Opinion

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High school students need action civics

I remember in high school I had a classmate who forgot what Sept. 11 was. In the 2012 election, less than six in ten Americans voted. A third of Americans cannot name all three branches of government and a third cannot even name a single branch of government. There is no doubt not enough Americans participate in the political process or understand how the American government works. A functioning democracy requires a well-educated citizenry. A Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup poll has shown over the course of 33 years a vast majority of Americans agree American schools must “educate young people for responsible citizenship.” Yet, the National Assessment of Educational Progress found American students receive the worst test scores in civics and history than in any other subject.

Terrorism by oppressed is not an option

Is terrorism rational? Can it be justified? And finally, is terrorism really a final option for oppressed people to utilize? Many would promptly say the act of terrorism is rational since terrorists exert violence in accordance with clear purpose oppression . Furthermore, despite the argument terrorism cannot be justified because it sacrifices civilians, many believe it is an inevitable consequence of marginalization and oppression exerted by superior power which cannot be challenged in conventional warfare. Then, can sacrifice of civilians be also be viewed as an inevitable result of human history? Is there any other way for terrorists to achieve their goal? In that question lies myriad numbers of assertions and thoughts about terrorism and I would like to share mine; terrorism cannot be a final option.

Gay rights platform has more to worry about than marriage

Same-sex marriage rights remain one of the big social issues of the day. The biggest gay rights news in the United States in the last few months was the Supreme Court’s ruling that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional, which allows the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages performed in jurisdictions where they are legal. New updates include renewed attempts to finally get legal recognition of same-sex marriage in New Jersey and Illinois.

Inconsistencies in Bible are a deal breaker

There are a million things that can influence a person’s religion or lack-there-of. For me, it was the Bible. Personally, the translation, interpretation and manipulation makes faith in the Bible as a holy book impossible.

Legislated civil rights for gays will minimize hate crimes

There are far too many issues happening in the world today for us to concern ourselves with who loves whom, and why. There is terrorism, nuclear warfare, global climate change, mass shootings, poverty and hunger, and yet we still have politicians spending their time arguing against gay marriage. The fact is that some men fall in love with other men, and some women fall in love with other women. Why concern ourselves with who people want to love? Love is love.

Burke is the right opponent for Walker

Letter: Medicinal marijuana is not the answer to our health problems

While medical marijuana undoubtedly holds promise as a means to treat a number of legitimate medical conditions, that alone is not a sufficient standard to merit its usage as a medicine. Such a decision should not be made by politicians whether they serve here in Madison or in Washington, D.C. Rather, it ought to be made through the appropriate regulatory processes within the Food and Drug Administration, as all other decisions regarding medicinal approval are made.

Values questioned through shutdown

A couple weeks after the partial shutdown of the United States’ government, the American public’s confidence in our two-party system is at an all-time low. Parks are closed, tax audits have ceased, food inspections are slowed and our nation is inching closer to defaulting on our obligations. If this picture sounds bleak, it should. While this fight may have started because a few principled house Republicans decided to put their foot down on President Barack Obama’s health care law, it has transformed into a highest-of-stakes game of chicken.

Editorial Cartoon: The 'Trek' to the Capitol

While Mary Burke is a formidable opponent, she faces an uphill battle to win the race to 2 E. Main St. and unseat the political juggernaut that is Gov. Scott Walker. The governor has money, connections and judging by the 2011 recall election results, at least 53.1 percent of Wisconsin on his side. Many people don’t want a recycle of the 2011 recall, so in order for Ms. Burke to have a chance, she’ll have to gear up, grab the handles, get a grip and cross the finish line to the governor’s mansion.

Lack of bipartisanship is detrimental for our government's efficiency

Government shutdown, a looming debt ceiling deadline and constant bickering between parties has become the standard in American politics. The term “bipartisan” has been thrown to the wind to be replaced with party lines and personal interest.  The entire definition of politics is being rewritten everyday as our officials drift further away from constituent interests and closer to partisan goals and party ambitions.  This trend has not benefited the American people. Politicians today have diverted from the path of bipartisan responsibility and chosen instead to pursue their own agenda.  This shift can only be rectified by ushering in a new age of politicians. These politicians need to be aware of the strife caused by a lack of bipartisanship and understand that there’s only one way to change things: by being the change. Ever since the recession that hit the American economy, politics has been a struggle.  The economic crash led to unrest within our government, unrest that led to both parties resisting collaboration.  This behavior has led to a lack of reaching across the aisle, something that’s required to provide the best governance of our society.  Congress’ approval rating currently stands at 11 percent; the president’s rating is 44 percent, 10 percent less than the average for presidents.  Without engaging the other side, no strides can be made without back-door deals and political games between parties. This lack of cooperation is not only detrimental to progress, but also the legitimacy of the United States on the world stage. 

Panhandling should not be confused for homelessness

Just over a year ago restrictions on panhandling increased in Madison. As of October 2012, panhandling within 25 feet of an alcohol licensed establishment, an outdoor eating area, an intersection, the central business district, or an ATM is illegal. This makes it basically impossible to shake a cup of coins anywhere on State Street anymore and I could not be happier about it. Before I inspire any serious controversy, there is a difference between homeless people and panhandlers. The number of homeless individuals is rising in Madison. According to Porchlight Inc., the largest company supplying housing to low-income residents to Dane County, there are over 3,500 homeless people in Dane County every year. Their statistics show more than 1,200 single men, 500 single women, over 1,000 children and 500 families were homeless in 2010. Porchlight also claims over 2,000 people were turned away from over-crowded shelters in Madison in 2011. I encourage any help for the homeless. There are over half a dozen places in Madison that are specifically designed to help the homeless. Places like Porchlight Inc, and Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin offer resources to the homeless. Anyone can donate to these causes at any time. There are locations in Madison for homeless people to stay like Bethel Lutheran Church and the Road Home. These places could always use the help of college students like us with the time to volunteer. It is important to respect the homeless and treat homeless people like people.

We should legalize medical marijuana

This past Thursday, the debate over medical marijuana in Wisconsin was revived when state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D- Middleton, and state Rep. Chris Taylor D- Madison, introduced the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuna Act. This act would legalize the usage of marijuana for patients with various debilitating conditions such as cancer and muscle seizures. Prior to Thursday, I knew very little about the usage of marijuana as a medicine. But after attending the press conference where the Jacki Rickert Medical Marijuna Act was introduced, I decided to do some research on the positives and negatives of medical marijuana. I was astounded by what I found. Numerous doctors and experts all said the same thing: Marijuana has a healing effect unlike any other current medicine.

Letter: "She's the First" empowers women in the developing world through giving the gift of education

You’re probably well aware that Friday marks the beginning of Homecoming weekend—yet another opportunity to celebrate our world-renown University and all it has to offer. But what you may not know about Friday is that it is also the United Nation’s International Day of The Girl. While it may not seem like these two events have much in common, they do. They both laud the value of education, but do so in different ways.

Iran's new leadership makes US cautiously optimistic

Talk is just that: talk.

Tea Party's platform hurts our system

Over the last several days, opinionated editorial sections across the country have been filled with advocates for compromise and bipartisanship over the mess Washington finds itself in. Major national newspapers have focused on the failures of Congress and the infighting between and within political parties. This lineage of argumentation misses the entire reason we are where we are.

Maybe nothing is better left unsaid

I wish every student on campus could have seen this; gay, straight, black, white, Hispanic, Asian. Everyone. I am not in a minority group, unless we can still consider women as a minority, which maybe we can in some instances (though, thank God, I think that generation is dying off). Never have I felt so lucky and full of opportunity during my years at a university. Jonathan Rauch, a well known journalist, activist and writer of “Kindly Inquisitors” came to lecture in my First Amendment class Tuesday. Never have I felt so enlightened, free from ignorance and more eager to share this with every single person on this campus, hell every person in the United States, if my opinion could reach that far, maybe even the world. This topic is not an easy one, in fact it is one with very blurry lines. It is the topic of free speech with regard to minorities and hate speech. Jonathan Rauch asked us what lines should be drawn? Should we have laws and speech codes that prohibit hateful speech? Rauch, an open homosexual, says no. Before you get extremely alarmed and confused by his answer, you should hear his argument, which is incredibly strong and in my view, unwavering. At the beginning of his lecture I answered, “Of course we should,” as I believe that everyone, no matter who they are, deserves to feel comfortable in their own skin at all times. And if law needs to be the means in which we make sure that’s the case, then so be it. But throughout his lecture, in which I cried, had goose bumps almost the entire time and actually felt my mind being changed for the better, my answer changed.

Diversity training fosters healthy learning environments

Every day, thousands of students at our university attempt to collaborate, learn and work together. With myriad, complex identities being carried by each and every one of them, that is no easy task. It is the role of the university and its faculty members to make it easier and at least safe for the students involved. In order to work toward this goal, the university requires all of its T.A.’s to attend a series of diversity training sessions intended to prepare them for possible classroom situations. On September 22, T.A. and History graduate student Jason Morgan disagreed with the requirement and decided to tell his department supervisor along with a handful of conservative media outlets. In his letter, he describes the university’s training sessions as “an avalanche of insinuations, outright accusations, and suffocating political indoctrination,” and virulently protests their attempts at tackling white privilege and supporting trans students.

Pro-efficiency budget means progress

This past Tuesday, County Executive Joe Parisi came out with his 2014 Dane County budget. While students may not be privy to all the details of county government and its budget, I believe students would support this budget.

Documentary filmmakers open conversation about anti-Muslim rhetoric in American media

In response to the horrific Kenyan mall massacre, Fox News’ Bob Beckel recently declared, “No Muslim students coming here with visas. No more mosques being built here until you stand up and denounce what’s happened in the name of your prophet.” Needless to say, the controversial comment started an uproar in the media. One of the people currently pushing back against this comment is Muslim comedian Dean Obeidallah.

Embarrassment of shutdown continues

Last Monday marked another sad day for American politics. It was the end of the fiscal year, and the federal government’s budget was set to expire. The United States Congress faced a choice: pass a budget and have the government continue running or not act at all and have the government shut down. As a double major in political science and economics, this was right up my alley. The world of politics and debates was colliding with the world of economics and fiscal policies. I was extremely intrigued to see what members of Congress would decide was best for America.