Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Navigating the wolf’s den of undergrad life

June 29, 2016

Nestled in the evergreen woods of Franconia Notch State Park, New Hampshire, past the visitor’s center and the uphill boardwalk through The Flume, is an attraction known as “Wolf’s Den.” The narrow climbing space drops about 10 degrees cooler compared to the outside air, as it is enclosed by damp boulders and infrequently exposed to the sun. As my family and I, vacationing near these woods, walked toward the den, at least three other families turned back. Whatever we were approaching would surely be arduous or frightening enough to make them turn around, we thought. But we persevered.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Americans aren't ready, Soccer will not be popular in the US anytime soon

June 29, 2016

Since June has become the month of soccer for Europe and the Americas, many have dusted off their national flag sweatsuits and vuvuzelas. However, for U.S. fans, it’s difficult to start parading around with American flag capes. The U.S. needs better players, and to get them, Americans have to play soccer.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: The Jungle, We got the fun... and some games

June 27, 2016

Hello my dearest readers. To everybody returning to Gainesville, let me be the first to welcome you back to our humble home. To all of the freshmen who just graduated from high school, don’t worry; the worst (the move-in process with crying mothers, silent fathers and impatient siblings) is behind you. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zach, but you can call me Zachary. I write a weekly op-ed column here in your soon-to-be most favorite newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator. Congratulations on beginning your collegiate journey by joining us in the wonderful, religiously drunken pilgrimage that is Summer B.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Was the Brexit worth it? As with most questions, the answer is probably no

June 27, 2016

The United Kingdom’s referendum to leave the European Union, or the “Brexit,” as it has been affectionately called, has been a long time coming with strangely not a lot of attention throughout the world until it happened.

OPINION | COLUMNS

UF President Kent Fuchs: "Love and be kind to one another"

June 27, 2016

Universities don’t teach the one concept most important in our world and in our personal lives.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinoin: Fathers are underrated

June 18, 2016

I wouldn’t be the person I am today without my father. Countless studies over the past decade point to the fact that the possibilities for my future improved tremendously because my dad was simply there for me during my childhood. Parents determine the destiny of their children in the years when kids try to make a sense of this world. Fathers traditionally play half the role in parenting, but their role is often underrated.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: What is this tragedy befalling us all?

June 15, 2016

There is a Swahili proverb: “The world is a field of chaos.” With my eyes I see it is so, and with all my heart I wish it wasn’t the case.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest Column: New administration, new developments and exciting things to come

June 15, 2016

Hey Gator Nation!

OPINION | COLUMNS

Guest Column: Be wary of instant approval credit

June 13, 2016

Let’s be honest, getting offers for free or discounted things online or in the mail can be pretty exciting. As you move forward in your financial life, you will start to get more and more offers for things like new cars, insurance options and instant approval credit card offers. Most of these offers are easy to disregard, as they include major financial decisions you have to make when the time is right for you.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Gun reform still largely out of reach

June 13, 2016

Sunday morning Orlando became the center of another massive shooting, something that seems to have become an occupational hazard of American life. While the details are still coming in about the deaths and injuries, and the whole story is not yet clear, a couple things are.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinon: No one is above the law, except Brock Turner

June 13, 2016

Wow, has it really been a week since our last talk? I feel like so much has happened! I don’t know if 650 words are going to be enough to express my discontent with three latest controversies: the gorilla, the rapist and the two hair-dyed blondes that could possibly be president.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: The U.S. ‘justice system’ is not doing its job

June 8, 2016

In light of the controversy around the Stanford rape case, it’s amusing to observe Americans wonder why there are many in our country who don’t have an ounce of respect for the justice system.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: With the onset of global warming, climate change talks will start again

June 8, 2016

My gosh, it’s been hot these past few months. It must be from that El Niño. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 13 of the 15 highest monthly temperature anomalies have occurred since February 2015. Unfortunately, Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology declared El Niño finished on May 24. Opponents of the existence of climate change have blamed abnormalities, climate and weather since 2014 on El Niño. Now that it has ended, politicians may actually have to respond to Mother Nature.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Trump, his protesters and American democracy

June 6, 2016

If you ask the average person on the street what the definition of democracy is, they will usually include answers such as “one person, one vote” and the rights of citizens. While these may be true, there is a lot more to successful democracy than just the basic definitions that are popular to the general public. Things such as rule of law and peaceful transition of power to an opponent are key in order for democracy to continue without slipping into authoritarianism.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Children’s art embodies the understanding of ourselves and each other

June 6, 2016

One of the less “typical” courses available here at UF is titled “Harry Potter and the Holocaust.” I’ve had the privilege of taking it. While I could write a column about that class alone — send an email, and maybe I will — there’s one theme I want to ramble about this week.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Whom does one remember on Memorial Day?

June 1, 2016

My great-grandparents fought in Syria’s army in World War I for the Allied Powers, which eventually earned them an expedited path to U.S. citizenship. This historical anecdote allows me to account for my presence in the U.S., which I can do without kissing the ground on which I was born or giving thanks my family left its homeland.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: President Obama still has six more months

June 1, 2016

If you thought of the last few accomplishments of President Barack Obama, what would come to your mind? It would probably be his visits to Cuba this past March and Japan just last week. The bottom line, though, is Obama’s past accomplishments have not been here in the U.S.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Trump and the media smokescreen

May 30, 2016

So, let’s talk about The Donald. Let’s not talk about his obscene, blanket remarks labeling illegal immigrants as criminals bent on destroying society or the fact he thinks Islam somehow has a hatred for the U.S. that nobody else can see. Rather, let’s talk about the fact he can make his massive media attention devoid of any actual news to work to his advantage.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Opinion: Body-shaming, hypocrisy and Sriracha sauce

May 30, 2016

Like any good writer in the 21st century, the controversial topics I address are inspired directly from what I see on social media. Based on that alone, this week I was forced to decide between three things: whether Hillary Clinton’s lying habits are worse than Donald Trump’s, those one-minute cooking videos that always end with that one dude making sex noises to the image of food — “oh ye-AH!” — or some asshole at the gym again.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Memorial Day: actually remembering history

May 25, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Trump.