Commenter Profile

Total number of comments: 23 (since 2012-06-25 16:50:34)

American convert to Shia Islam.

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  • It's time for the media to talk about Zionism
    • David Nelson December 6, 2012 at 12:01 am

      Mooser, i think got the wrong drift from what you said. I am with you on the medical patients and offering them better prices. There was a RAND study done just before California's Proposition 19 (to legalize cannabis) went up for a vote in 2010 (unsuccessful). The study concluded that the prices could drop by as much as 80% in California if it were to be legalized.

    • David Nelson December 4, 2012 at 6:18 pm

      @Mooser about the opium. There are many difficult questions ahead, but just ask the people of Latin America if the US needs drug policy reform.

      If there was not so much money in heroin, would the people in Afghanistan be growing so much of it?

      Personally i think every substance should be judged based on its own merit or detriment. I see alcohol as coming at a much greater negative cost to society than cannabis use. Marijuana is marijuana, and alcohol is alcohol, and never the twain shall meet, except in very broad generalizations.

      I have never been able to convince myself that marijuana is an intoxicant. It just gets me 'normal.' A brain functioning without thc for me would be the same as a brain functioning without serotonin or dopamine. Well, maybe not quite that extreme, but you get the idea, it's just another neurotransmitter.

      Also, the medicinal efficacy of cannabis is well established, there is nothing hypocritical about it.

      Anyway, absolutely did not mean to derail the discussion of Philip's essay. so apologies;)

    • David Nelson December 4, 2012 at 1:29 pm with 1 replies

      On the issue of liquor, i have been bone-dry for many years now. I stand by liberal principles as a matter of survival. I voted in favor of the liquor laws. And i voted in favor of gay marriage. I am a minority within a Muslim context with many of these issues. But again, and as Phil's essay covers, it is a matter of survival at its core.

    • David Nelson December 4, 2012 at 1:18 pm

      here is some great reading on the issue. i have noted the Israelis are progressive on the issue of medical pot.

      link to alternet.org

    • David Nelson December 4, 2012 at 1:18 pm with 11 replies

      Thanks Mooser. The legalization of pot is very much a social justice issue world-wide. As for being Muslim and smoking pot (and the future of cannabis is so much more than smoking), i have a rational, scientific understanding/perspective of the cannabis plant. The superstitions against it must end, when that happens, we will see how much benefit this God-given plant brings to humanity.

      I do not have a shop, i currently deliver to Medical Marijuana patients. I am not sure what is going to happen in two days, but only medical patients are allowed to grow. So it seems we (mmj patients and providers) can be of help to those over 21 looking for primo buds. The state has a year to develop a licensing structure. Will be exciting whatever happens. Still waiting on a position from the Obama administration.

    • David Nelson December 4, 2012 at 11:19 am with 24 replies

      "I like liberal traditions of personal freedom in the United States, including the tradition of tolerance of religious and ideological claims I find preposterous. These liberal principles have guaranteed my freedom as a minority in the U.S. and granted me a darn good life, including jobs in the First Amendment business and marriage to someone who is not Jewish"

      My own upbringing is such that i am not a minority in American society. I grew up 'swimming with the current' and so do not know directly what those early experiences as a minority are like.

      I did however convert to Islam in 1998 at the age of twenty-five. Since then, and especially since 9/11, i have gained a much deeper appreciation of America's liberal principles and how those principles directly relate to my own survival as a 'free' person here.

      On top of this, and perhaps to some extent because of these principles, i have i also involved myself with the budding legal cannabis industry here at home in Washington State. In two days, recreational use of cannabis becomes legal. As a member of the industry, i am again relying on American liberal traditions to (hopefully) remain a 'free' person.

      Anyway Phil, I have often asked myself: "How can i be a liberal and a Muslim at the same time?" This essay comes very close to answering that question.

  • Israeli hasbara cartoon features white man fighting jungle animals
    • David Nelson November 19, 2012 at 12:07 pm

      What good are city walls in the era of gunpowder? What good are delusions in the era of the internet? Israel is protecting itself with obsolete technology.

    • David Nelson November 19, 2012 at 11:16 am with 1 replies

      Just another common (and quite elementary) projection by the Israelis. A defense mechanism to deal with its own dissonance. Israel cannot perceive itself to be a liberal democratic state without expunging its own contradictions. Benji uses projection all the time when he talks about his "enemies." These sorts of defense mechanisms are usually obvious to outsiders, but outsiders are not who the mechanisms are erected to protect. A defense mechanism in intended to protect the ego from the harsh realities of the outside world and as such only has to fool ego, not the outside world. A city's walls look different depending on where one stands.

  • Gaza vs. Israel: The legitimate and illegitimate use of violence in the Western discourse
    • David Nelson November 16, 2012 at 9:49 pm

      "In Egypt, people are heading for Rafah. "

      Thanks for the Guardian link seafoid. That there are young Egyptians who are heading to Gaza is both beautiful and frightening at the same time.

      In the context of escalation, what is Israel going to do, start bombing Egyptian citizens who make it to Gaza? What responsibility will an accountable-to-their-people President Morsi and the Egyptian military have if Egyptian civilians are murdered by the IDF?

      And all Obama can do is console the aggressor. Things can so quickly spiral out of control here. My heart and prayers to all those young Egyptians striving for peace and of course to all the Gazans and other innocents who must be terrified.

  • Whether legal or political, the Holy Land Five struggle will continue
    • David Nelson October 29, 2012 at 11:20 am

      Good thing we aren't a nation of Muslims in the Middle East. If we were, America would be assisting us oppressed citizens to revolt against our regime.

  • Goldberg ignores decades of consistent Iranian statements on nuclear weapons for the sake of propaganda
    • David Nelson October 10, 2012 at 6:25 pm with 2 replies

      You think a fatwa is the same thing as a PR message?

      I have lurked for quite a while and seen you write some pretty smart things, this not being one of them.

      You start from a prejudiced point of view if you think Iran's principled stand against nuclear weapons is a propaganda ruse. Iran has suffered greatly for its principles over the last 30 years, if they were inclined to acting against those principles don't you think they might tried to negotiate a better security environment?

      Basically Krauss, your argument is that we cannot believe Iran because we can't. And you call Nima's argument weak? Puh-leeze.

  • Iran wants nukes to deter attack
    • David Nelson October 3, 2012 at 11:31 am

      Below I have transcribed a question on the nuclear negotiations asked by Greg Tealman of Arms Control Associaton. The setting is a talk titled "Will diplomatic failure over Iran trigger war?" given by Mark Fitzpatrick at the International Institute for Strategic Studies--US (link below to the youtube video).

      Mark Fitzpatrick's answer illustrates that the demand that Iran shut down the Fordow site is demanded NOT because the US could not destroy Fordow, but because Israel could not destroy it, or, in other words, Israel cannot "contain" Iran with the existence of Fordow. Looked at from the Iranian point of view, however, Fordow is a deterrence against an Israeli attack.

      But let's be real, Israel cannot militarily "contain" Iran as it is, Fordow or not. Iran's nuclear program is too redundant, too much a part of the broader Iranian society for it to be erased.

      So clearly Israel already relies on the US for security from their perceived Iranian threat, Fordow does not change this equation, so why should Israel be so insistent this demand to dismantle Fordow be included in the negotiations?

      As Fitzpatrick says, the US can destroy Fordow, or certainly can destroy any usable entryways into it. And as we all know, the US has Israel's back. So why this demand to dismantle Fordow from Israel? Do they not think other nations have a right to defend against Israeli aggression or to protect their valuable assets?

      Is it merely an irrational demand by Israel knowing full well the rational actors in Tehran will reject such a demand?

      It seems clear to me the dismantling of Fordow is a strawman put in there so Israel can ensure the negotiations will fail.

      Anyway, here is the question and answer. I transcribed it, so my apologies for any errors. The question is asked @28:17 in the video (link below):

      Greg Tealman-Arms Control Association:

      "I wanted to focus on Fordow, and the, um, specifically on the demand that it be shut down. Um, I wanted your reaction to my interpretation that from an Iranian perspective, the 'shut-down demand' can only be interpreted as a provocation, as an indication of bad faith on the part of the six powers [P5+1 or E3+3] because it ultimately means that even if Iran were to accept limits at 3.5%, if they were to accept the Additional Protocol, if they were to accept everything else that we ask for, we would say "Fordow has to be shut down because we have trouble destroying it in an air assualt." Isn't that essentially what the demand is and how is that, how is that constructed to allow us in these very difficult negotiations to get over the hurdle of lack of trust and faith on both sides and get a confidence building agreement?"

      Mark Fitzpatrick: "Yeah, Greg, that's a good question. I think though that, um, the pronoun is not the right pronoun in the way you framed the question. It's not that "we," that is to say, members of the E3+3, have a difficulty attacking Fordow. The United States could do it with its, um, its heavy gravity bombs, but Israel couldn't and that doesn't make it any easier for Iran obviously, it would make more of a problem but I mean this is realpolitik we're talking about here. "

      link to youtube.com

  • Netanyahu is pushing world to WW3 -- Onion's 'joke'
    • David Nelson September 29, 2012 at 8:10 pm

      the word "Zionism" is used in the Western press in connection to conspiracy theories and islamists. In this way, fear and ridicule is inspired and "Zionism" as a subject is never taken seriously by Americans who are not well informed on the issue. it is not a subject of polite, non-anti-semitic speech.

  • Michael Moore says Palestinians have gotten a 'raw deal'
    • David Nelson September 11, 2012 at 2:32 pm with 1 replies

      After watching the incomplete documentary, i distinctly remember thinking to myself "How can anyone discuss the modern Middle East without considering Israel's role?"

      The pressures are real. Standing up for human rights in Palestine will cost liberals many of their dear friends.

      These liberals should be so much more pissed off than they are. But what can you do, Moore is just another victim of Israel's emotional blackmail.

  • Jon Stewart: We've finally discovered evidence of Democratic voter fraud Republicans are always complaining about
  • Dems have thrown two-state solution under the bus -- J Street and Beinart say
    • David Nelson September 6, 2012 at 2:17 am

      Thank you Philip. I enjoy your blog. Israelis may not know or appreciate it, but people like you are some of Israel's best friends.

    • David Nelson September 5, 2012 at 5:27 pm with 7 replies

      The delusion of a two-state solution keeps Israeli apartheid alive.

      I see one state where more than half the population is treated as sub-human.

      No more make-believe. The world is too small for Israeli racism to have a place among us.

  • Romney and Pro-Israel Dems attack party platform, but insider says AIPAC reviewed platform language and had no problem
    • David Nelson September 5, 2012 at 2:01 am

      Actually, from the following wiki article, the Mormons believe themselves to be included in the tribes of Israel. I am guessing Mitt's love for Israel is real:

      "The official position of the LDS Church is that those who have accepted Mormonism or are a part of the Latter Day Saint movement are primarily from the House of Joseph. Adherents believe they are members of one of the tribes of Israel, either by blood lineage or by adoption, when the recipient is not a literal descendant of Jacob, also known as Israel. Individual church members are told their tribal affiliation through a patriarchal blessing. The LDS Church teaches that all of the tribes exist within their numbers, though not every tribe in every country. "

      link to en.wikipedia.org

  • Obama talks to Iran and washes hands of Israeli attack, Ynet reports
    • David Nelson September 3, 2012 at 3:28 pm

      i presume the Israeli thought might be that if America attacked Iran, Iran would be so pre-occupied with defending against America, Israel will not have to worry so much about Iranian missiles and only have to defend against Hizbollah if they were to even enter into something aggressive. Israel was/is hoping to get this war on the cheap.

    • David Nelson September 3, 2012 at 3:24 pm with 1 replies

      Probably not Sean, my personal belief is that this has been a hoax all along, and has been intended to coerce America into either attacking or into giving israel more money and weapons. imo, israel never had any intention of initiating anything other than their dirty secret wars and assassinations.

    • David Nelson September 3, 2012 at 2:35 pm with 4 replies

      These comments will throw more uncertainty into Israel's calculation. Not knowing whether America will be there to finish the job Israel starts will considerably increase the perceived cost to benefit ratio for Israel.

  • My correspondence with NYT's Rudoren
    • David Nelson August 23, 2012 at 7:01 pm

      Octavia Nasr is the prime example here. All she said was "Sad to hear of the passing of Sayyed Mohammad Hussein Fadlallah.. One of Hezbollah's giants I respect a lot..." and got fired for it.

    • David Nelson August 21, 2012 at 3:13 pm with 1 replies

      Marc b. , I agree your cynical view is most likely true. Rudoren is part of the "Re-brand" Israel campaign and her function is known to her and her superiors.

      It is all part of the effort to spin Israel from the murderous, thieving apartheid state it is into some sort of Enlightenment gem.

      She is a refurbished relic from the pre-Internet era. The New York Times and the Zionists of America should update their strategy to avoid being so transparent.

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