opinions

Liberals shouldn't fear four more years

By Kiran Bhat | Feb. 10, 2005, midnight | In Op/Ed »

These visionary words bring to mind the one politician from the past 20 years that Democrats can be proud of, President Bill Clinton. They are grandiose and confident, and hopeful in every sense. However Clintonesque they may sound though, they came from the mouth of one man liberals in America despise most, President George W. Bush.

A chance for peace in the Middle East

By | Feb. 8, 2005, midnight | In Op/Ed »

The election of Mahmoud Abbas as President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) has given both sides of the conflict an incentive to renew peace negotiations. To gain a better sense of the concerns Palestinians have for Abbas, I interviewed two Palestinians, Mike and Alex. (With current violence on the Israel-Palestine front, printing the full names of these sources may endanger their lives.) Mike is an administrator in Bethany, West Bank, and Alex is an accountant in Beit Hanina, Jerusalem.

Agencies must be held accountable for payoffs

By | Feb. 5, 2005, midnight | In Op/Ed »

The current administration prides itself on its moral clarity, even as some of its members shroud unethical policies in secrecy. On Jan. 7, light was shed on this hypocrisy, as USA Today reported that a government agency, the Department of Education (DOE), had spent $241,000 to bribe conservative talk show host Armstrong Williams into promoting the president's No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) on his radio show and in his columns.

Gonzales the wrong choice for attorney general

By Kiran Bhat | Jan. 14, 2005, midnight | In Op/Ed »

In this age of political battles and constant squabbling, it is simple to declare that one side or the other has lost a sense of moral direction. However, the one event that most indicates our government's lack of a moral compass as a whole is the appointment of Alberto R. Gonzales to the position of attorney general, head of the Department of Justice.

MCPS budget blues: an opinion

By Armin Rosen | Dec. 24, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

As a member of the Board of Education, former Blair PTSA President Valerie Ervin will take aim at the achievement gap, push for minority participation in GT classes and programs and advocate decreased class sizes. She will also confront an issue that lacks the visibility, but not the importance of GT enrollment and academic discrepancies: budget clarity.

Grammy rock music nominees are nothing to rave about

By Emma Zachurski | Dec. 17, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

On Dec. 7, a crime against music, particularly rock and alternative, was committed: the Grammy Awards nominations were announced.

Ask Chips nine: girls back in business

By | Dec. 14, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Stuck between a block and a hard place

By Samir Paul | Dec. 9, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

Northwood freshman Cory Babazadeh can finally play on his school's JV basketball team. That's because after failing algebra and being ruled ineligible last year, he is re-taking the class and has managed to earn a high C—a grade that his parents say hasn't stopped improving. But all that may change next fall when MCPS pulls the plug on one of the best programs it has started in a long time.

Ask Chips eight: we're just that great

By | Nov. 19, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Dangerous driving isn't just an accident

By Armin Rosen | Nov. 12, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

On Sept. 24, the lives of five area teenagers ended early on the roads of Montgomery County. The following week, County law enforcement officials and local policy makers made numerous calls for action, ranging from helicopter traffic surveillance to reforms in the driver's license testing process.

Military recruiting makes army of the disadvantaged

By Pria Anand | Nov. 11, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

A Navy poster sits beside a stack of PSAT practice booklets in the Career Center. Against an adjacent wall lie piles of business cards left from the many military recruiters who frequent Blair's hallways. At the front desk is a rack of glossy Army brochures bearing slogans like "the experience of a lifetime” and shining with the faces of confident, clean-cut soldiers far removed from the bloody battlefields many recruits will soon face.

Ask Chips: it's our turn to ask you

By | Nov. 8, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Blazers' thoughts on the election

By | Nov. 7, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

The following is a compilation of quotes from Blazers regarding their thoughts on the 2004 presidential election. Please feel free to leave your own comments as well.

A little history lesson...and the case for Bush

By Armin Rosen | Oct. 31, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

The use of historical precedent often times ignores the nuances of the event that is being used as an example. Take for instance the popular comparison of Iraq to Vietnam. The two are alike in that they are wars in which the United States fought; yet the nature of the conflicts could not be less similar.

Silver Chips Online endorses Kerry

By | Oct. 31, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

Four years ago, this country was forced to choose between a monotonous but qualified vice president and a charismatic but inexperienced governor from Texas. Charisma won, but four years later, we find ourselves rebuilding two countries, $450 billion in debt and a country sharply divided. The Bush administration's environmental, economic and education record is weak, but even more troubling issues are the mismanagement of Iraq and the exploitation of petty but riveting positions on gay marriage and stem cell research. Although John Kerry has been thoroughly pounded for his supposed liabilities, including his anti-war demonstrations and his tendency to "flip-flop,” he presents a more specific plan for this country. Therefore, Silver Chips Online throws its support behind John Kerry and John Edwards for control of the White House come January.

Ask Chips: latest and greatest

By | Oct. 27, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Why Kerry should be elected

By | Oct. 26, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

John Kerry has dedicated his life to serve America. He fought valiantly in Vietnam earning a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, and three Purple Hearts. He has served with distinction in the United States Senate. As President, John Kerry will lead the American people to a better future.

A clean sweep…for Bush

By Armin Rosen | Oct. 21, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

Let's see how well you know your presidential election history. Who won the first debate in 1996? The second debate in 1988? The third in 1980? Of course you have no idea, because debates don't really matter.

Ask Chips number five: it's back and it's prime

By | Oct. 19, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Ask Chips: number four

By | Oct. 12, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Ask Chips: third time's a charm

By | Oct. 8, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

American voters should give Bush a contract extension

By Armin Rosen | Sept. 29, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

Of the American electorate, Abraham Lincoln said, "If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters." In this election our country, 26% of which is composed of people under the age of 18 according to the U.S. Census bureau, is in danger of reversing four years of progress, and instead sitting on four years of a John Kerry presidency.

Ask Chips: second installment

By | Sept. 24, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

Chips answers

By | Sept. 13, 2004, midnight | In Ask Chips »

"Lowering the bar" for athletes

By | May 20, 2004, midnight | In Op/Ed »

I would like to offer a counter opinion to two articles written earlier in the school year regarding athletic ineligibility at Blair. As the varsity baseball coach, assistant athletic director and Blair alumnus (class of 1980), it pains me that our athletic teams have not been as successful recently as some of our up-county rivals, but there are understandable reasons for this, and I think the aforementioned articles are somewhat misleading in their representations of cause and effect.