Thoughts on Alamoodi column
In response to the editorial on separation of church and state in Thursday's paper by Yaser Alamoodi (of whom I am a big fan) I say this:
In a country where there are as many religions as there are dieting trends, it is the government that is supposed to provide a non-biased structure through instilling morals and values that are inherent throughout the different cultures within the United States.
If America is a melting pot for cultures and religions, it is the government's job to serve as the pot in which diversity can thrive and intermingle. With that said, religion in government may stab or cook as a knife does, but far worse that those, it cuts the binds that create a stable structure within the government.
The belief is not that religion is an abomination, but rather that religions have very specific beliefs that call deviancy damnation. It is this predisposition to discrimination that should be removed from the government, not the faith.
--Erin Barnard,
English literature major
I wanted to thank Yaser Alamoodi for his comments on the "spiritual left." It is unfortunate that some (but not all) secular liberals are categorically against values stemming from religious beliefs, both for their own open-mindedness and for the future of progressive ideals in this country.
People who follow a spiritual tradition can have either positive or reactionary values, depending on whether they draw from the best in their tradition to inspire them to build character or from the worst to justify their current fears and insecurities.
But people also have positive or reactionary values when they get these values from parents, culture, pop culture or anecdotal experiences; "deleting" religion does not "delete" reactionary values.
... It is ironic that intolerance is dividing the left in our struggle to build a more tolerant society; that needs to change.
--Surani Joshua,
Episcopalian Campus Ministries
Hanson lacking proof
I fully support the inclusion of conservative commentary in all newspaper opinion sections, but Macy Hanson shouldn't be allowed to pick up a pen and paper [let alone] write for The State Press. The gentleman simply cannot write.
Hanson's "Democrats are growing dim" piece is full of unwarranted claims and cheap, nasty attacks. Hanson claims the Democratic Party "has shifted from weakening America to weakening itself." How does Hanson back up the outrageous claim that Democrats have "weakened" America?
He doesn't. He simply asserts the deplorable claim without even the suggestion of evidence and/or warrants.
... Hanson and the conservative commentators before him never bother to qualify their claims. Hanson, like Spratling before him, revels in making mean-spirited, vicious, baseless claims about Democrats and Progressives while never having to defend the omission of any real evidence or warrants.
I strongly encourage The State Press to demand more from the likes of Hanson and his shoddy contributions to the paper.
--Shon Zelman,
political science major
