Opinion | Columns - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

“American Sniper” should not be controversial

Jan. 21, 2015

The controversy surrounding “American Sniper” is petty and self-serving. The feud basically revolves around the back-and-forth quips of two distinct groups of people. The first group is what I like to call the “America Rah! Rah!” group. These are the people that have the song “Free Bird” as their ringtone, and have more guns in their house than people living in it.

OPINION | COLUMNS

MLK and ‘American Sniper’: Light will drive out darkness

Jan. 20, 2015

It’s heartbreaking and infuriating to observe that this weekend — officially dedicated to commemorating the legacy of a great pacifist and visionary of a more just world — was hijacked by Hollywood and rededicated to a film, which serves to glorify American militarism; attempt once again to justify the unthinkably savage slaughter waged for a decade in Iraq; and reignite hatred against Arabs and Muslims. Just check Twitter.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Save yourself money: switch your phone plan to a Wi-Fi service

Jan. 20, 2015

Imagine an average student with an iPhone: She gives $45 a month to AT&T for cell service. If she switched to my $12.71 Republic Wireless plan, she’d save approximately $387 a year. That’s about 28 jars of Nutella from Amazon, or about 49 months of Netflix.

OPINION | COLUMNS

New anti-abortion law is unnecessary, restricts access to a safe procedure

Jan. 20, 2015

Unless you come from Texas, or you keep up with the intricacies of state politics, you probably aren’t aware of the fact that Texas currently only has seven functional abortion clinics. Some people will probably say that seven is plenty, or perhaps too much. Some people might be horrified by the fact that I say there should be and need to be more. Texas is the biggest state in America, and as of 2013, a safe and healthy medical procedure is now likely impossible for many people who don’t have the resources or ability to go to an abortion clinic that could be hundreds of miles away.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Closer look at Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Jan. 19, 2015

Naor Amir’s response (“Response to previous letter urging UF to cut ties with anti-Palestinian groups”) to Amanda Nelson’s op-ed (“Call to UF: Cut ties with anti-Palestine community”) was persuasive and thought-provoking. We believed it warranted a response, as it contained many of the arguments that have been used to justify Israeli occupation of Palestinian land. These arguments included, “Israel is the only free country in the Middle East,” “Terrorism is bad” and “What about other Middle Eastern conflicts?”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bring an end to sexual theatrics

Jan. 19, 2015

Let’s be real. It’s the 21st century, but — other than advances made in modern contraception — not much has changed in the world of sex. Names are frequently confused. Abandoned muscles are continuously being rediscovered. And, unfortunately, orgasms are still faked.

OPINION | COLUMNS

For 2016 election: Move over, Romney

Jan. 19, 2015

We are now three weeks into the New Year, which means move aside 2015 — 2016 is the star. It’s the year when we finally get to have another presidential election, and not one of those boring ones where one of the candidates is an incumbent. We start with fresh contenders from both parties.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Measles revived by junk science

Jan. 15, 2015

Generally, when people think of Disneyland Park, they picture a fantastic time with friends and family. Sure, they may get sick riding around on the Alice In Wonderland teacups, but few expect to get literally sick, especially with the measles. However, that’s exactly what happened to at least 26 people who recently visited the California theme park.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Gators, let me be your dirty Dear Abby

Jan. 15, 2015

I’ve been writing this column for a year now, and I think it’s high time I introduce myself. My name’s Robyn, but I’m also affectionately referred to as “that one girl who writes those sex articles.”

OPINION | COLUMNS

Political correctness limits free speech

Jan. 14, 2015

The recent events in Paris have shocked nations worldwide. Last week, 12 Charlie Hebdo cartoonists were killed because they used their right of free expression.

OPINION | COLUMNS

College football: not so happily ever after

Jan. 13, 2015

On Jan. 6, 2013, I nearly hit a naked man with my car.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Time to rethink your dream job

Jan. 13, 2015

I don’t care if you identify primarily as an engineer, artist, janitor, fireman, exotic dancer, librarian, lawyer, CIA agent or whatever your secret dream job may be. I’m going to convince you to start your own company this semester.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Don’t pick that Venus flytrap

Jan. 12, 2015

The nature-walk mantra “take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” has not only ecological implications but political and legal ones as well.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Social progress shown through Golden Globes

Jan. 12, 2015

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had an awesome holiday season. It’s great to be back and great to be writing again, although 2015 somehow already feels stressful. The first week of classes was a blur of expensive textbooks and schedule shuffling, but an event this past weekend helped to start my new year off with a bang: the 2015 Golden Globes.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Even offensive speech must be defended

Jan. 12, 2015

By now, you’ve probably heard of the devastating terror attacks that shocked and horrified the nation of France. The terror began last Wednesday when masked gunmen murdered 12 people at the Paris office of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, a publication known for deliberately mocking various religions and politicians. Two days later, the violence continued as the attackers killed a French policewoman then held 16 hostages in a kosher supermarket, killing four.

OPINION | COLUMNS

NAACP bombing receives disappointing coverage

Jan. 11, 2015

You know all about the bombing that occurred outside of the Colorado Springs chapter of the NAACP last Tuesday, right? No? Well, the FBI is investigating the act of potential domestic terrorism after a homemade pipe bomb exploded but failed to ignite a 5-gallon gas container to which it was rigged.

OPINION | COLUMNS

US media has clear selection bias

Jan. 11, 2015

As an avid consumer of news, I am noticing that the American media is not exactly as objective in their coverage as they should be. Actually, that is an understatement; The mainstream news media seems geared toward a viewpoint that engages in speculation rather than the day’s news.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama’s proposed ‘free’ community college has its faults

Jan. 11, 2015

Last week, President Barack Obama unveiled a proposal to make the first two years of community college tuition free for students who uphold certain standards.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why Oregon Ducks are America’s team

Jan. 8, 2015

I’ll start off this column with an apology.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Elected officials need to actually do their jobs

Jan. 8, 2015

Earlier this week, The Associated Press reported that Republican Governor of Maine, Paul LePage, spent almost $53,000 on attorneys in an attempt to exorcise thousands of young people from Medicaid. The attempt failed. What’s even more frustrating about Gov. LePage’s actions is that Maine’s attorney general informed the governor’s office that the lawsuit would likely fail. [1]