Opinion | Letters To The Editor - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Election codes help ward off volunteers

By Alexandra Butler | Oct. 6, 2008

It is my first year here at UF, and I already know the horrors of Student Government elections. I asked some of my friends who had gone here if there was any way out of listening to the pointless nagging of students running for Senate, and all I got were suggestions to just avoid them. This was hardly sufficient for me, so after some investigating, I found my answer in the election codes. If you wear a "No Campaigning" sign or something to that effect, candidates are forbidden to talk to you and risk a fine if they do. With that news, I implore you all to liberate yourselves from the time-wasting politicos.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Mullen’s playbook too limited

By Carla Pereira | Oct. 5, 2008

In Thursday's Alligator, Phil Kegler insisted that offensive coordinator Dan Mullen was not responsible for the Mississippi loss. While Mullen had nothing to do with the multiple drops, fumbles and the missed extra point attempt that lost us the game, Mullen did call to run tailback Jeff Demps up the middle and for two consecutive attempts into the end zone on the final drive instead of sticking with the quick option slants that got us into range.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SG unnecessary, wasteful

By Don Foster | Oct. 5, 2008

Every time I read the letters to the editor section of your paper, I'm forced to allow Student Government more time in my mind than it deserves. Someone even got closer to the point Friday by mentioning the frivolous spending of money by not only SG but governments in general.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Obama doesn’t understand Arab world

By William Shwayri | Oct. 5, 2008

As a first generation American, I have never allowed my father's Lebanese and Arab ethnicity to influence my political views as an American. This has changed, however, in this election. Sen. Barack Obama, whose father was Kenyan, simply has a misguided foreign policy in the Middle East. While most Americans will agree that going into Iraq was a mistake, life is once again returning to normal in the streets of Baghdad. In the last eight years, democratic governments have been institutionalized in Lebanon and the Palestinian territories, and a respect for human rights has emerged in American allies in the region, including Egypt and Jordan.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Basketball coverage should be ongoing

By Sara Klee | Oct. 5, 2008

Look, I know this is a football school. I know you want the women's soccer team to feel all warm and fuzzy. I know one or two people out there might even care about golf. But honestly, basketball season is only one month away. You are allowed to put in an occasional article about what's going on outside of Tebow and the gang.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Christian values oppose gay marriage

By Jamie Edgerly | Oct. 5, 2008

I'll come right out and say it. I'm a Christian and I don't want gays to have the right to marry. Hate me or like me as you will. Marriage is supposed to be a sacred bond between man and woman in a one-to-one ratio. I want to see that bond protected.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fundraising money should be better spent

By Taylor Moore | Oct. 2, 2008

After reading the articles on our Student Government candidates raising a couple thousand bucks for their ever-important T-shirts and buttons, I couldn't help but think about how much money Americans waste by giving to political campaigns. For the 2008 election thus far, all of the candidates have raised over $1 billion (McCain = $230 million, Obama = $454 million). Why?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Senators understand constituents’ needs

By Chris Curran District D Senator | Oct. 2, 2008

Reading Michael Belle's column on Student Government, I found his comments regarding the shortcomings of district senators to be highly misguided. If Belle is looking for evidence of district senators' awareness of issues within their ZIP code, he need look no further than the Student Senate's recent resolution supporting the annexation of the area around Southwest 20th Avenue.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Voting a choice, not duty

By Tolulope Bukola | Oct. 1, 2008

Wes Hunt's rambling denunciation of the ignorant voter was hilarious but misguided. The essence of democracy is choice - including the choice not to participate in the political process or to select the dumbest candidate.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator not biased

By Nate Juster | Oct. 1, 2008

I encourage my fellow readers to avoid fallacious attacks on the Alligator and to stop implying a false political dichotomy when it is perfectly possible to be moderate in reporting.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Biden should go easy on Palin

By Matthew Schwarz | Oct. 1, 2008

Nobody expects Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's comically incompetent running mate, to put up a fight against Sen. Joe Biden at this Thursday's vice presidential debate - unless it happens to involve blue lines and slap shots. As this crucial milestone approaches, I would like to remind those hoping for an Obama victory, including the charming yet tempestuous Sen. Biden, to tread carefully.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Republicans deflect volunteers

By Michael George | Oct. 1, 2008

For students annoyed by the registration volunteers, there is a solution that will prevent them from coming anywhere near you - wear a McCain/Palin shirt.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Political volunteers are needed

By Alden Gillespy | Sep. 30, 2008

In response to Casey Peterson's letter, "Political volunteers pester the masses," I ask if Casey has, in fact, registered to vote in Alachua County. If not, his fellow politically minded friends may want to encourage him.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Elderly voters care about future, too

By Ethan Stonerook | Sep. 30, 2008

In response to Wes Hunt's column, "Ignorant electorate bound for failure," I must say I agree that young people should vote, but it is unwise to declare that citizens older than 50 are just "the old" and have "no stake in the future of the nation beyond the next two to three, maybe four presidents."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator biased, brainwashing institution

By Elliott Morgan | Sep. 30, 2008

I would like to thank the Alligator for its constant liberal bias. Being an avid supporter of infanticide and having a general distaste for racial equality or national security, I am, of course, a big-time Obama supporter.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Volunteers help unregistered voters

By Lindsay Webber | Sep. 30, 2008

Yes, I am one of those people pestering you as you walk to class. And yes, I see the look on your face as I approach you - it translates roughly to, "Not again! Why won't you leave me alone?" - excluding profanities, of course.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Orange and Blue is green

By Stephen Holmgren | Sep. 29, 2008

Michelle Isgut claimed the Gator Party is the party of sustainability. Is this the same party that purchased 16 recycling bins at the mind-boggling price of $1,000 each? Is this the same party that rejected a referendum that was supported by 80 percent of the student body to establish an independent advisory committee for socially responsible investing?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Environmentalism not a partisan issue

By William Foster | Sep. 29, 2008

Unlike Michelle Isgut, I am not a Gator Party senator, but I am an environmentalist and, until last year, I was an undergraduate at UF. Her shots at the Orange and Blue Party for its environmental agenda are unfair.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Watermelon Bust waste of food, money

By Isabella Morales | Sep. 29, 2008

The annual Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity philanthropy event, the Watermelon Bust, is a disgrace to those who are involved in service activities in their community, and it's disgusting to see it mentioned in this paper.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Fans harbor tradition, not stadium

By Evan Goldfarb | Sep. 29, 2008

Yankee Stadium in its current state is not the same place where Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Mickey Mantle played. The stadium was remodeled in 1974.