Opinion | Letters To The Editor - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Online commenters show cowardice

By Bryan Griffin | Oct. 18, 2009

Johnathan Lott is the vice chairman for the UF College Republicans, my fraternity brother and good friend. On Wednesday, he wrote a biting but respectful response to the column bashing the "No More Che Day Protest" my club hosted. I am glad we got heated responses to our visibility stunt. We hold these events so that people staunchly set in their ways will have to at least consider their viewpoints again to form a concise, respectful, educated (and sometimes misguided) argument in return.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Homecoming attendees show cruel side

By Daniel Gordon | Oct. 18, 2009

I was excited to go to the Homecoming Parade. I think of it as an excuse for all of Gainesville to come out and celebrate, regardless of our differences. I thought it would be a nice occasion to take my dog out. But, in doing so I was exposed to some of the worst manners residents have to offer.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gator Growl disappoints alumnus

By Lauren Hirsch | Oct. 18, 2009

I am a Florida alumnus and have attended Gator Growl for the past 11 years. This year I left sorely disappointed. My first and foremost complaint is that there were no fireworks. This is a tradition that we look forward to every year. Not to mention that the marching band didn't march, and the cheerleaders didn't cheer.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

SG disregards where student money goes

By Eric Fredrick | Oct. 15, 2009

I attended my first SG meeting Tuesday night. Nothing could prepare me for the absolute clusterf**k I witnessed. A large constituency of SG was able and willing to vote on a $1.35 million bill without even reading where the money was going. If you aren't aware, SG is being pressed by the UF Administration to give up 6 percent of its budget for "service fees." Nevermind what those are; UF doesn't want you to know, and many senators felt the same way.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Bus drivers deserve respect from patrons

By Greyson Thigpen | Oct. 15, 2009

I was scanning over the Opinions section Wednesday and noticed the results of Tuesday's poll amidst the frivolous quarrels over Guevara. Fifty-one percent of people don't like riding the bus? I know this has been said before, but RTS workers are seriously under-appreciated.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Patriotism not required for education

By Jaime Astorga | Oct. 15, 2009

The lawsuit filed by the ACLU on behalf of the student who did not stand during the pledge is not "frivolous." What is frivolous is being kicked out of his math class because he did not want to pledge allegiance to the United States.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader’s indoctrination claims invalid

By Mark Jaskowski | Oct. 15, 2009

I should not be surprised that, when the Alligator reported on the active role the International Socialist Organization took in organizing for the National Equality March in Washington D.C., Rafael Yaniz accused the paper of trying to "indoctrinate" its readership.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gators shouldn't cheat deserving fans

By Robert Cousin | Oct. 15, 2009

First off, I would like to congratulate all of you who got a ticket to the Florida-Arkansas game. I have only been able to get one ticket this year.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Protest of Che Guevara misguided

By John Story | Oct. 13, 2009

On Tuesday, I was very pleased reading Paul Murty's guest column, "Che is a hero, not a terrorist." This article, the superb cover story on the National Equality March and the report back on Hugo Chavez' health care campaigns in Venezuela made for a very progressive issue that made my day a happy one. In response to Friday's anti-Che Guevara rally, my friends and I hastily organized a counter-demonstration, using a flag with Guevara's portrait and the slogan "Hasta la victoria siempre" scrolled at the bottom.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Alligator shows socialist slant

By Rafael A. Yaniz | Oct. 13, 2009

By reading today's Alligator, it seems that the paper should be renamed Granma UF or The Socialist Newsletter of Gator Comrades. The International Socialist Organization was prominently quoted in one article without a counter position from a group that may not support their issue. Another article positively framed an event about a health clinic set up by Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez without mentioning that he has stolen land without payment, a la Cuba's Fidel Castro, has nationalized private businesses and has shut down more than 50 private radio stations, television stations and newspapers critical of his totalitarian tactics. And the kicker was the opinion column calling Che Guevara a "hero" with laughable propaganda that failed to mention Guevara's death squads of innocent Cubans. The Alligator's motto "We Inform. You Decide." should be changed to "We Indoctrinate. You Obey."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Flash mobs too loud, obtrusive for indoors

By Chad Kimes | Oct. 13, 2009

Last night at about 5:30 I was studying in the Reitz Union for my two Wednesday exams. The room gradually got a bit louder. People dressed in black hustled and bustled about but were being generally unobtrusive.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Florida lacks pre-game sportsmanship

By James Honeycutt | Oct. 11, 2009

I congratulate UF on defeating Louisiana State University Saturday night in Tiger Stadium. I was in the stadium.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Thursday column's author misinformed

By Fara Cohen | Oct. 8, 2009

I'm a Gator, and I read the Alligator every day. Tommy Maple's Thursday column is one of the worst I have read and one of the most obvious examples of an author not doing his research.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Philadelphia doesn't hate dogs

By Greg Fulginiti | Oct. 8, 2009

I am shocked and extremely insulted from Tommy Maple's article about my birthplace and the city in which most of my family resides. I am not going to comment about the dog fighting subject because I love dogs and know their value to our society.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Burger King should keep it tacky

By Kenny Picciano | Oct. 7, 2009

As I read the editorial about Burger King's imminent extreme makeover, I became considerably miffed. When I go into B, the last words I want to cross my mind are "upscale, hip, and edgy."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Student should be grateful for food

By Victoria Shelly | Oct. 6, 2009

I'd just like to respond to the letter to the editor written in Tuesday's edition of the Alligator by Alyssa Lai.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

People should be more responsible

By Christopher Peralta | Oct. 6, 2009

On Wednesday, The New York Times ran an article about prepaid cards and the large amount of fees they charge. Like credit cards, these cards have consumers agree to certain terms by simply using the card.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Church group has exhausted message

By David Hughes | Oct. 6, 2009

The Dove World Outreach Center phenomenon is getting ridiculous. I understand that in the United States we support a plurality of opinion and the concept of free speech. However, since when do we passively allow blatant hatred and bigotry to go unchecked? Though I don't typically lecture people on the absolutes of "right" and "wrong," this is definitely an instance in our lives where we need to take a step back and say, "Damn it, that is wrong!"

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reitz Union doesn't meet needs

By Marisa Kreitman | Oct. 6, 2009

I just have to comment on the inefficient services in the Reitz Union cafeteria and with students who are sick with the flu that choose to come to school, both of which I had the horror of experiencing today.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Coverage of church excessive

By Danny Gordon | Oct. 5, 2009

I find the whole Dove World Outreach Center epidemic at this point to be rather overblown and played out. It is obvious that this church and its members are simply attention whores. In a seemingly slow news cycle, they have been able to attract and maintain the attention of media outlets such as the Alligator. I am all for free speech, but there comes a point where it is obvious these people are being used for a sensationalist purpose, and in doing so, it allows their message to spread, instead of allowing their passions to simply burn out and fade away into memory.