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Be for love

By The Observer · Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011

Baz Luhrmann's rendition of Moulin Rouge includes a short Bohemian, saying his only lines in the play within the movie: "The greatest thing you will ever learn is just to love, and be loved in return." You may not agree that love is the greatest thing you can ever learn, but I'll argue that it is in the top five. The beauty of today, Valentine's Day, is not embodied in the sweet kisses, the exchange of chocolates, the purchasing of flowers, the writing of cheesy poetry or the watching of romantic comedies. What's wonderful about Valentine's Day is that it is an in-your-face day that recognizes the beauty of love. Valentine's Day is an opportunity for outward expressions of affection, the more serious of which we call love. Many students on Notre Dame campus will go out to dinner with their boyfriends or girlfriends, watch a movie with their best friends or even find a date through letters to The Observer.

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True manhood

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011

In response to both Mr. O'Leary ("Day of woman," Feb. 9) and Mr. Mullen ("Be a Man," Feb 8), I agree with many points from each. I do indeed believe "the absence of true manhood is a serious problem in society," and I think we all know at least a few sensitive guys who do indeed get the girl.

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Sexual morality

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011

While your article ("Let's talk about sex," Feb. 10), seemed well-meaning, albeit a little preachy, after reading it I felt compelled to respond to your conclusion that couples using contraceptive means are inherently objectifying the act of sex as well as each other. Now I'm only a lowly Computer Science major but I feel five years of Catholic theological education at a Jesuit high school might give me a bit of credibility. At any rate, from what I remember, for the act of sexual intercourse to be legitimate in the Church's eyes it must follow two general guidelines: that it be a mutual act of love between a man and a woman (though others might disagree) and that it must be open to the possibility of conception. Here's where I get to the point; while the use of contraception in effect can make the act of sexual intercourse, illegitimate or even (gasp) sinful, that does not mean that there was not an air of mutual love between the two partners. I don't think a couple that truly loves each other but doesn't have the moral gumption to wait a few years or risk the uncertainty or confusion of "Natural Family Planning" should be as easily decried as objectifying each other as those at a random dorm party or on spring break. As for everything else, this is neither the time nor space to tread the other more tested battlegrounds of Catholic moral theology espoused in your response. Time to remove my cap moral debate and get back to coding and video games.

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You don't have to be straight to shoot straight

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011

History was made on December 22, when President Obama signed into law the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) the ban on homosexuals serving openly in the military. While many don't believe in the repeal of DADT at a time when America is at war, their arguments are misguided.

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Potentiality

By The Observer · Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011

Consider Socrates: once upon a time, he was fairly ignorant, but as he grew older, he learned a great many things — music among them. An unmusical man, in other words, became a musical man. One might conclude that, by citing these two principles — unmusicality and manhood — one has explained the change.

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Let's talk about sex

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

In response to the Feb. 9 Scene Commentary "Sex on TV," I concur with Scene Writer Stephanie DePrez: Yes, let's talk about sex. It seems sex has become the common currency of not only the 30-minute sitcom but also our daily interactions. That which is the greatest mystery has been relegated to purely pleasurable objectification. But, is there anything really mysterious or sacred about sex?

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The myth of Notre Dame's bubble

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Earlier this year, The Observer designated the blog "Things Notre Dame Students Like" as "the No. 1 must-visit website for ND students." By now, most of us have probably read or are familiar with this blog, a collection of various traits and qualities that the author thinks apply particularly well to Notre Dame students. This list covers a wide variety of topics, with everything from "Making Religion a Competition" to "Only Riding with One Cab Driver" included as things that Notre Dame students really like.

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Supporting the team

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Notre Dame is home to a top-ten men's basketball team this year, but judging by the buzz on campus (or lack thereof) you would not guess it.

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Concerning giraffes

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

I write in response to The Observer's Question of the Day regarding the placement of a giraffe in a refrigerator. The responses, while funny, were necessarily limited to trite one-liners, and do not, in my opinion, fully capture the spirit of such an undertaking at Notre Dame. Here's how it would really work:

The Observer

Love is all you need

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Since 496 A.D. the Church has celebrated St. Valentine's feast day on Feb. 14th. For many centuries, of course, the day simply recognized the person of Valentine — a priest imprisoned and subsequently martyred for his faith in Jesus Christ around 269 A.D., a time when Christianity was still considered a crime against the Roman Empire. Valentine aided his fellow Christians in whatever ways he could, including by marrying young Christian couples, until he got caught. The Emperor Claudius actually became fond of his prisoner Valentine, until Valentine decided to have a go at converting Claudius to the faith. Enraged, Claudius condemned him to death.

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Day of woman

By The Observer · Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011

Let me begin by saying that I think the Siegfried Day of Man, while perhaps indeed a little "phallocentric" ("Practical Men," Feb. 8), is a good thing. Raising money for a good cause is something that everyone can get behind (women included, but again, that's beside the point). Mr. Mullen's letter ("Be a Man," Feb. 9), though, encourages enforcement of gender roles without presuming to do any legitimate good in the world.

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A knight's tale

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011

We all know the type: Born humming the Notre Dame Victory March, parents who met at Notre Dame, been attending football games at Notre Dame Stadium since they were a toddler. Certainly a healthy portion of the student body right now can claim Notre Dame as less of a college choice and more of a family tradition.

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Cupid's courage

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011

Pierce Coticchia's letter, "Wanted: Valentine's date" (Feb. 7) exhibits the exact type of romantic courage men on the Notre Dame campus need to embody. I hope many eligible young fillies take Pierce up on his offer, and that many more bachelors take the same challenge next Monday.

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Ramblers are practical

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011

I would like to comment on Knott sophomore Brian Metz's horrible opinion of the Siegfried Hall Day of Man ("Practical men," Feb. 8). As a former Rambler, a founding member of the event my freshman year and the commissioner of the event for my sophomore, junior and senior years, I would like to convey why in fact a fundraiser for the homeless should in fact be aptly named "The Siegfried Hall Day of Man." Although you do make good points, I would like to offer my opinion for why you are wrong.

The Observer

Be a man

By The Observer · Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011

I was troubled by Brian Metz's viewpoint yesterday ("Practical men," Feb. 8) that disputed the notion that toughness is a prerequisite for manhood. Mr. Metz seems to be offended that Siegfried promotes physical hardiness as a way to raise money for the homeless.

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