Newspapers / Winston-Salem State University Student … / March 22, 2011, edition 1 / Page 4
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1‘agc 4 riic News Argiis Opinion Tuesday, March 22, 2011 rnvw.thenevvsargus.coni i i JORDAN HOWSE Editor In Chief THE MAY I SEE IT Funeral protests stir debate As a journalist, the First Amendment is something I live by but the members of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas have taken it to another level. Yes, freedom of speech and the right to assemble are pro tected by the First Amendment so the Supreme Court's 8-1 decision vi^as war ranted. But "God sent the killer", "Thank God for dead soldiers" and a horrible com ment combining Semper Fi, the Marine Corps motto, w'ith a slur against homo sexual men shouldn't be speech that needs protecting. There is a time and a place to voice your opinion. A military funeral or any funeral for that matter, is not it. The problem here is not a "narrow deci sion," as Chief Justice John Roberts called it, but narrow-mind edness. These congregation members are so narrow-minded that they aren't thinking of how their actions affect others. Okay, you don't support homosexuality. Okay, you don't support the United States military decisions. But those soldiers are not just soldiers. They are someone's son, daughter, husband or wife and they died protecting the citizens of this country. Westboro Baptist Church members got exactly what they wanted. They wanted media coverage and to get the issues that concern them out there. The First Amendment is supposed to protect those that want to protest things that matter to them, and while that is what the church members are doing, it is not meant to defend "vicious vert>a\ assa\i\t." There is nothing illegal about picketing at a funeral. It's just morally wrong. These people call themselves religious and one of the main lessons 1 have learned about Christianity is to treat others how you want to be treated. They have brought their children into this atrocious situation. They will carry on the tradition of non tolerance. In a world where so many more outrageous things are going on, they should not be putting efforts into humiliaHng soldiers and their families as they mourn. Put the energy into something constructive. Protesting at a funeral isn't going to make anyone less dead or change their sexuality. If anti-military and anti-homosexuality is their cause, find a better way to get the point across. Families should be allowed to mourn their fallen soldier pri vately. HOW DID ME MISS THAT? As a matter of policy, The News Argus will publish corrections for errors in facts. The corrections will be made as soon as possible after the error has been brought to the attention of the Argus Editor In Chief at thenewsargus@yahoo.com Argus Letter Policy The News Argus is a student publication of Winston-Salem State University. The News Argus encourages written comments to the edi tor and guest columns, but some rules apply: □ A signature, address and phone number must accompany all let ters. Letters should be double-spaced and no more than 250 words. □ Letters will be verified by The News Argus by a phone call prior to publication. If The News Argus is unable to contact the writer of a letter, the letter will be held until contact is made. Letters intended as adver tising will not be published. □ The News Argus does not publish "form letters"or letters sent to multiple newspapers outside the Triad unless the issue discussed in the letter is of importance to the WSSU community. □ The News Argiis. reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for clarity, length and libel. The News Argus will edit letters that are grossly inaccurate or cross the boundaries of good taste. □ The News Argus allows readers to reply to someone response to any earlier letter only once. □ Guest columns may be no more than 400 words. The News Argus will accept endorsements of candidates, but only one per writer per candidate. The letter may challenge a candidate's record, but no intensely personal attacks will be printed. The News Argus permits candidates to write letters to the editor to specifically respond to another letter. CAMPUS CREW WSSU students, faculty and staff selected randomly to answer a provocative question from The News Argus. Comments do not represent the opinions of the Argus staff. To hear the complete responses visit www.thenewsargus. com and listen to the podcasts. Moore and Pegram halls remain empty for the 2010-2011 school year. Upperclassmen continue to move off campus. In the most recent interview with Chancellor Donald Reaves, he asserted that Photos by Blanca Pender; Interviews by Jamie Hunter and Natalie Davis underclassmen — freshmen and sophomores may be required to reside on campus. This issue's Campus Crew asks... Do you agree with Chancellor’s decision to require underclassmen to stay on campus? B CECYIL UNDERWOOD SOPHOMORE, BUS. ADM ASHEVILLE I don't agree with it, although it may be in the students' best interest. The students should decide where they live. E.J. MORRIS SENIOR, MIS BERTIE, N.C. It's a good decision. Students can get more involved on campus, and they don't have to worry about car trouble. ASHLEY SHEPARD SENIOR, THER. REC. DURHAM It's not his decision. Students need to leam how to be responsible. Living on campus may not provide that. JONATHAN TILLERY JUNIOR, MOTORSPORTMGT WINSTON-SALEM Not at all because some under classmen are non-traditional students. It depends on the age and circumstances of each person. SHAQUANNA TROY JUNIOR, PSYCHOLOGY RIEGELWOOD, N.C. No. It's their decision where they want to live. Living on campus costs a lot.
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March 22, 2011, edition 1
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