New York Values are American Values

Last night, I watched the first Republican debate of 2016 and what I saw and heard was both revolting and demeaning to the American people. I could write hundreds of pages addressing all the ridiculous and partisan babble that we heard uttered from those podiums, but today, I will devote my time to addressing what was the most inappropriate statement in the debate. About midway through the debate, Ted Cruz criticized Donald Trump, accusing him of having "New York values" as if it was a bad thing. 

Ted Cruz's statement was not only distasteful, but utterly offensive to every New Yorker. New York values are American values. New York is the capital of the Empire State and the gem of America. Our nation's greatest industries and entrepreneurs have made New York their home and one could even say that New York is the American Paris. In New York, people believ,e like across the rest of the nation, that everyone who works hard and honestly deserves to get ahead. New York is also the site of one of the most devastating terrorist attacks on American soil in the 21st century.

The tragic horror of September 11 is not what we will forever remember, but rather what we will always remember was how New York came together, how our first responders selflessly laid down their lives, and how we rebuilt New York even greater than before. New York is also home to the Statue of Liberty, the beacon of hope to all who are fleeing violence, persecution, and oppression to pursue the American Dream, and as the son of immigrants, Ted Cruz should have great respect for this great city.

New York values are American values. While not every aspect of New York is stellar and amazing, what is important for us to realize is that no place in America is perfect and that each state has something special to offer. But perhaps one should not blame Ted Cruz, for he may only be serving as a mouthpiece for Texas. Texas is a great state but they also used to be part of the America' slavery regime, were leaders in racial violence and segregation, and were birthed in violent rebellion. I am in no way disparaging the Texans, but I intend to make a point that no American Presidential candidate should ever demonize a region of America to make a political statement, lest he be a hypocrite and ignore his own state's shortcomings.

Donald Trump defended New York well and this time, I have to agree with him. However, even Trump has done it in the past where he accused Iowa voters of "being stupid." We need a President that unites, not divides, these states. We need a President who will bridge the ideological and political gap that does exist between the North and the South, not exploit it for approval ratings and campaign rhetoric.  

Katniss Everdeen's Response to the State of the Union

In his state of the Union speech, President Obama focused on the many accomplishments of his administration, as well as some of the issues our nation is facing today. The President talked about how strong our economy is and that our nation is the greatest nation in the world, period. And I do not argue with President Obama about his accomplishments, but I think it is also necessary point out some threats to the security of our Union, for it is the unaddressed threats that hurt us the most.

The world has clearly become a more dangerous place from alleged nuclear tests in North Korea to the recent kidnapping of US sailors by Iranians and a terrorist attack on tourists in Turkey by ISIS. I also would like to make a correction to the President's comments on how the war with ISIS is being blown out of proportion. ISIS is a real threat to every democratic Westernized opportunistic nation and ISIS has continually made it clear that they completely intend to destroy us and establish an international caliphate.

Such threats are currently minor at best, but regardless, we must remain vigilant. And like President Obama said, this means we cannot let fear get the best of us and direct us to punish or hold an entire religion or ethnicity to blame for the actions of a radical few. We must act with level heads and together, we can put an end to this extremist scourge that is wrecking havoc in the Middle East and threatening our shores.

We also need to work to address the issues of growing poverty in our nation, of unemployment, inequality, rising student debt, homelessness, and the decrease of opportunity. These issues are tough and will take a tough leader. President Obama has clearly tried to do his best and has definitely made some accomplishments and advanced America down the road of progress, but we need a leader who will take up the torch and advance us further. Some of the President candidates now will not only refuse to carry on the torch of progress, but will reverse all the work we have done.

As President, I promise you I will work hard to keep America moving forward, not backward, and that I will fight for women's rights, work to end equality, diminish student debt, eradicate homelessness, defeat ISIS, and return the opportunity and blessings of America to its people.

~Katniss Everdeen