To prevent political violence, stop pushing hateful rhetoric

Political violence is permeating the American mainstream. The only way to stop it is by cutting out the hateful rhetoric that incites extremists.

HARRY STOLTZ CONTRIBUTING WRITER

A new form of discourse has entered American politics: domestic terrorism. Researchers agree that instances of political violence are on the rise, with no signs of stopping. Attacks like the attempted insurrection on Jan. 6, and more recently, the New Mexico election shootings are inevitable byproducts of hateful political rhetoric coming from the United States’ rightmost extreme. The only way to prevent more violence is for Amreicans to stand up to political extremism and the rhetoric that prompts it.

A former candidate for the New Mexico State House of Representatives, Solomon Pena, was arrested by police on Monday for allegedly paying extremists to shoot at the homes of his Democrat opponents, nearly striking a 10-year-old child. Pena denies the legitimacy of at least two elections –the 2020 presidential election, and his own in 2022.

After losing by 47 points in said election, doorbell cameras at a New Mexico official’s home captured Pena attempting to persuade them that the election was rigged. Albuquerque mayor Tim Keller stated that Pena visited all four targeted homes. Pena’s behavior suggests mental instability, and he appeared to fully believe the rhetoric he pushed. This is a deadly combination.

Although a spokesperson for former President Trump denounced the shootings in New Mexico, they likely wouldn’t have happened if not for Trump’s crusade against the 2020 election. The Jan. 6 storming of the capitol was the most blatant example of endorsed extremism in recent memory, but it is far from the first. When extremist politicians promote hateful politics, hate manifests, and when these politicians don’t revise their speech, that is tantamount to endorsement.

Americans need to stop political violence while they still can. When politicians like Republican Rep. Paul Gosar promotes videos depicting themselves killing a fellow member of congress and they aren’t removed from the chamber, but rather appointed to committee seats, this is a serious problem. Election denial as a centerpiece of one’s campaign might not be popular, but spurs extremists in dangerous ways. Political violence is permeating the mainstream, and Americans need to stop it in its tracks.

The Highlander editorials reflect the majority view of the Highlander Editorial Board. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Associated Students of UCR or the University of California system.

THE POSITION OF THE MOON AT YOUR BIRTH HAS IMPORTANT IMPLICATIONS FOR YOUR PERSONALITY.

YSABEL NAKASONE Assistant Opinions Editor

e moon sign isn’t one that is typically discussed as most astrological analyses focus on one’s sun sign. e sun sign sheds light on the more visible aspects of who you are, while your moon sign is the parts of you that nobody knows. It can help you understand the choices you make that don’t align with your sun sign. To nd your moon sign and get a more detailed birth chart, you can calculate it here.

Although a sun sign in Aries indicated passion, in a moon sign, these qualities are even more intense. You express an innate priority towards their emotional needs, expressing yourself however you see fit. This can give way to impulsivity and trouble.

TaurusMoon

You possess a more romantic side and you are loyal in your a ections. You are o en conservative in nature so this side of you is o en under the surface. You don’t air your dirty laundry in public, but you do not lack sentimentality.

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GeminiMoon

You move a mile a minute and your thoughts go even faster. You are not someone who can sit still or follow a routine. Uncertainty may be something most people fear, but not a Gemini Moon sign. You’ll find that you’re easily comfortable in a crowd despite initial discomforts.

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CancerMoon

You have a deep-seated need for stability. Cancer Moons are deeply connected to the people and institutions around them. You try to maintain your status quo instead of a high-risk, high-reward outcome. You aren’t the type to let go and often hold on to grudges. Forgetfulness is not in your nature.

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Leo Moons have a lot of pride in their hearts and it drives you even when you’re unaware. You aspire to gain the respect of others, but more so their love. In order to get there though, it’s your way or no way.

Leo Virgo

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Virgo Moons find content more easily than others as they are willing to accept simplicities. They don’t aspire to be widely known, but instead deeply. They don’t need attention, simply appreciation from the people close to them. They struggle to express the depth of their own emotions and often show it in less romantic, more realistic ways.

Libra

You have a strong desire for trust and loyalty from one person. You feel a need for another half of yourself within another. Libra Moons need a partnership to feel content in their lives, even if on the surface they show more independence and realism.

You’re the bubbly positive type, trying to see the glass half full. You may seem flighty to others, but in truth you’re a guide for others. You are someone who provides clarity to others with the light of your own personality.

Scorpio

Scorpio Moons are all or nothing. You want true emotional connection with complete transparency and understanding or no relationship at all. Your love is hard to earn, but once earned it is unwavering.

Capricorn Moons are the pragmatic type, making logical decisions and coming across as cold at times. You aren’t less emotional, just more controlled. You plan for the future and don’t leave room for error because you care about the people who do and will depend on you.

You are a denier of emotions and often try to ignore feelings you feel ashamed of. This often makes you appear distant and insensitive. This also makes you unpredictable due to your inscrutability, but you are a steady force in the lives of others despite your independence.

You are deeply empathetic and compassionate, excelling at getting past people’s defenses and earning their trust. However, you can get easily lost in their struggles and lose sight of yourself. You’re open-hearted and o en people try to manipulate your generosity, but over time you learn to see the di erence between honesty and lies better than any other.

Do you have a hard time going on dates on-campus? Have you tried dating within your friend group but it never works out? Try online dating!

There are a lot of misconceptions about online dating, such as high risk factors of being catfished or online dating is used for hookups. However, many people have found their soulmates through online dating apps. Not only are dating apps used for the dating culture, but many people, like myself, have formed life long friendships through these apps. Many dating apps now have a setting where you can choose what you’re looking for. Whether it’s a relationship, friendships, connections or just a hookup, there’s always something for you! Here are some popular dating apps that students can use to meet new people:

Hinge

Designed to be deleted, Hinge is currently the #1 mobile-first dating app and is one of the fastest growing dating apps in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Users can add 6 profile pictures, 3 answers to 3 prompts and record their voice using a video prompt. Users can also link their Instagram in their profile for people to view. Found a potential partner but you’re still unofficial? Users can pause their Hinge profile in order to prevent their profile from being shown to new people and only being able to chat with their current matches.

Tinder

As one of the top free dating apps, Tinder is one of the most downloaded dating apps for all ages. When people think of dating apps, the first thing that comes to mind is Tinder. Looking for a date in under 24 hours? Just swipe right a few times and you’ll be matched with someone in no time. Not into the suggested matches? Just swipe left. There are many features in the map, such as sharing your sexuality, photo verified profiles, and a video chat icon provided for you to find your next potential partner.

As Apple’s 2021 Apps of the Year for connection, Bumble has proven to be one of student’s favorite apps for online dating, especially in college. Bumble allows women to make the first move in order for a conversation to start. Once the woman has started the conversation, men have 24 hours to respond. In a same-sex match, either party can make the first move, while the other individual has 24 hours to respond before the connection expires.

Coffee Meets Bagel

L ooking to make meaningful and genuine connections with the people you meet? Try Coffee Meets Bagel! The app encourages you to fill out genuine information about yourselves and what you’re looking for in a relationship. This results in more genuine matches that fit your preference. It prioritizes quality over quantity as CMB will suggest 10 potential matches a day.

Remember, you should always be aware of your surroundings and who you meet online. Even though you may have mutuals on Instagram or you have a class or two with them, you should never let your guard down. Before going on a date, tell your friends your plans for the night and when you should be back home. Try following your date on social media beforehand so you have an idea of their interests and hobbies. Share your location with your friends and have them monitor your location every hour or so (even if your phone dies, the Find My app is still able to update your location for your friends to see). Have a code word for you and your friends in case things do not turn out as planned. Meet halfway at an open and public area, such as a boba shop, a restaurant or a coffee shop. Ask for help from the people around you if you feel uncomfortable during your date. Try FaceTiming a few times before setting up a date.

Finding The Right App To Fit Your Preferred Relationship

I recently rewatched Netflix’s To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before. In the beginning of the movie, our protagonist Laura Jean Covey spends her time fantasizing about boys she has crushes on. Her younger sister criticizes her living her life inside of her head instead of going out and having romantic experiences like she dreams of. At the end of the movie, she figures out that it is worth it to go for it and put yourself out there, and she has some real life swoon-worthy moments in the franchise’s other two films.

You find yourself in a similar situation to Laura Jean, here’s some advice for you. Have you ever entertained yourself in class by imagining that the person across from you in discussion is madly in love with you? All because they gave you their extra pencil? In the past, I myself have fallen victim to imagining scenarios with random people around campus. While I agree that sometimes to stay awake in class, it may be helpful to envision dream scenarios, I would also argue that you should get out of your head and into real life.

Almost every day of freshman year, I would see one guy in Glasgow with really sick outfits. I always imagined that he would come up to me and compliment my style. Every time I saw him I would hope that we would notice what cool new shirt I bought or unique shoes I paired with an eye-catching pair of pants. The end of the year came and he never complimented my style. I should’ve just went up to him and told him I thought his outfit was cool! I will never know what cool friendship could have sparked from that encounter if I had initiated it.

If you find yourself over-romanticizing encounters and conjuring up “what ifs” in your mind, try this exercise. Go up to people with good vibes in the dining hall, the gym, the elevator, etc. and strike up a conversation! This doesn’t necessarily have to be romantic, but it’s a good exercise to practice living your life rather than imagining it. Instead of silently hoping that you’ll get asked out by the person across the hall, shoot your shot and invite them on a date. It sounds cliche, but the worst that could happen they reject you. College is a time to experience trying out new things and be bold, so take your chance. Instead of imagining stories in your mind, go out and make some memories! You’ve got this!