Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

America must take pragmatic approach with China in future

By Guillermo R. Pradieu | Oct. 16, 2011

Americans rarely ever pay heed to international celebrations that honor the establishment of a foreign nation. On Oct. 9, the People's Republic of China celebrated the centennial of the 1911 Chinese Revolution. Aside the cacophony of other pressing matters, this event signifies three important issues all Americans should be concerned with: (1) the upcoming Fifth Generation of leadership, (2) potential foreign and economic issues and (3) the future of China.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Protesters need to understand system in order to make changes

By Matt Colbert | Oct. 16, 2011

Alex Guilmartin made a good point in his Thursday column, lamenting the fact that the loud protests of the Occupy Wall Street movement are full of sound and fury yet signify nothing.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts and laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 13, 2011

For this installment of the Alligator's weekly tradition, we're turning over a new leaf.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Steve Jobs embraced life's hardships

By Akansha Mishra | Oct. 13, 2011

Recently, the world mourned the loss of a revolutionary figure: Steve Jobs. Jobs reconciled philosophy, courage and technology to significantly alter the way that we look at the world.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Not-so-slick Rick; Governor should leave liberal arts alone

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 12, 2011

For Gov. Rick Scott, the preparation of a competent workforce should be the sole purpose of a college education.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Anger is not enough to change the world

By Alex Guilmartin | Oct. 12, 2011

It appears that Occupy Gainesville is ready and raring to go.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Political system should protect citizens from greed

By Travis Pettengill | Oct. 12, 2011

I am writing this in response to Travis Hornsby's column, "Why I am no longer liberal-minded." With no disrespect to Hornsby (I agree with everything he said, in fact), he is not saying anything about the big picture. And I have to hand it to him for working for Kerry, the least likable and least articulate Democratic candidate in living memory.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Columnist needs to understand the poor, unprivileged

By Diana Moreno | Oct. 11, 2011

This is a response to Travis Hornsby's column from Monday called "Why I am no longer liberal-minded." I would much rather spend my post-work hours doing something relaxing rather than writing a guest column, but I must do something about the rage headache your column has caused me.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Fox's stubbornness, corporate greed almost killed ‘The Simpsons'

By Kaylanie Alvarez | Oct. 11, 2011

As Homer Simpson would say, "Woo Hoo!"

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Don't judge protesters by same picket sign

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 10, 2011

This weekend, an Occupy Wall Street protester was captured in a photograph defecating on a police car in New York City.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Fair's fare; Mandatory minimums don't always fit crimes

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 9, 2011

A couple of decades ago, Congress mandated that, in most drug-related convictions, the defendant must receive a minimum sentence for possession of the drug, usually depending upon weight and type of drug.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Why I am no longer liberal-minded

By Travis Hornsby | Oct. 9, 2011

In a recent response column to my piece on Social Security, the writer suggested that I came from a wealthy background and loved to walk all over the poor to get ahead.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Columnists were right to defend vegetarian lifestyle

By Amelia Jensen | Oct. 9, 2011

In response to Greg Allard's reply ("Thirty Years Later, Becoming Vegetarian ‘Best Decision' of Life," 4 Oct. 2011) to Sami Main's article ("Vegetarian Options Should Not Be Feared," 4 Oct. 2011), I would like to send high praise to both Allard and Main for speaking out about the benefits of a vegan diet.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Society should consider motivation for terrorism

By Zulkar Khan | Oct. 9, 2011

It has almost become axiomatic that terrorism does not stem from religious doctrine. Rather, the violence espoused by Muslim militants or preachers such as Anwar al-Awlaki remains rooted in political frustration.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 6, 2011

Well, this week has finally come to an end, and it's been an interesting one.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Alabama immigration law not a solution

By Akansha Mishra | Oct. 6, 2011

The simple truth is that the repercussions of illegal immigration can be detrimental to our country. When dealing with this issue, we must keep our national self-interests in mind.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Ten years of war is too much

By William Tew | Oct. 6, 2011

Ten years ago today, President Bush launched Operation Enduring Freedom, the United States-led invasion of Afghanistan.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Al-Awlaki's death necessary

By Rahul Bhandari | Oct. 6, 2011

There is a very interesting thought experiment, widely referred to as the "Trolley Problem," which poses the question of whether to save a group of five people by diverting a trolley away from them toward a man laying in a hammock who would be killed instead.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Why the iPhone Ire?

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 5, 2011

If you didn't watch the unveiling of the new iPhone on Tuesday, we just have to one thing to say: Way to have a life.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Al-Awlaki forfeited his rights

By Steve Packard | Oct. 5, 2011

International terrorists raise new questions to international and domestic law, an area in which I have absolutely no credentials.