Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | COLUMNS

Medieval faire fun for nearly everyone

By Wesley Campbell | Feb. 8, 2011

If you didn’t make it out to the 25th Annual Hoggetowne Medieval Faire during these last two weeks, you missed out. I can hear the naysayers now: That little show is a nest of seedy Alachua County residents, their bawling, scurvy-ridden children and people with enough body hair to make you ponder when exactly shaving was invented. These are the kinds of people who blow their entire tax refund on anachronistic, dull-edged replica swords, furry-esque fox tails, hats and funnel cakes.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gun law information readily available

By J.T. HELM | Feb. 8, 2011

I have been reading up on Florida Senate Bill 234. I suggest all of the people who have been debating this recently do the same. I am an avid and licensed hunter in the state of Florida and part of that privilege is learning the law. Because I am pursuing a concealed carry license, I have done just that. The law states that you must have a concealed carry license to open carry. Anyone visibly carrying will most assuredly be checked by police. So the idea that any student can carry is a ludicrous idea. You will be required to have a concealed permit, and you must be finger printed to have this license, so not everyone will be carrying these weapons. How many of the 50,000 are under 21, which is the legal age for concealed carry?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Liberty allows reality TV to thrive

By Rob Myers | Feb. 8, 2011

I think Laura Ellermeyer’s column Tuesday is all wrong. First off, there is nothing atrocious about McDonald’s except how awesome they are—but then that’s not really the point of her column; the ethical responsibilities of reality TV is the point.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Lending a hand not a reality TV priority

By Laura Ellermeyer | Feb. 7, 2011

Ah, reality TV.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Long Division

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 7, 2011

It seems counterintuitive that a school board would vote to undo a policy which led to better schools all over the district.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Educators don’t deserve so much criticism

By MATT MINGUS | Feb. 7, 2011

Every weekday, my wife is responsible for educating more than 100 sixth-graders in an Alachua County public middle school.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Star-mangled banner: Super mistake forgivable

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 7, 2011

Christina Aguilera’s mistakes while singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl made our stomachs sink.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Teacher unions help the community

By Jordan Dominy | Feb. 7, 2011

It would take a forum longer than a letter to the editor to correct the half-truths and mischaracterizations in Zack Smith’s editorial about teacher unions.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Teachers’ unions need schooling

By Zack Smith | Feb. 6, 2011

Teachers are one of America’s most valuable resources. Unfortunately, many believe this resource has been diluted with impurities and imperfections to such an extent that the profession is often derided as one for the least among us.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Work it out: Minimum wage jobs aren’t the answer

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 6, 2011

State Sen. Nancy Detert should avoid walking past an unemployment office anytime soon.

OPINION | COLUMNS

FDA’s ban is for nation’s own good

By Brett Wager | Feb. 6, 2011

Gay and bisexual men have routinely been subjected to various forms of condemnation, prejudice, stereotyping, hate and physical brutality.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Federal funding should be steered away from Planned Parenthood

By Caroline Pilgrim | Feb. 3, 2011

In response to Wednesday’s “Two to Tango,” I wanted to address your levity in what should be a grave issue: Abortion and prostitution should never be joking matters. First, your semantics are deceptive because after watching Live Action’s 11-minute “conversation, ” it is clear Live Action’s intent is not as “anti-abortion” as it is “pro-life” and pro-law (unlike Planned Parenthood’s foul employee who dropped the f-bomb at least six times). The behavior of this worker is morally reprehensible by both our federal government and the state of New Jersey. Certainly, the ex-employee in the video “went against company policy,” but if you dig a little deeper into Live Action’s work throughout the past three years, you realize that this is not an isolated incident in the company, which the video pointed out received more than $300 million per year in federal funding. It seems that if an organization is unable to monitor employees who are consistently breaking federal and state statutes, perhaps tax dollars should be steered away from supporting potential company hazards. It seems Planned Parenthood has gotten itself in a tight spot, and Lila Rose’s incredible initiative to utilize social media is finally forcing them to reconsider their inability to smooth out what is rightfully the most controversial issue on our nation’s conscience.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Second Amendment is here to stay

By Nelson Anderson | Feb. 3, 2011

In response to Wednesday’s letter, “Second Amendment needs another look,” I feel like re-examining the Second Amendment is old hat. Grundy stated the age-old anti-gun activists argument of the “conditional clause.” Sir, the Second Amendment has had another look. In fact, the Supreme Court has directly ruled “no” on it fewer than five times, plus four indirect rulings. Each word has been broken down and clearly defined. I’m happy to say that the Supreme Court has not taken the same view as you. I think the issue was settled a long time ago.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bill of Rights doesn’t know party lines

By Bob Minchin | Feb. 3, 2011

Conservative thinkers could see this coming before President Obama was even elected.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 3, 2011

Our friends up north may be buried in feet of snow, but we’ve got avalanches of a different sort on our hands. February brings with it a cascade of papers, exams and projects designed to clog our rooms with a blizzard of notes and handouts. As we dig ourselves out, we bring you the we’re-shaking-because-of-our-caffeine-dependency-not-the-weather edition of...Darts & Laurels.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Timing isn’t everything

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 2, 2011

Some states and cities are considering allowing the sale of liquor on Sundays for the sake of higher tax revenue.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

New Paper; Future uncertain for News Corp iPad app

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Feb. 2, 2011

We have a loyal readership, but our newspaper is one of few thriving in paper form. As sharing information online becomes more popular, journalists continue scratching their heads and wondering how their organizations can survive in a world with free instant information. Some have websites readers subscribe to for a fee, but the results have varied.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Bombs more important than our brains

By Chad Mohammed | Feb. 2, 2011

In 107 days, the federal government spent as much money on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq as it did on education. Granted, a large share of education funding comes from state and local sources, but if the Republicans have their way, even less money will go towards education.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Cats more appropriate pets while in college

By Wesley Campbell | Feb. 1, 2011

Are you a cat or dog person?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Players don’t deserve special treatment

By Daniel E. Colley | Feb. 1, 2011

Janoris Jenkins has again been arrested. On this occasion, he is charged with possession of marijuana. During 2009, he was arrested and charged with affray and resisting arrest without violence. Affray, in case you are wondering, translates to fighting and is a charge used by law enforcement officials reserved for UF football players and other celebrities that they don’t want to charge with assault or battery.