Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | EDITORIALS

First among equals

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 27, 2011

There are many ways we can describe the New York Senate's decision to pass a measure making same-sex marriage legal. We could lay out rustic philosophical arguments as to why such a move for our country was the prudent and rational thing to do. We could also build a 50-foot-tall "straw man" adorned in the ever-patented relics of religious bigotry and set it ablaze with bumper-sticker slogans and rally cries.

OPINION | COLUMNS

The time has come for GTL to GTFO

By Shea Ford | June 27, 2011

I hate "Jersey Shore."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

To our new pals; Welcome to the big leagues baby Gators

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 27, 2011

For some of you, it's part two of a sweltering summer in Gainesville. Halftime is over. Hang in there and drink a lot of water. Summer B is a little more lively around here.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lost in the sauce: Swimming to maturity

By BILL O'CONNOR< | June 27, 2011

We pretended nothing happened. Five of us shared whiskey and a joint and just stared at the fire.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Tip of the cap; For those about to leave us, we salute you

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 15, 2011

What a six weeks it's been.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Yes, besides boozing, there's actually more to our town

June 15, 2011

I'm about to begin a journey into a jungle. This isn't your typical jungle. Here, habitats range from indeterminate bars to packed apartments. Sustenance is in the form of ethanol. The male animals are characterized by Polos, reversed hats and the use of the word "bro."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Turn the page

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 15, 2011

With every passing day, it becomes clearer that nothing will stop the Republican Party from living up to Jack Kennedy's "circus elephant" characterization. On the national level, a clown car full of jokers, white sepulchers and those named Michele Bachmann continue to wallow in their own intellectual feces.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Our affection for elections & erections

By Shea Ford | June 13, 2011

You think he would have learned from his countless role models.

OPINION | COLUMNS

As politicians open their mouths, Orwell backflips in his grave

June 8, 2011

In 1946, George Orwell said that political language "is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Big Deal?

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 8, 2011

About 40 years ago, a herd of reporters gathered in a Democratic politician's office for a casual, off-the-record Q&A session. However, the only "Q" the reporters were concerned with that day was the war in Vietnam and why the United States was still involved. They kept pressing the politician for a definitive answer, something they had tried to do repeatedly in the past to little avail. The members of the press would finally get their answer when the politician whipped out his whoopee stick, pointed to it and proclaimed "This is why we're in the Vietnam!"

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lost in the sauce: traveling along the greener pastures

By BILL O'CONNOR< | June 6, 2011

"Sith, get one of your boys to cross the Mekong. Bring back a couple of shopping bags full of pot."

OPINION | COLUMNS

A ticking time bomb in getting bombed

By Shea Ford | June 6, 2011

"I am become Death, destroyer of worlds."

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Star in the Night; When many asked "why?" RFK asked "why not?"

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 6, 2011

Monday marked the 43rd anniversary of the death of Robert Francis Kennedy, the 64th attorney general of the United States and one-time presidential candidate who was gunned down in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel only hours after locking up the pivotal California Democratic primary.

OPINION | COLUMNS

When students become sausage: How education has turned into an assembly line

June 1, 2011

Recently I was watching an interview of Dave Chappelle, who has faded from the public consciousness after fleeing the burdens of being an American cultural icon.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

The "M" Word; GOP to Romney: "My Jesus can beat up your Jesus"

By The Alligator Editorial Board | June 1, 2011

Sometime today, Willard Mitt Romney will unveil what has been one of the worst-kept secrets in American politics as he formally announces his bid for the Republican nomination for president of the United States.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Leave it to prophets to ruin a good party

By Shea Ford | May 30, 2011

Impending doom arrived May 21, 2011.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

He did it again!; But then again, it's Rick Scott (he tends to do this)

By The Alligator Editorial Board | May 30, 2011

This isn't even fun anymore.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gov. Scott is killing education one penstroke at a time

By Andy Ford | May 30, 2011

When Gov. Rick Scott announced his budget proposal in February, the word "education" was notably absent from the political event. And when he did roll out his education budget proposal, it called for slashing already underfunded public schools by more than 10 percent.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lost in the sauce: A hitchhiker's (hazy) guide to alcoholism

By BILL O'CONNOR< | May 30, 2011

I gulp a frosty mug of Pabst, wink at Gerry and ask, "Hey Hank, when are you going to start serving blacks in here?"

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Wanted: A viable minority party that actually inspires students

By The Alligator Editorial Board | May 25, 2011

Another day, another Student-Government-wants-to-quash-the-opposition-claim.