COMMENTARY

Marriage isn't simple equation

In his speech Saturday, Bush again called for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Rather than relying on false words, though, Bush based his argument on false premises — reasons with no valid support. Yesterday the Senate saw right through Bush's proposal when the legislators' vote was 49-48 — 11 short of the 60 needed to pass the amendment. While it's easy to rely on naturalistic fallacies and religious premises, there is no factual or scientific evidence supporting Bush's claim that same-sex marriages are "bad," while heterosexual ones are "good." Bush claimed that, "Ages of experience have taught us that the commitment of a husband and a wife to love and to serve one another promotes the welfare of children." A seemingly commonsensical claim.

COMMENTARY

English as official U.S. language is anti-Mexican

I wish to comment on Caitlin Scuderi's column, "English as official language doesn't threaten culture, instead unifies U.S." (SN 6/6) I could not disagree more with her assessment of the situation or of her characterization of it as a means of unifying all people.

COMMENTARY

Phelps protests should be stopped, legislation good

The editorial "Protesting should be protected," (6/1) is lacking in a few areas.

COMMENTARY

Empathy needed to break down emotional barriers, elicit change

I was listening to NPR the other day in my car, and the guest speaker suddenly burst into tears. I'm not accustomed to hearing announcers from National Public Radio cry.

COMMENTARY

FDA should focus on fatty foods not portion sizes

How about instead of making portion sizes at fast food and other restaurants smaller, the FDA should start finding ways to make the good and healthy foods cheaper and the fatty and unhealthy foods more expensive. I am sick of going shopping and seeing that a bag of chips or dessert Snack Packs are cheaper than a pound of apples or a loaf of whole-wheat bread.

COMMENTARY

Wichman needs forum to address bigoted stance

This is in response to the "soft-spoken" mechanical engineering professor Indrek Wichman and his attack on some non-Europeans.

COMMENTARY

Guidelines shouldn't be established in restaurants

In response to the editorial "FDA fights for smaller portions," (SN 6/5), how can this be a good idea?

COMMENTARY

MySpace.com threatens innocence, unfit for youth social networking

The early '90s nearly brought about Armageddon. Animated violence in controversial video games such as "Mortal Kombat" was considered by conservative politicians and overbearing mothers to be bringing about the decline of Western civilization.

COMMENTARY

AIDS pandemic is devasting problem

In the early '90s, Pedro Zamora of the San Francisco "The Real World" cast fit the AIDS stereotype — a gay man. Throughout the season, the MTV audience got acquainted with the devastating disease.

COMMENTARY

Information, education crucial for consumers

Hooray for the FDA and its recently released guidelines that will put more information in the hands of restaurant patrons. The goal of these recommendations, of course, is to curb the obesity epidemic in the U.S.

COMMENTARY

English as official language doesn't threaten culture, instead unifies U.S.

As a journalism major, words are my business. I study them daily, dissecting run-on sentences while sensing the feeling each word invokes.

COMMENTARY

Talking gizmos come with too much grief

Hearing voices in your head used to mean trouble. Now it means you're techno-fabulous. Remember that crazy shoe phone in the old TV show "Get Smart"? Well, its 21st-century cousin has just been born in the form of a new gizmo developed by Nike and Apple Computer, Inc. that allows your lower digits to go digital. Mind-body connection?

COMMENTARY

Kennedy shines light on 2004 election

You don't have to go far to find a conspiracy theory concerning U.S. politics. From the Marines in Haditha to Valerie Plame, it seems as if everything dealing with the latest presidency is a little too blurry.

COMMENTARY

FDA fights for smaller portions

With eight out of 10 people older than the age of 25 classified as overweight, it seems clear that, as a nation, we have a serious weight problem. A fine line separates being overweight from being obese.

COMMENTARY

Column based on rumor; readers should learn more

I read, with dismay, Caitlin Scuderi's "United States swarming with ADD, falsely diagnosed Adderall addicts," (SN 6/1). The column, although possibly well-intentioned, was based on rumor and anecdote.

COMMENTARY

Not all science fits materialism mold, consciousness so far unexplainable

Scientific rationality is commonly proposed as justification for a materialist and naturalist world view.

COMMENTARY

ADHD believers, skeptics both valid perspectives

Caitlin Scuderi's column on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, "United States swarming with ADD, falsely diagnosed Adderall addicts," (SN 6/1), and Candace R.

COMMENTARY

Take closer look at coercion act

A series of bills known as the Coercive Abortion Prevention Act recently passed through the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee. As a protective measure against a form of domestic violence, the bills require a doctor performing an abortion to screen the woman seeking the abortion to determine if she was coerced into it. On the cover, the act seems right in line with protecting civil liberties and promoting safe relationships, but the bills go deeper than a first impression. Whether we ignore it or not, domestic violence, be it emotional or physical, does exist.

COMMENTARY

Ramsey expresses freedom of speech

I am writing in response to Mike Ramsey's cartoon on May 23. I realize that everyone may not agree with the content of his cartoon.

COMMENTARY

Advice about ADHD from non-parent frustrating

I am not one to normally respond to an opinion column but Caitlin Scuderi's "United States swarming with ADD, falsely diagnosed Adderal addicts," (SN 6/1), I just cannot let slip by without offering my own opinion. Let me start by telling you that I am a mother of two.