Opinion

SeaWorld tragedy shows Shamu life is sham

Tilikum, an orca living at SeaWorld Orlando, killed his trainer, 40-year-old Dawn Brancheau. While the death of a trainer is certainly newsworthy, not to mention very sad, so is the nature of marine parks in general.

State park cuts may be detrimental to economy

Budget woes have led Arizona to close five state parks and propose 13 more closures, something that could devastate the state economy further.

POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Under-22 cut illogical move

Bill proposes to lower the standard minimum wage of workers under 22. The bill mandates that these workers will receive 75 percent of the current minimum wage — from $7.25, to $5.44 an hour for the remainder of 2010 until December 31, 2013.

POINT/COUNTERPOINT: Minimum wage, maximum burden

The Arizona House is considering a bill to lower the minimum wage to $5.44 an hour for workers under age 22, according to ABC Arizona. The bill seeks to address unemployment among young workers.

On health care reform, proceed ‘wisely, and slow’

Unless someone is willing to make a case for the hard truths that could someday save the healthcare system Congress should either do the small and safe things that will ease the immediate pain without remaking the American economy, or they should do nothing.

Populist rage manifests itself in disturbing way

Two weeks ago, a 53-year-old software engineer lit his house on fire and flew a small plane into an IRS building in Texas. The scariest thing about the Texas IRS attack is that angry, hypocritical entitlement has become a common political refrain.

Letters to the Editor

Dustin Volz’s Feb. 23 column, “Beck drinks Tea in keynote” expressed an unfavorable opinion about Glenn Beck’s recent keynote speech.

Editorial: On shaky ground

Just as the devastation in Haiti was fading — prematurely — from our minds, Chile and Japan both experienced high-registering earthquakes over the weekend. Are we so numb to disasters in our world that we watch for the video footage and not for the people?

Missionary works double sided

It is often said that missionaries act admirably, virtuously and altruistically when they dedicate months or years of their lives to the service of other people.

Guns in Grand Canyon: An absymal idea

A law that allows loaded guns into national parks and wildlife refuges across the country went into effect Monday.

Extreme evangelicals pose threat

A shadow looms large over America and what’s more, the world. It is neither radical jihadist or Islamic movements, nor neo-Nazism or neo-Fascism, rather extreme evangelical Christianity.

Letters to the editor

Today's letters to the editor

Going for gold: the real Winter Olympics in Flag

Unless you were in Flagstaff this weekend, you missed the best part of the Winter Olympics. The Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) Winter Games took place in Flagstaff from Thursday to Sunday.

Boos & Bravos: Feb. 25

Bravo to the ASU men's basketball team's victory over UA. Boo to Girl Scouts. Yes, we want our Thin Mints fix, but isn’t noon on a weekday an odd time for 6-year-olds to be out hawking sugar-filled treats under the supervision of their mothers?

Missionary works double sided

It is often said that missionaries act admirably, virtuously and altruistically when they dedicate months or years of their lives to the service of other people.

Guns in the Grand Canyon: an abysmal idea

The insistence of memory

Can we ever leave the past behind? Many of our problems stem from our own view of existence, from our perception of it.

Will Arizona adopt the wrong future?

Finding a loving home for children should be the primary focus of adoption agencies, but if a bill passes the Arizona Legislature, marriage might become the focus instead.

Letters to the Editor

Higher sales and income taxes, higher fees to register a vehicle and get a driver’s license, or higher rates on public transportation will take more money away from every ASU student and employee, regardless of economic status.

Editorial: Downsize me

Hummer, the unnecessarily large, overly-destructive off-roading vehicle that is more often seen on suburban streets than rugged terrain, may have guzzled its last gallon.