This week, October 9th through the 14th, has had a lot of news, from the presidential debate, hurricane Matthews and his little sister, Nicole, to the release of twenty-one of the over two hundred Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped two years ago. But being that most of the Odyssey's readers are college students, and therefore, probably have very little knowledge of the news, let's take the week in review.
To start the week off, here in the United States, Sunday the 9th brought the second presidential debate between Donald J. Trump and Hillary Clinton, and what’s there to say about that other than that we’re screwed. The whole debate was reminiscent of high school english between two students in class that really need the grade to pass but don’t actually have any idea what they're talking about. This became evident from the get-go when both candidates skirted the first question asked by an audience member, which regarded the mature ratings of the previous debate that prevented teachers from using it as a teaching tool. Hillary responded with a very obviously scripted and well practiced speech on her campaign and its goals, and Mr. Trump made a direct attack on Hillary. The debate only went downhill from there as topics jumped from Trump’s alleged comments on sexually harassing women, to Clinton’s email scandals, stances on Immigration, particularly of Muslim people and those from Islamic nations.Stephen Spielberg’s 2012 film Lincoln even came into this somehow. The whole thing was a ridiculous show that had nothing to do with promoting themselves and what they can do for us, and everything about getting on each other's nerves. It was a ridiculous show and frankly, painful to watch, leaving nearly everyone deciding not whether they should vote for the candidates, but who would make a better president: could it be audience member Kenneth Bone, or the fly who landed on Hillary Clinton’f face?
Also, on Sunday the 9th, Hurricane Matthew moved away from the United States after pounding the Southern Coast for two days. The storm ripped it’s way through four states, killing at least seventeen people. North and South Carolina were probably hit the hardest. Flooding is still evident in North Carolina, thanks to two dams breaking and South Carolina has reported at least three deaths. 2.3 million people throughout Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina are without power and damage is extensive.
As bad as it seems here in the states, Matthew did his worst before even reaching us. Haiti has officially reported 300 deaths as a result of the storm, but aid workers predict the death toll as high as 800. This is probably the highest death toll in any country as far as Matthews is concerned, but on top of that, Haiti is a third world country that does not have the infrastructure that the States do. Damages on the Caribbean Islands are off the charts, so as bad as you feel about yourselves, remember that others have it way worse.
By the time the 9th rolled around and Matthew rolled out, the storm had been downgraded to a category one hurricane and had since been, downgraded to a tropical storm. So we’re out off the woods right? Wrong. Nicole, Matthew’s little, but equally as destructive sister, is currently sweeping through in her big brother’s path. Thursday the 13th, Nicole left Bermuda with the title of the worst Hurricane the small island has seen in thirteen years. Hamilton, the capital, was a virtual ghost town and Nicole's eye watched over it. And she’s still moving. Though it’s unlikely that she’ll reach the States, it’s still important to keep her in mind and keep on guard.
Lastly, in the big news of the week, there is something slightly happier to lift the mood. On Thursday it was announced that twenty-one girls from the group of over two hundred kidnapped two years ago from a secondary school in Chibok, Nigeria by Boko Haram fighters are going to soon be released from their imprisonment as a part of a deal with the Nigerian government. It’s unclear as to what exactly the Boko Haram, an islamic extremist group, gets out of this deal, though there are rumors that it involves the release of four of their own captured leaders (the Nigerian government has denied this claim). Since the time of this kidnapping in April of 2014, more than two thousand boys and girls have been taken by the Boko Haram. Some have been used as fighters, others as sex slaves, and some, in recent months especially, have been forced to be suicide bombers. As macabre as it is, the twenty one girls being traded for only four other men, may be the only girls left from the original kidnapping. But at risk of drawing speculation, we’ll stick to the positive and simply for now be happy that the at least some of the girls will be going home.
And that’s the big news of the week. Hopefully the next seven days will bring solace to the families of the Nigerian girls, those affected by Hurricanes Matthew and Nicole, and everyone who will be living in the United states for the next four years. Until then, I hope your week is full of better news.
