Turkey Joins The Fight

            After much hesitation from the Turkish government about what kind of role they are willing to play in taking on the Islamic State, the debate is slowly coming to an end. An article published by BBC has stated that with ISIS fighters on Turkey’s doorstep, Turkey has decided to allow Peshmerga fighters to cross its borders. The fighters plan to enter into Syria from Turkey where they will meet the Islamic State fighters face to face in the Syrian city of Kobane. This comes as a large surprise after the Turkish Prime Minister had been very clear about not allowing the use of Turkish territory or resources in combatting the Islamic State.

            This change in tone from Turkey is welcomed by the United States and other coalition countries. Allowing the use of its territory and resources will be a huge help in halting the ISIS war machine. Turkish involvement does have a price though. The prime minister has stated that Turkey’s involvement in this conflict will be “an integrated strategy” that will also take action against the Syrian dictator’s forces. On its face, this seems to complicate the situation; however, the United States would love to see Bashar Al Assad lose power just as much as the people of Turkey.

            With ISIS fighters advancing into Syria and closing in on the Turkish border, being able to launch airstrikes from Turkey will be extremely advantageous. If the coalition is able to gain the cooperation of all the surrounding countries, it will be able to surround the Islamic State territory and stop it from gaining more ground. Once ISIS can be contained, coalition forces can begin to reclaim lost territory and defeat the Islamic State at last. It will be interesting to see how the support of Turkey will aid the coalition in the long run, but as of now it is gratifying news that is warmly welcomed by the United States.

"Peshmerga Fighters Head to Turkey." BBC News. BBC, 28 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2014.

A More Equal Union

            The battle for equal rights has long been waged in this country and is still not over. Since Abraham Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation in 1863 to when Lyndon Johnson passed the civil rights act of 1964, there has been a heated passion for equality among the American people. While the direct issue at hand may been different today, the general sentiment remains extremely similar. Over the last few years several states have slowly been allowing same-sex marriage. An article published in The New York Times on October 17^th, by Adam Liptak, stated that Alaska and Arizona are the most recent states to lift the ban on gay-marriage.

            For Alaska, it took action by the Supreme Court to make this new change. Five couples had sued the state over its ban on same-sex marriage and they can now happily claim a victory. In Arizona, however, a republican attorney general stated firmly that he would not appeal a recent ruling that struck down the state’s ban on gay-marriage. This comes as a surprise to many all over the country but nevertheless is a symbolic gesture that hints toward changing times and widespread tolerance of lifestyle choice.

            This new change in attitude towards same-sex couples in both Arizona and Alaska makes 31 states that now allow same-sex marriage. This is a pivotal and important time in our nation’s history. We are on the brink of widespread tolerance and we are slowly moving towards a more equal union. While there remain those southern, more conservative states that still have a ban imposed on gay marriage, they are now in the minority. It is more than likely that we will see nationwide acceptance of same-sex marriage within our lifetime and I am proud to be part of a generation that allows and accepts change. It is important that we practice what we preach and until we can achieve true equality for all, we will never really be free citizens in a free country. Liberty and justice have prevailed in these states and it is merely a matter of time before they sweep across the country and do the same nationally.

Liptak, Adam. "Alaska and Arizona Are Latest to Clear Way for Gay Marriage." The New York Times. The New York Times, 17 Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/18/us/alaska-gay-marriage.html?ref=politics&_r=2>.

Midterms On The Horizon, Republicans Have Slight Lead

            As the November election creeps closer, new polling data shows that the Republicans are holding the upper hand. An article published in the New York Times by Nate Cohn on October 5^th states that while the battle for the senate remains close, Republicans are quickly gaining momentum. It has been almost three years since President Obama has been reelected and his approval ratings, which are around 40%, have seen better days. After the flawed roll out of his legacy healthcare program, republican watchdogs have been hounding the president. Through claims of an unorganized administration and a weak foreign policy, the GOP has been winning the support of the public and is heading towards a majority victory in the upcoming election.

            Unfortunately, democrats seeking office this year have been forced to attempt to distance themselves from President Obama. They are taking every step they can to disassociate themselves from the many issues the American people have with this administration. The main question that every newsman in America is asking is will this act of distancing be enough to give the Democrats even a slight chance of victory. It is almost certain that the Republicans will keep the house, but the senate remains in question. Key supporters of the president have been speaking out about his recent decision to form a military coalition to combat ISIS. Many of them suggest that America needs to play a smaller role, while so-called “hawks” like Hillary Clinton believe that we should be doing much more. This clear crack in the party line presents a tough situation for the November election. Democrats seeking office must do everything in their power to gain the support of their constituents in the crucial month to come.

            Republicans, on the other hand, are beginning to look more favorable to voters. Despite the fact that a solid majority of Americans oppose any troops on the ground in the Middle East, many do support doing more to eliminate the Islamic State. The American people are growing wearier of the President and his party with every passing day. What have been seen by many as failures of his policies and a lack of progress for the country is coming back to bite the Democrats this election. Unfortunately for the citizens of our mighty nation, a republican majority in both houses will only halt further progress by continuing the gridlock in congress. Without any support in congress the president will not be able to pass any key legislation and will likely have to kiss any legacy policies he had in mind goodbye.

            A simple look back into the history of our country shows that a change in party power is imminent this election cycle. The American people are quick to be frustrated with the party of the president in power. They are sold with partisan promises during the campaign and when they don’t see the drastic changes they desire, they turn. This is a systematic process that happens virtually every election. If the average voter knew how truly limited the power of the president is, especially during a gridlocked congress, they might be inclined to re-think their decision this election. For now, it seems it would be safe to presume that the Republicans will likely take both the house and the senate this November.

Cohn, Nate. "Republicans Maintain Edge in Senate Races, Poll Finds." The New York Times. The New York Times, 5 Oct. 2014. Web. 8 Oct. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/upshot/republicans-maintain-edge-in-senate-races-poll-finds.html?ref=politics&_r=5&abt=0002&abg=0>.