The El Paso Mass Shooting, As Told By a Native El Pasoan | The Odyssey Online
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Politics and Activism

The Horrifying Tragedy Of The El Paso Mass Shooting, As Told By a Native El Pasoan

No one would have been able to imagine that there would be a mass shooting in the great city of El Paso, Texas.

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The Horrifying Tragedy Of The El Paso Mass Shooting, As Told By a Native El Pasoan

El Paso, Texas has always been known as one of the safest cities in the United States. Until Saturday morning, August 3, 2019. The community of El Paso will never be the same, shaken by the events that unfolded in those hours had been nothing anyone from the city of El Paso would have ever imagined that would happen.

"It was definitely not something anyone from this city would expect to happen, and the person wasn't even from here; no one from our community would do something like that," said Aria Dueñas.

The shooter's name was Patrick Crusius, but that should not be the name that we remember this horrific event by. Moreover, we should remember those who lost their lives on Saturday morning. Eight Mexican nationals, including Sara Esther Regalado, Adolfo Cerros Hernandez, Jorge Calvillo Garcia, Elsa Mendonza de la Mora, Gloria Irma Marquez, and Maria Eugenia Legarreta Rothe. Some other victims that lost their lives were Andre and Jordan Anchondo, Javier Rodriguez, Arturo Benavides, and many others.

The shooter traveled about 660 miles to target the community of El Paso. He wrote a four-page manifesto explaining his reason for this attack in the border city. "This attack is a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas. I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion… They (Mexican-Americans) want to live the American Dream which is why they get college degrees and fill higher-paying skilled positions… I am against race mixing because it destroys genetic diversity and creates identity problems. Yet another reason to send them back" Crusius stated in his manifesto, which was posted on the imageboard 8chan less than an hour before his attack.

Democratic presidential candidates and former El Paso Representative Beto O'Rourke spoke out on his way to El Paso Saturday evening. "I know that El Paso is one of the strongest places anywhere in the world. And if there were ever a moment for us to be strong, it is this one" O'Rourke told the media.

El Paso has united as a whole rather than create chaos over this situation. And just hours after the terrible event, El Pasoans had come together to help its community with going to donate blood, having fundraisers for those victims families, local funeral homes giving free funeral services for those that had been affected by the Walmart mass shooting, and many locals gathering around to help those find their loved ones.

One-hundred people were asked If you would still consider El Paso to be among one of the safest cities in the United States after this tragic event, and 83 people believed and 17 people believed that it was not safe anymore. Marifer Gonzalez responded, "It's definitely unsettling, but shouldn't serve as a label for our entire community."

El Paso does not need prayers and thoughts, the Sun City needs action. Politicians need to be motivated to make a change so that this doesn't happen again. The Giffords group and March For Our Lives will be hosting a forum in Las Vegas, Nevada. On October 2, the anniversary of the second-deadliest shooting in the United States. This is where many Democratic presidential candidates and many others will come together and discuss gun control and laws.

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Adulting

6 Unrealistic Expectations Society Has For Young Adults

Don't let the thesaurus-inspired vocabularies in our résumés fool you. We're actually just big kids.

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Well over four feet tall and 100 pounds in weight, many of us "young adults" of the world still consider ourselves children. Big, working, college-attending, beer-drinking children. We may live on our own, know how to cook noodles, and occasionally use a planner, but don't be fooled; the youthful tendencies that reside within us still make their way into our daily lives. From choosing to stay up until 3:00 a.m. playing video games on a school night to going out in 30 degree weather without a coat, we still make decisions that our parents and grandparents would shake their heads at in disappointment. So why are we expected to know exactly how to be a wise, professional, sensible adult? It's not that we're irresponsible (for the most part, anyway). It's that we are young, inexperienced, and still have the sought-after, enthusiastic mentality that we can do and be whatever we want, which has not yet been tarnished by the reality of the world. These are just a few of the unrealistic expectations that society has for young adults.

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There are a lot of foods in this world, but there is only one dish that stands above the rest: Pizza. If you're close to me or at least know who I am, then you know that I'm totally obsessed with pizza. It's one of my favorite things to eat and I will NEVER turn down a slice, even if it doesn't have my favorite toppings. There isn't a day that goes by where I'm not thinking about pizza. I even sleep with a pizza pillow every night! There are many reasons why pizza stands above all other foods, and here are just a couple reasons why.

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1. You don't have to feel guilty about flirting with customers for tips (or just for shits and giggles).

2. You can be obnoxiously flirtatious with anyone you want. You are free to be that girl that flirts with everybody and makes 'em all smile (it's especially fun when the guy is as cute as Collin Jost). No shame.

3. Making random men nervous with your superior beauty and intense eye contact just for the hell of it is really amusing and empowering.

4. No one gives two poops if ya legs are hairy (your man shouldn't either but *Kermit the Frog meme* That's none of my business)

5. The toilet seat will remain down.

6. There's more money to spend on yourself.

7. There's always this secret butterfly in your tummy that marvels at the possibility that when you go out this weekend you're gonna meet someone super handsome/wonderful/prince-like and have this moment of dazzling dalliance.

8. Nothing is that serious...you can take it all with a grain of salt...you don't owe anybody anything.

9. You can dance with anyone and everyone...or no one (Hello frat boi w/ glasses, I see you).

10. You don't have to fluff anyone's ego but your own.

11. Free drinks and dinners from single guys (It's not taking advantage if they're offering; a girl's gotta eat).

12. You have more time to learn how to love and improve yourself rather than constantly pouring your energy into another person.

13. You don't have to sacrifice your cheesy Jen Aniston rom-coms and Gilmore Girls for his Fast and Furious/other dumb action movie featuring blonde that is only in the movie to supply a relationship to the male lead and to make him look more masculine/empowered in juxtaposition (In other words, you don't have to deal with a guy being a crabby Patty while you watch your cute movies).

14. You can daydream about what your future husband may be doing right now (and not get stressed/guilty out because you're not picturing your current boyfriend that's crazy about you as your future husband).

15. There is more time to be spent with your girlfriends.

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We've all been there - you've been saying since Tuesday after French that this weekend is the weekend. You're finally going to break out those new heels and actually put on eyeliner on and make this Friday night be one for the memory books! That is, of course, until Girls Night Out turned into...Girls Night In.

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What Is Your Zodiac GIF?

Characteristics of the astrological signs, explained through GIFS.

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Whether you believe astrology is a legitimate "science" or not, we have all found ourselves looking at our horoscopes from time to time. The 12 astrological signs all fall under one of four elements: air, water, earth, or fire. Air signs are rational, social, and love to communicate with others. Water signs are are emotional, intuitive, and mysterious. Fire signs tend to be passionate, creative, and adventurous. Earth signs are conservative, realistic, and loyal.

Each sign is determined by the relative positions of celestial bodies to ourselves at our moment of birth, which is said to influence our personalities. Find your zodiac GIF below, based on the traits and characteristics provided by each sign.

***Disclaimer: GIFS are meant to be lighthearted and are based on descriptions of signs from http://www.astrology-zodiac-signs.com/.

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