Government should not intrude on gay couples

Government should not intrude on gay couples

According to Jus- tice Clarence Thomas, the U.S. Supreme Court isn’t approaching the gay marriage issue in a way that is appropriate. Thomas feels as though the federal courts are signaling that they want to clear a path for gay marriage to be acceptable all across the nation.

Take the recent ruling in Alabama opening the door to same-sex marriage. Thomas feels as though state laws have been “cast aside” by a federal district judge. Some might agree that the way things happened in Alabama aren’t fully constitutional and might not be the right way to go about settling an issue like this.

But I don’t see anything wrong with the idea that gay and lesbian couples want to be married and have the same marital rights as everyone else.

The government has so much control over us already. It’s a shame that it pretty much has the right to tell people who they can be in love with, and who they can spend the rest of their lives with. What’s so wrong with two men wanting to get married? Or two women?

In America, we pride ourselves on being open-minded and “with the times” more than other countries. Yet when it comes to our ability to accept the gay community, we’re just as backward as many other places.

If a man wants to be in a relationship with another man, or two women want to be together, who are we to stop them and judge? That’s their personal lives and people should learn to stop passing judgment on others.

Darrell Johnson, Youngstown

At long last, some relief on potholed MLK Blvd.

As a student at Youngstown State University, I spend my mornings dodging potholes on my way to class. Traveling from Brookfield to Youngstown, there are many possible routes. My favorite is taking I-80 and getting on to the 711 Connector. Taking the highway is a quick shot for me. I then proceed onto Martin Luther King Boulevard, which is where the real adventure begins.

MLK is a disaster. Its condition and number of potholes on it are ridiculous.

Not only do I have to dodge countless potholes so I don’t damage my car, but I often have to get in the other lane for road crews who are patching the holes with cold asphalt. These temporary fixes are obviously not doing much to help though, considering the next day I still have a bumpy ride.

According to a recent story by Reporter David Skolnick, Mayor John McNally said, “That pothole-filled section of MLK is on the city’s list to be repaved this year as part of an estimated $890,000 improvement project with about $580,000 coming from state and federal funds.”

I was thrilled to hear this. These roads need to be completely repaved to assure safe travel.

McNally also promises that other roads that are to be repaved are Kirk Road from Meridian to Bears Den roads, Gypsy Lane from Logan to Fifth avenues, and North Hazelwood Avenue from Mahoning to Donald avenues.

My car and I thank the city in advance for smooth travels in the future.

Ashley Custer, Brookfield

Brian Williams is an accomplished newsman

The intrinsic code of journalism is that we have a superior responsibility to the truth than others within our community. In addition, people, especially journalists, in the public eye are judged with greater scrutiny than those with smaller spheres of influence.

Of course, I am referring to Brian Williams, the once renowned, now infamous anchor of NBC Nightly News. He is currently embroiled in a controversy concerning certain claims he made about his time as a war correspondent. The starting point, according to Newsweek’s piece “Brian Williams: Bald Lies or False Memories,” was a claim that the reporter had been in a helicopter shot out of the sky by a Rocket Propelled Grenade.

In fact, the helicopter behind him had been shot out of the sky. First and foremost, Williams had previously, in his original report, reported the instance correctly. It was in a personal anecdote that he apparently lied. So, we can confirm, from his own mouth, that he was incorrect in his statement, but it is not so much the veracity of the falsehood that matters but whether there was malice or intent in his telling of it.

Yes, of course all the paragons of truth and justice and other such nebulous concepts are quick to pile on Williams for his apparently blatant lies, and the idea that he would actually believe his own misinformed memory is ridiculous. How could someone misremember something so striking?

Even if we are to assume that Williams was falsely representing himself to write some hero narrative, this is a witch hunt.

People look at Williams in a vacuum — existing solely as a figure of scandal and not a human or successful journalist.

But does a mistake rescind his credibility or his achievements? No. It is an unfortunate truth that we are often remembered for our worst deeds and forgotten for our best.

Liam Bouquet, Hubbard

Cost of textbooks a big financial burden on us

The price of a col- lege textbook is amounting to the cost of a monthly car payment. I’ve come to find, through the grapevine of college students, that most of my friends think most books aren’t even necessary for the class. Therefore, why are students required to take out loans for books if they don’t even need the book?

Books are costly, and, in some cases, colleges won’t even buy the book back or will only give you anywhere from 1 to 5 percent of your initial purchase.

According to USA Today, the College Board estimates that the average student in this country spends around $1,200 a year on books and supplies. College book prices range anywhere from $10 to $320 at YSU. College book prices may have increased because college tuition prices are increasing.

Colleges have to level out their funds by raising book prices and tuition costs. However, is there a way for professors to actually start using the books that are assigned to their classes so that students get the most out of their money?

If a book isn’t necessary for the class then professors shouldn’t require the students to bother buying the book. It is safe to say that book prices are certainly breaking the bank of many college students.

Jake Larkin, Boardman

Maybe luxuries in the workplace has limits

The Vindicator ran a story recently from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch about a social media firm called LockerDome, based in St. Louis, which is helping to revolutionize the way businesses do work.

Google, Apple, and Facebook have all changed the typical workday for their employees. They allow recreation time, eating on the job, and even naps. LockerDome has taken things from all of the new, progressive companies and made the workplace entirely its own.

During work employees enjoy a full bar where drinks are on the house, sleep whenever they feel necessary, bring their pets to work, enjoy catered breakfasts, or enjoy the in-house basketball court.

It is a new trend that many companies are using to help workers become more engaged during the workday.

“The reality is, you want the workplace to feel productive,” said CEO Gabe Lozano

Some might argue that drinking a beer or enjoying an omelet during work would be counter intuitive, but the employees who enjoy these amenities have a different opinion.

“The nice elements in this office are more a reflection of how committed our staff is to working together here as a team to complete projects, no matter how long it takes,” explained Nick Apperson, 30, the chief technology officer.

Maybe this new trend of a relaxed environment will start to bleed into other corporations in the near future, which could be a great thing. Let’s just hope they don’t let the family doctor enjoy a six-pack of Sam Adams before your check up.

Dominic Ferreri, Austintown