COMMENTARY

Iditarod hard for dogs, not mushers

As Tasha Stielstra said about the Iditarod, "there's not a lot of fun things about it" ("MSU alumnus, sled dog team prepare for second Iditarod run" SN 3/4). Sadly, this chilling observation applies much more to the team of dogs her husband Ed Stielstra will be taking to the Iditarod than it does to Ed himself. This 1,150-mile race through the rough terrain and subzero temperatures of Alaska is not at all fun for the dogs involved - their feet become bruised and bloodied, cut by ice and worn down from running.

COMMENTARY

Stopping pills

Tiny and harmless looking, their simple nature causes some to callously regard prescription drugs as "just pills." Perhaps it is society's repeated use of them whenever a sneeze or sniffle appears that makes it seem as though they can't be abused.

COMMENTARY

Pills should not be all-powerful answer to world's ailments, illnesses

"Are you tired, rundown, listless? Do you poop out at parties? Are you unpopular? The answer to all your problems is in this little bottle.

COMMENTARY

Open with care

Wouldn't it be nice to get a chunk of $14 million that belonged to a former German property magnate who went down in a plane crash in the year 2000?

COMMENTARY

Innocent people killed by abortion

Mr. John Bice argues that abortion is not murder ("Unjustifiable use of reification to shape viewpoints too prevalent" SN 3/3) because of the intangibility of personhood according to the concept of "reification." However, his argument is erroneous. It would be a travesty if pro-life advocates argued that abortions were murder strictly because of the extinguishing of "personhood." The issue of personhood is almost a non sequitur to the abortion debate; as Mr. Bice points out, the concept of personhood is artificial and malleable.

COMMENTARY

Crunch time

It's all about heart, and the MSU men's basketball team doesn't seem to have it. Its counterpart, the MSU women's basketball team, does.

COMMENTARY

Irresponsible use of alcohol common

Although it's good to know that bars in and around Lansing are making an effort to curb binge drinking on people's 21st birthdays, there are another 364 days in the year that the same bars look the other way when people are drinking too much.

COMMENTARY

World needs more like fallen soldier

Your editorial touched my heart, knowing that Iraqi men, women and children are dying for a noble cause ("Hard numbers" SN 3/1). I understand your deep concern for the Iraqi people, but I don't have a clue as to why you need to write and print stories about this issue.

COMMENTARY

Facts of assaults can't be ignored

This is in response to Thursday's "Assault coverage slanted the issue" (SN 3/3). I would like to start off by saying the fact that the assault made the front page, and was reported so quickly after the incident, is a small victory in itself.

COMMENTARY

Slain soldier was worth the praise

Journalism is defined as the work of gathering news, so why does The State News think that anyone wants to hear the opinions of the editorial board who, behind their anonymity, espouse opinions on matters they have not earned the right to speak about? Specifically, the recent editorial "Hard Numbers" (SN 3/1) asks readers to remember that Iraqis are dying for their freedom.

COMMENTARY

Malson's service makes him a hero

By honoring one of our own we are in no way minimizing others' loss. The opinion in "Hard numbers" (SN 3/1) questions why we don't hear about all of the Iraqis killed.

COMMENTARY

Unhealthy hue

A photo on Page One of Thursday's edition of The State News depicted a situation that many probably view as undesirable.

COMMENTARY

Harsh penalty

You probably felt pretty grown-up at 16 or 17. Perhaps you even thought you knew everything. Given what you know now, maybe you realize how short-sighted you were.

COMMENTARY

Volunteering is valuable use of time, no matter what cause you aid

A few times a week, I go to a place where wheelchairs carry and walkers lead their aged owners down freshly waxed linoleum floors.

COMMENTARY

Affirmative action can have real value

Joseph Blaim's argument against affirmative action literally made me laugh out loud ("Affirmative Action causes grad rates" SN 3/2). I've come full circle on this issue.

COMMENTARY

Unjustifiable use of reification to shape viewpoints too prevalent

The word "reify" means to treat or regard an abstraction as if it had a tangible existence, and it's more relevant and pervasive than you might suspect. The topic of abortion, with the vague concept of personhood at the crux of the conflict, provides a real world look at reification.

COMMENTARY

Policy switch

Two e-mails sent out by the Izzone student section directors on Monday changed the policy they adamantly stuck to all season. The first e-mail opened up the lower-bowl seats to any Izzone ticket holders, lower bowl or upper bowl, on a first-come, first-serve basis for Saturday's basketball game.

COMMENTARY

Writer's argument lacked all validity

Channel 12 defenders really need to come up with better reasons why the service should continue. I write in response to Mr. Leo Sell's letter to the editor concerning Channel 12's demise ("Channel shutdown has hidden reasons" SN 3/1). Mr. Sell believes that hidden motives are at work, and that the "management has systematically devalued the channel and marginalized its staff." Interesting charge.

COMMENTARY

Too much

You know the moment you've had too much to drink. It's the moment where everything begins to feel more dazed than funny - as if those two things could be interchanged.

COMMENTARY

Assault coverage slanted the issue

I was absolutely disgusted by Tuesday's sexual assault article ("Sexual assault reported in Holden"). Although it may be important to put the event into perspective by labeling it the third sexual assault in Holden Hall, it is not important to mention that one of those reports was falsified.