February 2018
VOLUME 14 • ISSUE 2
New Year, New World
Protest Under Trump
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AS WELL AS:
Rise of the European Far-Right, 5 Saturday Night Live Takes On the White House, 11
THE CHARIOT
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Advait Arun (‘18) Natalie Ho (‘18) SENIOR EDITOR Siddharth Jain (‘19) COPY EDITOR Carolyn Wang (‘18) PUBLICITY DIRECTOR Claire Cheng ('20) CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ani Banerjee ('19) Charlie Bush ('20) Peter Chen ('19) Edgar Hsieh ('20) Chris Liao ('20) Sanaa Zakariya ('19)
FOUNDATION/GROUP SPONSORS Adobe Systems • Daughters of the American Revolution • Palo Alto Lions Club PATRONS ($100+)
Lauren Michals and Vinod Bharadwaj • Patricia Bruegger • Steven Guggenheim The Chariot would like to thank Advisor Justin Brown for his support.
DEAR READERS,
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ello, 2018! We are The Chariot, a group of politically-minded Gunn students working hard to deliver the most exigent domestic and international issues into your hands. Our mission, as Gunn’s leading political magazine, is to provide you with insightful, critical commentary on current events through the perspective of passionate student activists and writers. Since our last issue, and even since the start of the new year, the world has kept on changing. The United States government experienced shutdown amid a failure to compromise on spending and immigration. NAFTA could be renegotiated, all while China continues its “One Belt, One Road” project to expand its economic influence. Recent issues like the statehood attempts of Catalonia and Kurdistan, while they have faded away from today’s news coverage, remain points of contention. Amidst the conflict and contradictions on earth, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk successfully launched his Falcon Heavy rocket, potentially rejuvenating interest in our upper atmosphere and beyond. It’s only been a month, but 2018 is already looking to be a year of change. This year, we hope that you will all try to understand the world through its many conflicts and crises, and we hope The Chariot can help you with that resolution. Thank you for the time you have taken to support this publication, and we would love to see you join our team! Sapere aude! Sincerely, Advait Arun & Natalie Ho EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Front cover artwork is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution. ABOUT US The Chariot is intended to create and promote political discussion at Gunn and make people aware of issues that matter. We ask that you respect all opinions which are reflected in our publication, and write letters to the editors if you wish to voice your opinion. The views expressed do not reflect that of The Chariot, but rather those of the individual writers. The Chariot was originally founded in 2001 as The Partisan Review by Gunn alumni Ilan Wurman (‘06), Channing Hancock (‘06), and Sarah McDermott (‘05). Visit our website, gunnchariot.com if you wish to view any issues from previous years or for more information about us. Any questions, comments, suggestions, or requests to join can be sent to gunnchariot@gmail.com. If you’d like to make a donation or subscribe, please send checks to: Justin Brown Re: The Gunn Chariot 780 Arastradero Road Palo Alto, CA 94306 Checks can be made out to Gunn High School with “The Chariot” on the memo.
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NEWS
Storm Season Natalie Ho Editor-in-Chief
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hey were reminiscent of the catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. News of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma dominated the fall headlines with the destruction they brought. Hurricane Harvey, originally a tropical wave from Africa, hit the coast of Texas on August 25, 2017, before making its way to Louisiana on August 30, 2017. With winds gusting over one hundred miles per hour, it was classified as a Category 4 hurricane prior to landfall and remained a storm for a Texas-record 117 hours afterwards. Numerous regions in Texas received more than forty inches of rain. Hurricane Harvey caused an estimated $180 billion total damage and 88 deaths. 10,000 people were trapped in their homes and saved by boat, while another 39,000 evacuated to shelters.
Over 200,000 homes and approximately one million vehicles were damaged. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deployed thousands of staff and provided $378 million in aid and 80 trailers filled with emergency items and food to nearly 750,000 Americans who requested assistance. Nearly 4,000 homes were left without power. In response, on September 8, 2017, President Trump authorised a $15.25 billion federal aid package. The National Football League’s J.J. Watt, linebacker for the Houston Texans, also led his own hurricane relief efforts and raised over $37 million from more than 200,000 donors. Just as the world was recovering from the shock of Hurricane Harvey, Hurricane Irma devastated the Southern United States and the Caribbean. The Category 5 storm was identified on August 31, 2017 and degenerated into a tropical storm on September 11. It swept over Barbuda, damaging nearly every single building on the Caribbean island, and made its second landfall SEPTEMBER FEBRUARY2016 2018
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over Florida as a Category 4 storm on September 10, 2017. Hurricane Irma marked the first time that two hurricanes of at least Category 4 classification reached the United States. 5.6 million people received evacuation orders. In addition to the islands of St. Martin, St. Barthelemy, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, Hurricane Irma flooded American cities such as Jacksonville, Miami, and Tampa. A majority of fatalities occurred in the Caribbean, raising the total death toll to almost fifty. The National Weather Service recorded storm surges of up to ten feet in the United States, causing millions of homes to lose power. President Trump approved federal aid on September 10, 2017; meanwhile, FEMA provided more than $679,000,000 in aid to the 760,000 residents who applied. The millions of affected people are still rebuilding their homes and communities today.
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The Future of Space Exploration: Finally Picking Up the Pace Charlie Bush Contributing Writer
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pace exploration has been on a forty five year-long hiatus. The last person to set foot on the moon was Captain Gene Cernan of Apollo 17 in 1972. However, this is poised to change with the oncoming launch of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. SpaceX, a successful space exploration technology company, is currently preparing to launch a rocket outside of Earth’s orbit. SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy is supposedly the world’s most powerful rocket with a total of 27 engines, triple the amount of their older Falcon 9 rocket. After years of delays and setbacks, it had its first test launch on January 24.
NEWS
CEO, founder, and lead designer Elon Musk originally predicted that Falcon Heavy would be in space as early as 2014; as of January 2018, it remains in the testing phase. Musk recently announced that the first Falcon Heavy to go in space will launch on February 6. It will contain an original red Tesla Roadster car playing “Space Oddity” by David Bowie and will circle aimlessly around the sun and near Mars’ orbit. The boosters connected to the rocket are supposed to return to Earth to be reused again for a future flight. Musk has bigger plans than just exiting Earth’s orbit, though. According to Musk, SpaceX plans to send Americans to Mars as early as 2024. The Big Falcon Rocket (BFR) is Musk’s next project after Falcon Heavy. Although will be the most capable and powerful rocket ever built, compared to other rockets, it will still have the cheapest launch cost (thanks to its reusability!). The BFR’s main purpose is to send people to Mars, but it will also send people to the moon, the International Space Station and more. SpaceX even plans to use BFR to fly paying customers to any place in the world in under an hour; a twelve-hour trip from London to Hong Kong can be made in merely thirty-four minutes according to SpaceX.
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In less than a decade, BFR will be in full use, aiming to replace all existing SpaceX vehicles. But Musk is not the only one preparing for a future of space exploration. The US National Space Council had its first meeting since being dissolved in 1993, this time led by Vice President Mike Pence. “American leadership in space will be assured. [The US government] will return Americans to the moon… and build the foundation [necessary] to send Americans to Mars and beyond,” Pence said. Since the disbandment of the National Space Council, the US government has not pursued space travel any further. During Barack Obama’s campaign for the 2008 presidential election, he wanted to work towards establishing the US space program once again; however after two full terms, he was never able to do so. On December 11, 2017, President Donald Trump signed a space policy directive to have NASA work towards sending Americans to the moon, Mars and beyond. Now, with the Trump administration actively working on reinstituting and financing space programs, US exploration in space will likely begin to kick off again within the next few years. What this means for the future of American space exploration is that the government can provide the consistent funding and resources that programs need to excel when companies like SpaceX, who rely greatly on the private sector rather than the government, have trouble financing their missions or launches. John Logsdon, an acclaimed professor who attended Vice President Pence’s National Space Council meeting, noted that SpaceX has failed to launch their Falcon Heavy for years past their initial deadline due to insufficient funding. With the US government agreeing to pitch in, many mainstream space technology companies may finally be able to commit to their longtime aspirations, such as sending humans to Mars. The world can expect many advancements in space technology and discovery in the not-so-distant future.
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The Rise of the European Far-Right
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Sanaa Zakariya Contributing Writer
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ngela Merkel was victorious in the German national elections last month, as she won a fourth term as Chancellor of Germany. She joins the ranks of Helmut Kohl and Konrad Adenauer as one of three chancellors to win four national elections. However, her victory was marred by the far-right party, Alternative For Germany (AFD), gaining seats in Parliament. The triumph of the far-right party was a slap in the face to Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union, or CDU. The AFD also made progress in Bavaria after Merkel’s coalition party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), lost 10 percent of their vote in that province since 2013. The CSU has been the leading party in Bavaria for decades and is just the latest casualty on a continent increasingly moving to the right of the political spectrum. The joint vote of the CSU and CDU dropped from 67% in the previous election, to to 53%, its lowest ever. With six different parties entering parliament, this will be the most split German government since World War II. This is also the first time in post-war clearly show that far-right, populist ideologies Germany that a far-right party was voted in Europe are still alive. into parliament. In last month’s election, the The most shocking part of this election ADF nearly tripled was not the win the 4 percent of the The election results in Germany for the ADF, but votes the party had a loss of support received in the 2013 clearly show that far-right, populist for Merkel and election, gaining ideologies in Europe are still alive. her centrist 13 percent of the partners. In the national vote. With week leading the ADF now being the third largest political to the election, Merkel repeatedly said that party in Germany, Merkel’s fourth term is Germany “has never had it better,” although already shaping up to be quite difficult. The many German citizens feel their government core of her party remains in tact, but the has left them behind. The other parties should outside is fractured. Many months of painful think about what caused the loss of support negotiations with the opposing parties lie in areas that they have held for decades. One ahead. The election results in Germany big factor was Merkel’s open immigration SEPTEMBER 2016 FEBRUARY 2018
policies, which many have criticized. Her decision to openly allow migrant refugees to seek asylum in the country has increased fears of terrorist attacks like the ones recently seen in Manchester and Paris. They blame her policies for the rise in these attacks over the last decade. Before Merkel is able to unify the country, she must first unify her own party. Her sister party, the CSU, has blamed the Chancellor for their crushing losses in Bavaria, where they already held deep roots. Merkel and her party of Christian Democrats bore heavy losses this election, but they will still lead the next government.
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Solutions on Stopping North Korea
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nies receive for joint ventures. In developing terrorism. In exchange for the US' gratinations, North Korean companies and their tude, the DPRK held its second missile test. workers earn money through construc- In 2010, North Korea revealed that it had tion contracts. Many African countries hire a facility that could enrich uranium, which North Korean companies to construct stat- means that while the US was providing aid, ues or official government buildings, since North Korea had been developing the tools the North Koreans were willing to work to make a nuclear weapon. This completely for lower prices due to the dire economic violated the set agreement. Chris Liao situation back home. The money generated Through these failed negotiations, many Contributing Writer by these companies and income tax flows lessons can be learned and applied to future he United States’ hostile relation- directly to Pyongyang, the capital of North talks. To begin with, in the future, all agreeship with North Korea (DPRK) Korea. In fact, in 2014, construction servic- ments must be based on the fulfillment of originated during the Korean es and other related projects accounted for the whole accord and the reward should not be given until all parts are satisfied. For exWar. After World War II, Japan had to re- 8% of the country’s economy. President Trump can issue an executive ample, if North Korea agrees to shut down turn its colonial possessions, which includes order that prohibits its allies from working nuclear reactors and uranium enrichment Korea. Although there were plans for a uniwith North Korean companies and denysites, American and IAEA inspectors must fied Korea, the peninsula ended up being ing work visas to North Koreans. If counbe allowed to travel to North Korea and ensplit into two separate nations. The Soviet tries refuse to comply, the US may impose a sure that the promises have been fulfilled. Union (USSR) helped set up a communist limit or ban Moreover, the rewards government in North Korea, and on June In 2014, construction services and on trade must be spread out over 25, 1950, using weapons supplied by the b e t w e e n USSR, North Korean forces invaded South other related projects accounted for a long period of time, the two naall parts of the agreeKorea. Although the war eventually ended 8% of North Korea's economy. tions. This ment must continue to with an armistice, to this day, the United is effective be fulfilled while comStates and North Korea do not share diplobecause many nations would not risk their pensation is being provided. This would efmatic relations. healthy economic relations with the US by fectively prevent North Korea from resumIn the past three decades, North Korea contracting North Korean companies. Fiing its nuclear and missile program after it has come under fire from the international nally, the US should to freeze the personal has received aid. community for its nuclear proliferation proIn recent months, President Trump and gram. This program is illegal; according to assets of the heads companies and nations that choose to do business with the DPRK his cabinet advisors have implemented two the rules of the NPT, a treaty North Koin order to discourage cooperation with different policies on North Korea. This is rea signed, only the P5 nations (US, United Pyongyang. Completely freezing the assets surprisingly useful, despite the façade of Kingdom, China, France, and Russia) are of a nation or a company would be an inchaos that it creates. Firstly, this allows the permitted to store nuclear weapons. Howfeasible idea given US to pursue separate solutions for North ever, North Korea The first step is to cut off the their immense statKorea. For example, if diplomacy fails, has been steadily deure, but by threatenthere will always be the option of military veloping its nuclear DPRK's income. ing to freeze the asforce (and vice versa). Moreover, Pyongresearch program. sets of an entities' leaders, authorities would yang will not be able to accurately anticipate US analysts estimate that its missiles can reach areas beyond Alaska and Guam. The be dissuaded from cooperating with North which policy the US will enact at any given time. As a result, they may be less prepared DPRK has also conducted multiple nuclear Korea. The second step that must be taken to for international negotiations, which will tests in recent years. The US and the UN address DPRK hostility is to implement a give the U.S. the upper hand. have been trying to prevent North Korea new strategy for negotiations. North Korea Given North Korea's recent progress from further developing nuclear weapons has repeatedly violated the terms and agreein its missile development program, it has for a long time, as it could lead to disastrous ments set in past meetings. For example, become apparent that the US has little time consequences. Given that many of the curin 2007, North Korea reportedly reached to persuade the rogue nation to stop. Alrent solutions have not succeeded in halting an agreement with the US to shut down its though the measures that the US currently the program, the global community must nuclear reactor and in return, receive a $400 implements have had limited effect, there is find new approaches to dealing with North million aid package. The DPRK failed to little time remaining. The US must lead the Korea. deactivate the reactor by the agreed deadimplementation of new solutions as soon as The first step is to cut off the DPRK's line. The US rewarded the eventual deacpossible. As Paul Charlton once said, “If income. In the past few decades, one of tivation of the reactor by removing North you keep trying a strategy, and it doesn't North Korea's main sources of revenue has Korea from the list of states that sponsor work, don't try it again.” been the contracts that government compa-
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WORLD
More on the Iran Nuclear Deal Peter Chen Contributing Writer
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onald Trump has questioned Iran’s commitment to the nuclear deal, signed in 2015, since his accession to the American presidency over one year ago. The international agreement was established to curtail the number of centrifuges and research facilities in Iran; however, Iran’s decision to continue building missiles has led President Trump to threaten U.S. withdrawal from the pact. President Hassan Rouhani of Iran has defended Iran’s research on intercontinental ballistic missiles on the basis that the nuclear deal does not address the construction of nonnuclear weapons. He went on to criticize the Trump administration for its shaky foreign policy and lack of commitment. “The administration of a country that abandons
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international commitments of the previous this does not mean that the United States administration is not reliable,” President has withdrawn from the agreement. The Rouhani said. move was perceived by White House aides The U.S. House of Representatives as a “quick fix” and leaves the United States voted in October to pass a bipartisan set in a position to quickly sanction Iran if it of sanctions to counter Iran’s persistent wishes to leave the agreement. This way, missile research. The move only further President Trump does not need to recertify angered the Iranian government, which the deal every 90 days—a decision his pointed out that neighboring countries such supporters condemn as weak—yet he also as India, Pakistan, and Israel all have nuclear avoids the disastrous consequences of Iran weapons and resuming its nuclear that its missile Although the United States' new program. program is Iran has simply a means bill does not violate the nuclear deal, maintained that of self-defense it contributes to escalating tensions it is upholding and deterrence. the terms of the between the two nations. “We will build, nuclear agreement, produce and a claim supported store any by the International weapon of any kind we need to defend Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and several ourselves, our territorial integrity and our U.S. allies. Other U.S. allies such as Germany, nation, and we will not hesitate about it,” Britain, and France expressed support President Rouhani said. Although the for the agreement in spite of the Trump United States’ new bill does not violate the administration’s stance on the deal. nuclear deal, it contributes to escalating tensions between the two nations. President Trump has also taken executive action against the nuclear deal. Although he decertified the deal in early October 2017, SEPTEMBER 2016 FEBRUARY 2018
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The Case for Kurdistan
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Advait Arun Editor-in-Chief
n the ethnic quilt that comprises the Middle East, one group, the Kurds, stands out as one of the few major ethnic groups to not have a state. They have been subjected to foreign rule for centuries; today, for the first time in generations, a chance has emerged for the Kurds to choose their own destiny and create their own independent state, Kurdistan. Many obstacles stand in the way of this goal: all their neighbors oppose their latest referendum for statehood in Iraqi Kurdistan, citing regional instability. The United States, while arguably the Kurds’ biggest foreign ally, has declined to support the referendum, citing Iraq’s territorial integrity as a concern. An independent Kurdish state would threaten all established regional norms. Both the closing of Kurdish airspace and the execution of military drills on Iraqi Kurdistan’s borders after the referendum only confirm this fact. The United States has repeatedly (and accurately) warned the Kurds of these consequences, concluding to not support the referendum in light of the regional chaos it will (and did) cause. Despite this truth, the Kurds are the most pro-American group in the Middle East; provided they receive American backing, a Kurdish state would give the USA a clear brokering position in any future spat among the Levantine states. The region is not peaceful today, nor will it be peaceful tomorrow, but in the long run, one of the Middle East’s most nagging questions – how to deal with the existence of a huge multinational ethnic group who want a state to themselves – will be solved, and the Middle East will be better off for it. Assuming a future Kurdistan would include parts of what are currently Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Turkey, interethnic conflicts in those states would
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be substantially lessened. The formation fight against IS. Academics state that of Kurdistan would also likely begin nations require three things: people, land, the end of the legacy of the divisive, and sovereignty. Iraqi Kurdistan has the conflictual century-old Sykes-Picot people and the land; in fact, it has most Agreement. of the resources and infrastructure that A century ago, in President Wilson’s a self-sufficient nation would need, and, Fourteen Points, the moral basis for self- as an added bonus, provides far more determination was founded, and, even liberties than its neighboring Arab states. today, minorities and disenfranchised It only waits on sovereignty. groups put it to use. Granted, selfThe United States is currently doing determination is a thorny moral concept, the opposite of helping. Diplomats were as it threatens the ideas of sovereignty right in predicting the consequences of and could ostensibly lead to anarchy. the Kurdish referendum, but, at the very Despite these reservations, the Kurds are least, the United States should stand up undeniably deserving of their own state, for the Kurds – the United States should having been oppressed and mistreated for have no patience for the closed airspace, generations. war games, and threats. At this critical Undoubtedly, the entropic effects of a juncture, the refusal of the United States to Kurdish state are significant to the current stand up for the Kurdish people is morally regional unconscionable. Are the Iraqi Kurds truly order. But Notwithstanding when today’s democratic by Western standards? the repeated claim regional that the referendum order is still defined by the decisions of would be a threat to stability, the question dead Europeans a century ago, perhaps a remains: if not now, when? With the shift in thinking is necessary. The primary Levant in a period of unprecedented argument against Kurdish statehood is geopolitical change, there is no reason the threat to stability – the argument why the Kurds should wait longer for would be strong if stability existed in the a state. Waiting longer for the “dust to first place. settle” would only let current conflicts The moral argument for an independent simmer. Kurdistan is strongest when viewed in The United States must make Baghdad juxtaposition to the American values of consent to a loss of its territory and ensure life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Iran and Turkey that cross-border antics Are the Iraqi Kurds truly democratic by will not be a problem. Real long-term Western standards? Regional realities stability in the Middle East can begin to would preclude this, but the United be discussed; regional governments will States should not let good be the enemy be pressured by (likely) Kurdish success of perfect. Iraqi Kurds have proven to modernize, treat minorities more fairly, themselves competent administrators improve civil liberties, and cooperate to of their own autonomous region. Iraqi reducing sectarian conflicts. The world Kurdistan has airports, universities, has more to gain from an independent developed cities, and a functioning Kurdistan than the current situation economy. Iraqi Kurdistan is home to would have one assume. But, more many regional and religious minorities, importantly, the Kurds will finally feel like shelters around two million refugees an equal partner on the world stage. In an (imagine a European country taking that era where the lofty ideals of the West are amount), and has shown a progressive treated with cynicism and skepticism, an outlook on women’s rights and civil independent Kurdistan would be living liberties. The Peshmerga is an extremely proof that the democracy, equality, and effective fighting force (the United States freedom that we claim to hold dear are would not be supplying them otherwise) not just words that we throw around. and have proven themselves vital in the SEPTEMBER 2016 FEBRUARY 2018
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Protest Under Trump
OPINION
Edgar Hsieh Contributing Writer
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hile President Donald Trump’s inauguration proceeded in Washington, D.C. on January 20th of 2017, millions of Americans across the entire country participated in protest. These included the Women’s March and demonstrations held by the DisruptJ20 organization. Protest has always been a fundamental element of democracy. It was also on the same day, just miles away from event, when more than 200 protesters were assaulted and were arrested by the police. Most of the protesters were peaceful, many of whom being journalists. Numerous protesters, however, were charged with felony rioting, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years and a maximum fine of $25,000. Some other protesters were indicted with even more charges, and face up to a maximum of 70 or 80 years in prison. According to defendj20resistance.org, approximately “194 people are still facing 75 years in prison” as of November 18th, 2017. The DC Metropolitan Police Department also confiscated more than 100 phones belonging to protesters, and prosecutors confirmed in March that they were mining data from phones for evidence. Then in August, the Department of Justice demanded information from web hosting provider DreamHost regarding the IP addresses of all 1.3 million visitors to the site disruptj20.org, the site that organized numerous protests on the day of Trump’s inauguration. The warrant also called for contact information and photos of thousands of people presented on the site. DreamHost stated that the order was a “a strong example of investigatory overreach and a clear abuse of government authority”, and
it proceeded to take the case to court. It was not until October 10th when the Washington D.C. Superior Court issued an order allowing Dreamhost to redact all identifying information of visitors who interacted with the website. Even still, this demand remained as an unnecessarily broad scope of investigation and was a grave act of repression carried out by the government. Shocking acts of repression were not reserved for only the inauguration protests either. The Los Angeles Police Department was reported to have arrested 462 people between November 7th and 12th of 2016 protesting the Trump campaign. However, a Los Angeles Times analysis reveals almost a year later that only three were criminally charged. Since May of 2017, more than 20 states have proposed bills implementing limits on protest. Bills usually involved heavier penalties for arrested protesters, and astoundingly in some states there were bills proposed allowing drivers to run over protesters blocking streets. A report by the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner in March 2017 described that “a number of proposed Bills criminalizing peaceful protests in 16 states in [US represents] a worrying trend that could result in a detrimental impact on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of expression in the country.” This rising trend of crackdown on protest is alarming, and it is no coincidence that it gained prominence since Trump’s election. The president has criticized NFL players who kneeled when the national anthem was playing. Trump regarded these acts of protest against systemic racism and police brutality in America as “a total disrespect of our heritage … and everything we stand for”. Trump openly called, with unrestrained vulgarity, for NFL owners to fire any player daring to show acts of protest when the national anthem is playing. Evident from these statements, the President undoubtedly serves as SEPTEMBER 2016 FEBRUARY 2018
a great role model for ignoring and perpetuating injustices in our society. President Trump is openly promoting a new anti-protest culture, fostering a sentiment that paints protest against legitimate harms in our society as something not worth undertaking and therefore intrusive to the routine. This sentiment breeds ignorance and blinds people from seeing daily injustices they witness or even participate in. They will instead be fraught with annoyance and hostility towards acts of protest. While our president plays a significant role in this heightened war on protest, he ultimately is far from being the main player. The forces facing off in this war will be comprised of ordinary, working citizens; there will be those on the side of repression and complacency, and there will be others on the side of resistance and hope. It is now more important than ever to recognize the partisan nature of democracy, and what kind of approach is needed to defend the right to protest. This is capitalized by the fact that after the murder of a protester and injuries inflicted upon many others by neo-fascists and white nationalists in Charlottesville, Trump immediately proceeded to condemn “'hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides” and the “alt-left”. Media attention, from both mainstream and dubious alternative sources, increased focus dramatically on incidents of violence carried out by the Antifa. Many started to tout and repeat the narrative of how the modern political left wing is suppressing the free speech of the right. Meanwhile, the fates of more than two hundred protesters suppressed by the Trump administration remain underreported in mainstream media. While Trump was giving white supremacists the free pass, those who truly stood up against power and wealth are mercilessly persecuted for peaceful protesting. This is the face of this nation today, and it begs the question: which side are you on?
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OPINION
Gun Violence and Las Vegas
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Ani Banerjee Contributing Writer
he argument over gun control is one of the most hotly debated—and scripted—issues in modern American society. It seems that every few months, America outdoes itself with tragedy, and the debate flares up yet again over whether or not to “ban guns.” Time after time, both sides trot out the same arguments, with the same rebuttals, and the same conclusion is reached. The status quo is maintained. The guns Stephen Paddock used to kill 59 people in Las Vegas were entirely legally acquired. He passed the Nevada background checks that were implemented last year in a piece of legislation that barely passed. The new measures could not prevent the horrifying tragedy. Clearly, our gun laws aren’t working well enough. Let’s start by pointing out what isn’t working. The most obvious failed solution is banning guns entirely. Australia and Japan have removed guns completely from their countries, but the NRA and guns rights advocates have proved time and time again that this simply won’t work in America. They’re not wrong, either. In the rural parts of the United States, firearms are part of the culture, and in many cases, how people make their livelihoods. People in urban cities such as the Silicon Valley may never have held a gun in their lives, but to the Americans who grew up with it, it’s a constitutional right that they refuse to give up. The 1994 Federal Assault Weapons Ban, also known as the AWB, is as close as the US has gotten to banning guns. It was a bill designed to last for 10 years before expiring. It also had a minimal impact on gun violence, and did little to fix the problem. The AWB may have banned the production of automatic weapons,
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but it couldn’t address the 1.5 million think. automatic weapons already circulating The first step the government needs to in the US, and couldn’t ban resales. Fur- take in gun control reform is to shift crithermore, it was very easy to modify a teria away from mental health and more firearm to act as an automatic, and if that towards the real red flags: drugs and alsounds facohol abuse. By fomiliar to Being caught with a gun and no cusing background you, that’s checks on somelicense should have much more thing that actually because it is. Paddock has a high correlasevere repercussions. used a tion to gun violence, bump-fire stock, a modification to a gun we decrease the chances that a potential that can simulate automatic fire. The bill mass murderer has to get their hands on to ban those bump stocks, by the way, is a gun. However, this alone wouldn’t stop dead in the water. all the mass shooters in our history, inState-by-state regulations don’t work, cluding Stephen Paddock. either. In states with strict gun laws, most The second step would be to not illegal guns are trafficked in from states focus on the gun stores, but rather, the with looser laws via something known as owners themselves. The federal govern“the Iron Pipeline.” If America is serious ment knows when its citizens own a car, about gun reform, it needs to start with and requires you pass a series of tests in the federal government. order to use it, no matter where you got Universal background checks are that car from. Driving without a license nice in theory, but don’t seem to be the is illegal in every state, and in California best solution on their own. Performing offenders can be charged with up to 6 a background check for every single po- months in jail. Similarly, regardless of tential gun owner in the US is a massive whether a gun is inherited, bought, or drain on federal resources, granted one shared, any person wishing to operate a that could be justified. Moreover, Las Ve- gun should have to pass both psychologigas proved that the background checks cal and physical tests. In addition, anyset the bar too low—they were unable body wishing to purchase a gun should to catch Paddock in time. The reason obtain a license first. Being caught with that universal background checks don’t a gun and no license should have much work is because they check for the wrong more severe repercussions. Treating guns criteria. The oft-debated mental health like the way we treat cars: with intensive screenings are not working, and never tests before anyone is allowed to own and will. Leaving aside the questionable eth- operate one, enforced rules and “tickets” ics of discriminating against the mentally for irresponsible or reckless gun ownill, there’s a study by Duke University that ership, and enforcement regardless of finds that mental health isn’t even that where the weapon came from, would go good of an indicator of gun violence. It a long way in curbing gun violence. may come as a surprise to most, but very America isn’t Japan, or Australia, or few mass shooters had ever had any psy- the United Kingdom. Our culture and chiatric history, and only a small percent- belief around guns stems from our Conage of the mentally ill ever commit any stitution, which only makes the gun deact of violence. Furthermore, people like bate much longer and more complicated the Aurora shooter, James Holmes, can than any other. This means that not evcircumvent these background checks by ery policy that works in other countries inheriting their weapons from their par- will work here—we need a uniquely ents. If you consider the rural American American solution to deal with a unique“gun culture,” this problem becomes a ly American problem. far larger issue than urban citizens first SEPTEMBER 2016 FEBRUARY 2018
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CULTURE
Saturday Night Live Takes On Politics
T
Carolyn Wang Copy Editor
he majority of Americans are asleep when the kings – and, increasingly, queens – of late night comedy take the stage, but that doesn’t mean their humor isn’t influential. While late night comedy has remained mostly nonpartisan for the last eight years, under President Barack Obama, the campaign and subsequent administration of President Donald Trump has given late-night comedians a different challenge: to mock a state of affairs without trivializing or desensitizing the issues; to lob jokes that grow old when a deluge of outrageous headlines enters the national conversation about politics; to avoid alienating conservatives and create a sensitive political conversation. This new political comedy is inescapable, and at the lead is Saturday Night Live. A show that inspires generations of children, some of whom actually make it to the show themselves as writers, performers, and supporting staff, Saturday Night Live is certainly sending an interesting message to today’s audience. Regrettably, some bits have gotten old – Alec Baldwin’s Trump needs to get smarter in its commentary, fast, and the real-life counterpart of Alex Moffat’s Eric Trump feels slightly pitiable now. Democrats have largely escaped comedic bludgeoning, and the show undeniably skews progressive, at the expense of its conservative fans. Finally, some impressions seem just bizarre – despite her talent, Kate McKinnon’s Robert Mueller was entirely uncalled for. But numerous impressions and characters deserve the praise that they’ve
gotten. In a perfect demonstration of McKinnon’s malleable strengths, her impressions of Kellyanne Conway and Jeff Sessions capture the essence of her characters, while injecting wild aspects that lack any basis in reality, but still feel – in some heightened suspension of disbelief – plausible (see: Kellywise and Sessions’ possum tail). Outside of his smug, self-assured Vladimir Putin, Beck Bennett shines in his role of the hapless guy who happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. His performances as a poor, tortured Mike Pence and an awkward, amateurish TSA agent from “Welcome Video” draw laughs because they seem to reflect the overall incompetence of the Trump administration, built on thousands of Beck Bennetts. Cecily Strong, talented in comedy, drama, and comically overdramatic drama, is an underrated star, as portrayed in Cathy Ann. “The woman who’s always yelling outside of [Michael Che’s] window,” Cathy Ann is a fresh, zany look at politics from an outsider’s perspective; her observations, while often bizarre and drug-induced, can also serve as an unexpected voice of reason in rebuking the Trump administration. Strong's most famous political impression, a hesitant, trapped Melania Trump, is inspired by Strong’s belief that the First Lady, an alleged fan of the show, is sending her hidden comic gifts in increasingly strange actions. Finally, Melissa McCarthy’s Sean Spicer warranted all the attention and sensation that it received, because McCarthy is a comedic gift whose energetic exasperation sold a very strange impression – she was dutifully succeeded by Bill Hader’s Anthony Scaramucci and Aidy Bryant’s Sarah Huckabee Sanders. At the same time, whenever the show takes a refreshing turn away from its conservative subjects to liberal targets, the sketches feel exciting in their novelty. Larry David’s Bernie Sanders and McKinnon’s Elizabeth Warren are spot-on. “Thank You, Scott” lampoons liberal inaction despite ostensible outrage; “the Bubble” and Scarlett
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Johansson’s “Translator” point out the extent to which progressives can alienate other points of view; and Michael Che’s “Gretchen” was a hilarious take on liberal white women politics, reminiscent (even if it falls slightly short) of Eddie Murphy’s “White Like Me.” In general, SNL’s Weekend Update segments, hosted by Colin Jost and Che, are consistently good, particularly because each joke lasts for only a minute, at most, before the hosts move on to another quirky punchline, keeping a natural, quick pace that can cover large comedic ground. Jost and Che have developed a natural, irrefutable chemistry that helps them transition between controversial topics like race and sexual assault to the mundane topics of the merits of Staten Island (Pete Davidson’s segments, in general, are amazing), the price of coffee, and the New York subway system. That Che has just been named the cohead writer of the show clearly shines through in the Weekend Update jokes, which, now (more than ever), rarely hold back – as indicated by the gasps of the studio audience and the hosts’ satisfied smirks. They’re provoking reactions because of their openness and honesty, and they aren’t going to stop. And, in delightful and rare moments of clarity, we actually witness sketches or monologues that inspire nuanced political discussions. Black Jeopardy with Tom Hanks compared the seemingly disparate worlds of white male Trump supporters and black women. Aziz Ansari and Dave Chappelle, tasked with difficult monologues after Trump’s inauguration and victory in the presidential election (respectively), moved beyond simplistic liberal outrage to pose powerful points about politics and the state of our nation. Maybe, one day, we’ll return to the trivialities of SNL Digital Shorts like “Lazy Sunday” or fall in love with more runaway hits, like David S. Pumpkins. Or maybe we won’t. At the least, let’s hope that we’ll still be laughing.
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