‘We don’t have American bombers’ and other frustrating quotes of the week

Not all students understand that there’s nicotine or cannabis — drugs — in these devices. … They’re still thinking that it’s just flavored water.” — Dr. Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, professor of pediatrics in adolescent medicine at Stanford University, commenting on Texas schools’ crackdown on students caught vaping. As a result of a new state law, many of those students are being sent to alternative education programs. (Monday, The Dallas Morning News)

“When rockets fly in Israel, the whole world writes about it. ... Here, rockets are flying, and we don’t have American bombers that are saving the sky like over Israel.” — Amil Nasirov, a 29-year-old Ukrainian singer. (Monday, The New York Times)

“I don’t even remember what I was thinking or feeling, I just knew we had to move quickly.” — Gihan Subasinghe, a jet-skier in Lake Grapevine, who helped save two canoeists from drowning. (Tuesday, The Fort Worth Report)

“Is enough being done? The answer is definitely not. … And the ‘done’ factor is the transition away from burning fossil fuels.” — Peter Thomson, the U.N. special envoy for the ocean, who announced at a conference in Greece that the world is not doing enough to protect coral reefs. (Monday, The Associated Press)

“My way of owning what had happened, taking charge of it, making it mine, refusing to be a mere victim. I would answer violence with art.” — Author Salman Rushdie, in his new memoir, “Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder,” released this week. (Tuesday, The Atlantic)

“Pilots are supposed to be solid citizens. … We’re supposed to be grounded. We’re supposed to be emotionally stable.” — Capt. Robert Graves, who is close to retiring as a Southwest Airlines pilot, commenting on how difficult it is for his colleagues to report mental health issues. (Wednesday, The Dallas Morning News)

“There are differences of opinion in what some in Dallas might consider to be a priority and what someone in the suburbs might consider to be a priority.” — Rodney Schlosser, one of Dallas’ DART board members, commenting on how the city may lose a seat on the board due to population loss. (Thursday, The Dallas Morning News)

“There is nothing more important than protecting the integrity of NBA competition for our fans, our teams and everyone associated with our sport, which is why Jontay Porter’s blatant violations of our game rules are being met with the most severe punishment.” — NBA commissioner Adam Silver announcing a lifetime ban for the Toronto Raptors player for gambling offenses. (Wednesday, ESPN)

“I am both shocked by this decision and profoundly disappointed that the university is succumbing to a campaign of hate meant to silence my voice.” — Asna Tabassum, the University of Southern California’s 2024 valedictorian, whose speech was canceled by the university citing safety concerns. (Wednesday, CNN)

“This year feels even worse than COVID because there has not been a clear pathway.” — Sara Urquidez, executive director of Academic Success Program, a nonprofit organization that provides career counseling for students, commenting on the consequences of a rocky rollout of a new FAFSA form. (Thursday, The Dallas Morning News)

“She knew he was dead. … he had been dead for at least two hours.” — Investigative officer Fábio Luiz Souza, commenting on a Brazilian woman who was trying to use the corpse of her uncle to attain a bank loan. (Wednesday, The Guardian)

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