Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Arab women's rights movement needs support

By Akansha Mishra | Nov. 3, 2011

A longing for political liberty has fueled many of the recent uprisings in Arab and North African countries. First the efforts of protesters in Tunisia to oust President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali caused a massive chain reaction. Neighboring countries gazed at the willful power of their peers across the border and quickly developed their own anti-government demonstrations. Not long after, government opposition from other countries, including non-Arab countries, began to show their faces through similar protests. In particular, a resonating voice screamed across the world: If Tunisia can do it, so can we. Social media echoed this spirit via audio and video clips and live on our computers, televisions and cellphones.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Politicians altering Occupy dialogue

By Andrew Smith | Nov. 3, 2011

I was enraged by the article titled "Occupy Gainesville, Occupy UF pair up for demonstration."

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Abortion affects more than one body

By Rachel Crow | Nov. 3, 2011

In Rosemary Daniels' guest column, she stated her opinion that a woman's right to have an abortion is unalienable.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Educational inequity a major issue

By Vicky Riquelme | Nov. 3, 2011

Travis Hornsby's column Monday highlights perhaps the most pressing issue facing America today - the gross disparities in academic achievement between students of low and high socioeconomic backgrounds at all levels of education.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Peanut gallery; GOP lacking star candidates

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 2, 2011

Mitt Romney is every Republican's favorite number-two pick for president. If no one else works, the GOP will settle for Romney's lackluster, establishment candidacy.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Focus should be on culture of education

By Alex Guilmartin | Nov. 2, 2011

There's been a lot of talk about education lately, both in the Alligator and on campus.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Drinking age should not be lowered

By Courtney Pavlok | Nov. 2, 2011

I recently read the column, "Drinking age should be lowered" that described UF's proposal to treat underage students who have alcohol-related illnesses without stigmatizing them.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Should the 1 percent control more than 40 percent of the wealth?

By Sami Main | Nov. 2, 2011

The wealthy abuse their power

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Stupid system; Standardized tests clearly don't help

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 1, 2011

Last year, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reported that the U.S. fell to an "average" rating in terms of economic performance.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Obama is no better than Che Guevara

By Dave Schneider | Nov. 1, 2011

In yesterday's paper, the Alligator re-published a column by Dartmouth College student Alesy Iturrey condemning Ernesto "Che" Guevara and the widespread use of his image.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gator Growl will be a great experience

By Anthony Reynolds | Nov. 1, 2011

Greetings, Gators!

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Tuition traps; Unjust immigration system needs reform

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 31, 2011

The country's absolute failure to address the problem of illegal immigration creates messy situations all over the country.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Everyday life should contain politeness

By Sami Main | Oct. 31, 2011

This column is going to be about tact and politeness, so stop reading now if those two things don't appeal to you.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

North Florida Herald to close its doors

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 30, 2011

In this cruel economy, the news industry has suffered great losses over the past few years. October in particular has been a tough month for the newspapers in Florida.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Tax-neutral plan can still fund Medicare and Social Security at current level

By Mignon A. Craig | Oct. 30, 2011

The following is a tax-neutral and nonpartisan way to continue funding Medicare and Social Security at the current level. I have suggested this to all members of the Congressional "Super Committee," our senators and two local congressmen.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Cultural appropriation is inappropriate

By Laura Guzman | Oct. 30, 2011

Usually I laugh at the ignorance of your columnists, but the Alligator Editorial Board's dismissal of the STARS campaign is a new low.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts and laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 27, 2011

Halloween is the best holiday ever. No family, no annoying caroling and no fruitcake. Plus, you get to dress up as your favorite superhero, villain or monster and, for the ladies, any sexy "insert profession here."

OPINION | COLUMNS

Foreign students can benefit work force

By Akansha Mishra | Oct. 27, 2011

Now more than ever, Americans have been questioning the importation of foreign labor. With the illegal immigration issue heating up, conversations of ethics, morals and rationale have mixed together to form a complex debate.

OPINION | COLUMNS

'180' film likens abortion to Holocaust

By Rosemary Daniels | Oct. 27, 2011

On Tuesday, an anti-choice group came to campus. Members were offering DVDs with a cryptic "180" logo on their cases, the contents of which were not in any way mysterious or new. The film presented itself as a documentary, interviewing people on the street about their views on abortion.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Hands off; Government abuses eminent domain

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 26, 2011

In the U.S., the line between where your property rights end and the so-called "public interest" begin have always been a point of contention.