roosevelt to strengthen his foreign policy due to the rise of the Japanese military. In the pre-war era, the Japanese developed one of the world's largest Navy and infantries. In April of 1941, Roosevelt brought Stimson and other foreign policy leaders to the White House to discuss the security of the Pacific Ocean. Stimson Warned that Hawaii was susceptible to an attack from the Japanese. Roosevelt disagreed, neglecting the navy artillery, viewing the branch to be a peacekeeping force ( Jordan, 2015, P. 74). December 7, 1941, 8:04 A.M., radio stations broke into regularly scheduled programming to announce that all military officers at Peral Harbor were to report to duty and for civilians to take shelter immediately. The United States was under attack, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and the destruction of several ships. On this Day, Senator Arthur Vanderburg wrote, “The age of isolationism for any relist is over.” (Boyle, 1972, p.1). Fifty-four minutes after the attack, congress passed a resolution of war. The next day, FDR addressed the nation via a joint session of Congress, where he delivered the infamous “Day of Infamy” speech. While the general American public shifted anger towards the Japanese, the threat of Nazi Germany was still ever-present. Roosevelt utilized new communication system of radio in his “Fireside Chats”. Two days after the attack, Roosevelt gave a timeline of parallels between Japan and Hitler's rise in Germany. Roosevelt spoke to the American people, saying, “We are now in this war. We are all in it—all the way. Every single man, woman and child is a partner in the most tremendous undertaking of our American history. We must share together the bad news and the good news, the defeats and the victories—the changing fortunes of war.” Vietnam After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnston took control of a fractured nation. As the ongoing Civil Rights Movement raged on, the Nation monitored escalating tensions in Vietnam. The country feared that communism in North Vietnam would spread if not contained. In late 1965, the Joint Chiefs of Staff began to ask for troops. Johnson allowed troops to undertake offensive operations. This grant was released with little press coverage. Johnston was at first averse to conflict, fearing the expansion of the conflict, but quickly, the pressure got to him, and the conflict continued to escalate in the coming years. The goal for the United States was to stop Communism in North Vietnam. However, the North Vietnamese tactics would be difficult for the army to combat, leading to calculated bombing raids in northern Vietnam. These campaigns would wipe out 59 percent of the oil supply in Vietnam and kill millions. (Lawrence, 2008, P. 99). The rise in bombing campaigns corresponded with the increase of televisions in American homes, allowing the average citizen to view the war in real-time, and the American public turned their back on this war as the government attempted to assure them everything was going to plan. In September of 1967, Johnston addressed the Nation and said, “I do not have to tell you that our people are profoundly concerned about that struggle. There are passionate convictions about the wisest course for our Nation to follow. Many sincere and patriotic Americans harbor doubts about sustaining the commitment that three Presidents and a half a million of our young men have made.” However, whatever reassurance could not stop the American people from seeing horrifying images broadcast into their living rooms every night. Johnston's approval went on a steep decline. In an address to the National Association of Broadcasters, Johnston (1968) touched on the history of mass communications and the new America. He says, “During the Korean war, for example, at that time when our forces were pushed back there to Pusan; or World War II, the Battle of the Bulge, or when our men were slugging it out in Europe or when most of our Air Force was shot down that day in June 1942 off Australia. But television was being used last night to carry a different message.” Johnson would not seek reelection after it was clear there was no path back for him to win the election. Among historic lows in popularity, Richard Nixon would campaign promising to end the war. The war coverage gave Americans a new window into their government and an avenue to keep those in power accountable. Michael Mandelbaum (1982) says, “ It might have made the American people more conscious of it than they would have been if television cameras weren’t present.” September 11, 2001 On a crisp autumn day, New York City, an unsuspecting country, is about to be changed forever. As residents in New York City, we were going about our morning when an unexpected sight greeted patrons. An employee recalls a shadow covering the street at the Port Authority Bus Stop on 8th Avenue. (Graff, 2019, P.32). Seconds later, a 767 Airplane would hit the World Trade Center. What was first thought to be a tragic accident quickly realized not to be when a second plane hit the second tower. As Smoke billowed into the blue New York City Sky, President George W. Bush sat in a Florida classroom when he was informed that the nation was under attack. With a stone face, Bush sat in the classroom for seven minutes before leaving to get the needed information. At 9:30, Bush faced the cameras and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen, this is a difficult moment for America. Today is a national tragedy. Two Planes have crashed into the World Trade Center in an apparent terrorist attack on our country.” (Mitchell, 2019, P. 140). Back in Washington D.C., the entire government was in panic as planes were being grounded to attempt to avoid any more attacks. National security advisor Condoleezza Rice recalls being sent down to the bunker in the West Wing before she got on the phone with the President. Slowly, the country shut down as Air Force One became the only plane in US airspace. President Bush made it Back to Washington, D.C. Where he addressed the Nation from the Oval Office. Bush Said, “America and our friends and allies join with all those who want peace and security in the world, and we stand together to win the war against terrorism. Tonight, I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened. And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us.” Earlier that year, President Bush was Inaugurated under a cloud of controversy, with the Supreme Court helping him win due to voting inconsistencies in the State of Florida. President Bush was unable to secure that popular vote. Just nine months later, President Bush had an approval rating of ninety percent and had a congress willing to give him whatever he needed. (Draper, 2007, P.167). In the 2004 presidential election, President Bush would weather the storm of attacks on his foreign policy to win reelection as the war dragged on. Hurricane Katrina In January of 2005, President Bush would be inaugurated into a second term. In the first months of the term, tragedy would strike the country, not from terrorists but from natural disaster. August 2005 A hurricane was heading to landfall in the Gulf of Mexico. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was in discussions with southern states as newspaper headlines prepared citizens for the worst. During meetings, meteorologists began to suspect New Orleans, Louisiana, would take a direct hit. Sunday, August 29th, Katrina made landfall, and New Orleans took a direct impact. Neighborhoods vanish instantly, and millions are left without shelter, food, and, in some instances, family members. Once again, President Bush needed to lead. In an Address, President Bush addressed the Country and discussed the damage and the courage American people showed in this time of trouble. Bush said, “Across the Gulf Coast, among people who have lost much, and suffered much, and given to the limit of their power, we are seeing that same spirit -- a core of strength that survives all hurt, a faith in God no storm can take away, and a powerful American determination to clear the ruins and build better than before.” In this address, President Bush wanted to create a better future for the Gulf Coast. New Orleans had a high poverty rate among minorities. The devastation was an opportunity to rebuild these cities to correct societal wrongs. 32.5% of residents of New Orleans lived below the federal poverty and we’re in dire need of assistance. (Hartman, Squires, 2006, P.91). The day after the storm, issues began to pile up due to a lack of command structures between state and federal agencies. Louisiana Governor Kathrine Blanco denied President Bush’s call to federalize the National Guard, a decision that started a domino effect that would delay the recovery efforts in the city. Blanco worried that the presence of military officials in civilian zones would not budge on this issue. While the bickering continued, the citizens of New Orleans were left for dead in the 72-hour debate between the President and the Governor. Once the cleanup finally started, President Bush did everything he could to shift the narrative. Bush would take several trips to the region, give speeches, write checks for relief efforts, and do manual labor for photo opportunities. It seemed too little too late. Criticism of the city's preparedness started to hamper the news coverage before heartbreaking images of the evacuation efforts, notably in the New Orleans Superdome, would shift any positive Public Relations the Bush Administration had hoped for. The perceived lack of care for impoverished African Americans would dominate the headlines. This, along with rising gas prices and the decline in support for the war on terror, would curtail Bush's second term. Hurricane Sandy Just weeks out from the 2012 election, a hurricane was once again barreling towards major metropolitan areas. Hurricane Sandy was about to hit the Jersey Shore and New York City. President Obama faced a national tragedy in the waning days of his re-election campaign. Obama and his administration looked to his predecessor to rebuild New York City and the Jersey Shore. One of the Notable failures of Katrina relief was the government's fear of people using these funds for fraud and putting barriers in place to make sure the correct people were getting the funds. This well-intentioned policy initially made it difficult for those who were displaced to apply online or to an office. President Obama promised, “No Red Tape.” (Sobel, 2014, P. 161). An unlikely alliance was made as the Hurricane and election day inched closer. Republican Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey and the President began to spend much time with each other, and Christie gave multiple acknowledgments of the President's effort. Christie said, “What I was saying at the time was, I was asked how the president was doing, I said, he’s doing a good job, he’s kept his word. And so, everybody knows that I have about 95 percent level disagreement with Barack Obama on issues of principle and philosophy. But the fact is we have a job to do. And what people expect from people they elect is to do their job.” (Glueck, 2014). This move has garnered Christie criticism to this day. However, with the praise, President Obama ensured that the state and local governments would be cared for during this crisis. Obama Said, “ My Message to the governors, as well as the mayors, is anything they need, we will be there.” (Miles, 2014, P. 289). The president’s success in Sandy relief efforts may have propelled him over the edge and elected him to a second term. In his book Strom Surge, Adam Sobel said, “He was in the news for a positive reason, touring the damage and marshaling the resources of the federal government in response to the recovery, instead of exchanging negative remarks with Romney.” (Sobel, 2014, P. 168). COVID On New Year’s Eve 2019, Dr. Robert Redfield got the first reports of a mysterious illness in China and was immanently on alert. Twenty-three days later, the National Library of Medicine got its first reports of this illness. Soon after, travelers returning from China brought the first cases to American shores. President Trump, at the World Economic Forum, told the nation that they had it under control. In a meeting on January 31, Dr. Antony Fauci informed President Trump and Vice President Pence of the escalation in China, where they began shutting down cities to curb the spread. On March 9th, President Trump was still playing down the effects of the virus, citing its death rate compared to the common flu, but it was too late. March 13th, the crisis hit a fever pitch, and slowly, the world started to change. Schools and businesses shut down, store shelves were vacant, and it was up to the President to lead the country out of the sickness. The Coronavirus Task Force launched at 15 days to slow the spread initiative. During this time, cases rose, and the President received criticism for preparedness but did not want to accept accountably. “I don’t take responsibility at all.” He told Bob Woodward of the Washington Post. He continued, “I just want to get It solved.” (Woodward, 2020, P.288). The President continued to downplay the effects of the virus and beg for a reopening with his advisors. Trump went on a spiral trying to get the cure and make this all disappear. Trump would continue to grasp at straws to get the country back on track. As stated in the National Library of Medicine (2020), “Watching President Trump's response to the unfolding COVID‐19 pandemic was to observe a leader acting and communicating in a fashion congruent with psychological denial and wishful thinking.” A few weeks before the 2020 election, Trump would contract the virus and subsequently lose the election in a blaze of controversy. Conclusion In the 2008 Democratic Primary, Hillary Clinton's campaign released an ad called “3 AM phone Call,” proposing a simple proposition. When a phone in the White House Rings at 3 a.m., who do you want to Answer the call? This message is that voters must decide when to go to the polling booths. Future executives can look to the past when there is a tragedy to lead the country out of whatever has come to shore. Sources Barbour, Haley: “America’s Great Storm: Leading Through Hurricane Katrina” University of Mississippi Press Boyle, P. G. (1972). The Roots of Isolationism: A Case Study. Journal of American Studies, 6(1), 41–50. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27552971 Draper, Robert “ Dead Certain: The Presidency of George W. Bush” Free Press Franklin Roosevelt “Fireside Chat 19: On the War with Japan” December 9, 1941 George W. Bush's “Address to the Nation on the Terrorist Attacks” September 11, 2001 Graff, Garrett, “ The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11” Simon & Schuster Jordan, Jonathan “American Warlords: How Roosevelt High Command Led America to Victory in World War 2” Nal Caliber Lawrence, Mark, “The Vietnam War: A Concise International History” Oxford University Press Lydon Johnston “ Speech On Vietnam” September 29, 1967 Lydon Johnston “ Address to the National Association of Broadcasters” April 1, 1968 Mandelbaum, M., PHU, T., COREY, P. N., Foster, K., JAMES HANSHAW, S. A., Seagren, C. W., Henderson, D. R., H. Earle, H. E., BARBROOK, R., Aimone, A. C., & Scheck, G. (1982). Vietnam: The Television War. 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