Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Stop and smell the roses, busy Gators

Oct. 28, 2013

A good friend of mine carries home a new stack of books from the library every week. She reads all the time, maintains good grades and serves as an event director for one of her extracurriculars. One of my favorite things about her is that, no matter when I ask her to do something, she’s ready. I’ve never heard her say, “I can’t, I’m busy.” She has just as much to do as everyone else but makes time for the things she enjoys, like reading Jacques Lacan and taking photo excursions.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: Iran nuclear challenge a win-win?

Oct. 27, 2013

Iran‘s nuclear program became a challenge 10 years ago. Some parts of the international community, represented by the permanent members of United Nations Security Council and Germany (P5+1), are exposing their concern about possible military dimensions of Iran’s nuclear program, and Iran is operating on peaceful purposes of its program.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Saudi women drive rights argument home

Oct. 27, 2013

A revolution can start with the simplest of actions.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: You say you want a revolution? You should start with music

Oct. 24, 2013

Music has lost its revolutionary power, and it’s your fault.

OPINION | COLUMNS

America’s policy on Pakistan: A love/hate relationship

Oct. 24, 2013

Shortly after the U.S. government shutdown ended, American officials announced Pakistan will be receiving more than $1.5 billion in military and economic aid.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Republican political strategy relies on misinformation, deception

Oct. 22, 2013

During a recent discussion with medical students at the University of Louisville, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) inadvertently gave rare insight into the political strategy employed by him and his fellow Tea Party politicians.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: Inside the mind of a bomber

Oct. 22, 2013

This column is a response to a guest column published in the Alligator: “Palestinians are people with a voice”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Clues in ‘The Shining’ reveal the moon landing was faked

Oct. 22, 2013

Stanley Kubrick was one of the most evocative and accomplished directors in history. Even his worst movies were great, and his best movies pushed filmmaking into territory that was previously unthinkable. Even in death, he continues to influence directors and writers, and people still debate what his films mean to this day. He also secretly directed the Apollo 11 moon landing.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Accent is rife with corruption

Oct. 22, 2013

A strange set of events unfolded last week. In just hours, all 1,700 tickets were taken. The next day, an eager audience packed the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts to listen to the words of a frail 84-year-old speaker. Who was this old geezer?

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Created Equal’ makes some women feel less than equal

Oct. 21, 2013

If you had to make the unfortunate trek through Turlington Plaza last week, chances are you caught an eyeful of the Created Equal movement’s aborted fetus posters and stand-ups lining the walkways. The “graphic images ahead” signs weren’t quite emphatic enough to prepare us for what was there.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Tea Party strategy is flawed, but it has good reason to be upset

Oct. 21, 2013

With the government shutdown behind us, the media are declaring winners and losers. No matter what poll or TV station you turn to, there always seems to be universal disapproval for the House Tea Party Caucus.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The ‘stateless’ Dominicans need international citizens to speak up

Oct. 20, 2013

While U.S. policies aren’t anywhere near perfect, they are progressive in comparison to situations abroad.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: A call for employer nondiscrimination

Oct. 20, 2013

In 2009, testifying in front of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, then-Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) insisted he finds it hard to argue for legislation that bans discrimination. He commented it was hard not because he in anyway condones discrimination, but rather that it was hard due to nondiscrimination being so self-evident.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The recent government shutdown is just a symptom of larger problems

Oct. 20, 2013

Early Thursday morning, President Barack Obama signed a bill that reopened the federal government and avoided a default on our nation’s debts. Yet again, a manufactured crisis was solved, and our elected officials can rest easy.

OPINION | COLUMNS

‘Captain Phillips’ paints incomplete story

Oct. 17, 2013

As an avid movie enthusiast, I seized the opportunity last weekend to watch “Captain Phillips,” the two-hour account of the 2009 hijacking of the USS Maersk Alabama by Somali Pirates.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The God mystery: Is He just chilling?

Oct. 15, 2013

“If God is so caring and great, why is there suffering in life?”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Not even Madonna is safe from wrath of movie theater rules

Oct. 15, 2013

Madonna is officially banned from the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When it comes to writing essays, SAT should cut the crap

Oct. 14, 2013

David Coleman was named the new president of the College Board last summer and, thanks to him, the board is debuting a reconstructed SAT in 2015. The SAT has long been a poor excuse for a college-readiness exam. This is especially true of the essay section, which came under heavy fire at a September press conference filled with high school and university faculty from across the country. They told Coleman in no uncertain terms how detrimental the essay portion has become for students. For the first time, the College Board is listening.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Wait for more action — it’s too early to determine new Pope’s impact

Oct. 14, 2013

Many would consider America to be one of the most religious countries on Earth.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest column: Palestinians are people with a voice

Oct. 13, 2013

This past Thursday, I attended an event hosted by CAMERA and UF Hillel titled “Less Hamas, More Hummus.”