The Visor » Opinion

Homeless veterans deserve compassion

adviser — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:25:28 +0000

With the celebration of Veterans’ Day yesterday, ask not what the veterans have done for you, but what you can do for the veterans.
Although Americans should remember all those who courageously ser ved our nation on this holiday, the veterans who are now homeless and hungr y should be especially recognized and helped, particularly during the canned food drive this year.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 21.9 million veterans lived in our nation in 2009. Tonight, 107,000 of those men and women will be homeless. Throughout the course of a year, twice that number of veterans will spend a night on the streets and a total of 1.5 million are considered at risk of homelessness, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV).
In fact, of all the homeless people seen on the street ever y day, one in every four is a veteran, even though veterans only make up 11 percent of the population, according to the Associated Press .
Although all impoverished people certainly deserve care and assistance, Americans should especially remember the veterans. These courageous men and women risked everything, even their lives, to protect our freedom.
To reach out to the heroes in need, many things can be done. Donations can be made
specifically to veterans through NCHV or a similar organization. Or since 25 percent of all homeless are veterans, some of the cans contributed to the canned food drive or the dollar bills handed to homeless on street corners will cer tainly reach impoverished veterans.
Americans should remember the fearless soldiers they depend on to continue to provide liberty for the world. These heroes often are recognized and supported, as they rightfully
should be, yet Americans should not forget them after their ser vice has ended. It is important to continue to care for these former soldiers because their unbelievable sacrifice merits them a better life than one of poverty.
So as you brush past a disheveled man on the street or look away from a persistent beggar, remember that his or her weary face could be the face of a protector of your freedom and of America itself.

Lebron should be renamed the “Lyin King”

adviser — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 22:28:20 +0000

Instead of firewood, many Cavs fans are now using LeBron James jerseys. On July 8, 2010 Lebron’s “Decision” made the city of Cleveland go up in flames. Because of his choice to depart to South Beach, LeBron may never be cheered by his former fans in Cleveland again.

“I don’t see how LeBron could ever leave; the fans idolized him,” senior Lucas Sokol said. “LeBron made a terrible decision that he’s going to regret.”

For a month straight, newspapers, ESESPN and talk shows guessed where the superstar would bring his talent next year, and he left the city of Cleveland guessing along with them. The so-called hero of the city turned into a zero quickly.

“We remained faithful and so should he,” senior Rocco LaRose said.

“Cavalier fans wanted a championship to the city of Cleveland just as bad as Lebron wanted it; we were patient just as he should have been.”

Being an Akronite, he should have thought about his fans and been straight forward about leaving instead of telling them during an hour-long press conference.

“I grew up a huge LeBron fan, watching or going to all of his games,” junior Sean Robbins said. “Then that traitor made his decision to go to Miami. I cried myself to sleep, and I never cry.”

LeBron is seen all over the world as being one of the greatest NBA players to ever live. He had a kingdom in Cleveland that supported him; he is now just another ex-star of the Cleveland sports nation.

The King deserves to remain crowned

adviser — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 18:58:33 +0000

The same people who once called LeBron James “the Chosen One” now proclaim him as the Benedict Arnold of sports.

Yet, those people need to realize that he owes no more to his hometown than anyone else. In the 2003 NBA draft the Cleveland Cavaliers chose LeBron as the first overall pick—LeBron did not choose Cleveland. As the Cavs improved, fans hoped he would be the key to victory, but after many failed attempts he became a free agent. Lebron used this freedom to search for a new team that would ultimately platform an NBA championship.

Although Chris Bosh also left his team to join the Miami Heat, his jersey wasn’t burned in the streets of Toronto because he made it clear that he would not return to the Raptors and become a member of the Heat. Admittedly, LeBron should have left with such class.

Still, LeBron may have left Cleveland but he did not betray it. He did not join an Eastern Conference rival like the Celtics or the Orlando Magic. In fact, despite the ridicule, on Aug. 7, he returned for his annual bike-athon.

Each spring in the preceding seasons, as the Cavs exited the playoffs, two words comforted them: “next year.” Lebron could have kept that mentality and continued to fall short, but in a few years he would have surpassed his prime barehanded. Fans can hate LeBron for leaving Cleveland, or they can look back at those seven years and know that because of him they witnessed arguably the best basketball this town as ever seen.