Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republican foreign policy: Fact or fiction?

Sep. 21, 2015

Last Wednesday night, I, like many Americans, cozied up on the couch with a tub of popcorn to watch the second GOP debate, hosted by America’s most trusted news network, CNN. It was my night to have the TV, and I wasn’t about to let the two affable bros with whom I share a flat box me out with the second season of "Burn Notice." "This concerns the fate of our nation! Contrary to popular belief, Jeffrey Donovan does NOT take precedence tonight," I bellowed. "Now go put some goddamn shirts on and lower the Daughtry." And with that heroic stand, I was free to claim the living room and arrange my snacks while moderator Jake Tapper laid the ground rules for the debate.

OPINION | COLUMNS

9/11 first responders deserve more than a hashtag

Sep. 21, 2015

Oct. 3 marks a crucial date for more than 30,000 Americans: the expiration of the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

OPINION | COLUMNS

GOP needs to brush up on its gender politics

Sep. 20, 2015

Toward the end of the recent Republican debate, candidates were asked which woman they would put on the $10 bill. While moderator Jake Tapper called it a lighthearted question, it actually gave a lot of insight into the problems with the Republican candidates.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Despite preconceptions, Sanders’ supporters are a thoughtful bunch

Sep. 20, 2015

Two weeks ago, the downtown bar, The Midnight, hosted a social gathering for the Gainesville Bernie Sanders’ faithful. Being the political adventurer I am, and embracing my status as the sole conservative columnist for the Alligator, I felt compelled to attend. On that Wednesday night, a handful of Bernie Sanders volunteers were ready and willing to entertain any question a politico could ask. I, of course, took them up on it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Not all is as it seems with the new Impact Party

Sep. 17, 2015

It’s that time of the semester again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Chill on the “Netflix and chill" and just have sex

Sep. 17, 2015

Somewhere between Silly Bandz and clothes for dogs, "Netflix and chill" lies on the list of stupid trends.

OPINION | COLUMNS

“Migrant problem" misleading; mostly a refugee crisis

Sep. 17, 2015

Tuesday Hungary closed its borders, which sealed off a route that has contributed to bringing over 500,000 people to the borders of European Union nations this year.

OPINION | COLUMNS

We need to reflect on the refugee crisis and not shut our doors on them

Sep. 16, 2015

Earlier this month, a photojournalist sprang into consciousness and put a human face on the refugee crisis that has emerged from the violence and political instability in Syria.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Column: Wine blends are an abomination

Sep. 15, 2015

The ancient Romans said it well: in vino veritas. "In wine, there is truth." If you’re drunk, you’re not going to be telling any lies; as they say, drunken words are sober thoughts. Today, I’ll be telling the truth about wine, specifically about wine blends.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest Column: Want to graduate with an excellent credit score? Get a student credit card

Sep. 15, 2015

There is already enough going on among school, friends, family and daily activities that you don’t want to worry about finances and how you are going to handle them after you graduate. You are in college, for one thing, to earn a degree so that you can get the job you want — a job that will earn you a paycheck that you will try to make the most out of. But, if you graduate with little to no credit history or a bad credit score, then you could find your paycheck might not go as far as you want it to.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF has more to offer than just football

Sep. 14, 2015

Speaking personally, football season at UF is the most fascinating phenomenon I’ve ever witnessed. The campus transforms overnight into an entirely new atmosphere, complete with elaborate tailgates, massive tides of orange-and-blue-clad families and endless optimism. Everyone’s a little friendlier and anyone sporting Gator memorabilia is automatically a new friend. These Saturdays have an almost religious undertone as students, alumni and fans alike come together to invoke the holy name of Gator football.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Hey Krishna, can I have some more?

Sep. 14, 2015

Vegetarianism: It’s practical, and when done with panache, can be both good-tasting and good for your body. Magnanimity: While less practical for college students, it feels good and is also good for others.

OPINION | COLUMNS

While intertwined, race and ethnicity are distinct

Sep. 13, 2015

As discussions of race and ethnicity permeate the coverage of the presidential elections and refugee crisis, it is clear many people remain unaware of the basic definitions that inform the conversation.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Political correctness not a bastion of good

Sep. 13, 2015

Recently, an Alligator editorial apologized for a column the newspaper published. In the appropriately titled column, "Mediocre Advice," the writer joked, because it is difficult to get a tan in Gainesville due to the daily downpour of rain, being "pale is better."

OPINION | COLUMNS

An inside look at Ottomans, Islam, Syria and Turkey

Sep. 13, 2015

Emrah Sahin is the Turkish studies lecturer at UF’s Center for European Studies. For our full interview on Ottomans, Islam, Syria and more, visit ceseurogator.blogspot.com/.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Unpaid Internships: Experience vs. Exploitation

Sep. 10, 2015

ost internships, paid or unpaid, are incredibly beneficial. They are a chance to learn and make valuable connections. More importantly, they allow you to test-drive a career and gain work experience. Even if you ultimately decide you don’t want to pursue a job in your internship’s field, many of the skills you honed will be useful in a different position down the road. While unpaid internships can have many of the same positive attributes as paid ones, they can also be problematic. Depending on the internship length, type of work, hours and chances of employment, they range from being a helpful learning experience to outright exploitation.

OPINION | COLUMNS

How to make me come: by asking

Sep. 10, 2015

A few weeks ago, my poor, innocent mother asked me the dreaded question: "What is Tumblr?" Considering how long the blogging platform has been around, it’s odd that we had avoided talking about it up until this point. I walked her through the basics, but I felt bad when I left her unprepared for the things she might stumble upon when browsing the site for scrapbooking ideas.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Anti-immigration activists provoke immigration crisis in Europe

Sep. 10, 2015

In the current news cycle, the issue of immigration is drawing more attention than usual. This is partly due to what is going on in our own country, namely, our upcoming presidential election. It doesn’t help that the current GOP frontrunner is the most explicitly nativist public figure since Daniel Day-Lewis’ character in "Gangs of New York."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Kentucky clerk Kim Davis is only the beginning

Sep. 9, 2015

As noted in last week’s Darts & Laurels, a Kentucky clerk has been jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. She appealed her case all the way to the Supreme Court — who ruled this summer that marriage is a right to be enjoyed by all — and was denied an appeal. Despite being effectively ordered to do so by the highest authority of law in the U.S., she still refused to issue licenses.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Reflection on 9/11 and terror

Sep. 8, 2015

As we take pause Friday to reflect on the horrors of terrorism and to commemorate the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks, our outrage and grief are morally obliged to cross national boundaries. The tragedies of Sept. 11 provide an opportunity for us to reflect on human cruelty, as well as the role the U.S. plays on a geopolitical scale.