COMMENTARY

Right to free speech outweighs individual

As I walked by the rock on Farm Lane Tuesday afternoon, I saw the words, "Hate Speech does not equal Free Speech" painted for all to see.

COMMENTARY

Free speech has limits; Muslims ask for respect, don't impose beliefs

On Tuesday, the MSU Muslim Students' Association peacefully protested the publication of the caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a terrorist. Students engaged in discussions over the issue and later that night the MSA hosted a question-and-answer session with a student panel to help answer questions that the MSU/East Lansing community had. A common question brought up was why Muslim religious leaders or clerics don't condemn violence and terrorism. The answer is simple: They do. The leading Shia and Sunni (the two major sects of Islam) scholars have condemned such terrorism.

COMMENTARY

Talking it out

This isn't just about cartoons anymore. They have sparked something much bigger. Across the world, people are protesting caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad. Islam forbids any material depiction of Muhammad. Since their original publishing in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten, the cartoons have been republished in other places — recently by SpartanEdge.com here on campus. The State News has chosen not to reprint the cartoons. Several protests have appeared on college campuses in this country, including the University of California and right here at MSU.

COMMENTARY

Remember boring AOP?

For many incoming freshmen, MSU's Academic Orientation Program isn't at the top of the list of fun things to do during summer vacation. Yet, freshmen are required to attend the program whether they'd like to or not. The program is held to help ease the transition to life at MSU by introducing new students to the campus and providing lectures about student life. But the Freshmen Class Council is hoping to make this transition even easier by renovating the program. The council has created a bill that details how to make the program more effective at preparing students for college life.

COMMENTARY

Will pay for reader to see 'Monologues'

After reading the letter from Katie Wilcox, "Silence 'Monologues;' keep indecency out" (SN 2/24), I must respond to such ignorance. Last year was the first year that I saw (and read) "The Vagina Monologues," a play that has been put on by thousands of schools across the United States, including MSU, for over five years. Never did I find the content to be indecent or degrading to men or women. In fact, I found it to be powerful, and it opened my mind to some of the thoughts and ideas of actual women who have encountered rape and other sexual violence.

COMMENTARY

Protest intolerance, violence, not images

I learned to ignore provocation in kindergarten. Where are the protests against violence? Why is it the West's duty to cater to the intolerance of the Islamic world? Yes, the cartoons are a horrible insult to people's religion, and there is no rational person who believes otherwise.

COMMENTARY

Production funds go toward good cause

Being a member of this year's production of "The Vagina Monologues" has been without a doubt one of the best experiences in my four years at MSU. I asked my father to come see it, and although he was a little uncomfortable, he loved the fact that a local charity, MSU's own Eve's House, would be benefiting. It is insulting that women and men, who have never read Eve Ensler's book or seen the play, think they know what it represents.

COMMENTARY

Paying the price

No one likes getting parking tickets. That sense of dread when you see the white paper flapping on the windshield.

COMMENTARY

Wilcox spins meaning; should be kicked out

Katie Wilcox's letter "Silence the 'Monologues;' keep indecency out" (2/24) demonstrates an interesting hypocrisy. Wilcox's general call for readers to join the MSU Young Americans for Freedom, or YAF's, effort to censor a play is an interesting approach to ensuring freedom. According to the mission statement of YAF, free will and liberty are among the most important values that need to be protected.

COMMENTARY

No smoking area

The number of places smokers can go on campus is shrinking. The Residence Halls Association, or RHA, passed a bill last week recommending that University Housing take away a student's option to smoke in the dorms.

COMMENTARY

Turning 21 doesn't mean instant maturity; still have long way to go

It was the most beautiful object I had ever seen. I held my new plastic driver's license in the air and stared at it in disbelief.

COMMENTARY

Manuscripts support many Bible passages

John Bice's latest column "Truth of Bible can't be believed" (SN 2/21) actually contains in it the refutation of his argument. He contends that there were so many early Christians churning out so many manuscripts, often chock full of errors, that we can't know what the originals said. On the contrary, it is the enormous number of manuscripts we have that allows us to determine with great certainty what the originals said.

COMMENTARY

It won't work

For the administration of President Bush, diversion seems to be a favorite tactic. And finding out who leaked news of Bush's eavesdropping program is more important to the administration than finding out if it's legal or not. Officials in Bush's administration have denied the call of several Democrats in the House of Representatives who want a special council.

COMMENTARY

Cartoons not only offensive possibilities

I, for one, sure am glad The State News chose not to publish the Danish cartoons that have offended Muslims on campus and across the world. As a Catholic, this must mean I can also be sure that I will never again see any photos or images in The State News that I find offensive to my faith, such as the infamous photos of so-called art over the years that have featured a crucifix in a jar of urine and a painting of the Blessed Virgin covered in elephant dung. I also don't want to see any photos of abortion rights activists, San Diego Padres baseball players or John Bice. This does work both ways, doesn't it?

COMMENTARY

Writer's complaints ignorant, lack facts

This letter is in response to "Police not protecting, just serving tickets" (SN 2/16). I really can't see how someone would actually believe there is a correlation between him receiving a speeding ticket and an increase in crime rate. With regards to the claim that he was going "at most, five miles over," that is highly unlikely.

COMMENTARY

Preachers' approach to passersby wrong

This is in regard to Shane Krouse's "Sidewalk preachers can easily be avoided" (SN 2/16). It is not the question of whether or not people have the legal right to peaceably assemble.

COMMENTARY

'Monologues' not graphic, male hating

I was rather taken back by Katie Wilcox's letter "Silence 'Monologues;' keep indecency out" (SN 2/24). "The Vagina Monologues" does deal with female sexuality but does not seem to be creating any problems.

COMMENTARY

Officials shouldn't be able to censor information in any publication

In California, a college radio host was pulled from the station and censured for sexual harassment after calling a member of student government a "bearded feminist" on air. In Texas, an anti-abortion group wasn't allowed to distribute pamphlets on a college campus because the pamphlets didn't list a student group sponsor on them.

COMMENTARY

Keeping the party going

Even a devastating hurricane couldn't stop Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans. Nearly six months ago, Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of the city and displaced many of its residents.

COMMENTARY

Alcohol, no chaperones

No one knows what will happen this April, but a big, supervised party isn't going to prevent anything. With a number of incidents in the past few years, MSU has acquired a reputation as a "riot" school.