* “In the long run, we’re going to live here together or we’re going to die here together. When we get the death threats and people say we’re traitors and anti-Israel, I think, ‘Who is really doing more for Israel’s physical survival? Those who demolish homes and uproot trees, or those who rebuild homes and replant trees?'”–American-born, Israel-based Arik Ascherman, the controversial executive director of Rabbis for Human Rights.
* “There is a trend in America in which we are more and more idolizing people who have at the base of their identity the spread of hate. These people are considered entertaining because of the controversy and the extremism they represent. But our consumption of their product is creating a culture in which hate is heroic.”–Noah Blumenthal, author, “Be The Hero.”
* “In America, the ideology of libertarianism is itself a scandal. It involves not only a retreat from Obamaism, but a retreat from the most basic social commitments to the weak, elderly and disadvantaged, along with a withdrawal from American global commitments. Libertarianism has a rigorous ideological coldness at its core.”–Michael Gerson, Washington Post.
* “You go into Afghanistan, you got guys who slap women around for five years because they didn’t wear a veil. You know, guys like that ain’t got no manhood left anyway. So it’s a lot of fun to shoot them.”–Gen. James N. Mattis, the successor to Gen. David Petraeus as head of Central Command.
* “Raising the retirement age–going out 20 years and not affecting anyone close to retirement, and eventually getting the retirement age to 70–is a step that needs to be taken.”–House Republican leader John Boehner of Ohio.
* “Anglo-Saxon names are not very euphonious. What can I do with Steve Sax? What can I do with Mickey Klutts?”–The late Bob Sheppard, the iconic public address announcer for the New York Yankees, who relished the pronunciation of Latin players’ names.
* “You owe it to your profession and your students to make sure that tenure reflects more than the number of years spent in the classroom.”–Bill Gates, co-chairman, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
* “(Bill) McCollum’s biggest problem is McCollum. He is epically dull, and he just can’t help it. Watching him speak has pretty much the same effect as 20 milligrams of Ambien.”–Carl Hiaasen, Miami Herald.
* “I would say in a lot of cases our coaches have outcoached their facilities, outcoached their resources. Really, I think it’s kind of the last piece of the puzzle for this program to go from good to great.”–USF Executive Associate Athletic Director Bill McGillis on the massive facelift of USF’s athletic facilities now underway.
* “I’d venture to say we’re the best venue in the country in terms of sightlines and field dimensions for international soccer. With the amenities we have here, the reputation as a tourist destination, I’m very optimistic how Tampa will fit into the American bid.”–Farrukh Quraishi, former Tampa Bay Rowdie and now vice-chairman of the committee to bring World Cup games to Raymond James Stadium in 2018 or 2022.