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The Observer

All-Star voting

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

The NBA All-Star Game is quickly approaching, and per usual Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard all find themselves at the top of the balloting. No surprise there. But as you may or may not have heard, there's a conspiracy that threatens to destroy my favorite midseason exhibition. And we, the fans, started it. If voting ended today, Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady and Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson would find themselves starting in the 2010 All-Star Game. Does anyone else feel my pain? I'm not sure what goes through the minds of millions of voters, but I wouldn't vote T-Mac onto my Bookstore Basketball team (yep, we're that good). Correct me if I'm wrong, but we're looking at a guy who has never even advanced past the first round of the playoffs, a guy who can't find a single team to trade for him and a guy who single-handedly ruined my fantasy team in 2008 because of "knee injuries." And then I finally realized who to blame. China. Now don't get me wrong, because I happen to believe that Chinese fans are among the most knowledgeable and faithful fans of the NBA. But in the words of Ricky Bobby, lay off the peyote people. We all know your national hero Yao is out for the year and he's not coming back. That doesn't mean you have to show your support by voting for a bench bum who can't even hold his own in the NBA anymore. I bet Yao doesn't even like T-Mac. What, you think they hang out on the weekends with Luis Scola and play Yahtzee? Doubt it. But enough talk of McGrady. How about the ageless wonder himself, Allen Iverson? The "Answer" has been anything but for the past five years. He was the centerpiece in what will probably go down as the worst trade in the history of the NBA, leading the Detroit Pistons to a first-round exit in the 2009 playoffs. But what am I talking about. I mean he's supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talkin' about an exhibition. Not a game. Not a game. We talkin' about an exhibition. There's a reason he's never been featured on the "NBA Cares" commercials. Bottom line, don't keep great players, deserving players, like Monta Ellis and Ray Allen out of a meaningless game that we care so much about. As I always say, if you wouldn't put them on your fantasy team, don't put them on your All-Star rosters.

The Observer

Form

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

 The perfect 80s song would just be God.

The Observer

Form

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

 The perfect 80s song would just be God.

The Observer

Family life at Notre Dame

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

This past summer my 1-year old son and I traveled to Le Mans, France, to visit the mother church of the Holy Cross family and the resting place of Blessed Fr. Basil Moreau. Above the marble tomb of Fr. Moreau — around which my son toddled happily for half an hour — is fixed a stone relief of the Holy Family at work: Mary threads, Joseph works wood and Jesus helps. This is an artful meditation on the heart of the Holy Cross charism. Its saintly founder envisioned his sisters, brothers and priests to be like the Holy Family, working together in a familial love for God, each other and those they serve.

The Observer

Clarification

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

The creative group responsible for the offensive comic strip that appeared in last Wednesday's Observer would like to issue a clarification regarding the persons involved. The Mobile Party is the work of a large creative group, but three people are credited in the byline. Often some of these people do not contribute to individual comic strips, as is the case with last week's issue. The graphics were prepared by Colin Hofman and the content was co-developed by two individuals from the creative group who have elected to not come forward at this time. The Jan. 13 comic strip was not written or approved by Jay Wade or Lauren Rosemeyer and we would like to apologize to them.

The Observer

All eyes on us

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

Last week's Viewpoint section was a flurry of activity. As most students are aware, an offensive comic ran, went viral, then national, and resulted in an atypical backlash against both the comics, the editors of The Observer and the University at large. Let me begin by saying this is not a column about Jay, Lauren, Colin or Kara, all of whom have been and continue to be my friends. Rather, this is an attempt to move onto the larger issue here, homosexuality at Notre Dame, and some of the issues endemic to this place.

The Observer

All eyes on us

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

Last week's Viewpoint section was a flurry of activity. As most students are aware, an offensive comic ran, went viral, then national, and resulted in an atypical backlash against both the comics, the editors of The Observer and the University at large. Let me begin by saying this is not a column about Jay, Lauren, Colin or Kara, all of whom have been and continue to be my friends. Rather, this is an attempt to move onto the larger issue here, homosexuality at Notre Dame, and some of the issues endemic to this place.

The Observer

Family life at Notre Dame

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

This past summer my 1-year old son and I traveled to Le Mans, France, to visit the mother church of the Holy Cross family and the resting place of Blessed Fr. Basil Moreau. Above the marble tomb of Fr. Moreau — around which my son toddled happily for half an hour — is fixed a stone relief of the Holy Family at work: Mary threads, Joseph works wood and Jesus helps. This is an artful meditation on the heart of the Holy Cross charism. Its saintly founder envisioned his sisters, brothers and priests to be like the Holy Family, working together in a familial love for God, each other and those they serve.

The Observer

Advice to Viewpoint contributors

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

On April 5, 2004, I came out of the closet publicly in a Viewpoint letter. It was not long afterwards that an editor asked me to be a regular contributor and I became, to my knowledge, the newspaper's first openly gay opinion columnist.

The Observer

Advice to Viewpoint contributors

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

On April 5, 2004, I came out of the closet publicly in a Viewpoint letter. It was not long afterwards that an editor asked me to be a regular contributor and I became, to my knowledge, the newspaper's first openly gay opinion columnist.

The Observer

All-Star voting

By The Observer · Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010

The NBA All-Star Game is quickly approaching, and per usual Lebron James, Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard all find themselves at the top of the balloting. No surprise there. But as you may or may not have heard, there's a conspiracy that threatens to destroy my favorite midseason exhibition. And we, the fans, started it. If voting ended today, Houston Rockets guard Tracy McGrady and Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson would find themselves starting in the 2010 All-Star Game. Does anyone else feel my pain? I'm not sure what goes through the minds of millions of voters, but I wouldn't vote T-Mac onto my Bookstore Basketball team (yep, we're that good). Correct me if I'm wrong, but we're looking at a guy who has never even advanced past the first round of the playoffs, a guy who can't find a single team to trade for him and a guy who single-handedly ruined my fantasy team in 2008 because of "knee injuries." And then I finally realized who to blame. China. Now don't get me wrong, because I happen to believe that Chinese fans are among the most knowledgeable and faithful fans of the NBA. But in the words of Ricky Bobby, lay off the peyote people. We all know your national hero Yao is out for the year and he's not coming back. That doesn't mean you have to show your support by voting for a bench bum who can't even hold his own in the NBA anymore. I bet Yao doesn't even like T-Mac. What, you think they hang out on the weekends with Luis Scola and play Yahtzee? Doubt it. But enough talk of McGrady. How about the ageless wonder himself, Allen Iverson? The "Answer" has been anything but for the past five years. He was the centerpiece in what will probably go down as the worst trade in the history of the NBA, leading the Detroit Pistons to a first-round exit in the 2009 playoffs. But what am I talking about. I mean he's supposed to be the franchise player, and we in here talkin' about an exhibition. Not a game. Not a game. We talkin' about an exhibition. There's a reason he's never been featured on the "NBA Cares" commercials. Bottom line, don't keep great players, deserving players, like Monta Ellis and Ray Allen out of a meaningless game that we care so much about. As I always say, if you wouldn't put them on your fantasy team, don't put them on your All-Star rosters.

The Observer

Beyond the bubble

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 I think the editors of The Observer should be aware that the controversy regarding a recent cartoon has moved beyond the Notre Dame community. A friend of mine who is a member of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in Detroit asked me what I thought about the cartoon. I have often used Notre Dame as an example of a Catholic community that cares for all people and discriminates against none. It is sad that The Observer allowed such a cartoon to be printed. I'm going to try to reassure my GLBT friends that it was a mistake and does not reflect the true spirit of Notre Dame.

The Observer

Haiti and religious tolerance

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 The tragedy that has fallen upon the Caribbean nation of Haiti has been at the forefront of public awareness, as horrific images and astounding numbers hit us rapid fire via computer and newsstand. Many public figures have spoken up and offered whatever help they can. These gestures are important because they stir our public consciousness and call for rehabilitation and restoration in a country that already requires a great deal of aid. Much will be needed to make sense of the chaos that resulted from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

The Observer

Haiti and religious tolerance

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 The tragedy that has fallen upon the Caribbean nation of Haiti has been at the forefront of public awareness, as horrific images and astounding numbers hit us rapid fire via computer and newsstand. Many public figures have spoken up and offered whatever help they can. These gestures are important because they stir our public consciousness and call for rehabilitation and restoration in a country that already requires a great deal of aid. Much will be needed to make sense of the chaos that resulted from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

The Observer

Beyond the bubble

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 I think the editors of The Observer should be aware that the controversy regarding a recent cartoon has moved beyond the Notre Dame community. A friend of mine who is a member of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) in Detroit asked me what I thought about the cartoon. I have often used Notre Dame as an example of a Catholic community that cares for all people and discriminates against none. It is sad that The Observer allowed such a cartoon to be printed. I'm going to try to reassure my GLBT friends that it was a mistake and does not reflect the true spirit of Notre Dame.

The Observer

Discrimination a harsh reality

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 Much has been said about the cartoon that was published in the Observer last week, but one important topic has not received enough attention. The publishing of the cartoon was an act of discrimination because it hurt and harmed members of a minority group, gay and lesbian members of the Notre Dame community. The issue is not whether the creators of the cartoon and those who allowed the cartoon to be published intended to hurt and harm gays and lesbians. In all likelihood they did not — it was a cartoon and not a manifesto. But the reality is that publishing the cartoon in a paper that is widely distributed and read on this campus (and elsewhere) did harm and hurt some gays and lesbians, not in a physical fashion but in a psychological and emotional way.

The Observer

Discrimination a harsh reality

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 Much has been said about the cartoon that was published in the Observer last week, but one important topic has not received enough attention. The publishing of the cartoon was an act of discrimination because it hurt and harmed members of a minority group, gay and lesbian members of the Notre Dame community. The issue is not whether the creators of the cartoon and those who allowed the cartoon to be published intended to hurt and harm gays and lesbians. In all likelihood they did not — it was a cartoon and not a manifesto. But the reality is that publishing the cartoon in a paper that is widely distributed and read on this campus (and elsewhere) did harm and hurt some gays and lesbians, not in a physical fashion but in a psychological and emotional way.

The Observer

A time for giving

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 My name is Ann Kloos. My brother John Kloos graduated from Notre Dame in 1974. He was, I believe, an editor for The Observer in 1973 and 1974. His son Ryan Kloos, 23 years old, was killed in the Haitian earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010. His 26 year old daughter Erin is in critical but stable condition at a Miami Trauma Hospital. Ryan was visiting his sister, who has volunteered for Friends of The Orphans PNH in Haiti for the past two years. The two were very close while growing up. Both swam for their Universities, UCSD and Washington. Both had applied to and were waiting to hear from medical schools. Ryan was always very interested in Erin's work in Haiti. He chose that week to visit.

The Observer

A time for giving

By The Observer · Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010

 My name is Ann Kloos. My brother John Kloos graduated from Notre Dame in 1974. He was, I believe, an editor for The Observer in 1973 and 1974. His son Ryan Kloos, 23 years old, was killed in the Haitian earthquake on Jan. 12, 2010. His 26 year old daughter Erin is in critical but stable condition at a Miami Trauma Hospital. Ryan was visiting his sister, who has volunteered for Friends of The Orphans PNH in Haiti for the past two years. The two were very close while growing up. Both swam for their Universities, UCSD and Washington. Both had applied to and were waiting to hear from medical schools. Ryan was always very interested in Erin's work in Haiti. He chose that week to visit.

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