Coming Soon: Trouble
Andrew Chestnut
Editorial Board
bronstigemangoest.nl
Ann Coulter has been known to make people very very angry.
I just heard Ann Coulter is coming to speak at Xavier next fall, which is great—if you like comedy and happen to find incessant fact-spinning and personal-attacks hilarious. Or if you are a raging conservative.
For those of you who don’t know, Coulter is like the Michael Moore of the other side. Every stance she takes on an issue is pro-Republican and anti-Democrat, without exception.
You would think this would destroy her credibility - knowing in advance what side she will take on an issue sort of removes the element of logic from the equation - but then again, you would also think that no one would buy supermarket tabloids. And yet they’re still there.
Coulter makes a living two ways. The first is equating every Democrat or liberal with the statements or actions of a few ultra-liberals.
If Al Franken says that we lost the war in Iraq, she will use it as evidence that any non-Republican is a cut-and-run unpatriotic loser. If Michael Moore is pro-choice, suddenly every liberal is godless and hates babies. In her mind.
Her second tactic involves slandering her political opponents, whether her attacks make sense or not. The most famous and recent example was calling John Edwards a “faggot.”
Yes, John Edwards is married, and yes, his wife does have cancer, but facts like these don’t really matter to Coulter, who never lets the truth get in the way of her career-long assault on reasonable political discussion.
Let me put it this way: you know that friend everyone has who is really bad at arguing, but doesn’t realize it and never shuts up? That’s her, except in national politics.
Usually when people attack her writing, it is easy to do logically and fairly, because she makes it so easy. But here’s what I think Ann Coulter would say about Ann Coulter if she didn’t like Ann Coulter: Ann Coulter shouldn’t be out getting involved in politics and expressing her opinion because she’s a woman.The American people simply can’t trust a woman.
Besides, the Bible says women should stay at home and submit to their husband’s will. This is a Christian nation; does Ann Coulter not believe in God, or does she simply not care what He thinks?
Also, she clearly votes Republican, and we all know about all of the corruption and scandals in which Republicans have been involved in the last couple of years. Does Ann Coulter like corruption, or is she corrupt herself?
Look at her blonde hair and blue eyes. She must be a Nazi.
And where was Ann Coulter in Vietnam?
Yes, I know none of that made sense, but that is the point. I was demonstrating her style of debate in writing, television and speaking events.
It is no surprise that many conservatives don’t even like Coulter because of the bad name they give her, just I like I don’t like Michael Moore because he makes me feel bad that I vote for the same side he does.
I don’t really care if you’re more liberal or conservative, as long as you consider your choice carefully and think about political decisions logically.
Granted, I’m sure the College Republicans got the best speaker they could (I would hope, anyway); I just think it’s too bad that instead of someone reasonable and knowledgeable (like John McCain) instead of the face of fact-spinning, illogical arguments, and slandering.
Maybe she will actually talk about why she is so conservative about various issues, rather than make up things about John Edwards’ personal life.
At least I can hope.
— STAFF EDITORIAL —
(Prison) Cell Phones
Have you ever been watching a television show and during the commercial break, see those commercials that say “text JOKE to 44589 for the funniest jokes of the day” or “text SEXY to 69696 to talk to the sexiest people in your area?” (These are NOT REAL numbers, so do not attempt to text them).
Lately, it seems like all commercials are being centered around cell phones. Even the hottest shows like American Idol and Dancing with the Stars incorporate cell phone usage for viewers to vote.
Every cell phone provider has a commercial which states it has the best services, ranging from Verizon, to AllTel, to Cingular, to T-Mobile and beyond. We are constantly being bombarded with commercials for new ring tones and backgrounds to be sent to our phones.
We at the Newswire raise this issue because we feel like cell phones have exceeded their purpose and necessity in our lives today. When cell phones were created, they were intended to allow people to contact one another while they were away from home, usually in case of an emergency or an urgent errand.
Now, cell phones have lost their purpose and have instead become a hot accessory.
A little more than a decade ago, an entire family would own one cell phone. Nowadays, even kids in middle school have their own cell phones.
The number of cell phones is growing like a disease. There are currently more cell phones in the United Kingdom than there are people.
Whatever happened to the good ol’ days when people merely talked on their cell phones and nothing more? Family members could stay in touch even if they were hundreds of miles away.
Today cell phones are loaded with dozens of unnecessary features. They can be used to text, watch television shows, listen to music, play games, take pictures and videos, browse the Internet, record memos, organize daily events, email and even instant message.
Phones have vastly taken away from human interaction. It appears that everything you need to do can be done with your cell phone. There is no need to leave your house as long as you have your cell phone.
How many times has someone been asked, “Did you get my text message?” Couldn’t you just relay the message now, when you’re face to face with the person you were trying to contact?
Granted, text messaging can be very useful when you are bored in class, but it does not make sense to pay more money to text someone when you have your free night minutes. Plus, even the quickest texter can’t get a whole conversation sent faster than it would take to just call the person and talk it out.
The Newswire also feels that cell phones have damaged the way humans talk to one another. Many individuals feel more confident texting someone instead of talking to them face-to-face.
As a result, some of people’s most intimate and special moments have been affected with this cell phone “virus.” We’ve all heard the horror stories of how people have ended relationships through text messages.
Anyone who’s been dumped can tell you that the situation sucks badly enough; the added insensitivity and callousness of a text message break-up would make it so much worse.
There’s no telling where cell phones will take us in the future, but we at the Newswire are getting quite concerned. The day someone proposes to someone through a text message should be the day that cell phones go back to basics and only include call dialing/answering and voicemail.
Maybe we should re-think how we use our cellular devices and try not to rely on them so much. Cell phones were made to help our lives, not to take control of them.
Meditating on faith
Hidden in the bottom right corner of the Opinion Page of last week’s Newswire was a letter which objected to the school’s invitation to the Tibetan Monks.
The isolationism and close minded fundamentalism presented in the letter are exactly what Christianity is called to combat, rather than to embrace.
The American isolationism that Ariel Dorfman talked about in the fall is the continual cause of the hatred the Eastern world shares for us.
The diversity of the world we live in should be seen as a blessing and an opportunity to develop in ways you would not be able to do so otherwise.
The Hellenistic world under Alexander the Great combined the best of various cultures within the empire of Alexander. This mingling of ideals and cultures created what became Western civilization.
Aside from the obvious need to appreciate art, there is also a need to understand other cultures and religions in order to truly develop in mind, body, and spirit.
The Catholic Church teaches that all religions have some truth in them. Perhaps that is why Theology majors here are required to take a non-Christian religion course before graduating. There is no one religion that is completely without error, but each one has some value within it that can be used to gain some insight in regards to God and spirituality.
What does Tibetan Buddhism have to offer to Christianity? Buddhism seeks a sense of completion and enlightenment through meditation and good works in order to bring others to that state of enlightenment with you.
The idea of reaching a perfect state, such as Buddhahood, and calling others to that state matches the call of Christianity, to aspire to that holy perfection Jesus calls us to while making disciples of all nations.
Parts of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius are in fact meditation. The Spiritual Exercises meditate on the Scriptures and allows the partaker to realize the presence of God in their midst. One of the main points of an Ignatian Silent Retreat is to become aware of God’s presence in your silent meditation and prayer.
Thaddeus Winker
Class of '10
Student Choice Grant
Instead of writing a lengthy (and very witty) letter to the Newswire guys about the possible cut of the Student Choice Grant for XU students, I went online to www.SaveStudentChoice.com and wrote a letter to Gov. Ted, legislators and the Board of Regents Chancellor. I encourage you to go to the website, click on one of the many “take action” choices and fill in the blanks. The letter is in a template, so those who want money but do not want to work for it can just click “send.” It is also able to be edited to make the letter more personal. And, of course, there’s a Facebook group. Fight for the Student Choice Grant!
Stacy Martin
Class of '09
Darren LaCour
Op-Ed Editor
Submit a Letter to the Editor
The Xavier Newswire 3800 Victory Parkway Cincinnati, Ohio 45207-2129 On-campus location: The Publications House, 3739 Ledgewood Dr. Telephone: 513.745.3607 Advertising: 513.745.3561 Fax: 513.745.2898 Email: John LaFollette
Editor-in-Chief Ellie Jaqueth
Advertising Manager Full list of staff contacts www.xu.edu/newswire
