My Page: Nick Gier
Did Jesus Pray to Allah?Jesus and his disciples spoke Aramaic, an ancient Semitic language from Syria. Trying to be as authentic as possible in his film "The Passion of the Christ," Mel Gibson has his Jesus speaking Aramaic and praying to Aalah, Western Aramaic for God. For the full version with images of the oldest Arabic Bible and the Virgin Mary holding an Arabic text, go to www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/Allah.htm [more]
TheBrave Young Woman Who Went Before Rosa ParksLong before Claudette Colvin and Rosa Parks there had been protests against the Montgomery bus system. In the late 1940s at least five women and one man were fined for refusing to take the back rows that Jim Crow had reserved for them. Colvin was different because she refused to pay her fine and plead not guilty. For the full version go to www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/Colvin.htm [more]
Dennis Brutus (1924-2009): South African Freedom FighterIn his autobiography "Long Walk to Freedom" former South African President Nelson Mandela describes a new arrival at the notorious prison on Robben Island: “Dennis Brutus, a colored political activist, was a poet and writer imprisoned for violating his bans.” Descended from Africans, French, and Italians, Brutus died at the age of 85 on December 26, 2009. Read full version at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/Brutus.htm [more]
Opinion: Education
Idaho Ed Board Risks Legal Action and National CensurePaul Agidius, President of the Idaho State Board of Education, has written a defense of proposed changes to its personnel policies. He begins with a reference to Charles Dickens’ “worst of times/best of times,” presumably with the intent of presenting a state of balance in Idaho higher education. The facts on the ground, however, force us to conclude that the worst, by far, has the upper hand. [more]
“Do You Hear What I Hear?” Said the Little LambBefore writing this I listened to many versions of "Do You Hear What I Hear?" on YouTube –Whitney Houston’s, Cee Cee Winans’, Carrie Underwood’s, the Carpenters’ – but I have to admit, and many out there will roll their eyes, that Johnny Mathis’ rendition is still the best. The full version with Michael Feinstein's discovery that his Christmas concerts of popular favorites were "too Jewish" can be read at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/DoYouHear.htm [more]
The Myth of the Copenhagen ConspiracyIdaho State Journal columnist Richard Larsen calls on the authority of very questionable spokesmen for his view that man-made global warming is a hoax. Lord Christopher Monckton's vision of Communist world government coming out of the Copenhagen conference is McCarthyism plain and simple. For full version go to www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/CopenMyth.htm [more]
Column: Climate Change
Copenhagen: Climate Conference’s Well Deserved Host
Under both left-wing and right-wing governments Denmark has chosen to invest heavily in green infrastructure, and it now has much to show for its wise decisions. Denmark is on track to meet its Kyoto goal of 21 percent CO2 reduction by 2012. The Danes have more than earned the right to host the most important international conference of the 21st Century. The full version can be read here.
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The Military, Religion, and Mental HealthSince the Vietnam War many veterans have not sought treatment for PTSD, primarily because of the perception that it was a sign of weakness, but now many are being denied treatment and encouraged to seek spiritual help instead. One exasperated clinician said that the Bush Veterans Administration’s answer to mental health problems was contained in three words: “Jesus fixes everything.” Read full version at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/MentalHealth.htm [more]
We are all Bushmen and WomenIn August of this year I was just 250 milies from the area where scientists have determined is the origin of all humankind. Genetic markers on the Y-chromosome indicate that our migration out of Africa began on the Atlantic coastal border of Namibia and Angola. Read the full version with pictures at www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/Bushmen.htm [more]
Faculty Union Supports Prof. Habib SadidIn a recent outpouring of support for Habib Sadid in the Idaho State University student newspaper, students had this to say: "the best professor in the College of Engineering," "an ethical, knowledgeable and courageous member of society," "a great teacher," "one of the best professors at ISU." Read the full version at www.class.uidaho.edu/ngier/Sadid.htm [more]
