Description of columnist offensive, distracting

Marc McAfee’s opinion column (Thursday) entertained and informed, but concluded with an appalling biographical blurb.

“Contrary to what this column might lead you to believe, he is not gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that,” states the italicized description of writer McAfee.

Why do I focus on such a minor detail while bombs rage in the Middle East and the global economy slouches toward a further depression?

Details matter.

After thoughtfully describing Elvis – even giving a nod to singer’s ability to blur racial lines – such a blithe comment relating vaguely to a preference for antique Cadillacs over naked women is completely out of place.

The newspaper’s Opinions page aims to create healthy public debate.

This cannot happen as well when a reader is at best distracted and at worse injured, even if unintentionally, by a line at the end of an op-ed.

Kathleen Frey
Academic Adviser
Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication

U.S. actions don’t support claims

I hope I am not the only one who stands disgusted as I read news of the disproportionate amount of death between the Israelis and the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

I concede Hamas was wrong in firing rockets into Israel, but one must not forget the degree to which the Gaza Strip and its 1.5 million inhabitants have had their economy strangled by an internationally illegal Israeli blockage.

The U.S. has stood by as Israel has punished civilians for voting a group they dislike into office. The U.S. always has claimed to be a champion of democracy, yet recent events have shaken my belief in such a claim.

The Palestinians are left to wonder how, as the only Arab nation to have fair elections, they are the ones facing American-made bombs, whereas the brutal dictators of Saudi Arabia are having coffee with the Bush family.

Khalil Farah
Freshman,
Jacksonville, Fla.
Political Science