I am writing in response to the many letters about Mike Ramsey's Veterans Day cartoon. Recently, Jared Parko wrote in "Cartoon too harsh, inappropriate for day" (SN 11/16), "Please keep the paper comical and leave veteran soldiers out of your anti-war agenda." Political cartoons are intended to do more than simply entertain readers.
The "Your right" (SN 11/15) editorial regarding the Nov.
Yes, freedom of speech is great. Yes, it is a fundamental liberty. Blah blah blah. We already know this. There are a few problems with trying to protect Mike Ramsey's filth under these noble arguments though. First, The State News Editorial Board seems to argue that Ramsey is some great example of the freedom America allows to people with dissenting opinions — and therefore he is a protector of our liberties by pushing the envelope of free speech.
I was completely appalled when I read the "Oh, that war" (SN 11/08) editorial. How is a newspaper that puts in the sometimes nine-plus pages of football coverage going to blame the media for people's ignorance? If The State News thinks the media should cover Afghanistan instead of "whatever is happening most recently," then The State News should start with itself. Don't you think the enormous pullout football section and meager, often absent, Nation & World page might contribute to the skewed ignorance of college students? It boggles me how a college that has one of the top five international relations programs in the country cannot put out a newspaper that promotes international awareness. How about daily government headlines to keep students informed or at least a consistent Nation & World page?
Mike Ramsey is a talented political cartoonist; the best The State News has had since I was a freshman. But on Veterans Day, he made a mistake.
For more than five years, I have read letters in The State News from students arguing that loud parties are to be expected and nonstudent neighbors who dislike them should stop complaining, because they knew what they were getting into when they chose their house.
The auto industry has been struggling and job opportunities seem to be disappearing for college graduates. It seems odd that as the major automakers hit the brakes, MSU has created a partnership for a new $10 million auto lab on campus.
The cartoon done by Mike Ramsey for Veterans Day was quite offensive, but just as offensive is that The State News is hiding behind the First Amendment, "Your right" (SN 11/15) instead of addressing the tastelessness and immaturity that exists in most of Ramsey's cartoons. Don't hide behind the First Amendment, because it does not apply to your situation.
The death of Jo Mendi is a poignant reminder of why these social and intelligent primates don't belong in captivity, "Chimps mourn departed friend" (SN 11/16). Chimpanzees love, they grieve, they get neurotic, they become frustrated in the extreme by their inability to make any choices in their lives of confinement.
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.
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.
No religion in today's column, which will surely make my critics happy —
I was thoroughly outraged after reading Joshua Minott's letter, "Line drawn in Eden, same in government" (SN 11/14). If his goal was to outrage readers, then he succeeded.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.