There are really two schools of thought. Ketchup is either a dip or a condiment. I am in no way saying that I am an expert on the two distinctions I’ve put forth, but I firmly believe that they are the only two viable camps to find oneself in. If you order a hot dog at a baseball game, you have a selection of the classic condiments, the trio if you will: mustard, ketchup, mayo (we can speak on this later). The trio also presents itself for the accompaniment of any nearby burger or sandwich. However, bring French fries into the mix, and boom, ketchup becomes a dip.
Condiment or dip? Well, here’s what you missed in the news over the weekend.
Gender Politics Gets Really Complicated
Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reportedly discussed in a memo, that the government needs to adopt a uniformed definition on gender “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable,” according to the NY Times.
“Sex means a person’s status as male or female based on immutable biological traits identifiable by or before birth. The sex listed on a person’s birth certificate, as originally issued, shall cosntite definitive proof of a person’s sex unless rebutted by reliable genetic evidence.”
–US Department of Health and Human Services Memo
While a person’s anatomical makeup is important to health care, a person’s gender identity should not be subject to judicial review. If the memo were to become a policy, roughly 1.4 million people in America who identify as a gender other than what they were assigned at birth, would see federal recognition and many of their rights removed.
Many activists expressed concerns over this possible legislation, given that the move would essentially take multiple steps backward on the progress of the trans community, which has taken bounds in education, sports, political representation, and other areas.
When The Beat Literally Drops
During a house party at a club near Clemson University over the weekend, the dance floor collapsed, sending multiple people into the basement of the building, authorities said. Reports say that roughly 30 of the party attendees were hospitalized, but luckily, no one was treated for life-threatening injuries.
One person said that “everyone was jumping, the beat was about to drop and literally the whole floor collapsed. Others who attended say that all of sudden, the floor came apart. I’ve attended many parties where raising the roof was highly suggested, but never lowering the floor.
It’s A Stressful Day In The Neighborhood
When reflecting on the Middle East, rarely do I find myself speaking on how peaceful the region is, or how all countries live together in perfect harmony. On Sunday, King Abdullah II of Jordan said that Jordan plans on reclaiming two tracts of territories leased under a 1994 peace treaty. Israel, having sworn the property was rent-controlled, signed a 25-year lease on the water-rich farmlands in the southern sector of al-Ghumar, which borders Jordan.
The lease is set to expire on Oct. 25, and the Jordanians have no intention of resigning the lease with Israel.
“We have informed Israel of an end to the application of the peace treaty annexes regarding al-Baqura and al-Ghumar. al-Baqura and al-Ghumar have always been on top of my priorities. Our decision to end the annexes of the peace treaty based on our keenness to take all that is necessary for Jordan and Jordanians.”
–King Abdullah II
The territories have been under Israeli oversight since Israel’s founding in 1948, and many political analysts are suggesting that the King’s decision to revoke the land lease is meant to harm Israel and its economy, while Israel/Palestine activists have welcomed the deal.
The conflict was, is, and always will be as complicated as it is polarizing. It would serve all involved parties to find commonalities, shared narratives, and seek peace.
