Op-Eds

What does it mean to be a Libertarian?

"I don’t believe in black rights,” I told my friends. When they started to get angry at me I decided to explain further. “I also don’t believe in women’s rights or gay rights,” I told them. Before my friends decided to kill me and dump my dead body in the Genesee River, I explained further […]

Let the judges decide ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’

Earlier this year, Michael Mullen,  chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, commented on the fact that the Marine units that he addressed in Jordan did not ask any questions about the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, as they felt that questions on State Department issues and women being in combat were more important.    […]

Israel must be held accountable internationally

A good technique when attempting to reach a negotiated consensus is to bring certain offers to the table that will surely be rejected.  In this way the remaining terms appear more reasonable. The Israeli government has learned this rule by heart. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu recently offered to renew a partial settlement construction freeze, but […]

The Second Amendment remains relevant

This past Friday, I was lucky enough to exercise my right to bear arms with UR’s College Republicans as we celebrated our own club holiday, Second Amendment Appreciation Day.    While firing various firearms at pumpkins and paper targets with close friends brought me great joy, the purpose and meaning of the Second Amendment goes […]

It’s not the candidates, it’s the economy

People talk about how Obama has lost his magic — how he can’t sway opinion any more and how people have lost hope and patience because of his methods. They also talk about how his poll numbers have fallen —  because he has failed at his promises, because he’s too liberal or not liberal enough, […]

Don’t forget the occupation of the Gaza Strip

On Sept. 28, 2010 the Israeli military intercepted an aid ship heading for Gaza. Among the arrested included 82-year-old Holocaust survivor Reuven Moskovitz. “It is a sacred duty for me, as a [Holocaust] survivor, to protest against the persecution, the oppression and the imprisonment of so many people in Gaza, including more than 800,000 children,” […]

The serious failure of U.S. immigration policy

  There is without a doubt a serious problem with illegal immigration from Mexico. Mexican civilians who come to the U.S. along with any children they may have here are causing problems, especially in terms of welfare funds.  Yet the real problem lies with criminals. Gang members and human smugglers slide with ease between the […]

Retribution is a powerful temptation

After the events of Sept. 11, Americans were united in the single cause of finding and eliminating the culprit of 3,000 deaths. That dedication led the United States into two polarizing wars. Ten years later, the attitudes of Americans toward Muslims remain in near-constant flux.  The recent controversies over the proposed building of an Islamic […]

Restore country to its founding principles

It seems that it is about time that the U.S. government underwent some major changes, and I am not the only one who thinks so. Polls across the country show that a huge majority of people are unhappy with at least some piece of the government. The American public is done being complacent, and no […]

Is Quran burning an appropriate response?

Right now, people all over the world are outraged that an unknown pastor from Florida considered burning the Quran. Protestors in Afghanistan have continued to hold demonstrations, one that culminated with the death of two people, even after Pastor Jones called off the book burning; it should be noted that they did all of this […]