Beyond the Bricks: Week of April 13
by Taylor Derrisaw | published Apr. 19th, 2015
Pope Francis’ Remarks Not Welcomed in Turkey
On Sunday, April 12, during a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis made remarks pertaining to the Armenian genocide, calling it the “First genocide of the 20th century.” The statement went unwelcome in Turkey, where citizens actively deny the slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians at the hands of the Ottoman Empire during the First World War.
Shortly after the pope’s statement was delivered, Turkey recalled its ambassador to the Vatican. Turkish foreign minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, tweeted: “The pope’s statement, which is far from historic and legal truths, is unacceptable. Religious positions are not places where unfounded claims are made and hatred is stirred.” Turkey argues that the numbers have been inflated and based on unreasonable claims.
Francis retaliated in a speech given to the Armenian devout: “Concealing or denying evil is like allowing a wound to keep bleeding without bandaging it.”
Hilary Clinton Announces Bid for Presidential Race
After a short political video detailing the lives of everyday Americans, Hilary Rodham Clinton has announced her plan to run for president in 2016. The announcement marks her second bid for the presidency, and it will make history if she is chosen as the Democratic nominee.
“Everyday Americans need a champion. And I want to be that champion,” Clinton said.
As part of her campaign, Clinton will travel across the country visiting Americans in different states to gather support for her nomination. Clinton already has a strong base of support, as her name is easily recognizable and she’s very well known among feminist activism groups.
Many of the funds going to her campaign have come from other democrats, who relish the opportunity of having a woman in the White House and want to hold onto the office after Republicans gained control of the House and Senate.
One of Clinton’s main advantages is that she knows how to appeal to young voters. After she left the Department of State, Clinton took to Twitter to voice her opinions on political matters. Clinton is already starting with mainstream support on social media and a campaign manager who knows how to use technology to influence potential voters, and has easily gained the upper hand in the young voters bracket.
Australian Government Cracks Down on Anti-Vaccine Parents
In a highly controversial action, the Australian government has announced that it will cut welfare payments to parents who refuse to vaccinate their children. The measure could cost parents nearly $11,000 a year.
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott believes the plan is a crucial public health concern, and that “It’s a very important measure to keep our children and our families as safe as possible.” Abbott declined to comment on how much money it would save. Recently, preventable diseases have been making a comeback in Western countries due to anti-vaccine movements. Australia's action is one example of government intervention. 