The Red and Black

Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Opinions

Politicians serve America as patriots

Jay Graham's editorial in Wednesday's edition ("Who's elected has no impact on daily lives") shows how little he understands politics.

I concede that on a global scale, our two parties are not extremely different. However, some of Graham's claims are simply outrageous.

The worst statement was, "politicians are not real people … They're all phonies and crooks." This is a purely un-American mind-set.

As John F. Kennedy says in his book, Profiles in Courage, "In no other occupation but politics is it expected that a man will sacrifice honors, prestige and his chosen career on a single issue."

The essence of politics is service to one's country, and when a politician fails, he or she should lose the job.

Barack Obama was a community organizer. John McCain was a war hero.

Graham says they are not real people anymore because they decided to serve America even more through politics.

I disagree. One day, I want to serve America as those patriots have.

Greg Boike
Freshman, Snellville
Geography and Political Science

Students should care about voting

The election of the next president will not affect your everyday life.

So says Jay Graham in his column, "Who's elected has no impact on daily lives," published Wednesday in The Red & Black.

I'd like to ask Graham if he would have told that to the families of the 4,000 Americans who have lost their lives in Iraq. If you did, you would have been dead wrong.

How can we as students possibly afford to withdraw from political involvement when our country is on the verge of the worst financial crisis in generations, we're fighting a war on two fronts, and millions are without health care?

You argue that none of this matters because we are college students. Voting is just a game for "grown-ups" played by gray heads and soon to be deads.

Well, when a gallon of gas costs about as much as a 6-pack of beer, it matters - a lot.

That means it's time to start paying attention to who wants to be the next leader of our country, and his ideas on its future.

Many students, including me, work for a living. We pay taxes. I think it's worth it to all who pay taxes to pick a candidate they feel best represents their own interests and support them.

If you can look at your pay stub and say "that ain't right," you're "grown-up" enough to go out and vote.

I hope that to a university audience, I'm preaching to the choir here.

We're supposed to be the educated ones who not only know how important it is to vote, but also the group that makes up future political leaders.

If you think politicians are stupid and ineffective now, wait till they stop having degrees.

Vincent Hampton
Senior, Lawrenceville
Publication Management

Fans lack taste at football game

As depressing as it was to be in Sanford Stadium this Saturday and watch our beloved Bulldogs lose, I was more concerned with the appalling actions of my fellow students.

Even when there are numerous bad calls back-to-back, control your temper.

It is completely unnecessary to throw your soda over the balcony onto fellow students and fans because, believe me, we were just as upset.

And that liquor bottle that thankfully shattered in the stairwell instead of on someone's head? Put it back in your purse or pocket. Use some common sense people - throwing things off the upper levels is not only unacceptable, but very distasteful, and it contributes to why our fans are known as the worst in the nation.

Kristen Turner
Junior, Dalton
Health Promotion and Psychology

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