Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Censorship, despite intent, is unpatriotic

Sep. 29, 2014

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OPINION | COLUMNS

Why I’m not siding with ‘HeForShe’

Sep. 28, 2014

Recently, actress and millennial sweetheart Emma Watson gave a speech in front of the U.N. about the importance of male involvement in the women’s rights movement. While I am a fan of Watson and the idea of male-inclusive feminism, I’m not interested in making an impassioned plea for male support. The concept of gender equality is so simple. I don’t feel the need to coax anyone — male or female — into supporting such a cause, nor do I want to explain to them why it does not yet exist. I’m not going to drag out the statistics on wage inequality, launch into an overview of rape culture or explain why the concept of “legitimate rape” is bogus.

OPINION | COLUMNS

President Obama’s ‘latte salute’ a non-issue

Sep. 28, 2014

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OPINION | COLUMNS

The Mysterious Case of Charlie Crist

Sep. 28, 2014

This week, all across the state of Florida, absentee ballots are being distributed, signaling the beginning of voting for the 2014 elections. Obviously, the most closely watched race is the one for Florida governor between Republican incumbent Rick Scott and the Democratic challenger, former Gov. Charlie Crist.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Everyone’s needed for climate movement

Sep. 25, 2014

This Sunday, more than 300,000 people descended on Times Square to bring awareness to the pressing threat of climate change. This gathering was the largest climate demonstration in history.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bisexuality is real, not just indecision

Sep. 25, 2014

t’s hard to talk about sex without mentioning sexuality. But for many people, sexuality is a deeply sensitive and personal topic.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Watson’s UN speech vital step to equality

Sep. 24, 2014

In the wake of the second mass celebrity nude photo leak in a month, the NFL’s swan dive into domestic violence scandal and squeals of pathetic, impotent rage from the #gamergate dweebs, Emma Watson graced the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday with her radiant presence to make an important announcement.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Stapleton case causes autism in kids to be misunderstood

Sep. 23, 2014

On Monday and Tuesday, “Dr. Phil” aired a two-part exclusive interview and show called “A Mother’s Worst Nightmare,” which featured a Michigan woman named Kelli Stapleton. Last September, Stapleton was accused of trying to murder her daughter, Isabelle “Issy” Stapleton, and attempting suicide.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Leadership from US desperately needed to combat world crises

Sep. 23, 2014

The world is dealing with a series of crises that demand action from leaders in the U.S. The Ebola virus — if left unchecked — could infect nearly half of a million people by January, threats of large-scale war loom large in the Middle East, Russia continues to be a hornet’s nest for Ukraine, and the big elephant in the room — climate change — continues to threaten the future stability of the entire globe.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Miss America unjustly attacked for past

Sep. 22, 2014

When 23-year-old Kira Kazantsev won the Miss America pageant last week, social media users expressed mixed emotions. Some felt her red-cup routine in the talent portion of the competition was disappointing while others admired her strong stance on raising awareness about domestic violence and ending sexual assault in the military.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF must improve tolerance of Islam

Sep. 21, 2014

In continuing its efforts to strive “For the Gator Good,” UF announced earlier this year that it would be among the first universities in the southeastern U.S. to open a Center for Islamic Studies.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lowering poverty numbers misleading

Sep. 21, 2014

Last week, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the national poverty rate declined for the first time since 2006, down to 14.5 percent. The rate was 15 percent in 2012, so it would appear that the trend is moving in the right direction. However, these numbers are misleading.

OPINION | COLUMNS