COMMENTARY

Sex, gender not same culturally, biologically

Ryan Townsend incorrectly substitutes gender with sex in his letter "Only two genders, demands are bogus" (SN 12/02). An individual's sex is a tangible, biological characteristic assigned at birth by the presence of the gonads, which will later influence aspects of the further physical development of that person. An individual's gender, however, is an intangible construct of that person's identity, not under the influence of the gonads. In our culture, girls stereotypically play with dolls and boys play with trucks; but such constructs do not transcend all cultures and are not directly correlated with a person's sex, since this happens before puberty. Your idea of a clear-cut division between male and female is blurred by such genetic abnormalities as Klinefelter syndrome. And if God is still creating only two sexes, how do you account for an intersex person? Travis Reed veterinary medicine first year

COMMENTARY

2 weeks notice

Hurricane Katrina victims have gone through a lot. They've lost everything to flood damage and looters.

COMMENTARY

Lack of support too bad, not suprising

I feel compelled to respond to Eric Wolowicz's letter, "Public needs to 'stay the course' in war" (SN 12/2). I am sorry, although not surprised, to hear of the scarcity of morale in Iraq.

COMMENTARY

Fighting critics

Be all you can be. Aim high. U.S. military slogans are pretty recognizable. Military service is done strictly on a volunteer basis, so the different branches are in the business of recruiting. Really, they are in the business of selling themselves as organizations to potential employees. Thursday, the group Direct Action took issue with the military's recruiting tactics and organized a protest outside the local Marine Corps Recruiting Station on Grand River Avenue.

COMMENTARY

Mariucci not answer to Spartans' problems

If we bring in Steve Mariucci to coach our football team, we might as well bring back Bobby Williams too. They both share a common thread as coaches: They lack discipline. There's no better proof of this than Charles Rogers.

COMMENTARY

Writer fails to note biological gray areas

I'm writing in response to Ryan Townsend's overly simplistic letter "Only two genders, demands are bogus" (SN 12/02). Biological realities are far more complex than Mr. Townsend's observation would suggest.

COMMENTARY

Writer should check his facts in letter

Perhaps Ryan Townsend, "Only two genders, demands are bogus" (SN 12/02), should check his facts before he starts spreading his preachy dogma. There are people out there that have two Xs and one Y.

COMMENTARY

Former Lions coach should come to MSU

Attention Ron Mason! Steve Mariucci is now available. This is the time to take MSU football to another level.

COMMENTARY

President's plan for victory way too late

President Bush has unveiled his "National Strategy for Victory in Iraq." I am tempted to ask: Shouldn't he have had a strategy for victory before he started his war?

COMMENTARY

No easy solution, all sides must be shown

The intelligent design debate reveals another reason why government-run schools are a bad idea. Countless hours and dollars have been wasted as opposing groups face off on another issue.

COMMENTARY

Public needs to 'stay the course' in war

I would like to comment on the opinion column, "Conservative mantra of support often hypocritical, irresponsible" (SN 11/30) by Ken Osborne. I am an active duty Sergeant in the U.S.

COMMENTARY

Buy coach out of his contract, replace him

I believe that the MSU football program has gone as far as it can with coach John L. Smith. The team can beat Notre Dame, but it can also get blown out by Northwestern.

COMMENTARY

Writer fails to recognize cartoons as worthless

This is in response to David Sahlin's letter, "Compelling cartoon least of many worries" (SN 11/17). He first states "there are more important things to raise a fuss over than an editorial cartoon that (…) makes you think." In saying this, he neglects the fact that Mike Ramsey's cartoons are not thought-provoking.

COMMENTARY

Only two genders, demands are bogus

The State News editorial "Identity right" (SN 11/16) is wrong. God created two genders: male and female.

COMMENTARY

Way too easy

What a great message to send to potential criminals. Embezzle from your employer and all it takes to avoid jail time is returning the money and writing a couple letters of apology. Former MSU School of Journalism employee Raye Grill will take this plea bargain for the embezzlement charges against her.

COMMENTARY

Fire head coach, hire Mariucci for Spartans

I'm sure this isn't the first, and certainly won't be the last time Ron Mason will hear this, but he should get rid of head coach John L.

COMMENTARY

Police should practice laws, give right of way

I really appreciated "Road rules" (SN 11/28) concerning bicycle and pedestrian traffic on campus and I was glad to hear that police officers are actually paying attention to that sort of thing. However, the very day the article was published, I had to dart out from in front of a motor vehicle that sped through a cross-walk. Of course, this happens all the time, but this particular vehicle happened to be an MSU police truck. The police SUV did not have its lights on, and the cross walk (in front of West Akers Hall at the corner of East Shaw Lane and Wilson Road) is clearly marked in white paint and two large yellow signs grant pedestrians the right of way. Maybe Sgt.

COMMENTARY

Musical tackling social issues not disappointing

In regards to Ryan McCormick's poor review, "'Rent' a disappointment" (SN 11/28), regarding the movie adaptation of "Rent," I have one thing to say: Get a clue. If you knew anything about musical theater, you would have understood the message and theme "Rent" emits to its audience, whether it is on stage or on the big screen. When Jonathan Larson created the rock opera epitomizing the effects drugs, poverty and AIDS had on the culture of the late 1980s, he did so to increase awareness and passion. The characters are who they are for a reason; a reflection of the lives so many people lived in that time.

COMMENTARY

Critics should look up 'opinion,' 'cartoon'

I am amazed at the level of involvement the talented State News editorial cartoonist has generated among the students and community. It would be nice to see that much support to fight the use of torture. I did not find the cartoon in question any more tasteless than his other cartoons.

COMMENTARY

Patriotism skewed; people who disagree with war aren't 'traitors'

Al Franken nailed the difference between liberal and conservative concepts of patriotism. Conservatives, noted Franken, "love America the way a 4-year-old loves their mommy.