Friday, November 15, 2024

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Commentary

COMMENTARY

Readers misinterpret cartoon, has merit

I am writing to offer my support to the "man on trial" Mike Ramsey, the infamous State News cartoonist. I was appalled as I strolled down Grand River Avenue last week to see students gathered outside the State News building toting magic-marker-written signs stating "Fire Ramsey" and handing out yellow ribbons as well as copies of Ramsey's cartoon along with a statement declaring it as "anti-American" and asking for an apology. I believe Ramsey to be right-on in acknowledging the abuse prisoners in Abu Ghraib face(d) and as clear evidence of the exploitive cruelties of some American soldiers we saw in the disgusting photographs shown on the CBS "60 Minutes" special. And for those who didn't see the American soldiers walking prisoners on leashes, threatening them with vicious dogs, and standing behind naked, masked, bloody prisoners giving the thumbs up sign — wicked grins spread across their faces — I suggest you use your resources and seek out that information for it will disgust you and forever alter your idea of America's fair and humane facilities.

COMMENTARY

Right uses bullying tactics against SN

I wish to respond to some of the right-wing extremist attacks on Mike Ramsey's editorial cartoon on Veterans Day (SN 11/11). In the last several days, these outrageous comments have escalated in their intolerant tones.

COMMENTARY

Trusted leader?

She's our leader and representative. It's MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon's job to be the university's leader when relating to the community.

COMMENTARY

Expensive flops

Bringing in a mediocre band with a big name doesn't mean good attendance or a profit. This is the lesson ASMSU learned — for the third time. Some members of the undergraduate student government admitted they "dropped the ball" on organizing concerts.

COMMENTARY

Soldiers fight for right to free speech, cartoons and protests included

On Monday afternoon, a group of demonstrators gathered outside the offices of The State News in protest of my cartoon that ran on Veterans Day, which depicted a World War II veteran saying to a younger serviceman, "I liberated a torture camp back in '45." The younger serviceman, bloody baseball bat in hand, replies, "I work in one." The first e-mail arrived in my inbox at 8:57 a.m.

COMMENTARY

Fight the smile

Wal-Mart is evil. Many people seem to think Wal-Mart takes the cake in a world full of awful, selfish corporations. What began as small towns protesting the movement of the giant corporation into their market has spread into a nationwide outcry against it.

COMMENTARY

Back us up

Where have you been in the past seven months? Where were you when your students needed a strong voice backing them up at forums and meetings? Even just one week ago, when the independent commission released its report, you were nowhere to be seen. The State News has been critical of the lack of student input on the independent commission reviewing the April 2-3 whatever-you-want-to-call-it.

COMMENTARY

Cartoon represents abortion under Alito

My commendations to Mike Ramsey for a simultaneously subtle and yet powerfully strong cartoon depicting "Alito" (SN 11/16) spelled out in twisted coat hangers. As a future physician, I shudder to think about the dangers desperate women would go to prior to the legalization of abortion, and I shudder even more at the thought of what might happen if the Supreme Court reaches the right's stated goal.

COMMENTARY

Soldier: Next time, draw what you know

After seeing Mike Ramsey's Veterans Day cartoon (SN 11/11), I felt compelled to write to you. I am a soldier currently stationed at Baghdad Central Correctional Facility, better known as Abu Ghraib.

COMMENTARY

Online program useful tool if used properly

Having transferred from a school that used the paper and pen method of homework delivery and having worked as a physics teaching assistant here at MSU, I decided to write in response to Lindsey Poisson's column, "Online program more painful than helpful, students all around suffer" (SN 11/04). The column exemplifies the common student position of hating the player rather than the game regarding Learning Online Network Computer-Assisted Personalized Approach, or LON-CAPA. Submitting answers via LON-CAPA is not intended to replace going to class, reading the book or working out problems step-by-step on paper.

COMMENTARY

Great movies can be found everywhere

Creativity in film is something that all directors strive to achieve. To flat out attack the film industry as Ryan McCormick did in "Originality becoming rare in Hollywood — what happened to real talent?" (SN 11/16) is both pointless and unsubstantiated.

COMMENTARY

Avian flu is threat; U.S. should prepare

As a liberal outraged by many Bush administration policies, I was disappointed to read the staff editorial, "Ill Intention" (SN 11/04). In writing the piece, the State News staff has contributed to the cheap politicization of science. Avian influenza, or the H5N1 virus, poses a very grave threat and demands immediate preparation.

COMMENTARY

Calling shots

If East Lansing is going to have a mayor, at least give him some power. Sure, former Mayor Mark Meadows was the chairman of the independent commission that investigated the April 2-3 disturbances, but beyond his duty as a spokesperson of the East Lansing City Council, the mayor is essentially just another member of the council. Students who were questioned in "Word on the street: What do you think the East Lansing mayor does?" (SN 11/16) weren't even sure what the mayor's duties are.

COMMENTARY

Enough torture

The issue of torture is back in the news. As the insurgency in Iraq continues, it appears coalition forces are growing desperate to find information to stop it. On Tuesday, the new Iraqi government announced it would begin an investigation into a torture camp that was discovered by the U.S.