34th Street Magazine's "Toast" is a semi-weekly newsletter with the latest on Penn's campus culture and arts scene. Delivered Monday-Wednesday-Friday.
Free.
What love means
“We can not be free until they are free”
There is no simple explanation — and therefore no simple solution — for the tragedy that is a Donald Trump presidency.
America, I am sick to my stomach. I am distraught. I am heartbroken.
I am worried.
Let’s step back, as an emotional reaction is not always a useful indicator of things.
Now, we fight. Or at least, we prepare to.
All decent people will hope and pray that Trump’s campaign promises to destroy the constitutional order, to violate the civil liberties of millions of Americans, to commit war crimes and retaliate against his political opponents were the kind of empty bluster we know he is capable of.
It is 6:30 a.m. on Nov. 9 as I write this. I am in my month of silence for the monk class, and as such, I cannot talk to people, consume any media or read anything outside of what is required for my coursework.
America is not doomed. But man, should we be embarrassed.
Donald Trump has run a campaign fueled by hatred, bluster, ignorance and a complete lack of morality.
“The idea that people are born gay — or lesbian or bisexual — is appealing for lots of reasons,” noted John D’Emilio, former Director of the Policy Institute at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
It’s got every element of the perfect 21st-century pop morality fable: a sympathetic band of marginalized heros; a sinister coalition of law enforcement and Big Oil colluding to oppress them; elements of racial and environmental activism topped off with a secret code that you — yes, you!
Last week, I caught the most unrelenting illness known to man: the common cold. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, sanitize your beds and cover your mouths, because the respiratory syncytial virus is back in town and he’s not sparing anyone.
As I lay in bed cancelling meetings and asking for extensions in classes, I felt a heavy sense of guilt and fear.
In the words of Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Vincent Price, “... at Penn everyone belongs.” It’s a strong sentiment, an ideal we should strive to reach.
Last week, The Daily Pennsylvanian ran an article about Wharton sophomore Eric Hoover, who posted in the Penn Class of 2019 Facebook group that he intends to form a chapter on campus of a pro-life group called Students for Life of America (SFLA). Naturally, Hoover’s post caused a bit of chaos in the group as pro-choice advocates began to berate him with comments such as “welcome to the middle ages.”
While there’s no data to back this up, it’s probable that most Penn students are pro-choice and take great offense at those who would suggest that abortion be made illegal.