Page 6
Opinion
The Clarion \ February 19, 2020
No, these words are
not the same
By Margaret Correll
Layout & Design
America has always struggled with a divide in
the country at some time or another: politically,
socially and racially to name a few. Recently,
on many social media platforms, a new divide
has taken hold of the youth, the phrase “OK
boomer.” While it is used now and again by
young people to critique and poke fun at the
older generation, many of those “boomers” take
great offense to it.
As the baby boomer generation increases in
age, they get more estranged from the younger,
which is normal. The problem that they have is
now the younger generation has something over
them, something to make fun of them for after
they have been the ones with the ability to do so.
According to CNN, a University of Oklahoma
professor apologized for a recent statement
comparing the phrase “OK boomer” to the racial
slur, n***er. The OU Daily reported, in a quote
he made to a student asking about journalists
and the younger generation, he stated “Calling
someone a boomer is like calling someone a
j^***gj. ”
CNN also reports that many people and staffers
were in the classroom when the statement and
exchange had occurred. The professor has since
apologized for his statements in an email to his
students that were in the class.
Even though he apologized for his statements,
it does not mean that he is forgiven. Many
“boomers” are offended by this word and the
meaning it has behind it. CNN states it as “out-
of-touch baby boomers and their patronizing
opinions.”
This is totally right; there is no deep-rooted
hate and history behind baby boomer or the
phrase. There is, however, a long and violent
history of African-American and black hatred
in America, which should not and will not
be compared to a harmless joke such as “OK
boomer.”
There is no way to even attempt to make
“OK boomer” as disgusting and harmful as the
n-word.
This is a prime example of the ignorance
of the “boomer” generation and refusal to
acknowledge the past. No, these words are not
the same; they are not even in the same galaxy
when it comes to meaning and how they affect
people.
Sorry boomers, you’re going to have to try
a little harder to make yourselves look like the
good guys, because this is just idiotic.
Trump destroys cultural
sites on the homefront
By Aia Andonovska
Arts & Life Editor
Last week was a sad and heartbreaking time for
the Tohono O’odham Nation. President Trump
made the decision to blow up their sacred Native
American burial sites in order to push ahead with
his border wall. Authorities have confirmed that
controlled blasting had begun at Arizona’s Organ
Pipe Cactus National Monument which is very
close to the Mexican border.
The Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument is
a Unesco recognized natural reserve and has over
200 year old cacti that have sacred significance
to native americans. These cacti subsequently
have been chopped down. The government
failed to contact the Tohono O’odham Nation
before wreaking havoc and destruction. They
are a federally recognized tribe with people on
both sides of the American and Mexican border.
Environmental groups also have serious
concerns about the effects on the underground
aquifer and migrating wildlife as a result of the
chaos. Officials have stated that the plan is to
build a 30 foot steel wall that will surround 43
miles of park land.
Organ Pipe is home to burial sites of the
O’odham Nation where warriors lay resting after
battles with their rivals, the Apache. One area on
site contains artifacts dating to 10,000 years ago.
Bulldozing is also occurring at Quitobaquito
Springs, a natural source of water for the tribe
near where artifacts and human bone fragments
have been found.
Tribal chairman Ned Norris Jr. told the
Arizona Republic that even though the land
is now controlled by the US government, "we
have inhabited this area since time immemorial.
They're our ancestors. They're our remnants of
who we are as a people, throughout this whole
area. And it's our obligation, it's our duty to do
what is necessary to protect that."
A report obtained from the National Park
Service showed that with President Trump’s
plans for his wall, 22 archaeological sites
would end up being destroyed. Tie has begun
the process. So how is this legal?
Trump has been allowed to build his wall
based on the 2005 REAL ID Act, which allows
the federal government to waive conflict with US
national security policy. As a result, the White
House has waived dozens of laws, including
ones that protect native american graves,
endangered species and the environment.
"This is a new low even for the Trump
administration," said Laiken Jordahl, a
borderlands campaigner for the nonprofit Center
for Biological Diversity in Arizona who has been
documenting the altered landscape.
"They're moving forward with complete
disregard of sacred sites and indigenous
sovereignty."
200 year old cacti that have been chopped down.