But when did marshaling facts to support an opinion become irrelevant?

Torture of any human being is unacceptable. Ask the Pope.

And yes, torture is unAmerican any time any place. Read the 8th Amendment.

Moreover, a Republican dominated Supreme Court, i.e., conservative, has construed the U.S. Constitution to afford rights to terrorists at Gitmo; those who think the U.S. Constitution applies only to U.S. citizens are just plain wrong. And those Supreme Court decisions are consistent with both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution.

What’s going on in the history classes at Hoban?

Jim Burke ’67

Have we all forgotten the Kanye West incident (the first one) after Hurricane Katrina where he stood on stage on live TV and said, “President Bush hates all black people”?! He left Mike Myers standing there looking like a “deer in headlights”. And the rest of America was shocked. In an instant, Kanye lost all credibility when he chose that forum and those words all in the name of “free speech”.

If you have a message you want to convey, then you’d better pick the proper forum and language you use. Making offensive statements about a “sitting” President who is working hard to get us through a national crisis probably isn’t the best way to get your point across. Maybe Kanye should have been on a boat down on the Bayou rescuing people off their roofs instead of standing on that stage personally attacking the President.

I could go on and on, but I have probably already lost any readers left! My purpose is to try to get anyone still reading to look at the big picture here. In my “opinion”, this “commentary” from a 17-yr old struck a nerve with the reader’s of The Visor because of its total lack of respect for the service of President Obama. There is a fine line between “free speech” and “character assassination”. Referring to our President as “a hypocritical liar” crossed that line. As did her reference to those who voted for him as fools. I ask those who are supposed to be guiding these “commentators” , did you do your job? Did you teach this young writer how to walk this thin line using “appropriate and productive skills”? Did you teach her to write with the “zeal and discipline” befitting a student of Archbishop Hoban High School? I think not.

As a result, she will suffer when or if she attempts to go on to write for a college publication. She will be passed over by thousands of other students who were taught the art of being a true Commentator.

While I personally don’t agree with her views (and was grateful to see my views expressed by two of my former teachers, Mrs. Bulgrin and Mr. Bryant), she was completely within her rights to express her opinion – and more than that, was extremely brave to publish these views in a public forum and attach her name to them.

How pitiful that some people, even grown adults, can attack Ms. Bowser’s opinions without publishing their own names. (How brave the Internet can make some people.) Good for her – a substantive article in the Visor that creates a discussion at Hoban (a real discussion, not just sports or entertainment).

I can’t agree with her views, but I’m proud to see her article nonetheless. With that, I’m going to protect my own anonymity, because some of the people commenting on this article are frankly frightening.

-Alumnus of ’08

Unfortunately, I know I’ve lost this fight, and I’ve known that from the beginning and it still makes me sad. Granted, I realize and have admitted my emotions got the better of me a few times while posting here, but if you had read any of my posts you would know I sincerely wish her article had only been about Obama’s failings. As an Obama supporter I am always interested to read about things he is falling short on so I continue to be informed and can make informed decisions while voting. However, most of her article was a pro torture rant and I will not sit by, even though I knew coming in I was losing. Fighting against fear based decisions is not an easy task, but it was worth a shot.

As to your final point, thank you. I do not believe in anonymous posting while debating a contentious issue with peers I have a connection to (this excludes any parents that did not wish to involve their children who are attending Hoban.) I’m hoping to see more from the Visor in the future, and specifically from Nikki, which is more grounded in fact instead of fear.

James just let this article be and go comment on something good Hoban is doing or something exciting that happened in the halls of Hoban. For example Jim Tressel came into Hoban and was as classy as could be. I really hope he comes back and you can spend sometime around him and hopefully his positive attitude and classy act can rub off on you and take effect immediately.

I give you credit for one thing, it took some guts to put your name above the thoughts and opinions you had about this subject.
Sincerely,
Christopher William Brady