COMMENTARY

Winter's assessment of British government has inaccuracies

Drew Robert Winter’s column Obama could help U.S. see its faults (SN 11/10) brings up many good points about people’s hope for President-elect Barack Obama’s upcoming presidency in reversing damaging U.S. domestic and international policies, and with this feeling I could not agree more. Many of his statements regarding Great Britain’s political history, however, are misguided and downright fallacious.

COMMENTARY

Christmas stress begins to set in

It’s beginning again. I had the recurring nightmare once again the other night. It’s Christmas Day and somehow I’ve forgotten to buy anybody a gift. For a family that emphasizes the holiday as much as mine does, that’s a catastrophic mistake. The nightmare is one that I traditionally have this time of year. I’m fairly certain its purpose is to remind me that I need to begin saving money or I’ll be in deep trouble come December.

COMMENTARY

Obama's presidency will usher in change, unity for America

It’s not hard to think highly of Sen. John McCain, especially when he is as gracious and high-minded in defeat as he was Nov. 4. I know that President-elect Obama wants to usher in an era of unity and healing, but it’s important that we never forget that Obama is the president-elect despite the fact that the McCain campaign promoted fear, xenophobia and racism because he believed people’s ignorance was the margin of victory.

COMMENTARY

Not voting might ensure 'greater evil' takes office

In a letter titled Voting not worth hassle if candidates not up to par (SN 11/6), Arthur Manoli gives excuses why his decision to not vote was a more educated and reasonable answer than voting. One of his excuses was that he would only be voting for the “lesser of the two evils,” so why vote at all.

COMMENTARY

Same-sex couples' rights need national discussion

Voters in California passed Proposition 8, which amended the state’s constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman, essentially eliminating same-sex marriage in the state. Proposition 8 is the latest in a long line of actions taken to reach a permanent conclusion in the state’s struggle to define marriage. A majority of California voters had shown their disapproval toward same marriage once before, but this time their decision at the polls changed existing legislation.

COMMENTARY

Prop. 8 furthers segregation country is trying to overcome

On Tuesday, California, Florida and Arizona voted for proposals banning gay marriage. In Arkansas, voters decided to ban unmarried couples from being allowed to adopt children. These results are a shocking affront to both natural and constitutional human rights as well as a bigoted marginalization of a significant portion of the country’s population.

COMMENTARY

Enthusiasm to vote will be important in future

With a strong turnout on Election Day, the young voters in America established themselves as an attractive and necessary demographic for candidates to win if they want to hold office in the future.

COMMENTARY

Female partygoers should not condone rating system

I recently read two letters to the editor regarding Alpha Epsilon Pi’s Playboy U party. While I can’t possibly begin to express how disgusted I am that this kind of activity takes place, I am even more disgusted that women find this behavior acceptable or brush it off by saying “boys will be boys” (as was stated several times on the comment boards of www.statenews.com).

COMMENTARY

Obama could help U.S. see its faults

Hope and change, that’s what I felt last Tuesday night. Not just meager change, like bringing most of our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan, but a monumental decision by the people of the United States. We have to pay taxes and those with more income have to pay more to help those struggling to put food on the table. We have to make success through partnerships, not by exploiting the weak. We have to take part in the political process and attempt to reform the process so our vote counts.

COMMENTARY

Lack of support for Spartans evident in low game turnout

Attendance numbers for the MSU vs. Wisconsin game: 75,121. In case people do not know, that is not a sellout.

COMMENTARY

Passage of proposal 8 sets back gay rights movement

Tuesday was a great day for many Americans. The announcement of Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill, becoming our next president was both historic and inspiring on many counts, a bold statement that our nation has come a long way since the discriminative days of our past. However, with the passage of Proposition 8 in California, as well as other discriminatory measures being passed in Florida, Arizona and Arkansas, I wonder if we’ve really moved forward at all.

COMMENTARY

Bailout for big three not practical solution

Since the auto industry was introduced and subsequently took over the transportation market, Michigan’s economy has been irrevocably tied to the fortunes of Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC.

COMMENTARY

Keep fighting for same-sex marriage

Flat out, we’re all a little bit gay. The guy who gives you your coffee at Sparty’s has had nudie dreams about a guy from his IM soccer team.

COMMENTARY

Letters on Halloween costumes provoke thoughtful discussion

I have found the letter by Robin Moore, Ranking system of girls at parties degrading, kills fun, about Alpha Epsilon Pi’s Halloween party; Erin Miller’s letter that stuck up for sexual self-expression, Halloween not just an excuse to roam streets scantily-clad ; and finally Catherine Fish’s column, Judging girls on wardrobe wrong, examining inter-female wardrobe judgment collectively to be educational on some women’s views of modesty, intimacy, and sexuality and their effects.

COMMENTARY

Poor journalism marred election

It is with a heavy heart that we journalists see this presidential race end. What a two years it has been! Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Bill Ayers, the “inevitable” candidate and her spectacular demise, Muslims, mavericks, terrorists and — near the very end — a balding plumber named Joe. It has been a dizzying ride for all involved, but no more so than for the fourth estate — we purveyors of information who clearly delighted in the twists and turns this campaign yielded.

COMMENTARY

Voting not worth hassle if candidates not up to par

Even though Matt Damon may not approve, I chose not to vote on Tuesday. “Rock the vote!” all my friends kept telling me. It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote for someone. The problem is that there wasn’t a candidate for whom I felt comfortable voting, even after months of research.

COMMENTARY

Racy TV shows shouldn't equal teen pregnancy

One general rule has been true of popular culture and entertainment since the early 20th century: Sex sells, and it sells pretty well regardless of whom you’re selling it to. A new study by RAND, a nonprofit research organization, has found a correlation between racy TV programming and risky sexual behavior by teenagers. Although this information may not exactly be surprising, it is disturbing, nonetheless.

COMMENTARY

Ranking system, Halloween costumes degrade women

In a letter recently published in The State News, Ranking system of girls at parties degrading, kills fun (SN 11/04), Robin Moore is quick to point out the degrading nature of the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity without also noting her own wrongdoing.

COMMENTARY

Redistribution, graduated tax system is an American tenet too, not just a socialist idea

In Ian Brown’s editorial cartoon and Judy Whipple’s letter to the editor (Redistribution not a good policy for class grades, U.S. economy, SN 10/28), they compare Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama’s tax policy to a classroom where all students with 4.0s would all receive 3.0s, so students with 1.0s can get 2.0s.

COMMENTARY

Voters might ignore implications of Obama's tax plans because of his commanding stage presence

In the recent editorial endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (Obama right candidate to lead country in 2009, SN 10/29), the editors have fallen victim to the same empty rhetoric that has captured the nation.