The Ohio girl's story, the war in Ukraine and Biden's Title IX rules: This week's top columns
It's that time of the week when subscribers get their own Paste BN Opinion newsletter. These are the columns, from this week, that got your attention. So we're bringing them back today.
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Here's what happens to a victimized child when the singular focus is on saving babies
By Connie Schultz
Hello from Ohio, where the same Republicans who insist that every pregnancy must result in the birth of a child tried to pretend a 10-year-old child who was raped did not exist.
In her time of greatest need – she was pregnant and needed an abortion – they were nowhere to be found. How easy it must be to abandon children you refuse to see.
After President Joe Biden publicly expressed outrage over her tragedy, Republicans and far-right media outlets began attacking media coverage and questioned the child’s existence. (READ MORE)
Russia is using rape as a weapon of war in Ukraine. Here's what can be done about it.
By Carli Pierson
As Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues the onslaught of Ukraine, and this week, as Bosnian Muslims remember the massacre at Srebrenica 27 years after it happened, the unlearned lessons from the horrors of Balkan war scream out at us: "What can we do better?"
The answer isn't as elusive as it might seem. In fact, it has been proposed by international criminal law and human rights experts for years. (READ MORE)
I'm a Republican, but Bill Barr shouldn't get a pass. He did not stand up and do the right thing.
By Chris Truax
At one of the recent Jan. 6 committee hearings, Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., claimed that former Attorney General Bill Barr and others "stood up and did what is right."
As a longtime Republican, I’m proud of the principled stand Cheney has taken. But when it comes to Barr, she could not be more wrong.
I’ve had an unusual reaction to the House hearings so far, an uncomfortable mixture of embarrassment and disgust. Of course, I am relieved that the Trump administration had devolved into the gang that couldn’t coup straight. But I’m also embarrassed by former President Donald Trump’s cringeworthy collection of cowards, clowns and traitors.
My disgust, however, has a specific focus: William Barr, as attorney general of the United States, could have helped to stop the Big Lie and discredit Trump's claim that the election was stolen. (READ MORE)
New Biden Title IX rules would use civil rights office … to strip civil rights from students
By Ingrid Jacques
College students across America could soon be at risk of losing fundamental rights. And they have the Biden administration to thank for that.
A lot of attention has been paid to President Joe Biden’s efforts to broaden the definition of “sex” in Title IX to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
What hasn’t gotten as much scrutiny are other changes that could undermine due process and free speech on campus. (READ MORE)
My Democratic abuelos raised me. Here's why I'm now a Republican running for Congress.
By Alexis Martinez Johnson
My abuelos, who were Democrats, raised me to live the American dream in my hometown of Roswell, New Mexico. My grandfather spent his days digging ditches to provide for my schooling, put food on the table and keep me clothed.
From there, I worked hard and excelled in my studies so that I was able to go to college, graduating from New Mexico Tech with a degree in environmental engineering.
Now, I'm running for Congress – as a Republican. I'm not alone among my fellow Latinos in moving from a Democratic past to a Republican present. (READ MORE)