Opinions - The Independent Florida Alligator

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Rights should be protected, not attacked

By Noah Beckman | Nov. 7, 2010

I am disappointed The Editorial Board worried about a setback to the gay rights movement and gun control in the same sentence. On one hand, The Editorial Board wants to grant more rights, yet on the other it wants to take rights away. Did you know Florida is actually a state where concealed carry has been legal since 1988? In all that time, only 0.02 percent of carry permits have been revoked. That means 99.98 percent of permit holders have been perfectly good, law-abiding citizens.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Darts & Laurels

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 4, 2010

After this week, we’re seeing red.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Philosophy graduates aren’t poor

By Gene Witmer | Nov. 4, 2010

Thursday’s cartoon “Spin to Win” might be amusing, but it leans on a myth about philosophy majors the data simply do not support.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader appreciates columnist’s views

By Douglas Stewart | Nov. 4, 2010

Bravo to columnist Nate Rushing for his Thursday column.

OPINION | COLUMNS

On how to find that one missing sock

By Hassan Casanova | Nov. 4, 2010

As humans, we tend to lose lots of things.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Entertainers just aren’t entertaining

By Nate Rushing | Nov. 3, 2010

A friend of mine was required to watch “Singing in the Rain” for a class last week. She, like all blue-blooded Americans who have anything remotely close to a heart, loved the movie that tells the whimsical, fictitious story of the first talking movies. This prompted me to look up some of the singing and dancing numbers from the film. As I browsed through “Make ‘em Laugh,” “Singing in the Rain,” etc., I realized something: We settle for some sorry excuses for pop stars these days.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Block the block: Proposed tuition change is unfair for students

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 3, 2010

Imagine going to a coffee shop, ordering your typical 12-ounce latte and being charged for a 20-ounce drink. The shop doesn’t have room to hold any more wasteful small cups, and the large, which costs a good deal more, will lead to higher profits for the premier coffee institution.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Columnist presents a flawed view of WikiLeaks

By Caitlin Plowfield | Nov. 3, 2010

Wednesday’s guest column by Stephen Bartholomew from the University of Toledo on the justification of WikiLeaks’ releases is ridiculous.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Fat chance

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Nov. 2, 2010

The Brits have a big problem. In fact, they have an extra-extra-extra-extra-large problem to wrap their minds and belts around.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Tea Partiers are sipping on Kool-Aid

By Sean Quinn | Nov. 2, 2010

Congratulations to the 112th United States Congress and the new governor of the great state of Florida.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Media’s credibility falling

By Bryan Hood | Nov. 2, 2010

Mediocre journalism does more harm than good.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Columnist presents a problematic viewpoint

By Caitlin Niblick | Nov. 1, 2010

There are many problematic statements in Nate Rushing’s article. First of all, he suggests criminally charging abortion clinics and doctors, who provide a much-needed service.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Column riddled with falsehoods

By Bryon Pointer | Nov. 1, 2010

In Nate Rushing’s Thursday column, Rushing said “there’s strong evidence for an abortion and breast cancer link” and cited the discredited, conspiratorial abortionbreastcancer.com group as his source.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Advice to the new Tea Party Congress

Nov. 1, 2010

Now that the bloodletting has stopped and we collectively nurse our wounds after a messy and angry election cycle, the mantle of governance weighs heavy on newly minted insurgent members of Congress.

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Wednesday columnist should learn how to write opinions

By Jordan Peters | Nov. 1, 2010

Can someone please explain the difference between journalism and advertising to the political science majors working for the editorial staff?

OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Reader opposes airboat curfews

By Jerry Wetherington | Nov. 1, 2010

If the proposed ordinance to enforce a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. airboat curfew in Alachua County passes, it will cost county taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. During two years of public hearings on this issue, county reports have come to the conclusion that Alachua County has no compelling reason to adopt an airboat curfew. The county attorneys have indicated the same.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Mission accomplished? Rally prompts reasonable dilemma

By Rebecca Bauman | Oct. 31, 2010

I admit — I wept when Jon Stewart announced “The Rally to Restore Sanity.” Since entering college, this girl, who once thought there were no such things as “stupid people,” had grown into the kind of person burdened with very real nausea at a glimpse of Fox News. Or any news program, for that matter. Any message board, too. Any public political dialogue that descended into arrogance and insanity — and so many do. The reaction frustrated me, and when Stewart called for a rally to encourage reasonableness and respect in public discourse, I felt my anxieties might be soothed.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Amendment 4 worth another look

By Chris Dodson | Oct. 31, 2010

When you go to the voting precinct this week, you might notice a group of six amendments waiting for you. Just don’t let the numbering confuse you. Two of the amendments were removed, and someone decided not to change the numbering.

OPINION | EDITORIALS

Mo’ money, mo’ problems: Spending is too high

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Oct. 31, 2010

As candidates across our great land of amber waves of grain push full throttle in the final two days of election season, they’re realizing it’s do-or-die time.

OPINION | COLUMNS

Halloween about dressing down, not up

By Hassan Casanova | Oct. 28, 2010

I’ve always told myself I would never be the type of parent who would force his dog into a ridiculous Halloween costume.