Comments on: Tashkent, UZ Renounces Seattle Sister City Status

By: Debbie

Debbie — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 16:22:05 +0000

My family and I live in the Seattle area and also lived 3 years in Tashkent. Tashkent is a beautiful City with amazingly hospitible people. Seattle could only hope to be as welcoming as the
Uzbek people of Tashkent. How dare we insult our friends. Mayor Nickels was a fool to treat them the way that he did. I’d like to see a new sister city relationship be establed based on mutual respect and appreciation of our different cultures.

By: creather

creather — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:38:00 +0000

Greg Nickels is just another ignorant american douche who never been outside of US. maybe Cancun.

By: Tashkenter

Tashkenter — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:36:03 +0000

Also, nice photoshop job on the “Space Needle” and the placards! One of them actually says “Hello to you dear countrymen in Seattle”.
Very funny indeed!

By: Tashkenter

Tashkenter — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:28:57 +0000

Thank you, Josh Devena, for a very amusing reportage! I was in Seattle in 2003 and loved the city and surroundings. I wasn’t part of that diplomatic mission though, but was invited by Boeing to explore their manufacturing facilities. At the time I worked for Tashkent Aircraft manufacturer (yes, Mr. Devena, Tashkent produces one of the world’s largest havy-lift aircraft, the IL-76)– hense the sistership — in addition to smoked meats and goat fleece. I want to invite you to explore Tashkent and will personnaly make sure you get to know (at least something) about Tashkent and its people.
Regards,
Shavkat

By: Sharon

Sharon — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:44:41 +0000

I am utterly disgusted by Seattle’s (America’s?) response. In order for this sister-city status to have come about, someone must have initiated it on our side, and at some point, the relationship must have been quite good for the people of Tashkent to have admired Seattle so much. So we are no more than boorish, ungrateful, arrogant fools, who cannot even recognize warm-hearted friendship when it stares us in the face. If anyone in Seattle City Hall had a heart and a brain (s)he would get out a map, discover where Tashkent is located and communicate with those people.

For my own part, I offer my sincerest regrets to the people of Tashkent. I am sorry the advertising and responses of my people in the United States offended you so greatly. Not everyone here is like that. Many Americans are also offended by the advertising messages and such loutish behavior. However, in order to uphold democracy, we must also uphold the rights of people to free speech and a certain level of freedom of action, even when it displeases many others.

One would think we would have enough sense and decency to control ourselves better and not treat our women like “prostitutes” in dress (or lack of it) and advertising messages, nevermind other provocative or sexually oriented attitudes/behaviors…. However, it seems a sad truth that when money/comfort/material things becomes the focus for one’s purpose in life, the important things go out the window. Yet, there remain many good Americans who are working and praying for a better world, too, one where we recognize friends/allies when we see them and treat them well.

So please accept my apologies on behalf of Seattle and all who would treat this situation in fun. I think it was wonderful how you celebrated your relationship with your “sister-city”. I also think it wonderful that you were so honest in your expression of outrage at what seemed disrespect. May God bless you all in many and wonderful ways for your devoted friendship and loyalty to those in our country.

Best Wishes,
Sharon

By: Ulysses

Ulysses — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:06:15 +0000

Utterly tragic. I can’t believe you Seattlites. As a fellow American, I am utterly disgraced and disgusted. May you drown in your coffee.
And to you, Nickels, SHAME ON YOU! Don’t even know Tashkent, pah!…

By: Greg Nickels

Greg Nickels — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:37:59 +0000

We at the City of Seattle are indeed very familiar with Tashkent, and have been urging city officials there to adopt mandatory recycling and to stop burning goat manure as their primary fuel source as it negatively impacts the carbon footprint in the global arena.
But be rest assured, as long as no comments are made concerning my “girth” and “wide stance”, no legal action against you is anticipated at this time, although the Mayoral Slander Task Force is investigating.