Today, February 2, 2016, a United States Supreme Court justice appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 died at the age of 79, Antonin Scalia. The governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, issued a statement that confirmed the recent news where he praised him for his work in the Supreme Court. While it is time to be sympathetic and offer our condolences, support, and prayers, the Supreme Court does not have the luxury of contemplating the loss indefinitely and must go on as seamless as possible. It s...

On September 22, 1862, Abraham Lincoln announced his intention to order the emancipation of all slaves in the states that did not end their rebellion by January 1, 1863. So on January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the famous and historical presidential proclamation and executive order known as the Emancipation Proclamation and intended to free those slaves. That alone did not free the slaves in areas still under rebellion. However, as more Confederate regions were controlled by the Union a...

5 de Mayo, the great American holiday. It is definitely a Mexican holiday, but one of little importance to them. It is not celebrated as it is here, in the United States. It might be celebrated more in Puebla, Mexico, where the famous battle took place, but it’s not about margaritas and the commercialized way it’s celebrated here. It is worth taking a deeper look and reflect on what Cinco de Mayo truly means for the United States.The underlying importance of this holiday for the United States i...

Hispanic voters have been called the “sleeping giant.” It seems like the giant is waking up, but not necessarily in bed with either the Republican or Democratic Party. The feeling of either party not taking them seriously might be the reason why more Hispanics (or Latinos) are becoming independents (along with a variety of other reasons), following the trend of many other demographics. The Democratic Party has, for the most part, been the predominant party of choice for Hispanics. The Hispanic ...

Have you ever found yourself at a church gathering where the topic of conversation is supported by default, only because it is part of the agenda of the political party or organization behind it? It is probably no different than a labor union meeting where your support is expected in favor of the political party that primarily supports labor issues. We often side with political parties because they support something we value, but usually not all of our values. As a result, we might find oursel...

Out of 100 civics questions for people applying for U.S. citizenship, question 45 suggests that future citizens have two options and only two options in American politics. It is a win-win between Republicans and Democrats as the only possible answers gives exposure only to them and no other political party or option, such as participating without being obligated to associate with a party. Question 45. "What are the two major political parties in the United States?" Answer: Democratic and Repu...