President Obama’s Interview with YouTube

The Interview with YouTuber’s is something President Obama started doing in 2010 as a way to speak directly with people and to hear questions about issues that younger generations are primarily concerned about.YouTuber’s Ingrid Nelson, Destin Sandlin, and sWooZie were able to sit down with President Obama after his State of the Union speech and ask him question that ranged on a wide variety of topics that many young people wonder about.

Ingrid Nelson asked President Obama her questions about curing cancer, the tampon tax and women’s health, and progress with lgbt rights. They had discussions about scientist being able to find the cure to cancer in the next few decades, how the Affordable Care Act helps people get access to healthcare who wouldn’t have it otherwise, and how the strides taken in lgbt rights can’t be taken away but how we should all work to progress them.  

Destin Sandlin talked with President Obama about really coming together despite political parties to work at improving our country. While we all have differences, Obama talked about not letting them divide us but strengthen us. Destin and President Obama also talked about NASA and the future of the space program, hopefully getting to Mars one day. Of course lots of prep needs to happen before we are ready for that. Fun Fact: Obama’s favorite movie last year was The Martian.

sWooZie asked President Obama what can be done with the police violence happening to black people in America. Obama talked about how there needs to be a task force of  police officers and people like the ones protesting in Ferguson to deal with the problems in a serious way. These are reforms cannot be made under federal jurisdiction but President Obama can incentivize the cities to make reforms because it is what's best for those communities. 

Alabama Chief Justice Defies Gay Marriage Ruling

In 2015, the LGBT community made great strides forward when the Supreme Court announced that everyone had the right to marry whomever they want regardless of gender. That was an amazing day for those of us in the LGBT community, and we took time to celebrate a victory we had long awaited. We knew it wasn’t the end and there was still more rights to gain.

However, over the last year there have been many isolated incidents of people trying to fight the decision the Supreme Court made back in June 2015. The most recent occurred in Alabama, where the Chief Justice decided to defy the Supreme Court gay marriage ruling and forbade clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Many agree with Alabama Chief Justice, Roy Moore, especially Christians who find it against their religious beliefs for same-sex couple to marry. In America, there is a separation of church and state due to the First Amendment of the US Constitution; therefore, religious beliefs do not determine government rulings. Along with this, the Supreme Court has already made a decision regarding same-sex marriage and its constitutionality. Not being in compliance with this ruling is now consider unconstitutional, so whether people agree with the ruling or not, it is the law and it must be followed.