Weekly Newsletter
March 8,2020 2021 November 16,
American Flag Creates Controversy Unfolding the symbolism of American ideals AJ Minnich, Editor-in-Chief Since Colin Kaepernick first knelt in protest of the American flag due to ongoing societal issues stemming from racism and inequality, the “Star Spangled Banner'' has become a hotly debated topic. On one side, there are liberals and Democrats voicing support to the protest, and on the other hand, there are conservatives and Republicans who vehemently oppose the protest. While both sides have valid points, they also have fundamental misunderstandings on what the flag means. Conservatives and Republicans vehemently oppose this notion often referring to people as disgraceful or un-American who kneel before the flag,
Gold Star Sponsor of The Freedom Forum
and this is far from the truth. Many conservatives also state that “if you hate this country so much then you should leave,” but that in of itself makes little sense because most people who sit or kneel for the flag do not necessarily hate this country. Usually, they are unsatisfied with the current state of the nation. While it is fine to disagree with kneeling for the flag, it is far from un-American because in fact, protest is one of the most American things someone can do because it is deeply rooted in the nation’s history. The flag and national anthem are incredibly prolific symbols because they represent the entire United States of America, the most powerful country on earth.
So using forms of protest such as flag burning or kneeling during the national anthem are incredibly prolific, too. This country is deeply rooted in protest even back to before the Declaration of Independence, and it serves as a fundamental foundation for its posterity. Our nation was founded in protest, and it has evolved because of protest, so to now deem protesters as un-American completely misses the point. Now with that out of the way, many of the people who are kneeling for the flag have a fundamental misunderstanding of what the United States flag actually means. Our flag does not represent every action the U.S. takes. If that were the case, every country on earth would be solely defined by the atrocities that have been committed by every one of them. Instead, the U.S. flag represents an everlasting ideal that “all men are created equal,” the fundamental ideal that everyone no matter their race, gender, religion, or
sexuality has a chance for “life liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” Yes, many times the U.S. has not lived up to those ideals, but despite that we still keep trying. From the civil war to the civil rights movement, history has shown that this purpose is nearly impossible to achieve. But despite that, even against insurmountable odds, every day we still strive to achieve this goal, and that is what makes it so unifying and inspiring. Now that may seem a bit nihilistic, but it is true. One of the biggest unifying forces in humanity is a collective struggle. So as most of America strives to create a more just and equal society that is of, by, and for the people, even if the struggle itself is impossible and utopian in nature, it builds a sense of camaraderie between every single American. The flag represents this collective struggle and camaraderie that has been built for hundreds of years, which is why it has remained such a poignant and unifying symbol.
March 8, 2021
Things To Take Away From Winter Storm Uni What to know about a winter storm Zaphaneya Rivera, The Freedom Forum The outcomes of Winter Storm Uri were extreme for the state of Texas. From February 13 to 17, 2021, snow fell on several parts of Texas. The winter storm brought singledigit temperatures, wind chills, ice, and more. For instance, wind chills had dropped beneath negative 15 degrees. The Texas homes were unprepared for this type of weather situation. So, the power grids could not provide for their needs. Power grids would rely on natural gas, but the gas was hard to get due to the cold. Alternate options like wind and solar only generated 21 percent of the state's electricity. Millions of households lost power as a result. The power outages meant that Texas was going to go through a water deficiency. There was a warning that the drinking water could be contaminated. So the city's mayor issued a boil-water warning.
People attempted to warm their homes by staying in blankets, layering clothes, and more. Due to people trying to keep warm, over 300 carbon-monoxide poisoning cases were reported. Icicles formed on ceiling fans, and water froze straight through faucets. The winter storm caused many water pipes to burst, flooding homes in the process. There are things that Texans had to deal with to make their lives safer. What would you do in their situation? What are some things to know if we get into a horrible winter storm like Winter Storm Uri? Before a storm comes, make sure you have water bottles and non-perishable foods. Examples of non-perishable foods are canned meats, canned fruits, and tuna. You may want to winterize your home. One thing you can do is clean your eaves. Eaves are the part of your roof that overhangs. The purpose of this is to ensure nothing can restrict the flow of water.
During a winter power outage, try your best to stay warm. You can dress in layers and huddle in extra blankets. On windows, you can add dark sheets to attract heat into your home. Keeping your food cold is also a necessity. You can add snow from outside to prevent your food from thawing. There are a lot of risks when it comes to freezing water pipes. Leaving the water on is something that can help unfreeze pipes. Heat from a hair dryer is warm enough to help gently thaw a pipe. Running a small stream of water from the faucet is another way to keep the water pipes susceptible to freezing. You can open your cabinets in the kitchen or bathroom and it allows warmer air to flow within the house to stop pipes from solidifying. As water expands, it freezes and puts pressure on the pipes that can cause them to burst. A pipe burst can
Man walking in winter storm Source: Victor Vox, Unsplash
allow the home to flood. If this were to happen you would want to shut off your water. Shutting it off will stop the flow of more water into your home. The next thing you would like to do is contact your insurer and plumbing professional. It is essential to document the damages made to your home. The process of fixing the problems could take weeks. Situations like this year's winter storms are dangerous and threatening. Becoming educated about things beforehand can better yourself, your family, and your home.