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Opinion
 

Staff Editorial

                        Robyn Morrow             Chris Elliott                        
                                               John Arterbury       Caitlin Cuppernull

Report card wants more heroes

Tuskegee Airmen: A 

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen -- an all-black air unit that served during WWII -- is often told as a heroic tale promoting racial equality. 

On Thursday, though, the famed aviators were formally honored with the Congressional Gold Medal, a prestigious award that in the past has been given to civil rights icons such as Rosa Parks and the Little Rock Nine.

The Airmen were chided and plagued with an initially reluctant military command, but they managed to prove their mettle and secure a place in history by demonstrating that bravery transcends social constructs such as race. 

As such, their legacy is a testament to their ability to overcome in the face of adversity, be it at home or at war.

Possible sanctions: B

The U.S. will "tighten the screws" against the Sudanese government in coming days in response to its tacit approval of the situation in the nation's southern Darfur region, Reuters reported on Thursday. 

Plans include imposing travel restrictions on more officials, expanding limits on financial exchanges and increasing support to the Sudan People's Liberation Army.

The possible sanctions demonstrate that the U.S. is not ignoring the situation in Darfur, where pro-Sudanese rebels have killed at least 200,000 people since 2003. The efforts, however, do not guarantee that conditions will improve.

Sanctions run the risk of endangering the innocent citizens of the sanctioned regime, and the government must work to ensure that the plight of northern Sudan's inhabitants doesn't worsen. 

In any case, increased attention to the Darfur conflict is welcome.