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Observing contradictions during Lent

By The Observer · Thursday, March 24, 2011

It is an unfortunate fact that greedy, self-serving, mean-spirited people abound around us daily in our society. Personal contradictions range from the subtle to the outlandish. For example, twice yearly — during the Christmas season and Lent — a humanist organization purchases advertising titled, "What Humanists Think," and places it on the Metro buses in Washington, D.C. Their message proclaims that some people do not have to believe in God to be good. Yet during the past two years, as routinely as those posters appear on the divider wall behind the driver's seat, intolerant so-called "good" Christians inevitably deface and destroy them by adding biblical citations or crossing off the words, "do not."

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The God Debate

By The Observer · Thursday, March 24, 2011

Next month, Notre Dame is hosting round two of "The God Debate." Those who organized this forum are to be applauded, for I can think of no subject of more fundamental importance than the question of the existence of God. However, the choice of speakers both this year and last leaves me a bit perplexed.

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An analysis of Rebecca Black's song "Friday"

By The Observer · Thursday, March 24, 2011

The decline in American culture becomes apparent when looking at and judging the popular music of the day. Rebecca Black's hit song "Friday" makes light of this degradation of American civilization and highlights our stupidity as a people. The failure to read and understand the obvious deeper meaning of this song is simply atrocious, and points out major gaps in our education and schooling. In order to attempt to facilitate creativity and critical thinking within our schools, I will attempt to dissect and to shine a light of knowledge on the forbidden metaphorical corners of the first verse and chorus of Rebecca Black's song.

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Going further

By The Observer · Thursday, March 24, 2011

I could not agree more with Mr. Mark Easley ("Where idealism and realism don't intersect," Mar. 24) in his assessment that unions "are outdated vehicles of progress." In fact, I only wish Mr. Easley went further in his demand to remove unions from both the private and public sphere. In the name of almighty efficiency, why not remove all restrictions on child labor laws as well? After all, before that pesky federal government interfered, their tiny hands were better suited for work in textile mills. All of America's youngsters could be getting an early start on their 401(k)s! Who needs that government-imposed obstacle to competitiveness, minimum wage laws? And just think of how competitive America could be if we returned to those halcyon days of the industrial revolution before those mobs otherwise known as "unions" demanded a TWO-DAY weekend. I can only hope and pray that someday the government will impose better protections against the unions that drive their companies overseas and will continue to support our hostage and battle-weary CEOs whose annual bonuses only rank in the millions of dollars.

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Let's hear it for the ladies

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 23, 2011

In the next couple of days we'll hear two very significant stories from our gospels. In both, which appear nearly back-to-back tomorrow and Sunday, women have prominent –– and indeed, similar — roles.

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Appreciation for OIS

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 23, 2011

As an Arabic and Peace Studies double major, it goes without saying that I have an invested interest in the political climate throughout the Middle East. These are remarkable times, indeed, what the world is currently witnessing are revolutionary developments that will lead to a drastically changed region, and with it, a new era of legitimate rule by largely oppressed populations.

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Best conference around

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 23, 2011

After the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament this weekend, a lot of media types have been writing a lot of columns and features and blog posts about a certain basketball conference that didn't exactly live up to expectations.

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Liberating East Lounge

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 23, 2011

In response to Mr. Stein's short commentary titled "Tradition of the East Lounge," (Mar. 23) we have a few comments to make. We would like to open with the statement that we are students in the College of Engineering. Students in our course of study, along with business students, apparently never pick up any respect for tradition according to your words.

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Inspiration and persperation

By The Observer · Tuesday, March 22, 2011

We stand in awe of masters. We admire the skill involved when Kobe Bryant effortlessly drains a contested fadeaway. We sit enraptured by Anthony Hopkins's nuanced portrayal of Hannibal Lecter, listen transfixed to Jimmi Hendrix's famous guitar. We hear about the theories of great astrophysicists or the complicated procedures performed by brain surgeons and admire the sheer amount of mastery involved. We both appreciate expert performances in the moment and dream about someday replicating them ourselves.

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Three's company

By The Observer · Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I have a 3 on my chest right now. Not a "III" or even a "three" but a 3. It's not a tattoo or a brand or even a drawing on me when I passed out on my friend's futon (Sharpie art...).

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Spirit of exclusion

By The Observer · Monday, March 21, 2011

For those of us who fight for GLBT rights at Notre Dame, a clear pattern quickly becomes evident. Year in and year out, the administration finds yet another excuse as to why we can't "push the envelope" at a Catholic institution like Notre Dame. In regards to gaining approval for a GLBT student group and adding sexual orientation to the nondiscrimination clause, many excuses have been made over the past decade: "We are the most prominent Catholic school in the country and have too many ties to The Vatican;" "We already do enough for our GLBT students;"  "There is not enough trust between the administration and our GLBT students;" "We don't have a club for our ‘straight' students, so we can not have one for our GLBT students." The list goes on and on.

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Tradition of East Lounge

By The Observer · Monday, March 21, 2011

I would like to open with the statement that I am a student in the Program of Liberal Studies. Students in our course of study inevitably pick up some respect for tradition. This is of course a fitting sentiment for a Notre Dame student.

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My first Appalachia trip

By The Observer · Monday, March 21, 2011

Every spring and fall break, the Center for Social Concerns sends students across the Appalachian region and various urban centers to understand and try to help with the poverty in the region. But as I'm sure everyone who's ever gone on one of the trips knows we come back with so much more than the feeling of service.

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Nuclear catastrophe, risk awareness

By The Observer · Monday, March 21, 2011

In the wake of the tragic earthquake and ensuing nuclear crisis in Japan, nuclear energy is returning to the forefront of the news as a hot topic for discussion. Many individuals and nations are re-thinking their stance on nuclear energy, taking the threat of nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant as a wake-up call to decrease future nuclear projects and increase security measures at existing nuclear facilities. For them, the nuclear accident has raised the question of whether or not nuclear reactors pose a significant threat to human health and safety.

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Dear Zahm,

By The Observer · Wednesday, March 9, 2011

If you ever want to see your precious moose again, you will wire 50,000 flex points to my account at the National Bank of the Maldives, Account Number: 43.665-110.718.

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