Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gay marriage views influenced by statistics, representation

By Will Penman | Jan. 10, 2010

I found a chart online recently consisting of two pictures. The top picture had a map of the United States with states highlighted where gay marriage was legal: Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont and New Hampshire. Pretty simple picture — five states. The picture below it was the same map but with a lot of states colored. That one? States where it’s legal to marry your first cousin.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

America should drop Tiger Woods fixation

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 10, 2010

Remember that YouTube video starring the overly concerned Britney Spears fan begging the American public to just leave the pop princess alone?

OPINION | COLUMNS

Political gaffes grow more rampant

By Ryan Spencer | Jan. 10, 2010

It was a banner week for bipartisan tomfoolery, culminating on Friday and coming from both Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele and Democratic strategist James Carville.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Baby daddies

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 10, 2010

We know it’s not time for Darts and Laurels yet, but the Editorial Board would like to commend state Rep. Christine Johnson for agreeing to carry a child for a gay couple in Utah — one of only six states in the U.S. to explicitly ban gay adoption.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Staff | Jan. 7, 2010

Welcome back to a new semester, a new decade and a new onslaught of laughs, tears and things that’ll just plain piss you off brought to you by yours truly.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama faces tougher crowd than Bush

By PAUL MURTY | Jan. 7, 2010

I can’t help but wonder why President Obama has received so much more heat from certain members of the media and from certain factions of the country than any public figure I can remember. The recent attempted bombing by a Nigerian terrorist has prompted those members of the media to come out from the woodwork to –- yet again –- criticize Obama. This time it is because he took 72 hours to publicly respond to the situation, after consulting with security teams from Christmas until Dec. 28.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Capital punishment inhumane, unethical

By Ryan Spencer | Jan. 7, 2010

John Walsh Needs to Keep His Mouth Shut. It’s not that his crime-fighting endeavor “America’s Most Wanted” hasn’t proven to be successful — it has, most recently with the capture of Jupiter massacre suspect Paul Mehinge — but rather that he, in his position of influence as a popular television host, should stop trying to be judge, jury and executioner, as he did recently when he called for capital punishment for the above suspect.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Still too soon for 9/11 jokes?

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 6, 2010

The question is, nearly a decade later, is it still too soon for 9/11 references?

OPINION | EDITORIALS

America has soft spot for aging rockers

Jan. 6, 2010

The end of a decade is naturally a time for reflection, and the end of this decade has inspired overwhelmingly bad reviews from everyone who has taken the time to ponder the last ten years of depressing suckitude.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

SG minority parties smart to rejoin

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 6, 2010

It’s almost that time again. That time when no one is safe from the mass of blue, orange and red fliers.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Dr. Dummy

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 5, 2010

Remember the Octomom?

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Americans should not be shocked by appointment

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 5, 2010

To say that living as a transgender American is difficult is probably an understatement. But with the national spotlight beaming down on you (not to mention press camera lights), it just plain “sucks,” according to Amanda Simpson.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Last decade produced culture of fear

Jan. 5, 2010

Last decade was not a fun decade in which to grow up.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Claim that doctors are problem is false

By David E. Winchester | Jan. 5, 2010

This is in response to Kenneth Maness’ letter in Tuesday’s Alligator asserting that “doctors are the real problem with health care in America.” His broadside contributes nothing to the serious debate about American health care reform. Further, he demonstrates the epitome of ignorance about a health care system that involves countless parties: doctors, patients, insurance carriers, malpractice attorneys and dozens of state and federal government agencies, each of whom contribute to how health care is provided and consumed in America and each of whom impact the cost of that care.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Congress should reinstate estate tax

By BRIAN MILLER | Jan. 5, 2010

On New Year’s Day, the estate tax, an essential part of the U.S. tax system for almost 100 years, disappeared because Congress failed to act in December.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Lower costs of health care

By Kenneth Maness | Jan. 4, 2010

The real problem with health care in America: American doctors are exhibiting astronomical, unjustified, uncontrollable greed.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Help wanted: Desperately seeking... you

By EMILY FUGGETTA | Jan. 4, 2010

It’s that time again.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Blacklisted U.S. right to focus security efforts

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Jan. 4, 2010

Residents of troubled nations like Afghanistan, Somalia and Iraq face daily struggles that can sometimes mean life or limb. So it would stand to reason that an extra pat down at the airport would seem inconsequential, even trivial, to someone with such an intimate knowledge of what real hassles are.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF experiences help to prepare for future

Dec. 8, 2009

Sunday morning, I woke up and started crying.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Point of Christianity is love, not judgment

By Hannah Banfield | Dec. 8, 2009

I have been very upset lately by the people supposedly “evangelizing” on Turlington Plaza. As I listen to them screaming judgments and insults, it breaks my heart. I have been a Christian for a few years now and while I still have many questions, one thing I do know is that the basis of Christianity is love. “For God so loved the world...” (John 3:16). “And do everything in love...” (1 Corinthians 16:14). These people are in no way showing God’s love but are giving Christians a reputation of being hateful and self-righteous. I am here to say that what they are portraying is not Christianity! Whoever they claim to be witnesses of is not Jesus because their teachings are not rooted in love.