Opinion

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

IRHA a fiscally responsible, inclusive organization

By Sean Johnson | Sep. 13, 2010

I want to clear up misconceptions that were represented about the Inter-Residence Hall Association in Monday’s Alligator. IRHA serves as the major programming arm of UF’s residence halls as well as the students’ voice in the residence halls. Furthermore, IRHA prides itself on its ability to build great leaders out of its ranks, many of whom go on to achieve great things in the university and the world.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Letter diminished IRHA reputation

By Courtney Read | Sep. 13, 2010

IRHA has come a long way these past few years. One would think it would be in the IRHA body’s nature to work together to resolve residence life issues and build community.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

America could benefit from lying robots

Sep. 13, 2010

I was emboldened by news last week that robotics finally made the technological leap forward necessary to create the one thing that can conceivably save our country from collapsing under the weight of our own self-importance — lying robot politicians.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Ignorance mars community relations

By Chris Dodson | Sep. 12, 2010

The proposed Islamic community center known as Park 51 in New York City has drawn a lot of criticism that, quite frankly, makes Americans and the media look absolutely foolish.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Peace & Dove: Locals showed sense of community

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 12, 2010

The circus came to town this week.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Peace and Riot: Hateful messages have right to free speech

By Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 9, 2010

Gen. Petraeus said it may endanger troops if the Quran burning occurs. Hillary Clinton called their planned inferno disgraceful. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called the international fiasco distasteful. Gov. Charlie Crist called it offensive.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Facebook full of facades and lies

By Hassan Casanova | Sep. 9, 2010

While drunkenly watching “Closer,” I vaguely remember Natalie Portman saying, “Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off, but it’s better if you do.” And it made me think: Could I pull off a pink wig?

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Loving, praying for your enemies is real radical Christianity

By Jimmy Trent | Sep. 9, 2010

I am saddened that Pastor Terry Jones of Dove World Outreach Center is leading an outrageous act of burning Qurans on Sept. 11. I am saddened that this may result in harm to Americans worldwide as Gen. David Petraeus stated Monday.  Ultimately, I am saddened that Jesus is being misrepresented to millions while news outlets across the world continue to pounce on this story as it unfolds.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Scaredy Cat: Scott drops planned UF debate

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2010

Ouch, Rick. Gators, we just got snubbed.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Blame Game

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 8, 2010

The blame game takes on a different meaning when the stakes suddenly involve more than 200 million gallons of oil, a four-month investigation, 11 lives, ecological calamity and billions of dollars in retribution.

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Concept of justice extremely important

By Bryan Griffin | Sep. 8, 2010

My fraternity, Delta Upsilon, holds justice as its founding and most important principle. It is my sincerest belief that this is the reason the fraternity has persisted since it was founded in 1834.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Inaction similar to support of Dove

By Ben Marcus | Sep. 8, 2010

As a former Gainesville resident, I’m displeased with the reaction to the Dove World Outreach Center’s planned “Burn a Quran Day.” Students need to use their education and make sure these people know they do not represent Gainesville.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Attention only fuels fanatics’ fire

By Christopher Moody | Sep. 8, 2010

Until Sept. 11, we saw terrorists as nothing but extremists who had taken their violent turn in history.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Human wrongs: UN report misrepresents America’s struggle for human rights

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2010

We’ve come an awfully long way since Geneva.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Late report

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2010

University Police Department Chief Linda Stump announced Tuesday she’s still awaiting an independent report from the consulting agency responsible for reviewing the UPD’s response and subsequent March 2 shooting of a UF graduate student while on campus. The editorial board has many concerns about the outcome.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Frat recruitment breaks stereotypes

By Sean Quinn | Sep. 7, 2010

I participated in the Interfraternity Council’s fall 2010 recruitment this past week. Now, as much as I’d love to say I entered into the process like Hunter S. Thompson did in “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72,” — a journalist looking for the scoop on a mystical and oft-misinterpreted process — that wasn’t the case. I was genuinely interested in finding a fraternity that would suit my needs.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Late report

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2010

University Police Department Chief Linda Stump announced Tuesday she’s still awaiting an independent report from the consulting agency responsible for reviewing the UPD’s response and subsequent March 2 shooting of a UF graduate student while on campus. The editorial board has many concerns about the outcome.

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OPINION  |  EDITORIALS

Human wrongs: UN report misrepresents America’s struggle for human rights

By The Alligator Editorial Board | Sep. 7, 2010

We’ve come an awfully long way since Geneva.

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OPINION  |  LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Gainesville draws international attention for all the wrong reasons

By Idan Solon | Sep. 7, 2010

For all the clear-minded, innovative scholars who study in Gainesville, the town has drawn the international attention of the Associated Press and the top commander in Afghanistan because of the grossly ignorant, misguided gestures of the Dove World Outreach Center, which plans to burn the Quran Sept. 11. Spare the idle criticisms of the Quran. The overarching consideration is millions of people across the world have an interpretation of Islam that they say influences them to live peacefully and productively. 

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OPINION  |  COLUMNS

Frat recruitment breaks stereotypes

By Sean Quinn | Sep. 7, 2010

I participated in the Interfraternity Council’s fall 2010 recruitment this past week. Now, as much as I’d love to say I entered into the process like Hunter S. Thompson did in “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ‘72,” — a journalist looking for the scoop on a mystical and oft-misinterpreted process — that wasn’t the case. I was genuinely interested in finding a fraternity that would suit my needs.