{"id":43395,"date":"2026-01-28T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/?p=43395"},"modified":"2026-01-26T13:13:00","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T18:13:00","slug":"your-voice-the-state-of-the-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sinclairclarion.com\/home\/tartan-news\/2026\/01\/28\/your-voice-the-state-of-the-union\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Voice: The State of the Union"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In 2025, the question of America\u2019s direction feels more pressing than ever. The answer, unsurprisingly, is complicated. America is a nation marked by tension and transition, but also by a growing determination among young people to shape what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opinions vary widely on the current state of the country and its most pressing issues. Sinclair College students shared their thoughts on how they view America and its future.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Jamal Alkhateeb.<\/strong> THE CLARION<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Jamal Alkhateeb<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jamal Alkhateeb, a political science major, notes several issues that he believes to be a growing concern in America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe current government and ICE, people have grown more antagonistic to it. There is also anti-intellectualism that is apparent. If you look at people\u2019s ability to reason on platforms like Twitter and others, it is not very high,\u201d Alkhateeb said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite the widespread grim outlooks, Alkhateeb remains optimistic on America\u2019s future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPerhaps in the next two to three years, some policies, and the way that they are implemented might gain popularity. Since the U.S. somewhat operates off of models, local government will do something, and it will gain popularity. Maybe the Democrats will borrow from Mamdani and his messaging,\u201d Alkhateeb said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joshua Aziamanyo<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Joshua Aziamanyo. <\/strong>THE CLARION<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Joshua Aziamanyo, a computer science major at Sinclair, says that market volatility is America\u2019s most pressing issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPrices are highly unstable right now, I think that is what directly affects Americans right now,\u201d Aziamanyo said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aziamanyo is of the opinion that America needs time and patience to rebuild the future they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAmerica is in a transition phase. Regardless of how drastic and rushed some of the recent policies may seem, the new administration needs to be afforded time and patience to bring their visions to fruition. Then only can we correctly judge,\u201d Aziamanyo said.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nae LeRoy. <\/strong>CONTRIBUTED<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nae LeRoy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nae LeRoy, a psychology major at Sinclair, cites the recent ICE raids and immigration enforcement activities as America\u2019s most pressing issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEverything that\u2019s happening with ICE; it\u2019s disgusting and I feel like it\u2019s not talked about enough,\u201d LeRoy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LeRoy also revealed her admiration for people being targeted by the immigration enforcement activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThey need more grace because they are here doing more than the average American would do. The type of jobs they do, the average American would not want to do that. I thought this was the land of the free, why does it take like twenty years for somebody to come here? It makes no sense at all,\u201d LeRoy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LeRoy remained somewhat unsure about America\u2019s future in the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn three years, everything is going to be fresh. We are going to start moving different, but in twenty years, there is always somebody coming,\u201d LeRoy said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caleb Bretz<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caleb Bretz is a social sciences major at Sinclair. He feels that the U.S. is in a stage where its position has to be reevaluated.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Caleb Bretz.<\/strong> THE CLARION<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cWith all that is happening right now, I think maybe it is about time we rethink our status as a world superpower,\u201d Bretz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bretz cited the direct harassment of academics as a problem America needs to stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMy sociology professor received some sort of pressing and pressure from conservative student organizations for discussing racial and gender issues her sociology classes,\u201d Bretz said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bretz also notes an increasing and worrying agenda of dividing people across ethnic lines as opposed to a push for unity and togetherness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are seeing an increase in a lot of rhetoric that the central idea is that people do not want to live together,\u201d Bretz said, \u201cPeople see individual ethnic boundaries as more important than civic or national boundaries. So, I think the most pressing issue for America\u2019s immediate future is deciding for itself which boundaries it believes are more important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nukuh Semor Akwetey, reporter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n