Photo Courtesy of the Associated Press
In an effort to connect with current events off the Hill — locally, domestically, and abroad —
The Spectator
will periodically publish a new recap that seeks to inform the Hamilton community on the basics of contemporary issues.
Parkland, Florida
On Feb. 28, students and staff members from Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida returned to their school complex for the first time since the Feb. 14 mass shooting on that killed fourteen students and three staff members. The lone gunman, 19-year old Nikolas Cruz, who was a former student at the school, inflicted the carnage with a legally-bought AR-15 semiautomatic assault rifle. As part of the political and national response to the shooting, Dick’s Sporting Goods announced this week that it was ending the sale of assault-style weapons and limiting the selling of firearms to those over the age of 21.
Bratislava, Slovakia
In Slovakia, Jan Kuciack, a leading journalist focusing on government corruption, was murdered along with his fiancé at his home on Feb. 26. The first slaying of a journalist in Slovakian history has reverberated across Europe, where the assassination of prominent Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana via a car-bomb in October has given the impression that freedom of the press is weakening across the continent. Recognizing this, the Slovakian Prime Minister has offered a $1.2 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Mr. Kuciack’s killers.
Montreat, North Carolina
Reverend Billy Graham, an American evangelist and ordained Southern Baptist minister, passed away at the age of 99 on Feb. 21. Every President from Harry Truman to Barack Obama consulted with Rev. Graham, as he became the leading figure for American evangelical Christians. While Rev. Graham was a staunch supporter of racial integration and rights for African-Americans, his career was not without controversy, as his remarks on women, LGBTQ rights, and the influence of Jews made him a controversial figure.
Afrin, Syria
A massive Turkish assault on Kurdish positions in Afrin, Syria has led Kurdish forces to pull thousands of soldiers from the fight against the so-called Islamic State (ISIS) to focus on repelling Turkish advances. Turkey considers the Kurdish forces, referred to as People’s Protection Units (YPG), to be a terrorist group, despite them being key partners with the United States in combatting ISIS. While the Turkish see the YPG as connected to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has fought for an independent Kurdish state within Turkish territory since 1984. The YPG deny such connections.
Washington, D.C.
Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Donald Trump, recently had his top secret security clearance pulled. This will severely hamper his role as a Senior Advisor who supposedly has an extensive international and foreign policy related portfolio. Kushner had previously gone on trips to Israel and Saudi Arabia and was playing a key role in the development of White House policy regarding the Middle East peace process. Chief of Staff John Kelly pulled the top secret security clearance after evidence indicated that foreign leaders and officials were conspiring to influence Mr. Kushner due to his extensive real estate and investment holdings abroad.
Hope Hicks, the White House Director of Communications, admitted to House investigators this week that President Trump had occasionally required her to tell “white lies.” As of Feb. 28, it has been reported that she soon plans to step down from her position as White House Communications Director.
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
Despite it being customary for Chinese leaders to step aside after two 5-year terms — a process in place since the rule of Mao Zedong in the 1970s — President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has made it clear he intends to pursue a third term in office. The Chinese Communist Party announced this week that it would eliminate presidential term limits, which paves the way for indefinite rule by President Xi. This unprecedented move directly contrasts with the PRC’s economic and social liberalization, which had created a socialist state with market characteristics.
Tallahassee, Florida
The Florida State Senate and House Budget Committees signed off on legislation this week that would raise the minimum age to purchase a firearm from eighteen to twenty-one. Furthermore, the bill created a mandatory three-day waiting period for gun purchases and boosted funding for school safety measures.
