Danish’s latest rant
(Re: “Is Nablus Boulder’s sister?” Danish Plan, Dec. 15.) Oh yes, another rant from Paul Danish. This time about the proposed Boulder sister city relationship with Nablus, Palestine. His misinformed characterizations only help to fuel mistrust between the two peoples who live in Israel and Palestine.
The sister city project is an attempt to further people-to-people relationships. Mr. Danish should understand that it is a citizen initiative that does not ask for Boulder funding.
It is a way to exchange greetings, further understanding and say we care.
Dan C. Winters/Boulder
In reading Paul Danish’s article, “Is Nablus Boulder’s sister?” I was struck by the contempt Danish holds for Palestinians and for the suffering they have endured under a brutal occupation.
By selectively choosing the most shameful of incidents and painting Palestinian society as completely colored by the horrors of those incidents he shows his own bigotry and lack of humanity.
I would bet that Danish “ululates” with delight every time he hears of the killing of Palestinians and other Arabs by Israeli soldiers and police. And I am sure that when babies are incinerated and decapitated, as happened in Gaza, the only sounds that come out of his mouth are justifications and excuses for his side’s actions. Obviously this man has never had the common human decency to objectively study the actual history of Israel/Palestine and the Middle East. It is so much easier for him to take the low road of clinging to stories that make him feel good about the hatred he sees coming from others, not having even a hint of awareness that it is his own hatred that insures the continuation of the unnecessary suffering of others whose lives are totally irrelevant to him.
Richard Forer/Albuquerque, N.M.
Had the writer of the piece ever been to Nablus, his article would not be so full of angst and anger. I have been to Nablus, so I know the people there are wonderfully generous, kind and welcoming. As folks in Boulder move forward with their preparations, maybe even the writer will discover there’s nothing “weird” about Boulder and Nablus becoming sister cities. President Eisenhower promoted the Sister City idea so communities would get to know one another people-to-people. And people in thousands of paired cities worldwide are doing just that. City officials approve the pairing, but it’s private individuals and groups who turn it into a real friendship. And like any friendship, it’s about getting to know one another and caring about one another. Boulder’s sister city friendship with Nablus will be no different. I value my sister city friendships and I cherish my visit to Nablus.
So bravo to those persons in Boulder who wish to make Nablus their sister city.
Brigitte Jaensch/Sacramento, Calif.
In his opinion piece “Is Nablus Boulder’s Sister?” Paul Danish describes the people killed in the World Trade Center attacks as “ground into bits of bloody hamburger.” Seriously? Do you have any class, Paul? Out of all the words you could use to describe an innocent victim that was murdered you choose “bloody hamburger”? That is incredibly disrespectful to the victims and their families. In addition, it was totally uncalled for, even given the subject matter of your article. You should be ashamed of yourself, and Boulder Weekly editors should be ashamed for letting that go to print. That is not the “freedom of independent journalism;” that is simply printing something in very poor taste. I read your paper every week and I expected better from you. I believe a formal apology from Paul Danish and Boulder Weekly editors is due.
Scott Tarpinian/Boulder
Editor’s note: Paul Danish writes an opinion column. His opinions are his own. They do not represent the positions of Boulder Weekly or the staff. We do not censor Mr. Danish even when we want to, aside from editing for style, length and libel. That’s why his column provides a valuable, often provocative service to our community.
Thank you, Pamela
(Re: “Sex, race and abortion,” Uncensored, Dec. 8.) Great article, Pamela, and so true. Thank you.
Patricia Kay Youngson/Internet
Pamela White couldn’t be more right on. Thank you. Now send this article to every paper in the nation.
And how do we change the nut-job right, or at least keep them from gaining any control and thus messing up our country even more?
Thanks. Mike Riter/Internet
Personhood is in the code
(Re: “‘We the People,’ not ‘We the Corporations’” The Highroad, Dec. 1.) Jim Hightower starts out his lament of corporate personhood thus: “In response to the Supreme Court’s freakish decision in 2010 to bestow political ‘personhood’ on corporations … “ The decision was not “freakish”, it was absolutely correct pursuant to the law.
“What law?” you may ask. Try Title 1, Chapter 1, §1, paragraph 1 of the United States Code (USC) which states: “§ 1. Words denoting number, gender, and so forth In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, unless the context indicates otherwise … the words ‘person’ and ‘whoever’ include corporations, companies, associations, firms, partnerships, societies, and joint stock companies, as well as individuals …” (emphasis added) Even the most cursory investigation by Mr. Hightower would have determined that the very first paragraph, of the very first section, of the very first chapter, of the very first title, of the United States Code defines corporations as persons. It is not like that fact is buried deep in the bowels of the text of the Code.
The “personhood” decision did not bestow anything upon corporations that the USC did not already ascertain by definition. The Supreme Court decision was correct and appropriate, pursuant to the law, even if it was not correct and appropriate for the political bent of persons such as Mr. Hightower.
It is best for one to know that upon which one speaks before one mounts the soapbox.
Jim Peel/Longmont
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