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-Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Notre Dame was founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, not a bunch of rabbis. So, it is understandable that a Catholic university might not cover Jewish events. I am perfectly fine with this; Catholic education is part of why I decided to come here. However, it does not mean we should be silent towards the Jewish suffering
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, December 4, 2019
On Monday, I recited the Mourner’s Kaddish, a Jewish prayer in memory of the dead. Exactly one year ago, I recited the same prayer after I had a lost a loved one that I held dear to my heart. For personal reasons, I will not delve too far, but I should note that this woman’s
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Health care is a contentious issue in American politics. In the Nov. 5 elections, an NBC exit poll found that 41% of Americans polled cited health care as their primary concern, topping even economic concerns. Of the voters, 70% expressed the need for “major change” in American healthcare policy. Democrats are looking to capitalize on
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, October 30, 2019
On Sunday, President Trump announced that Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS, died during an American raid in northwestern Syria. In March, ISIS lost Baghouz, its final stronghold in Syria and Iraq, leading many to proclaim the defeat of the terrorist organization. American politicians and world leaders praised the justice brought on al-Baghdadi. Defense
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Last week, Respect Life Week brought abortion to the forefront of campus discussion. As seen through a series of campus events and viewpoints in The Observer, abortion is a heated topic at this university. However, regardless of one’s opinion, one must recognize that panels, opinion pieces and debates on social media are not enough to
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, September 25, 2019
In March 2018, I shared an Uber with a woman as I left a school trip to Washington, D.C., for the Louisiana speech and debate state championship. As we conversed, I mentioned the debate topic was whether the United States should adopt a universal basic income (UBI). Coincidentally, she worked for a tech executive that
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, September 11, 2019
“Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children.” — Former President
Blake Ziegler | Friday, September 6, 2019
In wake of the El Paso and Dayton mass shootings, Americans are reminded of a grim cycle: a shooting occurs, social media responds, no action is taken. Angered by these events, individuals often criticize the infamous, yet well-intentioned, phrase “thoughts and prayers”. As social media floods with meaningless arguments and shouting matches, a common criticism
Blake Ziegler | Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Outside Hesburgh Library sits the tall, foreboding “Moses.” Commonly referred to as “First Down Moses”, the statue depicts the stern, powerful face of the prophet as he proclaims the one true God to the idolatrous Israelites. An important feature of the sculpture is the horns atop Moses’s head. The statue was built in the Renaissance