Opinion

Opinion

Letters to the Editor

April 7

Dear Editor: The ban on smoking the D.C. Council is considering seeks to prohibit smoking in private businesses, namely bars and nightclubs. While the government has a right to ban smoking in its own facilities, imposing restrictions on privately owned buildings is overstepping authority.

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Opinion

Opinion: Reflections on a War Much Remembered

By Edward Smith | April 7

This year marks the 140th anniversary of the end of the Civil War, the single most significant event in all of American history. In effect, the war redefined us as a people, and in so doing it served to refine the purpose of our national mission, which, with much difficulty, has always been to try to translate into reality the idealist rhetoric of the introduction of the Declaration of Independence, which is often viewed as the "birth certificate" of the American Dream.

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Opinion

All Thumbs

April 7

Thumbs Up SOC's Reel Journalism festival ... SOC is bringing films such as "Citizen Kane" and "Almost Famous" to campus. This event will be an awesome chance to see great films. John Edwards coming to speak on campus ... Kudos to the SC for bringing such a significant political figure of recent times to campus to speak.

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Opinion

Staff Editorial: Bible should skip class

April 7

A bill is currently before the Kansas legislature to require the teaching of creationism alongside the theory of evolution in the state's high schools. The fight to challenge evolution in the classrooms of America boils down to the centuries-old clash between religion and science.

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Opinion

All thumbs

April 4

Thumbs Up Michael Prather wins Mr. American ... Congratulations to Michael Prather on being named Mr. American in a pageant that took place at the University Club on Friday. African fashion show ... Though we gave a thumbs down last week to African Week's lack of self-publicizing, this event was a highlight of the weeklong event, and an intriguing display.

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Opinion

Take action on immigration

By Seth Johnson | April 4

Mexican President Vicente Fox recently called security walls along the U.S.-Mexican border "discriminatory" and "against freedom." Well that's funny, I never knew that anyone had the right to just walk into America and say, "Here I am, give me a job." Perhaps Fox should talk to our Democrats, since apparently our Constitution is just as much a "living" document to him as it is to them.

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Opinion

Pope's passing paves path for power change

April 4

After 26 years on the Papal throne, Pope John Paul II passed away Saturday from heart failure and septic shock. John Paul II leaves a legacy as a leader in touch with the youth movement and was beloved by believers of all ages. He organized World Youth Day.

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Opinion

Opinion: Azerbaijani holiday unites

By Emin Teymurov | April 4

Celebrated on the 21st day of March, Novruz (New Day) is the favorite holiday in Azerbaijan and remains a strong tradition in Central Asia, Turkey and other regions. Novruz is a celebration of New Year. It has been celebrated by all the major cultures of ancient Mesopotamia.

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Opinion

Smokers, butt out of public places

April 4

The District of Columbia is considering banning smoking in bars, restaurants and workplaces. If city council passes the measure it would join several other cities that have banned public smoking in one way or another since New York City passed its ban in 2003.

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Opinion

Staff Editorial: Protesters win with substance

March 31

Twenty-six Georgetown University students spent nine days on a hunger strike that ended last week. The strike was conducted in support of a living wage for university employees. Last Wednesday, the university administration relented and agreed to all the strikers' demands.

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Opinion

Opinion: Consider abortion on social terms

By Timothy Meyer | March 31

I will begin by admitting that I will likely never be able to concede abortion as being a right, never really recognize the meaning of a right to choose or even come to view abortion as some form of a privilege. However, even such an ardent anti-abortion proponent as myself must acknowledge that abortion is at least a practice and option whose availability women have become accustomed to.

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Opinion

Our take: Mad Libs editorial

March 31

This week, AU's Department of _________ (noun) announced that it will stop funding its _________ (noun) program. A department ________ (title) said the money is needed to put toward the __________ (noun) program, which is struggling because of ____________ (euphemism for student apathy).

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Opinion

Letter to the Editor

March 31

Dear Senior class and the American University Community: We are the Senior Class officers and are here to ask for your help. Each year the Senior Class takes on the mammoth task of raising money for the senior class gift, with each subsequent class having a goal of doing better than the class before it.

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Opinion

Opinion: Seeds of Peace makes love, not war

By Micah Winograd | March 31

Peace is often a hard commodity to come by in this world. Far too often, people resort to violence to solve their disputes, rather than discussion and compromise. It is easier to hurt another than it is to compromise your own wants and desires. Having said this, I want to thank the School of International Service, the AU Hillel, AU Students for Israel, Students for Justice in Palestine, Muslim Student Association, Jewish Student Association, College Democrats and Korean Student Association.

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Opinion

All Thumbs

March 31

Thumbs Up AU has a Truman Scholar ... That this prestigious national award was awarded to an AU student is a big feather in the cap of the School of Public Affairs. Congratulations are in order to Forrest Dunbar and to SPA. McDonald's on Van Ness Street and Wisconsin Avenue is open 24 hours a day .

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Opinion

Opinion: Conservative sees light

By Seth Johnson | March 31

My fellow students, I have a confession to make. After a long and ardous journey, I have seen the light and have abandoned the na?vet? of conservatism and have embraced the virtuous cause of liberalism. After a brief adolescent dance on the Right, I have matured in my views, accepted the role of nuance in political affairs, and pledge myself to now work against every policy of our selected, un-elected president, George W.

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Opinion

Opinion: Sound advice for foreign students

By Emin Teymorovsky | March 31

Studying abroad is beneficial in many ways. One benefit is that you can observe the educational system in the host country, which can be totally different from the one that you were used to. There are a lot of factors that affect these differences, such as culture, student psychology and historical educational system.

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