Opinions - The Eastern Echo

Egypt's revolt confuses

By Kody Klein · Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

Egypt is turning my world upside down.

Welcome immigrants with open arms

By Neil Weinberg · Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

Immigration is one of those problems with a million easy answers that nobody likes and only a couple everybody can live with. Over the last five years, we’ve seen the debate flare up and cool off, but it has never burned quite as hot as it did when Arizona passed a controversial law last year.

Verlander, Scherzer provide dynamic duo

By Nick Shlain · Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

Ever since Detroit Tigers’ general manager Dave Dombrowski has been in baseball he’s targeted power arms in the rotation. This is why he brought in David Chad as his scouting director, why the Tigers drafted Justin Verlander, Joel Zumaya and Andrew Miller and why they traded for Max Scherzer.

Griffin, McGee will shine at all-star gala

By Eitan Mendelson · Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

**The 60th annual NBA All-Star Weekend is set to take place in Los Angles this weekend and should be filled with celebrities, rookies, dunks and skills. The weekend kicks off Friday night with the T-Mobile rookie challenge, a game played between this year’s top rookies and top second-year players. Representing the rookies is Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin, who is also in the dunk contest and a reserve to the West All-Star Game.

Letter to the Editor: Ramsey should go

Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011

I was informed of the commentary published in the Echo on Feb. 10 arguing that men’s basketball coach Charles Ramsey should be retained and am compelled to offer another perspective. I’m writing this just after our team has beaten the University of Buffalo. Therefore, my comments are based on the most current and positive information available. Yes, we beat Buffalo, But keep in mind, “one swallow does not make a spring, nor does one fine day.”

Warning to U.S. imperialists: Egypt is only the beginning

By Clement Daly · Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

Workers and young people throughout the world welcome the ouster of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak with jubilation. They salute the Egyptian people for their courageous struggle in the face of intimidation, torture and repression. Theirs is the honor of having fired the opening shot in a new era of social upheaval.

Same-sex marriage is constitutional right

By Erica Mooney · Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

In the United States there is a strongly divisive argument over whether gay couples have the right to marry or not. It was ordained in the founding documents of this nation that all are equal, and all people have the same freedoms.

Valentine's day not fair for homosexual couples

By James Tatum · Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

Frederick Douglass delivered the speech in 1852 titled “What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?” The speech posed the question of what cause for celebration was there for slaves when they were not granted the freedoms given to most Americans.

It's sad but predictable Borders could close

By Neil Weinberg · Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

This week, the Ann Arbor-based bookstore Borders is expected to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. One estimate suggests 50 percent of Borders’ stores will close in the next five years, with 90 percent hanging an “out of business” sign by the end of the decade.

Iran could be lesson for Egypt's protesters

By Samir Webster · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Feb. 11 marks the 32nd anniversary of the Islamic Republic government in Iran. After a year of strikes and protests paralyzed the country, The Shah left Iran, and days later the Islamic Republic of Iran came to be out of the many parties revolting against The Shah.

U.S. backs Tea Party ideas, not its leaders

By Chris Hoitash · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

The insanity of the current American political landscape is slowly eating away at my sanity and my liver. Whichever fails first, whoever finds my body; tell the remaining beer in my fridge that I love it.

Find even ground between faith, fun

By Jumanah Saadeh · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

In spite of our habit of applying labels and placing people into categories in order to make sense of things, doing so doesn’t portray an individual accurately. People are very complex, and our identities and state of minds are made up of different feelings, experiences, hopes and beliefs.

IBM might change future technology

By Neil Weinberg · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Next week, the IBM computer Watson will take “Revolutionary Moments” for $1,000, Alex. This $30 million super computer will take on Jeopardy! legends Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter in the newest man versus machine competition that is sure to have big implications for the future of knowledge.

Heat is up, Cavs are down

By Eitan Mendelson · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Despite taking his talents to South Beach over the summer and losing credibility because of it, Miami forward LeBron James has been putting up MVP-caliber stats this season.

People should be able to speak freely

By Jesse Peck · Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

In today’s society, with the very diverse population of the United States, you would expect to see tensions between different groups of people. To combat these tensions, people have taken to using different language, that is politically correct language, so as not to offend people of different ethnic, racial or religious backgrounds.

Defend democratic rights, free Assange

By Clement Daly · Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

Extradition hearings begin in London today for WikiLeaks co-founder Julian Assange. While Sweden nominally seeks Assange’s extradition on allegations of sexual misconduct, the circumstances surrounding the charges make it clear they are politically motivated.

Where food is from can make a difference

By Erica Mooney · Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

How far did your dinner travel? In the United States food travels, on average, between 1,500 and 2,000 miles from farm to table, according to WorldWatch Institute. This number is 25 percent higher than it was in 1980, conjuring up thoughts of fuel used for transport as well as questions of freshness and quality of produce that might have visited more states than you have in your entire life.

EMU needs affordable STI testing

By Kody Klein · Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011

Having engaged in my fair share of irresponsible debauchery over the course of this school year, I recently decided to get tested for Sexually Transmitted Infections. My motivation for doing so was twofold.

Government should make 'guns or butter' decision to save U.S. economy

By James Tatum · Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

It’s simple economics when you think about it, with a mounting debt, the United States has come to a crossroads where it is going to have to make a “guns or butter” kind of decision.

GOP unsatisfied with Bachmann

By Chris Hoitash · Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011

Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s enthusiastic political work could disrupt the unity of the Republican Party, an article from the Daily Beast claims. Bear with me here. This idea formed from the fact that she wanted a Conference Chair to give “constitutional conservatives” a clear voice.