Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

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 | EDITORIALS

Just Do It: Registering to vote isn’t that hard

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 5, 2008

With the endless supply of political volunteers on campus during the past few months, you'd have to be living in a cave not to know that today is the last day to register for the Nov. 4 elections.

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

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 | COLUMNS

Volunteers don’t avoid McCain supporters

By Shaun Ajinkya | Oct. 2, 2008

I couldn't help but laugh at the editorial submitted Thursday by Michael George about voter registration volunteers avoiding him because he was wearing a McCain-Palin shirt. It's entirely possible they did not pursue him because someone with enough interest in the election to own a shirt featuring the name of one of the candidates may be more likely to have already registered. It's also possible that in the crowded Turlington Plaza area, they simply missed him. Either way, it's irresponsible to allege a conspiracy based solely on anecdotal evidence.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 2, 2008

For starters, we'd like to award UF and the Gainesville area for their efforts to "go green" with a we-don't-know-what-sustainability-means-but-we'll-do-it-if-Luda-does LAUREL. The local community has made sincere efforts to be environmentally conscious, and we're all for communities that are pro-Earth.

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 | COLUMNS

Energy technology not efficiently used

By LANCE LEGEL | Oct. 2, 2008

Reclining on your couch, 36 years from now and 360,000 Chinese yuan in debt, you learn that the oceans have accelerated their flooding of coastal regions across the world. Suddenly, a deafening roar shatters all of your windows and throws you from your couch. A few miles away, a dark and expanding nuclear mushroom cloud beckons for your life.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Amendment 2 about curbing rights, not protecting marriage

Oct. 2, 2008

I'm against Amendment 2 because I believe Florida should stand up for the gay community.

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 | COLUMNS

Handlebar mustaches represent power, freedom from razors

By James Caven | Oct. 1, 2008

I was cutting myself shaving this morning when I wondered, "Why isn't crazy facial hair popular anymore?" It certainly looks better than a face full of bandages.

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 | EDITORIALS

We Buy Ugly Houses

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 1, 2008

Who said the economy is crushing the housing market? Fannie Mae who?

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 | EDITORIALS

Chinese gymnasts competed, won fairly

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 1, 2008

More than a month after the dust from the Beijing Olympics has settled, we have been alerted to a refreshing ending to one of the Games' most controversial issues.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Little man shouldering economic woes

Oct. 1, 2008

All right, I've had enough with the "Barackin' the Vote" and "McLeading the Polls."

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

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

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

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.