[AS
ALWAYS
PLEASE GO TO THE LINK
TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN
FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS
(and conversations) THAT
EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY,
JUSTICE & PEACE... and
hopefully Palestine]
http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Readers-Respond/2013/1216/Readers-Write-Democrats-didn-t-lose-to-personality-US-hypocrisy-on-Israel
US hypocrisy on Israel
Thank you for Katrina Lantos Swett's Nov. 18 commentary, "JFK was right about religious freedom's promise." True religious freedom would indeed curb sectarian strife and extremism. And yes, American diplomats and forward thinkers should be advocating for such freedom worldwide. But how will countries in the Middle East be able to hear, much less understand, that message when so many American religious, political, and business leaders praise and protect Israel as "The Jewish State" while turning a blind eye to its persecution of Palestinians and other Arabs?Calls for US support of religious freedom will be sanctimonious hypocrisy as long as we fail to insist on real democracy and a fully secular end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in line with international law and human rights.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
*******
New York Times
LETTERS Published: December 17, 2013
Parsing an Academic Boycott of Israel
Re “Boycott by Academic Group Is a Symbolic Sting to Israel” (front page, Dec. 16):
To the Editor:
You report that “the American Studies Association
resolution bars official collaboration with Israeli
institutions but not with Israeli scholars.” Sounds more
like a partial boycott and, yes, a “symbolic sting,” as
your headline has it. Israel’s ambassador to the United
States claims that Israel is “the sole democracy in the
Middle East.” But there is very little freedom or justice
for the native non-Jewish people of historic Palestine.
A secular two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict would go a long way toward eliminating the
religious extremism, bigotry, injustice and refugee crises
created by the conflict.
ANNE SELDEN ANNAB
Mechanicsburg, Pa., Dec. 17, 2013
********
USA TODAY
RE: UN secretary-general: JFK left indelible imprint on me
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/11/22/ban-ki-moon-un-secretary-general-jfk/3639233/
comment left on website
Delighted to see UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon's inspiring op-ed "JFK left indelible imprint on me"... In giving sincere thanks, and telling such a charming story, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon helps elevate an important person, but more importantly he promotes magnificent ideas and ideals.
Annie Annab
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/11/22/ban-ki-moon-un-secretary-general-jfk/3639233/
Mechanicsburg, Pa., Dec. 17, 2013
********
USA TODAY
RE: UN secretary-general: JFK left indelible imprint on me
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/11/22/ban-ki-moon-un-secretary-general-jfk/3639233/
comment left on website
Delighted to see UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon's inspiring op-ed "JFK left indelible imprint on me"... In giving sincere thanks, and telling such a charming story, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon helps elevate an important person, but more importantly he promotes magnificent ideas and ideals.
Annie Annab
http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/11/22/ban-ki-moon-un-secretary-general-jfk/3639233/
Meeting the president as a youth led to my decision to choose a life of public service.
********
The Patriot News
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/11/editorial_retraction_gettysburg_address_no_one_is_perfect.html#incart_flyout_opinion
The Patriot News
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/11/editorial_retraction_gettysburg_address_no_one_is_perfect.html#incart_flyout_opinion
Editorial retraction about the Gettysburg address shows no one is perfect: PennLive letters
By
on November 16, 2013 at 12:18 PM
on November 16, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Loved your editorial "Retraction
for our 1863 editorial calling Gettysburg Address 'silly
remarks'!
Hindsight certainly is 20/20. It really is totally impossible to know beyond an educated guess what speeches and stances will stand the tests of time, as well as what ideas and projects are a worthwhile investment. However we can try our best to be educated and compassionate, as well as humble, knowing that, as my brother was fond of saying when we were little: "No one is perfect."
In light of that fact, I cannot help but wish the Patriot News the best of luck, and hope that you have many, many more years ahead of publishing good, bad, and atrocious news and opinions.
ANNE SELDEN ANNAB, Mechanicsburg
Hindsight certainly is 20/20. It really is totally impossible to know beyond an educated guess what speeches and stances will stand the tests of time, as well as what ideas and projects are a worthwhile investment. However we can try our best to be educated and compassionate, as well as humble, knowing that, as my brother was fond of saying when we were little: "No one is perfect."
In light of that fact, I cannot help but wish the Patriot News the best of luck, and hope that you have many, many more years ahead of publishing good, bad, and atrocious news and opinions.
ANNE SELDEN ANNAB, Mechanicsburg
*********
THE NEW YORKER
comment I left online RE New Yorker "Thinking Outside the Two-State Box" by Yousef Munayyer
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/09/israel-palestine-two-state-solution-counterargument.html
THE NEW YORKER
comment I left online RE New Yorker "Thinking Outside the Two-State Box" by Yousef Munayyer
http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/09/israel-palestine-two-state-solution-counterargument.html
September 20,
2013
Thinking Outside the Two-State Box
AnneSeldenAnnab
*********
CSM
Monday, August 19, 2013
My letter PUBLISHED CSM August 19, 2013... Strengthening reasonable voices on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a good idea – but only if those voices respect universal human rights. A fully secular two-state solution is the best way forward.
[AS
ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO
READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP
SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and
conversations) THAT EMPOWER
DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE &
PEACE... and hopefully
Palestine]
Way forward for Israelis, Palestinians
Regarding Nadine Epstein's July 22 commentary, "Israelis, Palestinians need help for two-state solution": The one-state situation is what already is and has been for decades, with Israel easily able to find more excuses (and ways) to usurp more Palestinian land, liberty, and life. Making a cruel situation even worse, Islamists have been thriving on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, ensuring that Israel too often perceives Palestinians as terrorist threats rather than as real people.Noticing and hopefully strengthening reasonable voices, as Ms. Epstein suggests is needed, is a good idea – but only if those reasonable voices firmly respect universal basic human rights. The goal must be a just and lasting peace. A fully secular two-state solution is the best way forward.
Anne Selden Annab
Mechanicsburg, Pa.
*********
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/opinion/global/a-chance-to-talk-with-iran.html
The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/29/opinion/global/a-chance-to-talk-with-iran.html
Published: July 28, 2013
To end the Israel-Palestine conflict
Regarding “The two-state imperative” (Globalist, July 23) by Roger
Cohen: My heart sinks when columnists toy with the topic of
Israel-Palestine by insisting that Israel needs a two-state
solution in order to remain Jewish. There is a much better
argument, a more civilized imperative and a much more righteous as
well as sensible way to build a just and lasting peace: Both
Israel and Palestine need a two-state solution in order to
actually end the Israel-Palestine conflict. A fully secular end to
the conflict would be based on respect for international law and
universal basic human rights.
Religion should be a personal private choice as well as a
cherished inheritance, not a state-sponsored project. Taxpayers
here and there should not be forced to fund and empower religious
scholars and schemes.
Anne Selden Annab, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Now is the time for negotiations and negotiations need clear, easy to understand assessments of the situation:
Two fully secular, fully independent and secure sovereign nation states- both FULLY respecting universal basic human rights and the rule of fair and just laws, allow for a transition away from the nefarious bigotry and injustice and intransigence and grandiose delusions that have been galvanizing religious extremism and violence on both sides.
Two states, with Palestinian refugees able to return to original homes and lands in Israel, or resettle in the New Palestine, or move on and away.
Two states, as a gateway to a future where tourists, teachers, students, workers, family members, friends, artists, poets, filmmakers, researchers, archeologists,(...etc...) will be able to travel back and forth knowing that their home and their garden and their loved ones, who ever and wherever they might be, are safe from destruction.
Two states with every citizen free to find ways to make diplomacy and compassion an every day endowment for everyone's sake.