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2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories 10 things to know for Friday 10 things to know for Thursday Heading to Harvard Ashland Elks celebrate Mother's Day Police Reports Education Heading to Harvard Rising from the ashes Ashland High School again earns national honors Preschool's future not yet secure Ashland Middle School student spearheads Nepal relief effort Environment Jackson County declares drought disaster Ashland publisher offers prize for environmental book Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection Stopping fire in its tracks Some trails, roads remain closed due to controlled burn Business Ashland joins in Craft Beer Week with toast at Standing Stone on Wednesday Cars We Remember: Noted musician unravels 55-year Nash Rambler mystery 'Fill'er up' will mean with beer, not gas Ride & Drive: 2015 BMW 428i Gran Coupe Ashland Safeway closes Thursday, to reopen as Haggen on Sunday Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability City of Ashland to consider making recorder position appointive, not elective Ashland water bills could go up to fund watershed protection BREAKING: Baltimore prosecutor charges officers in Gray's death Arthur I. Cyr: Cuba’s enduring challenge to American foreign policy – and American politics State News Oregon's snowpack at just 11 percent of average Lack of snow nixes ski portion of popular Central Oregon race Bill under debate in Oregon would limit livestock antibiotics Nation - World There's a $10 million precious stone hidden in plain sight at Grand Central Obituaries Death Notices Death Notices Ronald Mitchell Betts Dickie Miles Hayes Death Notices Shareable Check out top import and export for every U.S. state Patriots fan sets up GoFundMe page to help pay for team's Deflategate fine Sports Latest Stories App Finder: Best cycling apps Thompson-Siporen earns three MWL titles in first day of district meet Rich Garven: Pumping out some Deflategate thoughts Ashland heads to Eugene for MWL district meet Clive McFarlane: Football ethics take center stage High school Thompson-Siporen earns three MWL titles in first day of district meet Ashland heads to Eugene for MWL district meet Ayers pitches Eagles past Grizzlies Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet Ashland boys sweep doubles, beat GP Southern Oregon University Ashland heads to Eugene for MWL district meet Raiders Maguin, Parks, Sanders highlight first day of CCC track meet SOU lands two on all-CCC softball team See you in August Same old Raiders Voices Latest Stories Our View: Focus on the basics Jeffrey Gillespie: Shame on the high seas Dianne Williamson: Showing cards necessary in honest race talks Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Our View: Elected or appointed? Editorial Our View: Focus on the basics Our View: Elected or appointed? Our View: Change is brewing Our View: Forest work is a bargain Our View: What price history? Letters Letters to the Editor, May 14 (No heading) Letters to the editor: Tuesday, May 12 Letters to the Editor, May 8 Letters to the Editor, May 6 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Guest Opinion: Restoring the Plaza's sense of place Guest Opinion: Making conservation a game Guest Opinion: A good day to act Guest Opinion: Allegations unfair to Dr. Tomashefsky Columns Jeffrey Gillespie: Shame on the high seas Arthur I. Cyr: Camp David summit will not help Mideast stability Ashland by the numbers Chris Honoré: Supreme Court grapples with tradition, suffrage Guest Opinion: Ambrose spins a conservative fantasy Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Ashland Calendar, Thursday, May 14 4 Things To Do This Weekend Movie listings: May 15-21 Laurie Lewis, Tom Rozum at The Mountain House Steve Poltz, Grant-Lee Phillips at Old Ashland Armory Theater Ticket Availability Departing Ashland Independent Film Festival programmer talks about what makes a good movie Ticket availability Ticket Availability OSF to commission three new 'American Revolutions' plays Music The Farr Side: Contest open for singer-songwriters The Farr Side: Mumford & Sons’ latest is full-on rock Interview: Country singer Suzy Bogguss enjoying life on the road The Farr Side: CMAs do it right, in many ways Interview: Offspring plays hits new and old on tour Visual Art Movies Movie review: ‘Mad Max’ is a fresh, fantastic approach to a classic idea Your A-to-Z guide to the ‘Mad Max’ franchise Movie listings: May 15-21 'Wild Tales' is twisted, dark and lovely Movie review: ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’ will leave your inner 12-year-old giggling with glee Food and Drink Taqueria Picaro takes over Tabu space Owner of Mix and Amuse to bring Flip burger joint to Ashland Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories   Looking Up: Jupiter heading toward Venus Quills: Minimalist group celebrates having more satisfaction with less stuff Betty Montgomery: Longleaf pines making a comeback Season Stepp: Use pink lemonade in recipes William Keesler: Home alone with Arty Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Mocha Musings Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Our View: Focus on the basics ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Shame on the high seas ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, May 15 ... Our View: Focus on the basics ... Jeffrey Gillespie: Shame on the high seas ... Ashland Calendar, Friday, May 15 ... Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 12, 2015 at 3:59 PM Posted May. 12, 2015 at 3:59 PM » Social News Letter distorts facts Gene Robbins (April 29) has made attacks on Israel and Jews his avocation, but unfortunately his letters and comments are no more than untrue invective, falsehoods and gross distortions. Israel is universally understood to be the most free, law-abiding, and liberal nation in the entire Middle East, and one of the most creative and democratic in the entire world. Is it perfect? Of course not. No human institution is without faults and shortcomings. But the absolute truth is that Israel strives for fairness and freedom for all its citizens like no other country in the world. Mr. Robbins makes many statements about the difference in rights enjoyed by those in the West Bank as opposed to the rights enjoyed by, in his words, "Jews" in Israel. This is no more than an ugly, anti-Semitic slur. It is not "Jews" in Israel who enjoy the rights and freedoms described, but every Israeli citizen, no matter what his or her race, nationality, religion, gende, or sexual preference. These freedoms do not extend to the people of the "West Bank" as they are not Israeli citizens, and have been kept in a state of hostility and violent upset by their irresponsible leaders who encourage murder of Israelis, especially of Israeli women and children, so as to create terror and mayhem. Israel is the legitimate administrator of this area, recognized by international law, despite Mr. Robbins' anecdotal citation of biased amateur opinions from groups that have made being anti-Israel and anti-Jewish the major source of their funding and support from a largely ignorant and intolerant European public. Israel was attacked several times by Arab armies seeking to massacre its people and to destroy it. Instead, Israel was victorious in these conflicts, and is fully entitled to pacify and control these contested areas until it is satisfied that a peace can be achieved. Mr. Robbins' untruths about Gaza are perhaps even more dishonest and misleading. Israeli policies did not cause the launching of thousands of explosive rockets from Gaza at Israel's civilian population (which is an act of war and a war crime), nor the building of dozens of invasive attack tunnels under Israeli territory (another act of war). These belligerent actions by Hamas from Gaza occurred after Israel voluntarily withdrew from the Gaza strip with the fond wish and repeatedly stated desire to create a peaceful relationship with the people of Gaza. Robbins' distortion of this situation is emblematic of his dishonest portrayal of Israel and of its herculean efforts to find peace with the Palestinian war parties which have so far controlled the fate of their people and refused to recognize Israel's existence. This is very sad, and has led to the miserable plight of the Palestinians, who, should they choose to work with the Israelis, could build a vital and successful partnership and be a joint light unto the world. Maynard Telpner Talent The TPP is toxic Here is the occasion to draw a line in the sand! The interests of multinational corporations are NOT the interests of the American people. Do not abdicate our authority over our own environment, our own workplace, or our own legal system. Avram Chetron Ashland The 'Supremes' Well, Chris Honoré is right, but forgets the  First  Amendment: Amendment I: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion,  or prohibiting the free exercise thereof;  or abridging ..." etc. (Emphasis mine.) The right-wingers on the Supreme Court claim to be “strict constitutionalists,” and I’m sure they (especially the Catholics) believe their religion is better than mine, but since many denominations  will  marry gays and lesbians “in the name of God” how can they justify prohibiting the free exercise of all those other sects? In my opinion the First Amendment says it all. Peter Nemzek Ashland Explore solar farm Using the city-owned acreage across the freeway for a solar panel farm is an idea of considerable merit. Carol Voisin's recent thorough presentation to the Budget Committee for a professional analysis of creating this farm is truly in keeping with the oft-repeated goal, "sustainability". I recently returned from Israel, where our tour spent three days on a kibbutz in the Negev Desert where thousands of solar panels were lined up, some adjacent to the Jordanian border. They even patented a robot to clean dust from the panels. The profits from electricity generated provided a substantial portion of operating funds for the kibbutz. Yes, let's choose to look into the realistic possibilities of our own solar farm now! Marilyn Briggs Ashland         DailyTidings.com Writer Posted May. 12, 2015 at 3:59 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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