Do the organizations that sponsored "Obsession" really expect Muslims not to be offended? And that if we are, as one person's letter blatantly implied, we are radicals, too?
Here is the deal with Ron Paul: Ron Paul is a former flight surgeon and OB/GYN-turned Republican congressman with some Libertarian leanings ranging from sensible (ending the occupation of Iraq and the war on drugs) to the downright asinine (abolishing the Federal Reserve System, returning to the gold standard). Libertarianism has always had a strong Internet presence. This, coupled with the fact that college students spend a lot of time on the Internet, makes it clear why Paul is so popular with college students.
If the Alligator's editorial board wants to know why Ron Paul is so popular among college students, it should research Ron Paul's stance on the war on drugs. That's it in a nutshell. Only a few other candidates, Republican or Democrat, are even pro-medical marijuana.
Dear UF College Republicans and UF Law School Republicans, thank you so much for writing a letter to the Alligator decrying the erosion of your right to free speech. It's nice to see you are so concerned about civil liberties.
I am responding to Wednesday's article celebrating the life of Dr. Robert Cade, one of four UF researchers responsible for inventing Gatorade. I was quite surprised to learn that since 1970, UF has drawn more than ,150 million in royalties from Gatorade sales. After reading this, it made me think back to a September Alligator article about the increased soda costs on campus, part of the objective being to encourage people to make a healthier choice.
As a person who values the right to live, I find the UF administration's position on the controversy surrounding how the "Obsession" screening was advertised very disturbing.
We co-sponsored the showing of the movie "Obsession: Radical Islam's War Against the West," and our organizations' names appeared on the fliers promoting the documentary to which Vice President of Student Affairs Patricia Telles-Irvin, on behalf of the UF administration, responded. Many of you have no doubt read Ms. Telles-Irvin's lengthy e-mail by now. Our response will be shorter.
The recent e-mail from Ms. Telles-Irvin regarding the sensitivity surrounding the use of the phrase "Radical Islam Wants You Dead" paints a dismal yet accurate picture of what ails this campus and country. The only people who should be offended by this phrase are radical Muslims in self-denial.
Islam on Campus is an important advocate for the vast majority of the Muslim population who can and have been unfairly blamed for global terrorism. For years, this group has attempted to promote sensible dialogue.
I don't think anyone can disagree that using a cell phone in general is very distracting. This applies to cell phone use while driving, studying and even trying to cross the street. The world we live in is already dangerous enough. I mean, we've already got our plates full with wildfires, al-Qaida and Bill O'Reilly to worry about. Texting while driving endangers our roads, and the guiltiest party of all is college students.
Dear pretty girls who wear big sunglasses,
I am writing in response to Skeet Surrency's letter to the editor, "Protesters' actions were merited." I was there when the protesters began their theatrics. I felt like I was watching a 16-car pileup on the Turnpike. Before the students so courageously began protesting in front of a sympathetic audience, nearly everyone in the room laughed at former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. He would pay lip service to human rights and the U.S. Constitution, and everyone would be in stitches.
While I don't agree with the way some of the audience members conducted themselves at Gonzales' speech, the disruptive behavior of the protesters pales in comparison with Gonzales' actions as White House counsel and U.S. attorney general. Gonzales denied the writ of habeas corpus, authorized illegal, warrantless wiretapping, and lied to Congress about firing U.S. attorneys before ultimately resigning after losing the confidence of Congress members from both parties.
As a 'Cane, it may seem sacrilegious for me to support a Gator, but in a Heisman field that is wide open, the climate allows for exceptions - and for history - to be made.
I'm writing in response to Stephanie Rosenberg's Tuesday column. I have been to many sporting events by not buying tickets from the box office, and I have sold tickets for more than face value.
In regards to the protests surrounding former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' speech at UF, I have a few important observations to make. As a participant in the protests, I can assure you we take the First Amendment right of freedom of speech very seriously. For the purpose of protecting both Mr. Gonzales' and our First Amendment rights, we unanimously decided our protests should be visual, not vocal.
For the first time since I have been at UF, I was embarrassed to be a Gator on Monday night. The treatment of Mr. Gonzales was completely devoid of class, professionalism and common decency.
After attending Alberto Gonzales' speech, I have never been so ashamed and embarrassed to attend UF. I simply cannot believe people are so disrespectful and rude to someone who has devoted his life to serving our country.
In Monday's "Fashion" Alligator Rants, "frat guys who wear Guy Harvey shirts" were chastised for wearing the artists's apparel simply because "Gainesville doesn't have any good places to fish for swordfish." As a longtime supporter of Mr. Harvey's artwork and marine preservation efforts, I'm a little baffled.
In Monday's letters to the editor, Scott Erker brought up an interesting point about UF President Bernie Machen's salary. Mr. Erker wrote that the University Athletic Association, among others, should contribute money to the academic side of the university. Mr. Erker, like many UF students, must not realize how much the UAA has already contributed.
Solutions by The State News
