Children are not allowed to vote, drink, smoke, drive, consent to sex with adults, be drafted into the military, or engage in other activities that are legal for adults. These laws and regulations exist because we recognize that children’s minds are still developing and require protection and guidance. Therefore, should we not agree that children should also be unable to consent to sex-transition operations? It is often said that adults should have the freedom to make their own choices, even if I may personally disagree with someone making irreversible changes to their body based on the belief that they are…

The Board of Peace had its first official meeting last Thursday. Reactions to it are typical, as with anything President Donald Trump does. You either have the automatic dislike of it because Trump is involved, or you have gushing praise from his fans. As for me? I think it’s a little weird, but I have some hopes for it. First, critics should be aware that last year, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 2803, which authorized the formation of a “Board of Peace” to provide a transitional administration in Gaza, as well as an “International Stabilization Force,” which would…

Last weekend, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered an address to our European allies at the Munich Conference, aiming to reassure them of the United States’ commitment to the trans-Atlantic alliance while also providing some necessary critiques of European policy mistakes. Overall, the speech was well-received and offered relief from the overbearing, uncivil rhetoric of the Trump administration. However, Rubio made an appeal for unity based on common Western Christian values. While I agree that Western civilization has been founded on Christian values, I find it problematic when the Christian faith is reduced to merely a set of civilizational values.…

In recent months, the issue of banning anyone under 16 from social media has sparked heated debates, with countries such as Australia and the U.K. implementing or considering such policies. Understandably, these measures have been unpopular, as many young people want to use social media, and there are concerns about excessive government overreach. I believe that addressing teenage social media usage is an important step, but the way governments are approaching this issue is ineffective. For too long, adults have focused on keeping children safe in the physical world. However, the real danger for children and teens today often comes…

Last year, President Donald Trump cast doubt about Europe’s role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). He put pressure on European members of NATO to up their spending, saying they relied too much on the United States for defense. He was correct, as for a while, several NATO members were not spending even 2% of their GDP on national defense, the minimum requirement that leaders had agreed upon in 2023. This was alarming for a continent that was constantly talking about the dangers of potential conflict with Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022 and is continuing to set its…

Ideological movements originate from set ideas that influence how they propose policies to govern a nation. Even if ideologies may shift over time, they are marked by ideas that guide such evolution. Recently, the ideological movement of modern American conservatism has been changing constantly, not on the basis of ideas. Conservatives have never been one tight group that always agrees on everything (just like any political group). For example, some conservatives support free trade policies, while others are more economically liberal. Despite these differences, conservatives have generally coalesced around the idea that specific values and systems are worth conserving, even…

On Dec. 28, 2025, a small group of merchants in Tehran, Iran, began a protest that grew over the next few days as Iranians across the nation rallied against the Islamic Republic. As Iranian citizens protested dire economic situations and other issues, President Donald Trump posted several messages calling for Iranians to keep protesting, promising that U.S. help was on the way. He even threatened the Iranian regime with military strikes if they shot protestors. However, on Jan. 15, Trump paused, citing that Iran had agreed not to execute arrested protestors. Though he didn’t mention it, other issues may have played…

After the dizzying success in Venezuela, President Donald Trump feels emboldened to re-tighten America’s dominance over the Western hemisphere, including the icy island of Greenland. The news cycle on this story is the same as it was last year: more of Trump’s bullying antics, causing everyone (from Democrats to Republicans) to scratch their heads. The problem isn’t Trump’s fixation on Greenland; the small island is more important than some of his critics think. Economically, it’s the site of potential sea trade routes that are gradually opening up as the Arctic melts. Greenland also contains rare-earth minerals, which will be important…

President Trump sees the Western Hemisphere as America’s main sphere of influence, making it a top priority for our national interests. He’s not entirely wrong. Opposing regimes in Latin America that violate human rights is justified, and increasing our presence in Greenland would help secure future Arctic trading routes. However, Trump’s approach to foreign affairs is too simplistic. His view of a world of isolated spheres ignores the reality of our highly interconnected world.  Involvement in Latin America is vital to US interests, but so is engagement in other parts of the globe, especially regions where our adversaries would love…

Politically, 2025 was a blur. The second term of President Donald Trump has been nothing short of breathtaking, both in the good and the bad. There were some impressive accomplishments, such as the Gaza ceasefire deal and the stabilization of the southern border. However, there were also many confusing blunders and controversies, ranging from imbalanced tariffs to the deployment of the National Guard to several cities. Liberals tend to dislike the majority of Trump’s actions, while conservatives make excuses for his behavior. It is imperative that all Americans should be ready to give criticism and feedback to the President of the…