Author / Jessie Bluedorn
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The Enslaved Dreamers
On January 9th, 2013 a young Sri Lankan maid named Rizana Nafeek was beheaded in Saudi Arabia for the alleged murder of her employers’ infant son. There are several key details in this recent news headline which make it particularly shocking. First, at the time of the murder in 2005, Nafeek was only 17 years…
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Guantanamo Bay Detention Center – An American Humiliation
“As President, I will close Guantanamo….” President Obama repeated this promise many times during his 2008 campaign, making it a central issue in the election. In the beginning of his first term he did indeed take several steps, which made it appear that a closure was looming in the near future. In fact, on his…
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The Enslaved Dreamers: Domestic Migrant Workers in the Middle East
On January 9th, 2013 a young Sri Lankan maid named Rizana Nafeek was beheaded in Saudi Arabia for the alleged murder of her employers’ infant son. There are several key details in this recent news headline which make it particularly shocking. First, at the time of the murder in 2005, Nafeek was only 17 years…
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On Binders
The catchphrase that emerged from the second presidential debate was undoubtedly Romney’s “binders full of women” — used by the governor to fill top-level positions with specifically female employees. This phrase spawned many memes, tweets, and facebook pages within minutes, pervading both news sources and pop culture for days. Though entertaining, we voters and citizens…
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The It Factor
During a presidential election year, it is more important than ever to consider which factors influence how individuals vote. One critical trait, often overlooked, plays a significant role in the election: charisma. Defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as “a gift or power of leadership or authority. Hence, the capacity to inspire devotion or enthusiasm,”…
