Opinion

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Democrats still alive in 2014 midterms

The war in Afghanistan was not in vain

Many Americans view the presidency of George W. Bush as a disastrous failure. While the war in Iraq and the handling of United States citizens’ privacy rights are issues that have received some of the harshest criticisms of the Bush administration, the war in Afghanistan is starting to show that the effort and lives lost in order to help the Afghani people rid themselves from the tyranny of the Taliban through democratic elections were not in vain.

The Daily Cardinal's Third Action Project

The Daily Cardinal is proud to announce its third and final Action Project of the year that will hit stands on Earth Day, Tuesday, April 22, 2014. The third installment centers around environmental sustainability issues, zeroing in on those that are particularly relevant to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus community as well as the city of Madison.

Iranian ambassador deserves US visa

According to the United States Constitution, Article II, Section 3, “[The President] shall receive Ambassadors and other public Ministers…” This means that the president of the United States can either accept or deny the incoming ambassador of a foreign country. However, in accordance to the 1947 agreement that the United States signed, the United States is obliged to grant entry visas to representatives of United Nations member states. Thus, the United States and more specifically the president of the United States, has no right to deny a visa or entry to the country. Nor does the U.S. have the right to pass a bill that blocks entry if the individual is an incoming ambassador of the United Nations.

Self-identity breeds marginalization in issues like same-sex marriage

I feel like ninety-five percent of the things that one can possibly say about the debate on same-sex marriage have been said too many a time, and will be repeated over and over again. And like most things in American politics ( or all politics in general), the debate on same-sex marriage in Utah has a glaringly obvious, commonsensical answer that really isn’t as difficult as everyone is making it out to be—just legalize it.

Student-athletes should lead the way in collective action

The headlines are Northwestern University and unionized college sports, but the storyline is universal and highlights an opportunity for us all. Forget the fretting pundits who conjure up endless what ifs. The truth is, the football players at Northwestern understand the power of collective action and the meaning of a fair deal. We’d all be better off understanding the same.

US has moral obligation in providing foreign aid

In 2000, the United Nations adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), a set of eight humanitarian missions to be completed by 2015. The goals included eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, universal primary education, gender equality, reduction of child mortality rates, improvement of maternal health, combatting diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria, ensuring environmental sustainability and the creation of a global partnership for development. Each of the goals was also set with specific numerical milestones to track the project.

Central African genocide could be the next Rwanda

Monday marked the 20th anniversary of one of the world’s most horrific tragedies after World War II—the Rwandan Genocide.

University of Wisconsin-Madison lacks initiative in diversity planning

Although it is my exceptional privilege to be on a scholarship that covers my cost of education here at UW-Madison, I often feel that this campus has cost me much more than the $26,000+ in tuition I would otherwise have to pay. Following my heart and pursuing my student community’s rights has literally cost me my health. I’ve witnessed students of color with beautiful dreams and intentions be bullied by malicious people at this institution and on multiple occasions be pushed to withdraw or drop out of this university.

Wisconsins' prisons racial disparities must be fixed

It may come as no surprise to many that the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Even more unsurprising to some might be the racial disparities in our prison system (black men are more likely to be sent to prison than white men in this country).

Affirmative Action does not reinforce discrimination, but enhances diversity

In my piece "White Privilege Continues To Plague American Progress," I outlined the systematic failures responsible for the racial injustices we see in our country today. I cultivated an opinion, but more importantly, I used facts to support my opinion. It is my firm belief that this is necessary when discussing issues as sensitive and complex as modern racial disparities. In last Monday’s opinion piece criticizing affirmative action—a piece where both of the writers, I would like to point out, have white privilege—there were a lot of close-minded thoughts expressed and zero substantial solutions offered to tackle the current problems of education inequality in this country.

Letter to the Editor: Is labeling "targeted" minority students discriminatory?

The recently approved Regent Policy Document 14-6, “Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation,” raises troubling questions as UW-Madison formulates its new minority plan, “Forward Together: UW Madison’s Framework for Diversity and Exclusive Excellence.”

Letter to the Editor: The truth about teaching

Last week, I attended a panel on campus. As a Teach For America alum and special education teacher in Madison, I’m always glad to see our community come together to talk about issues in education. This event in particular had an element of personal interest. Deemed the “TFA Truth Tour,” it aimed to stir up opposition to Teach For America – the non-profit education program through which I first found my way to the classroom five years ago last fall.

Unlimited campaign contributions damage the foundation of democracy

Transfer of command date remains unclear to U.S.

Photoshop use generates individual body issues

Letter to the editor: Struggle for justice in Palestine calls for our academic attention

To the UW-Madison community,

Television commercials push false image of individualism

TV commercials sure have taught me a lot about the everyday products I as a consumer take for granted. For instance, did you know that chewing gum brings you closer to your daughter? That wearing the right deodorant causes every woman you meet to wish they were your next sexual conquest? And great news about alcohol! Drinking beer automatically makes you the life of any party, while vodka turns you into a trendy urbanite who gets to go to nightclubs packed with beautiful people. Here I was, oblivious to the fact that the products I use all the time have been improving my personal life and correcting emotional flaws I would have thought could only be remedied by a good therapist. Needless to say, I owe the four corporations that make everything we buy these days a debt of gratitude for churning out such helpful products.

Letter to the Editor: Arguments in 'Affirmative action in higher ed reinforces racial discrimination' piece flawed

There are so many issues with the March 31 “Action Project: Affirmative action in higher ed reinforces racial discrimination” piece that it would take thousands of words to dissect every sentence and paragraph. Although I understand what the writers were attempting to say – that America needs to reform public K-12 education to level the playing field for all students – but dragging affirmative action into the conversation is both ignorant and far from the problem.

No country for recycled affirmative action pieces

In a world where too many anti-affirmative action pieces begin with an out-of-context quote from a civil rights leader—specifically Martin Luther King, Jr., and even more specifically “I Have a Dream”—I stand: one of the 1,209 Black-identified students on this campus of 43,275 enrolled in the university. That’s 2.8 percent; even broader, there are 6,243 identified minorities total, accounting for 14.4 percent of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I stand as the only person of color on the Cardinal’s Editorial Board, and one of the few minorities on the entire staff.