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The disingenuous secular movement that continues to run rampant across this country is determined to establish their system of belief as the official religion of the United States Government.
Quoting from Webster’s Dictionary, “Religion: a cause, principle, or systems of beliefs held to with extreme vigor and faith.” The faith the secular movement has in their humanist belief system is no different then the faith many others have in their own particular religious beliefs. The difference is while most people of faith are quite happy to share town-square with other beliefs secularists continue to demand that their humanist faith be the only accepted form of religion found in government institutions.
The secular movement has hi-jacked “seperation of church and state” and has made it their own personal mantra. Using extreme vigor they insist on shoving their humanist faith down America’s throat and are bent on systematically removing all other forms of belief but their own. Separation of church and state is for all systems of belief not just those that have some type of belief in god or gods. At best case this present day secularist movement portrays the very thing our forefathers warned us against and at worst case it represents the potential downfall and demise of our nation.
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Christine Johnson’s charges are immaterial
After spending $320,000 on outside firms, along with internal costs likely as high, Christine Johnson has been charged with immaterial things like allocating expenses to the wrong accounts, allowing students and faculty with less than perfect records into the college and approving two donations to charities. Give me a break.
If you could peel back the psycho-dynamics of the situation I suggest you would find a personal rift between Johnson and her boss, Nancy McCallin, started all of this. Ms. Johnson, a glamorous, high spirited show horse of an administrator was unsuccessfully controlled by a a boss who could have worked as a mule-skinner whip-lashing 20 mule teams across the desert for Borax. Now McCallin has unleashed junk-yard attack dogs on Johnson.
I have said it once and I will say it again. This is a “Beauty and the Beast” story. Ms. Johnson should craft a strategy for redemption, like running for Congress and Nancy McCallin should find a therapist.
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Mike Rosen on Al Gore & Nobel Peace Prize
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More info. on mental illness
As the story points out, it’s inhumane and inefficient to separate the mental health needs from the physical needs of our friends, families and co-workers. As the article cited, these conditions often escalate in tandem. Therefore, all healthcare providers must work together to realize a positive outcome for the millions of Americans, including thousands of Coloradoans, who have serious mental illness and undiagnosed physical disorders.
First, I urge everyone who knows a person with serious mental illness to help that person seek physical screens for cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, diabetes and other ailments that are all too common among this overlooked population. Your community mental health center can help you find available resources in your area. Some of the centers now have primary care doctors funded and embedded to help with these needs.
Secondly, I also urge Colorado’s healthcare providers, insurers, and policymakers to seek common ground, equitable funding, and integrated solutions that don’t allow thousands of people to fall between the cracks of our fragmented delivery system.
As our state studies healthcare coverage reform, Colorado has a chance to establish itself as a national leader in healthcare. We should seize that opportunity and invest in our greatest asset - our people. Health, happiness, and productivity are worth the investment.
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No amnesty for illegals
I too watched The War and it really hit me hard how much our men sacrificed for our country. Watching it made me very proud of what these men did for us. So it makes my blood boil when our government keeps trying to give amnesty to illegals who have done absolutly nothing to earn the rights and priveleges that our men paid for with their BLOOD and LIVES! Illegals have broken our laws to come here, snuck into our country and now demand rights that they are not entitled to! For our government to even consider allowing them to stay here free and clear is a slap in the face to every man who gave their life in any of our wars. We have earned what we have and they want to steal it. I am appalled and sickened that something so precious to Americans would even be considered as a handout to illegals! Please America, find your pride and raise up and stop this travisty!!!!
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Hillary Clinton’s speech
So, if you want to return to a system in which all power to make decisions resides in a central government, and you are simply a servant of a collective, rather than the master of your own fate, vote for Hillary. But, please don’t insult me by claiming that she has created some sort of new paradigm. She is as reactionary as any of the Caesars or Czars of history.
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Genocide continues in Darfur
The genocide continues to rage on after 4 ½ years. One of the reasons this atrocity has not been stopped is China. As Sudan’s best friend in the international community, China protects the Sudanese government at the U.N. Security Council, sells arms to the Sudanese government, and is the largest player in Sudan’s oil industry, thereby providing funds for the Sudanese military.
China is also the host of the 2008 Summer Olympics, an event that stands for peace and brotherhood. As the Games approach, advocates for security in Darfur have an extraordinary opportunity to reach out to the Chinese government, in its role as host, to urge Beijing’s leaders to use their considerable influence with Sudan to bring peace to Darfur.
Join the Colorado community in calling on China to ends its complicity in genocide by attending the Olympic Dream for Darfur Torch Relay and Rally at Cheesman Park in Denver on Sunday, October 28, at 1:30 p.m. Join Mayor Hickenlooper, genocide survivors, Olympic athletes and others in demanding an end to the protection of the genocidal regime that is the Sudanese government. Visit www.dreamfordarfur.org for more on the Denver event and this campaign.
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Congressman Udall's exit strategy for Iraq
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President Bush has indicated he will do whatever it takes to
He has called for the redeployment of our troops within the next four months, having them largely home by April of next year. To foster widespread support for troop withdrawals, he plans to implement the recommendations of bi-partisan Iraq Study Group report and urge a greater degree of diplomacy in the Middle East, both regionally and internationally. Most importantly, the plan has the appeal to garner the vast majority of Congress
His perch on the powerful House Armed Services Committee and his unequivocal opposition to the war from the beginning provide Mr. Udall with rare credibility to broker a bi-partisan deal that quickly ends the war.
And, despite the war
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No more tax money for war in Iraq until criteria met
Fix the waste and problems there, put in place some serious audit systems and force the Iraqis to do what they said they would, so we can get out of there! Then we can talk about more tax money for war, not until.
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National security
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Let’s model U.S. immigration laws on Mexico’s
I got a huge laugh over “Deporting the American dream,” the Oct. 25 letter by Joanne Hendricks. She wrote, “There are so many people ... who ignorantly group all illegal residents into one category: criminal.” Well, at the risk of sounding ignorant, if I do something “illegal” I’m a “criminal,” aren’t I? All the people who are in this country illegally are criminals. No amount of doubletalk or “political correctness” will change that.
Perhaps a perspective will enlighten the hand-wringers. No foreigners in Mexico can get any kind of public assistance. Foreigners in Mexico cannot wave the flag of another nation or make negative comments about the Mexican government. Doing these things will get you deported immediately. If you enter Mexico illegally, you are a felon and will go to prison. A real prison. I think the Congress of the United States should study the immigration laws of Mexico and use them to rewrite our own, measure for measure.
Neil Burroughs, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 10:59 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBackAn errant suggestion
The Freedom from Religion Foundation’s lawsuit against Cherry Creek Schools is overdue (“Suggesting church for students gets district sued,” Oct. 17).
There is no evidence to support the premise that religion makes people more moral. To indoctrinate our children otherwise is not the job of our public educators. The merits of the case are sound.
The Founders of our great nation were wise to draft a godless Constitution whose only references to religion are exclusionary. The recommendation to seek religion should never be made to our children by public schools.
Mike Smith, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 10:59 AM | Comments (15) | TrackBackHonor appreciated
I watched with respect and gratitude this morning as President Bush presented the Medal of Honor to Lt. Michael Murphy’s parents (“Ceremony to honor Navy SEAL tugs at the heart,” Oct. 23). He and his parents epitomize what this nation is all about.
The thought crossed my mind as I watched that Hillary Clinton wants to be commander-in-chief. Somehow I cannot picture her doing what President Bush did. With her disdain for the military, it would be a difficult role to play. She does not have this female’s vote.
Rita Smith, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 10:58 AM | Comments (22) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW/Preservation efforts should cover all internment camps
In its editorial about a new law providing for the restoration and preservation of relocation camps where Japanese-Americans were held during World War II, “A sorry chapter” (Oct. 18), the Rocky Mountain News said it well when it wrote: “Unlike some countries that would rather forget unpleasant aspects of their past, the United States shouldn’t flinch from its own historical reflection, blemishes and all. How else will we able to avoid the pitfalls that await any great nation?”
However, the Rocky did not ask why the title of the law is so specific: “Preservation of Japanese-American confinement sites.” If, as the Rocky suggests, “the United States shouldn’t flinch from its historical reflections, blemishes and all,” then the title should have read “Preservation of Japanese-American, German-American and Italian-American confinement sites.”
Perhaps the country would rather flinch when it comes to German-American and Italian-American internment during World War II. The president, the Congress, the courts and the press have flinched on more than one occasion on this matter.
Arthur D. Jacobs, a U.S.-born resident of Tempe, Ariz.,was interned at age 12.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
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Money can cause incompetence
It is unclear if this is a genetical or environmentical caused condition but the first sign of infection appears to be a tendency toward intentional lying. This appears to be automatic, much like stuttering or a facial tic or spasm but, not so obvious as either.
The only way to prevent this disease from spreading is to remove the infected from office before it becomes endemic within the legislatures and offices they occupy.
I am expending every effort to get the AMA and the FDA to recognize this as the dangerous and debilitating desease it truely is and get the pharmaceutical companies to do the research and come up with a cure, But I don’t think I will succeed due to the fact that pharmaceutical companies are among the biggest spreaders around of money there is in legislatures and public official’s offices . Maybe the way to cure the desease is to get rid of those who provide the money in the first place by prosecuting them as dangerous drug dealers.
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Victim advocates still wrong
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DMV restrooms a disaster
Today I had to go to the DMV to get my daughter her permit. We showed up at 8:10 am They open at 8:00 am. We wait in a line outside the door for about 10 minutes. We get # 367. They are on #327. We wait & wait. I ask an employee if I can just get the test again for my daughter to take. We were there last week the computers went down & we just lined up to take the test. She said no not today.
They start asking people to line up for license renewals, out of state licenses. Which is great for these people, but they slow down on calling the numbers. It took 2 hours before they called #367. So 40 numbers called in 2 hours. Once my daughter was called, & passed, it took another hour before we got the permit.
The reason I am writing today is the restroom situation in the building. At 9:30 am I have to use it. I get up walk over to the one stall locked bathroom & read a sign due to vandalism you must key from front desk clerk. I walk back to front ask for the key & I am told I must have a document to get the key from her. I am assuming she means my license, I tell her my daughter has my purse, I will go get it. I go back & get my ID give it to her. I am thinking this must be one plush bathroom. NO, it was like a third world bathroom. No mirror, no toilet paper, there was a stack of paper towels, ice cold water running from the sink. Now I was not having my picture took, but if I was I might just want a mirror in the bathroom. Or anywhere in this
There is no place to change a baby in this bathroom. Oh wait the cement floor, yep as I was saying I felt like we were in a third world country.
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Fareed Zakaria’s editorial
p.s. It’s amusing that Mr. Zakaria supports his position by citing the CIA’s assessment that Iran is 3 to 8 years away from having a nuclear bomb when the same CIA was apparently unable to detect the presence of WMD’s in Iraq.
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Thoughts on torture
Even then, the torture might kill the detainee just when he was ready to talk even without it. He won’t be a source of much information when dead. And if that assumption about the detainee turns out to be false, it is the interrogator who is the torturing war criminal deserving to be shot.
The methods our hawks are promoting were in use by both the Nazis and the Tojo Japanese. They both lost the war.
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Surprised that Sen. Salazar signed Reid letter
This was the first time that an attempt had been made by the Senate to deny a citizen of this country the right to earn a living.
What is even more surprising is that this letter was signed by Senator Ken Salazar. I do not know what Mr Mays response was but an appropriate one would have been “Nuts”
As a result of the auction on Ebay and Mr. Limbaugh matching the winning bid, $4,200,200 will be going to the Marine Corps and -Law Enforcement Foundation. It seems that at this time Harry Reid and all of the Senators who signed the letter should step up, issue a public apology to Mr Limbaugh and make their own contributions to the Foundation. Dividing the sum raised by 41 the individual contribution would be $100,000. How about it, Senator Salazar.?
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“Memoirs 2002” an interesting read
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Mike Rosen on Al Gore & Nobel Peace Prize
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Wasteful marathon
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Students need broad, deep curriculum
If Mike Rosen wants to attack me personally (“Merrifield raising Hell again,” Oct. 26), fine. He’s entitled to his opinions, however misguided they are. But he’s not entitled to his own facts.
I was a teacher for 30 years. There’s nothing I’m more passionate about than the education of Colorado’s children.
Let me be clear about what I stand for.
I’m for rigor in the classroom. I’m for strong academic standards in math and science, and every subject our children study.
Where I differ with Rosen and agree with Bill Gates, is that rigor needs to be accompanied by relevancy and relationships. That means a student’s success should be measured according to their proficiency in a subject, not solely on the length of time that they have sat in a classroom. I’m a strong advocate of a broad and deep curriculum, not a narrow and shallow one.
After all, we live in global economy that is highly competitive and shifting all the time. If our children are not nimble on their feet, and if they lack the ability to think, Colorado, like the nation, will be in trouble
I’ve also never disparaged parents who choose to send their kids to charter schools. Charter schools are a great option for some families.
Rosen’s one accurate statement about me is that I briefly stepped down as chairman of the House Education Committee last year. Not out of “shame,” as Rosen writes, but because I was battling cancer and didn’t want to divert attention away from important legislation pending in our committee.
Schools are where we define who we are as a nation. I, for one, intend to continue to fight to see that I am proud of the definition.
Rep. Mike Merrifield
D-Colorado Springs
In the doghouse
Next week, residents of Aurora will vote for a mayor and City Council members. I would like to remind all citizens of Aurora to vote. I would also like to remind those citizens who don’t believe in pit-bull or breed-specific bans, that this is their chance to vote out those in office who don’t have a problem kicking an animal out of the city because of what it looks like.
The American pit bull terrier, Cane Corso, Canary dog, American Staffordshire terrier, American bulldog, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tosa, Perro de Presa Mallorquin, and the Staffordshire bull terrier will appreciate your vote.
LaToya Reese, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBackFitz-Gerald a shill for oil, gas industry
Some people might have wondered why 28 Xcel Energy executives have contributed to Joan Fitz-Gerald’s congressional campaign. After all, aren’t the Democrats on the little guy’s side and the Republicans on the side of oil and gas? Perhaps the answer is in HB 1037, sponsored in the state Senate by Fitz-Gerald.
The bill was marketed as a bill promoting energy efficiency. But on close reading it looks like another oil and gas welfare bill. It gives utilities the right to recover their costs without filing a rate case. It includes a “bonus structure to reward gas utilities for investments.” It allows them to recover money “without having to show that such expenditures are cost-effective.” And the utilities don’t even have to achieve any kind of energy efficiency because it includes a clause that they “not adopt any measure authorizing a financial penalty against a gas utility that fails to meet the targets in any particular year.” In other words, raise our rates, subsidize Xcel and give its executives big bonuses. And if they don’t manage to do anything ... well, that’s OK, too.
Sounds more like a bill from the office of our president than from a candidate trying to follow in U.S. Rep. Mark Udall’s footsteps. Let’s not put another representative of the oil and gas industry in Washington — that industry is represented well enough.
Kris Moe, Boulder
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBackPriest, church serve all, no matter status
Patrick Cipolla’s letter of Oct. 16, “Catholic hierarchy embraces illegality,” claims that Denver Catholic Archbishop Charles Chaput and I, pastor of Our Lady of the Mountains parish in Estes Park, support illegal immigration. This is entirely untrue.
Neither Archbishop Chaput nor I condone breaking the law. However, we have both sought to teach and live out respect for the dignity of every human person, which includes respect for Cipolla and respect for the many immigrants who come to the Catholic Church for their spiritual and sometimes physical needs.
I have met with Cipolla and discussed the church’s teachings with him. I’ve explained to him and to others that, as a Catholic priest, I seek to serve the spiritual and physical well-being of the members of our community, without questioning their status — be that rich or poor, progressive or traditional, documented or undocumented.
I’ve also expressed, in agreement with Archbishop Chaput, that the current immigration system in our country is broken. It should be dynamically reformed in order to respond to the many legitimate reasons for migration and also to ensure stability and safety in our country.
The heated and inflammatory rhetoric that characterized Cipolla’s letter, and the blogs that followed it, do nothing to change our current immigration situation. They only incite prejudice and contention. Cipolla is always welcome in the church, as is the immigrant. Church teachings and our parish’s efforts to respect the dignity of the human person won’t change.
The Rev. Grzegorz Cioch
Pastor, Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church
Estes Park
Hard to take seriously
On Oct. 8, letter writer Stephen McBrayer lambasted a previous letter writer for his anti-war stance, implying that dirty bombs, poisoned water and exploding trains are coming to America if we don’t continue the fight in Iraq (“The politically correct will destroy this nation”).
But I found it hard to take McBrayer’s “concern” seriously when I noted that his address is listed as Aurora rather than a fire base in the Middle East.
Sean McAfee, Evergreen
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (8) | TrackBack‘Tolerant’ Salzman
So Rocky Mountain News media critic Jason Salzman believes that anyone who owns Fox News gear “should” deface it (On the Media, Oct. 13). It seems that the supposedly “tolerant” liberal cannot tolerate people being exposed to any viewpoint other than his own.
Robin Remund, Larkspur
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (25) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW/Multifamily housing cannot be partly smoke-free
Regarding the Rocky’s Oct. 5 editorial “An apartment is still a home”:
Smoking is not a protected right and smokers are not a protected class. Tobacco smoke cannot be contained inside a smoked-in apartment or condo home. It “intrudes” into every surrounding unit.
You cannot do whatever you want in multiresidential buildings if those actions take away the right of others to use and enjoy their homes in peace and good health. You cannot play music as loud as you want if the sound will bother the other residents. You cannot tap dance on a hardwood floor if it will bother the neighbors below.
Why is it then OK to poison the neighbors and say that is a protected property right?
I receive calls and e-mails every day asking for help from those who are suffering with illnesses, including many with newborn babies struggling to breathe.
This is not just a problem for people who have itchy, watery eyes or those who do not like the smell. This is a very serious health crisis. It puts people in the hospital and exacerbates chronic illnesses that have been ignored for too long.
Anyone who wants to smoke should be living in a single-family home where it is not possible to inflict his or her deadly chemicals on others.
Jacque Petterson, founder of Smoke-Free Housing Consultants, writes from Helotes, Texas.
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Weather stats wrong
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Salazar should match funds raised
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Fossil fuels are becoming limited
What do we have to do in this Country, before we realize that the availability of fossil fuels are becoming limited?
I noticed all throughout Western America, there are millions of square miles of rich fertile lands, lands that can be used to grow alternative fuels.
What may I ask, is so wrong with that? It’s renewable, and it doesn’t pollute.
This would put people to work and make farms productive again. Best of all, it would keep our young men out of harms way who are dying, for your SUV’s.
If government scientists can come up with all these high tech. weapons of war, they certainly can come up with a solution to market bio-fuels properly.
So, unless you have money in big oil and don’t want to see America independent of the Middle East, consider this: If the U.S. dropped out of the oil market, the 72 virgin crowd wouldn’t be able to buy a Black Cat firecracker.
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Corruption in big labor too
In light of the data, it is instructive that Democrats have finally found a part of government where funding can be reduced. The Democrats pushed through the Senate (47-46 along party lines) legislation this month that will cut $2 million from the OLMS budget. Obviously corruption is more outrageous in some cultures than others.
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No justification to attack Iran
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President George W.Bush and his cronies just want another WAR to keep FEAR IN AMERICAN’S HEARTS AND SECURE THE WHITE HOUSE —— We have no JUSTIFICATION to attack IRAN. We have not used all of our diplomatic means to seek a SOLUTION.
If Congress doesn’t stop President George W.Bush from invading another Nation without provocation — we are on a
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Rocky Flats hearing
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Mastiff dog needs to be adopted
After reading a story about the man who started the website dogsindanger.com in your newspaper, I looked up the website and discovered that there was one Colorado dog listed.
His name is Bones and he was brought in to the La Junta Municipal Animal Shelter on a cruetly case, obviously starved to near death. They saved him and brought him back, but now, he is destined for euthanisia on the 31st of this month. He is a senior mastiff which is said to be a gentle giant. It seems such a shame and a waste to kill him after all he and everyone else has gone through. This dog definately deserves an second chance, just as the one that was found guarding his mate in traffic that you wrote about. I just know he would get adopted if people were aware of his situation.
Even if you were to publish a little story about him, I’m sure that would do it. Please help out Bones.
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Rush Limbaugh & Sen. Reid’s letter
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Ahmadinejad deserves to be heard
When the Founders devoted the First A
Hanson and others like him don’t share this conviction. Instead they believe that Americans must be protected from meretricious ideologies by
Ahmadinejad earned occasional applause from the Columbia audience, which demonstrates merely that he can express admirable ideas, whether he believes them or not; but his assertion that Iran “does not have” homosexuals earned derisive jeers and laughter. This is the way democracy works
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Still flogging the abortion deaths lie
In 1979, Dr. Bernard Nathanson, a founder of NARAL and later director of New
York's Center for Reproductive and Sexual Health, the largest abortion mill in
the world, wrote Aborting America, telling of his role in the legalization of
abortion.
On Page 193, he wrote: "In NARAL ... when we spoke of [statistics] ... it was
always '5,000 to 10,000 deaths [of women] a year.' I confess I knew the figures
were totally false ... but in the 'morality' of our revolution, it was a useful
figure, widely accepted, so why go out of our way to correct it with honest
statistics? ... In 1972, the total was only 39 deaths."
On the Jan. 19, 1989, CBS This Morning TV show, Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett
Koop said, "Remember, in order to get Roe v. Wade passed, the number of
back-alley abortion deaths had to be exaggerated by one hundred-fold."
Yet the Rocky, on Oct. 12, 2007, carried an Associated Press story bemoaning the
fact that abortion is still illegal in some countries, with the result that "70,000 women die every year from unsafe abortions." Not
surprisingly, the source of this story is the Alan Guttmacher Institute, the
public policy arm of - you guessed it - Planned Parenthood, the leading abortion
provider in the world.
Gee, do you suppose Koop's charge of a "one hundred-fold" exaggeration (read:
lie) still applies? You can bet on it!
Tom Longua, Westminster
U.S. behind the curve on birth control
It was heartening to read medical research confirming what the pro-choice
community has been saying for years.
A World Health Organization study from around the world was published in the
prestigious British medical journal The Lancet showing that where abortion is
illegal it is no more rare but much more dangerous ("Abortion rates same despite
legal status," Oct. 12).
The study also found that the best way to reduce the abortion rate is to improve
access to birth control.
In Uganda, sex education is abstinence-only and abortion is illegal, yet the
abortion rate is double ours which, in turn, is almost double Western Europe's where abortion is legal
and contraception is widely available.
Access to birth control and related health-care services, information and
education about the impact of behavior on future health should be available to
as many people as possible, as the best way possible to reduce the number of
abortions.
Andrew Ross, Denver
Let's not neglect our cultural facilities
As a first-time homeowner in the city of Denver, I am writing in response to
"Asphalt, bricks, mortar," the editorial in the Oct. 11 Rocky on the municipal
bond package to express my support for Issues G and H on this November's ballot.
I grew up in Fort Collins and I have many happy memories of trips to Denver to
visit the Museum of Nature and Science, the Botanic Gardens and the Denver Zoo.
When my wife and I chose to purchase a home of our own, access to art and
cultural facilities was an important factor in our decision to settle in Denver.
The civic energy created by our city's cultural offerings is a regional draw and a major reason that people choose to
live, work and locate businesses here. We should support the Museum of Nature
and Science and Boettcher Concert Hall because they benefit education, quality
of life and economic development - all the things that make Denver a great city
and a wonderful place to live. What will we say to future generations if we let
those things slip away?
Jason Hanson, Denver
Ron Paul the answer
What is going on in the political world of America? I have been searching for a
candidate of integrity, truth, wisdom, and yet every televised debate leaves me
sick to my stomach.
The only candidate who makes any sense is Ron Paul. I swore that I would not
register as a Republican again after George Bush let me down with war, torture,
abuse of civil liberties, search and seizure, excessive taxation, support of big
pharma and mandatory vaccines, but I can't hear another voice in the crowd
alerting us to the dangers of big government and the overstepping of executive powers with the kind of urgency of Paul.
I guess I'll have to register as an elephant after all. Shame on you donkeys for
not seeing the opportunity sooner!
Ellyn Hilliard, Boulder
Find better message
Is anybody else appalled that public money is being spent on a profane ad
campaign by Denver Water?
There are billboards and signs on the back of RTD buses saying, "GV a DM."
Children are being exposed to this message, which does nothing to communicate
the value that clean water adds to our lives and our standard of living.
I, for one, say no to this campaign and urge others to do so. I also urge the
mayor of Denver to discuss this matter with the director of public affairs for
Denver Water and the Denver Water Board. There should be accountability for this
irresponsible use of public funds.
Cathy R. Dudley, Lakewood
Already paying for a 'better Denver'
In recent weeks I have been inundated with flashy and expensive mailings
supporting increasing taxes for city bond issues. I was also called by the mayor's team touting benefits of the ballot measures for a "better Denver."
When I expressed opposition to the increased burden placed on middle-income
families and small businesses, the caller promptly hung up before I could
finish.
I would have liked to say I am already funding the museum, botanic gardens and
other facilities through cultural district assessments. Were these $100,000
contributions from these entities to the mayor's "better Denver" campaign from
my tax money? Enough is enough!
Barbara Fallon, Denver
Finally, the I-word
Finally, this administration has invoked the dreaded "I" word (Israel) to fight
terrorism. For the last six-and-a-half years, Bush and his cohorts have thought
that simply invading "bad" Arab countries and exposing their longsuffering
people to "democracy" would eliminate the threat of terrorism (even as hatred
toward us grew everywhere in response to our invasion of Iraq).
Now, the new line is that solving the Israeli-Palestinian problem is a "major goal" of this administration. So where was this major goal for the
last seven years?
Alaeldin Rachid, Fort Collins
Cut to the chase
Iowa will hold its "caucuses" (really primaries) for president just after the
first of the year.
What a farce! Why don't we just cut to the chase: Let Iowa decide who the
candidates are and then hold the general election a week later? It would get to
the point, save the rest of us all the campaign rhetoric and other bucolic
byproduct these campaigns generate, and let whoever wins get on with the job.
Jon Rogers, Aurora
Override SCHIP veto
For those unfortunates who were born without the proverbial silver spoon in
their mouths, there are enough good-hearted, common-sense people in both the
Senate and the House to override the SCHIP veto! Get to work!
Carol O'Brien, Denver
A DIFFERING VIEW/Severance taxes for higher ed? Give me a break
So the Rocky thinks a portion of severance taxes should go to fund capital construction for higher education (“Colorado must redirect severance taxes,” Oct. 13)? I don’t see the return on investment.
A tourism-boosting carousel museum, infrastructure for a jobs-generating bottle plant, and time-saving road signs in Delta County are far better uses of severance tax dollars than feeding the maw of higher education.
As with the self-esteeming minds in K-12 education, higher ed is doing a bang-up job of producing claptrap and calling it Creation. The arduous curriculum in a sixth-grade primer circa 1900 from which our great grandparents learned and recite to this day can’t be found in K-12 or higher education. Even today’s English major would find it too hard!
All that cash to campuses seems to erect cement and human monuments to socialism, sports and blind bias. It also tangentially funds the MoveOn media operatives like CSU Collegian editor David McSwane — an ego incapable of self-editing. State funding to these schools should evaporate as fast as alumni gifts, especially following displays of learned stupidity. Eventually Colorado would have colleges of which to be proud, instead of embarrassed.
Kurt Overturf is a resident of Greeley.
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Mike Rosen on Al Gore & global warming
It is instructive that his column was a rehash of what regularly appears in a few media outlets but not the scholarly literature. These arguments Rosen recycled lack robust evidence to back them and have not withstood professional scrutiny. Every last point long ago was addressed, refuted, and laid to rest. Nevertheless, here they are again unchanged from their previous recycling.
What is most instructive, however, is the newly quieter and plaintive voice in which the refuted arguments are delivered, because the viewpoint of Rosen and a few others are in a rapidly shrinking minority. Our society is no longer discussing whether man-made climate change is happening. Now we are discussing what we should do about it.
The societal shop has sailed, as it were, and the voices of the few Rosens who refused to board are fading with distance. Society is now discussing the ship’s course, and we have learned that the best the Rosens can do to contribute to the course-setting by the Al Gores of the world is recycling, hyperbole and name-calling.
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“Ghetto” used incorrectly
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Rush Limbaugh and Sen. Reid’s letter
There are two falsehoods in that very first sentence. First of all, Limbaugh’s “phony soldier” comment was specifically aimed at a person who never served in Iraq, washed out of basic training, and lied about alleged atrocities he and his fellow soldiers committed (which, of course, never happened). Stephanie Strom made her comment as though it was a matter of fact. The second falsehood is that these Democratic senators did not send the letter to Limbaugh, but rather to Clear Channel CEO Mark Mays, in an obvious attempt to discredit, and perhaps even silence, Rush Limbaugh.
The real news in this story was how 41 Democratic senators lied, at worst, or misrepresented, at best, Limbaugh’s comments In the first place, not only in that letter, but on the floor of the U.S. Senate! Isn’t it the self-assigned roll of the media to ensure truth from our elected leaders and to hold them to account when they lie? And then you people in the media, and especially at the New York Times, wonder why you’re always faced with charges of bias. If this isn’t blatant bias, then it’s incredible incompetence and journalistic malpractice. To which would you care to admit?
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Judge Blackburn’s decision
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Rush Limbaugh
Much energy is spent condemning public school teachers; but those teachers compete every day with the hatred and misinformation peddled by widely popular, well-paid purveyors of fear, contempt, hate and misinformation like Limbaugh.
So: Limbaugh’s “continuing education of us?” No . Limbaugh’s continued dumbing down of us; so we might elect, perhaps, another Clueless Clancy as president of the United States and continue to enrich Ruthless Rush the Relentlessly Rotten Raconteur.
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Grand Lake’s water woes
Conservancy districts, by law, have the charge to “provide for the conservation of the water resources of the state of Colorado and for the greatest beneficial use of the water within this state” (Colo. Rev.
Stat. § 37-45-102).
It is commendable that the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District wishes to participate in the restoration of the lake; however, pointing fingers at developers and the Grand Lake community as culprits violates their basic duty. Of the three solutions proposed in the article, the Colorado Water Quality Control Commission will consider if the state should establish a clarity standard for the lake. The Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District should assess the feasibility of the other two suggestions, intermittently stopping the pumps that draw water from the lake or removing Grand Lake from the water distribution network.
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CU not the only good school
The article quotes CU President Hank Brown as saying “"Over the years, you’ll ghettoize those students,” he said. “They’ll have to go to less-challenging institutions because we’ve priced them out.” The implication is that other, comparable (four-year) Colorado universities and colleges are somehow second rate or “less challenging” when compared to the mighty University of Colorado. To hear Brown and others, one would think that every great thinker or scientist in western civilization was an alumnus of CU.
Well, I’m sick of it.
While Brown totes his university’s supposed superior standing, he should remember that Colorado has other excellent state colleges that not only do a fine job, but often share the same accreditation as CU.
Colorado State University and Metro State (both mentioned in the article) probably do as good a job as CU without embarrassing the state with the type of scandals that seem to have appeared with some regularity at Colorado’s flagship university.
It’s time that Brown and his like realized that Colorado has more than one first rate institution of higher learning.
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Sen. McCain should be forgiven
Even though he’s the only major candidate in the race who has been consistently pro-life his entire career, been for cutting wasteful spending and balancing the federal budget, and is best prepared to lead our nation during this time of war, Dobson and others won’t forgive McCain over something he said years ago and did more recently.
So he called some Christian leaders “agents of intolerance” in 2000. McCain’s worked to reach out to those he offended and make amends. Dobson and others also didn’t like him co-authoring the campaign finance reform bill because it limited the potential influence Focus on the Family can have during elections.
I’m a Christian and a long-time listener and supporter of Dobson and his Focus on the Family ministry, and I’m supporting McCain for President because of the reasons I stated above.
Plus, recent Rasmussen and Fox News polls show McCain does the best against Sen. Hillary Clinton, who our nation can’t afford to have in the White House.
So I encourage Dr. Dobson and the other Christian leaders to demonstrate their faith, forgive Senator McCain just as God through Jesus Christ forgave them. Then let’s all rally around his candidacy and ensure the White House stays in common sense, Conservative hands.
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Support for Pete Stark
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Lakewood’s government
Lakewood was founded on being a small business oriented community. Small business is vital to a good and prosperous community! We have a very important Mayoral election this fall that can change the direction this city is moving in. It’s time for a Mayor who will be an advocate for the citizens of Lakewood, and our small businesses. Her name is Rita Bertolli. Ms. Bertolli would like to help small business, by perhaps creating tax incentives, or removing some taxes for these small business owners! We must make sure that small business can compete, or big business will take over, driving small business out of Lakewood altogether! We do not need another Denver or Highlands Ranch here! We must help to keep Lakewood as it was intended to be; a small business, bedroom community that it was founded on by the first government of Lakewood in the ‘60s. Most residents want to keep it that way! WE ARE LAKEWOOD! And we want to keep it that way! We have one candidate who will work with all her heart to keep it that way, and her name is, Rita Bertolli !!! Ms. Bertolli is the only choice, in my opinion, to lead this city in the direction that is positive for all the citizens of our great city! I encourage all my friends and neighbors and all citizens of Lakewood to vote for Rita Bertolli, because a vote for Ms. Bertolli is a vote for real change in a positive direction for Lakewood.
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Children’s Hospital should have donated first
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Put Park Hill playground back
At Perk Hill Coffee at 22nd and Kearney in Park Hill, Darren Spreeuw, owner had installed a small swing set and play ground that he had provided - at no cost to the city or to its users - on a public right of way owned by the city. Hundred of people use this every week. It is a site of community building, friendship, and healthy childhood development.
Darren had all the necessary permits and loads of private liability insurance, and had clearly marked it “At Your Own Risk.” For some reason, the landlord forced him to take down this very popular playground. As a citizen of Park Hill, I have been impressed by Perk Hill coffee as a business and member of the community. Darren Spreeuw has been extraordinarily entrepreneurial, and has been an anchor in the rejuvenation of this part of Park Hill.
As long term residents of Denver know, economic stability and social stability are mutual supports against leaner times. Let us be farsighted about the values that sustain our city and neighborhoods over time. The city should designate this small area and public good as a “pocket park” so it may be preserved and continue to serve our community.
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Price of text books
To avoid concerns about the propriety of my relationship with the publishers, I am now turning down offers of pay for reviewing textbooks for publishers and am returning to sender textbooks that publishers mail to me. I am also putting myself in my students’ shoes by buying my own personal copies of textbooks for my classes rather than requesting free “desk copies” from publishers. This is definitely raising my consciousness of both the costs and the alternatives.
If faculty members become directly involved with textbook prices, it would lead to very noticeable reductions in this financial burden for their students. For example, previous versions of textbooks are often available on the Internet in such large quantities that it would be very practical for faculty to specify them instead of more costly newer versions. Some of the references to recent trends might be outdated, but it wouldn’t be hard for instructors to provide updates in their lectures and other materials. Standardizing a class on an older version would also cover the issue of having students all work on the same problem sets.
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Birth control available to kids in Maine
Meanwhile, at the King Middle School in Portland, Maine, officials have added birth control pills to the goody bag of contraceptives they’ve doled out since 2000.
These children also get free after school snacks and lunches.
I picture their school snack, birth control pill and condom bundled together in a little brown sack like the kind we got 50 years ago after “The Papillion Methodist Church Presents ‘Away in the Manger.’” Ah, those little brown sacks. Twisted at the top, and tied off with a pretty red and green swirl of ribbon. They held promise of a shiny red apple or bright orange orange, some peanuts in the shell, and oh jump up and down a Hershey Bar! At the King school, eleven year old girls can request birth control and neither the school or the child has to tell the parents.
Dandy. Just dandy. We’ve finally arrived at a culture where a child can get into any kind of trouble and the parent won’t be told, won’t have to accept “ultimate responsibility,” and won’t be prosecuted for “lapses in training.” This isn’t fair. If ranchers plagued with killer wolves can’t shoot, shovel and shut up, how come those kids get to?
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Mike Rosen on Al Gore & global warming
One thing that is worth pointing out is Mr. Rosen’s misunderstanding of science. He says he is not a scientist, but neither is Al Gore. I’ve met both Mr. Rosen and Mr. Gore in person and discussed global warming with both. Mike Rosen, on global warming, you are no Al Gore. Al Gore has a clear and deep understanding of global warming issues; Mr. Rosen simply parrots long discredited skeptical claims. Mr. Rosen fundamentally doesn’t grasp that scientific credibility is not determined by the fame of a scientist (be it Copernicus or Galileo, to cite Mike’s examples), or even whether one is a scientist or not. Science is decided simply on the evidence. Copernicus and Galileo are respected because the evidence supports their theories. The evidence of global warming and mankind’s hand in it is unequivocal. Regardless of the few (and yes they are few) skeptical scientists, credible evidence in support of their viewpoint is non-existent.
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Rush Limbaugh and Sen. Reid’s letter
The first sentence of Stephanie Strom’s (of the New York Times - should give you a hint to fact check) piece on Limbaugh, says ‘After Rush Limbaugh referred to some Iraq war veterans as “phony soldiers,” he received a letter of complaint signed by 41 Democratic senators.’ The fact of the matter is, Rush did NO SUCH THING! I listened to the show in question, as well as those that preceded it. The “soldiers” Rush referred to were NOT IRAQ WAR VETERANS. Typical of Democrats in Congress, Sen. Harry Reid and the 40 other Democratic senators distorted what Rush said in their letter to the president of Clear Channel Communications. They attempted to smear Rush, claiming he called some Iraq war veterans, “phony soldiers".
I expect distortions to suit their agenda by the New York Times and it’s biased reporters. I expect better of the Rocky. Were your editors attempting to further the distortion, or were they just lazy when reprinting the NYT wire copy?
The decline of the print media is largely due to self inflicted wounds, such as this.
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Most knew Angel Montoya would run
If I remember correctly, they knew he failed to register as a sex offender when they held him as a suspect in Neveah’s disappearance. Why didn’t they do something with him then? Where’s Neveah’s mother? The article failed to tell the public if she has also fled.
She should have been held just for aiding Montoya.
Shame on the newspaper for sticking this small article on page 8. This should have been a glaring headline, or is everyone embarrassed about how stupid their judgment was on this one? That precious child was found dead in a park, the mother confessed and they were released? What a travesty of justice. Neveah deserves better than that.
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Republican leadership unfit
It’s not about Democrat and Republican anymore. It has come down to decency vs. indecency. Both Democratic and Republican legislators need to put aside partisan name calling and address and clean up the corruption which is rotting the government from the top down. Pete Stark is right. Any congress person with morals should be expressing the same sentiments. A little more courage and a lot less hypocracy is what we need from all the people we elected.
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Rocky's 'Walking the Line' series enjoyable
As a 75-year-old native of Denver, I have thoroughly enjoyed the "Walking the
Line" series by Kevin Flynn and the photos by Darin McGregor.
I lived on the west side for my first 28 years and much of what they described
in the first two articles was familiar territory to me and my friends growing
up.
May I add a historical factoid to this great story? The old Denver Tramway local
No. 75 streetcar used part of the old rail line that the FasTracks will replace
to get from downtown to Barnum.
As I recall, it came across the old Larimer Street viaduct to Federal Boulevard,
then went south on Federal and turned west to join the interurban line at what
is now Sanchez Gulch. It left the main line at Hazel Court to take a zigzag
route south to its destination at First Avenue and Knox Court.
Jim Grisenti, Denver
Offensive message
I was looking in the Rocky's Spotlight section recently and to my surprise I saw
the cartoon panel Cornered by Mike Baldwin. What kind of message is the Rocky sending our children? It is never OK to do meth or, as
one of the characters said, "Our funding ran out again. Whip up another batch of
crystal meth."
I am doing 18 years for crystal meth and I find this message very offensive.
Christine Sisemore, Brush
One-sided drivel
The Oct. 10 Rocky Mountain News article, "Report: State losing millions/Low
severance tax on oil, gas drilling costly to Colorado," was interesting until
one gets to the bottom of the second paragraph where it acknowledges that it was
based on a totally biased report by a one-sided organization - the
"Carbondale-based Community Office for Resource Efficiency, which promotes
renewable energy sources and green building techniques."
For me, a one-sided article is, on its face, not worth reading - one does not
know what is truth and what is slant.
It is apparent to me that too many articles are supplied to the news
organizations and the reporters are happy to use their copy so they do not have
to do any work to fill the paper with this type of one-sided drivel.
Dudley Martens, Arvada
Why broach ethnicity?
Tell me, what was the point of the headline "Latino trio add final zing" on the
front page of The Sunday Denver Post's Oct. 14 Sports section? I thought this
was a team and the victory was definitely a team effort.
Also, please tell me what the ramifications of a headline that read "Caucasian
trio add final zing" would be? Why was the ethnicity of the players brought to
light at all? It is just like the Post to be so biased.
When the efforts of Todd Helton or Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe, Troy Tulowitzki or
any other great players on that team contribute to a victory and just play great
baseball, ethnicity is never mentioned.
The Post should get its act together; it's getting disgusting to read.
Cathy Swartwood, Morrison
Salzman's a hoot
What a joke to hear Rocky Mountain News media critic Jason Salzman - an activist
of, by and for the Democratic media establishment - caution everyone else about using polls! ("Polls rarely serve the public interest," On the Media, Oct. 13.)
Readers with a memory know Salzman certainly props any poll he can use for
effect. The embedded donkey operatives at The Denver Post and the Rocky no
longer bother to post the political affiliation of their respondents, nor the
actual questions asked because gentle readers would smell the skunk coming.
The Rocky editor inadvertently gave Salzman's column the correct headline:
"Polls rarely serve the public interest." Nope, but they sure serve the private
interests of Democrat newsies foisted upon Colorado.
Kurt Overturf, Greeley
Agenda offends
I can tolerate the choices people make regarding their gender preferences. Those
choices may not be considered normal but, nonetheless, they are individual
choices.
I am disgusted that the Rocky decides to normalize homosexuality by putting it
on the front page of the Home Front section in an article about a "couple's"
eclectic house, under a title of "A World of Choices" (Oct. 13).
The title had more to do with gender choices than furniture selections and the
Rocky knows it. Next time it will be transsexuals.
The Rocky insults and offends its readers with its agenda-driven journalism.
Rich Schick, Littleto
Unfunny funnies
I like to start the day off with a good laugh, so i read the "comics" first.
Lately, the comics aren't funny; they are dealing with cancer, people dying, and
some kid who has a sick sense of humor (Lio). The definition of comics is
"pertaining to humor." Lately the Rocky's "comics" aren't very funny, unless our
humor has slipped away with the ozone.
R. Thompson, Aurora
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Free trade bad for economy
Businesses move to Pacific Rim countries to take advantage of wages that are a fraction of the wage scales paid in the U.S. By moving offshore, they escape our government’s trade policies, taxation, and regulations. Most damaging, though, they help fuel the economies of foreign countries, some who are enemies of the U.S. If that weren’t enough, U.S. businesses and taxpayers are forced to subsidize their foreign competitors with foreign aid. Our government encourages the exportation of jobs by providing overseas protection, something we can’t buy or obtain in the U.S.
We all learned in Economics 101 that an economy can generate wealth only through three primary things: manufacturing; growing of crops and timbers; and mining of minerals from the earth and sea. All of these things add value to raw materials, the only process that can generate wealth. Service businesses, while necessary in any economy, merely spread around the wealth generated by the first three.
Free trade threatens the sovereignty of the U.S., our most precious asset.
Globalists, led by President Bush and his international elitist partners, are attacking our nation’s independence, promoting a global government and undermining both the republican and democratic traditions of our nation.
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Is the Rocky “Catholic bashing?”
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Parents of Cherry Creek Schools suing
I gave twenty years of my life so that the grossly over intimidated children of the parents that are suing Cherry Creek Schools would have the right to voice their complaint about the slightest hint of religion in a school. I also fought for their rights to choose whether or not their children should even be exposed to religion. They even have the right to tell their children to ignore reading Number 19 in the 40 Developmental Assets. But, don’t deny other’s rights that may want to read about the fact their may be a better lifestyle by choosing to believe in God and choosing a religious institution if they desire.
Then there is Steven Horner and his “Ladies Night” discrimination complaint.
Where was he when women wanted the right to vote or equal pay for equal work or equal job benefits? Oh yes, he was hiding under a rock! He was likely at home being coddled by a mommy that didn’t have to be in the work place to make ends meet and put food on the table. Don’t these people have anything else better to do with their lives? If Mr. Horner spent more time thinking about his opportunity to live in the greatest country in the world where he has more freedoms than anyplace else on this earth, he might just HAVE A LIFE! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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Code of ethics needed for social workers
His worst case scenarios of conservatives not being able to pass professional ethical standards didn’t transpire because the governing institutions followed ethical standards. They accommodated conservative viewpoints. When ethics failed the law worked. Thus will we honor the Supreme Court decision that, “No official, high or petty can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion or other matters of opinion.”
I would differentiate ethics from faiths or politics, because ethics is a self evident, positive, universal human endeavor. It only advances societies. Societies without ethics will degenerate into Neanderthal contests of ruthlessness and brut force.
If I had your intellect and audience I’d be asking folks to, “Do unto others what we want done to ourselves". That’s the essence of ethics, creating positive feedback. Ethics is about empathizing with those we fear! It is not propaganda.
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Salazar should learn facts
I am talking about Rush Limbaugh
It seems that the senator has gotten himself into this quagmire of his own part
I wish that all duly elected public officials would stick to the people’s business and quit trying to get face time on TV and their names in various newspapers for insignificant issues, like what someone said on a radio show.
And, just as a word of advice, I would never sign my name on anything
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Boettcher does need the remodeling
My travels have included bringing orchestral music to a variety of venues
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SCHIP vital for the children
According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), current funding for SCHIP barely maintains coverage for the 6 million who are already enrolled, that’s with 84% of children who are currently eligible not enrolled in the program. CBO estimates that If annual funding for the program continued at $5 billion, by 2017 43 states would have their projected spending outstrip available funds by $8.9 billion and enrollment would fall from 7.4 million in 2007 to 3.5 million in 2017.
All of this as more and more Americans are finding it cost prohibitive to pay for private health care.
Since SCHIP began in 1997, the number of uninsured children at 100-200% of the federal poverty level has decreased by 1/3, from 25 to 15%. As Sweeney and Cerbo mentioned, the health status in these children has improved and school attendance has increased.
The sponsors of this bill have proposed that this increase in SCHIP be entirely funded by an increase in the cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1.00, thus would not be a tax burden to the general taxpayer.
As Senator Orin Hatch, Republican of Utah has said, supporting SCHIP funding is the “morally right thing to do.” Can a country that does not look out for the welfare of its most vulnerable and needy citizens truly call itself a civilized society? Children are not voters and rely on the compassion and wisdom of adults to ensure that they will have ample and equal opportunity in life.
Let’s not let lack of health care undermine any child’s ability to achieve his full potential.
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Children’s Hospital “trashes” opportunity
CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL MOVED INTO A BRAND NEW FACILITY WITH APPARENTLY ALL NEW FURNISHINGS RECENTLY. THEY HAD USED THINGS LIKE BOOKCASES, TABLEs, CHAIRS AND A WHOLE HOST OF OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE MOVED OUT OF THE OLD BUILDING. SEVERAL NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS ENQUIRED ABOUT THE USED THINGS TO SEE IF THEY COULD COME AND GET THEM FOR THEIR OWN USE AND WERE TURNED DOWN! THEY WERE NOT ASKING THAT THEY BE GIVEN ANYTHING FOR FREE BUT AGAIN THEY WERE TURNED DOWN! IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY?
AND COULDN’T SOME OF IT BE REFURBISHED AND USED IN THE NEW PLACE? WITH HEALTH CARE COSTS GOING THROUGH THE ROOF ONE WOULD THINK THAT AN ORGANIZATION LIKE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL COULD HAVE DISCARDED THEIR (SUPPOSED) USELESS EQUIPMENT IN A FASHION THAT COULD HAVE BENEFITTED OTHER ORGANIZATIONS INSTEAD OF CRUSHING IT AND SENDING IT TO A LAND FILL? INSTEAD THEY COULD HAVE, IN ADVANCE, LET THE WORD OUT THAT WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME FRAME ANYONE COULD COME AND PICK UP WHAT THEY WANTED.! THEN AND ONLY THEN COULD THEY HAVE SENT IT TO A LAND FILL!
WHAT A WASTE OF USEABLE EQUIPMENT AND AGAIN SHAME ON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL!
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Congress lacks common sense
In 1974 the Turks invaded Cyprus to protect the Turkish minorities in the island. Greek National Guardsmen had killed 37 people in the village of Sandallar, including two babies, and 89 people in the village of Atlilar. In 1975 I was assigned to a US Air Force remote site in Diyarbakir, Turkey. That year Congress meddled in international affairs and passed an arms embargo on Turkey. A few months after my arrival, the Turks shut our site down and our commander had a new boss, a Turk Colonel. Luckily the Turkish military behaved like true friends and told our commander that it was a political issue, not a military issue. In 1975 twenty American installations were shut down and Congress pushed Turkey closer to the Soviet Union, a dangerous event during the cold war. It was not until 1978 via the efforts of Republican President Ford and Democrat President Carter that the damage was partially corrected. But the U.S. had to pay for what we had previously free.
Now history repeats itself and Congress reveals its Ugly American side. Greece and Turkey in 1997 agreed to resolve their differences, and there were many with faults in both sides, peacefully. But now, Turkey is faced with an enemy within that is as ruthless and as devoid of a conscience as is Al-Queida. The Kurdish separatist movement, PPK, has been killing innocents since the 1970’s. But just as I was in the middle of a Congressional bungle in 1975, a large portion of our Armed Forces are now in the middle of the bungle of 2007. The brunt of any Turkish retribution will be experienced by the men and women that so selflessly serve. They deserve better. The US must place pressure on Iraqi Kurdistan to stop the border crossings by the PPK into Turkey, and restrain Turkey from invading Iraq. Unfortunately, the congressional resolution will reduce considerably our influence with Turkey and probably destabilizing the only relatively stable area of Iraq. Congress needs to be responsible and provide leadership and guidance, rather than politicizing history. Congress should be considering what is best for the country, not what’s best for their party!
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Jeffco ballot issue lets schools off the hook
I did a little research on Ballot Issue 3A on the Jefferson County mail-in
ballot. After calling the Jefferson County assessor's office and clerk and
recorder's office and learning that neither office could explain the issue, I
was referred by the clerk and recorder's office to Jefferson County Public
Schools.
Seemed odd, but I called the office of Jeffco Superintendent Cindy Stevenson and
was told that the wording on the ballot was written by lawyers for the school
district. A "yes" vote will give the district the right to collect three more
mills on our property taxes without being required to meet the testing
requirements that Ballot Issues 3A and 3B required when they were passed in
1999. A "no" vote will not let the school district off the hook, i.e., will not
allow the school board to collect the additional tax until the standards are
met.
Since this ballot issue is related to ballot issues 3A and 3B passed in 1999,
it's hard to figure out what is really going on here.
However you are inclined to vote on the issue, I think it helps if you at least
know what you are voting on and you can't tell by the way the lawyers for the
school district worded the ballot language.
When in doubt, a good rule of thumb is to vote "no."
Kathryn Isenberger, Golden
Objections cited to Dougco Ballot Issue 1B
I don't support Douglas County Ballot Issue 1B for the following reasons:
1. Because of the existing sales and use tax and the intergovernmental agreement
between Douglas County and the town of Castle Rock, when the current sales and
use tax expires on Dec. 31, 2010, the town of Castle Rock's sales tax will go up
0.4 percent.
2. North Meadows Drive to Interstate 25 is not a Douglas County problem. The
citizens of Castle Rock approved the sale of bonds in 2005 to build North
Meadows Drive to Colorado 85 (though that alignment is not finalized yet).
Colorado 85 to I-25 is, again, not a Douglas County problem, though Douglas
County, according to its Transportation Capital Improvement Program, would like to earmark $12.8 million toward building
this roadway and interchange, if 1B passes. Along with Meadows Parkway, Happy
Canyon Road is an existing connection between Colorado 85 and I-25.
3. Douglas County, again, doesn't identify any multimodal forms of mass
transportation in its Transportation Capital Improvements Program.
Leslie H. Lilly, Castle Rock
Prostitution should be a legal activity
So, a Boulder Valley School District middle school counselor is now a "criminal"
and will probably lose his job ("Counselor pleads guilty to soliciting
prostitute," RockyMountainNews.com, Oct. 14). This is absurd!
It is time that prostitution be legalized between consenting adults. What is
wrong with people getting their needs met through an open mutual agreement?
Prostitution is a more honest relationship than many dates and/or marriages.
If prostitution were considered morally and legally acceptable, then just maybe
people could be more honest with each other, criminals wouldn't be making so much money off the misfortune of others, fewer people
would become sexual victims, participants might be healthier, and the government
could make some money off this huge, long-established industry.
Larry Gauthier, Franktown
A suspect switch
Odd how we can open our arms to people who do not agree with the basic principle
of the Democratic Party as, at least I understand it, "the party of the people."
Rep. Debbie Stafford's comments during the immigration debate at the legislature
were mean, disrespectful and hurtful. Now she is a member of the party of the
people? ("Stafford makes political switch," Oct. 12.) Are the Democrats
changing, or are they just becoming more like the Grand Old Party? This is just
what we need in the state legislature - another anti-immigrant Democrat!
Has she really been born again, or is she backsliding? I can't welcome the Rev.
Stafford until she repents and asks forgiveness.
Fidel "Butch" Montoya, Denver
Wasteful searches
Steve Fossett's disappearance and the search for him reminds me so much of Amelia Earhart when she disappeared over the Pacific Ocean. The search efforts for Earhart involved the Army Air Corps and the Navy searching the vast Pacific without success. The search for Amelia is estimated to have cost untold millions.
Fossett was reportedly looking for dry lake beds where he could try for the land
speed record and Earhart was attempting a record for an around-the-world flight
at the equator, again for her own personal glory.
Why do we spend the efforts of many and so much money to find those who are only
seeking glory for themselves?
Let's require these people to sign a waiver for any searches should they
disappear. I am sure that they would be more than glad to do so!
Jon Takata, Thornton
A higher law
In response to the Oct. 16 letter regarding the Catholic hierarchy by Patrick F.
Cipolla ("Catholic hierarchy embraces illegality"), I would like to say to him
that the church does indeed ask us to obey the law, but there are some laws that are higher than civil laws.
The law of God asks us to treat the stranger as our own. I cite Leviticus
19:33-34 and Matthew 25:40. There are many exhortations in Scripture to which
the archbishop and the good pastor at the Polish parish are following. Unless
Cipolla is a Native American, his ancestors were immigrants as well.
Alicia Ramirez, Denver
100 percent unsafe
The story "Abortion rates same despite legal status" (Oct. 12) states that 48
percent of all abortions worldwide are unsafe; abortion accounts for 13 percent
of overall "maternal mortality." (Maternal? Doesn't that imply that there is a
child? Sometimes the truth accidentally slips out.)
The article forgot to mention that 100 percent of abortions are unsafe for the
child.
John Schola, Lone Tree
A DIFFERING VIEW/Denver bond measures should pass as a package
The Rocky Mountain News has the right idea when it calls for a responsible bond package to present to Denver voters (“Asphalt, bricks, mortar,” Oct. 11), but it veers off-base in singling out two of the nine separate items (ballot questions G and H).
The facilities that would be fixed, repaired and upgraded in those two items are some of the city’s most vital cultural and tourism destinations: Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver Museum of Nature and Science and Boettcher Concert Hall. They attract visitors from all over the metro area, the state, the nation and even internationally.
These facilities generate hotel and sales tax revenues that support city programs. Denver Botanic Gardens alone attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. To delay the gardens’ necessary repairs will only deteriorate the community and fiscal benefits that they provide.
The bond package is about investing in our community’s infrastructure, and items A through I create a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. The payoff to citizens will come in three ways — better visitor experiences, increased tax revenue and the leverage to attract additional private-sector investments.
Jerry Ladd is chairman of the board of trustees of the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBackCarolyn Bninski of Boulder writes:
Ironically, the troops disagree. A March 2006 Zogby poll (www.zo
Garrett Reppenhagen, chairman of the board of IVAW, recently wrote.
Reppenhagen will be the keynote speaker at an anti-war rally on Saturday
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Paul Campos & Mitt Romney
Regarding Mitt Romney’s faith, since better than 80% of Americans still claim to hold some form of Christian belief, but since most do not know the intricacies of their doctrines and traditions, surely it is sensible of Romney to assert he is a “person of faith,” and leave alone arguments most would find arcane. Very nearly all candidates do express “faith.” What is clear from Romney’s life is that he takes his faith seriously; that is to say, he is “faithful” to the beliefs he espouses. THAT sets him further apart from many other candidates than does the tradition from which his faith originates, and that is a trait worthy of the voter’s consideration.
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Separation of church & state
Many people listed below write:
As advocates of individual rights and free markets, we are deeply concerned about attacks on economic liberty and property rights.
However, we also believe that the greater modern threat to individual rights is the attempt by some religious groups to make politics conform to their faith.
In coming election cycles, we will vote against any candidate who does not explicitly and unambiguously endorse the separation of church and state. We ask that candidates declare whether they:
1. Endorse the separation of church and state.
2. Oppose the spending of tax dollars on programs with religious affiliations, such as "faith-based" welfare.
3. Oppose the spending of tax dollars to teach creationism and/or intelligent design as science.
4. Oppose efforts to restrict the legal right of adult women to obtain an abortion.
5. Oppose bans on embryonic stem-cell research.
Signed, Ari Armstrong, Westminster,
Tom Hall, Louisville
Diana Hsieh, Sedalia
Paul Hsieh, Sedalia
Mike Williams, Denver
Leonard Peikoff, Colorado Springs
Richard Watts, Hayden
Cara Thompson, Denver
Hannah Krening, Larkspur
Erika Hanson Brown, Denver
Bill Faulkner, Broomfield
Cameron Craig, Denver
Bryan Armentrout, Erie
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Front page stickies are irritating
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Global Warming
Global warming threatens not only the livelihood of everyone living below sea level (whole countries could be swallowed by rising waters), but it threatens the livelihood of the people that our state employs in the winter sports industry. Global warming threatens our local famers too. As the snow melts it feeds our fields. Without snow to melt, our water supplies will keep dwindling until we can’t even feed ourselves.
Please Governor Ritter, please Senators Salazar and Allard, please all of our Representatives in Congress, support legislation to cap greenhouse gas emissions. Because if things continue the way they are, we Coloradans are going to feel the effects of global warming very, very soon.
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F word not offensive
Lana Matthews of Denver writes:
F Bush—Fight Bush! Did you think I would use the simple Saxon word, a perfectly polite word displaced by convoluted copulate or indirect intercourse, words forced on us with the brutal Norman conquest? One result: our serviceable, sturdy language was vanquished to the swear realm, along with the conquered. Do we still have such namby-pamby sensibilities that we have to be protected from the F word and other offensive words or victimless acts that could break the bones of us whimpering, simpering delicate creatures? Shall we mutter and stutter and wash the CSU editor’s mouth out with soap?
Pitiful us, sniveling and cringing over some words a ruler decided long ago were of a barbarian people, the English. Daddy’s here to save us from the bogeyman. Daddy’s here to coddle, protect, censor, and impose morality so we don’t have to think; we can just automatically react. Say, “gasp.” Scream, “shame.”
The words I find offensive?: Poverty, Starvation, WAR, TORTURE. But no, this culture passes its time being horrified by single syllable words for the sex act and bodily functions. My answer? F. Bush. My father’s dead, and I’m an adult.
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Paul Campos & Ann Coulter
But I vehemently disagree with Paul Campos’ remarks that all Ann Coulter said was that Christianity is better than Judaism. She said a lot more than that. She apparently (if one can believe anything she says) dreams of a “Jew-free” United States where the Jews have been “perfected” into becoming Christians.
Well, what if we don’t co-operate? Does she think we ought to be “perfected” right out of existence the way the Crusaders and officials of the Spanish Inquisition tried to do?
History shows that when a larger group of people thinks a smaller second group of people is inferior, that second group is in trouble. I think Mr. Campos needs to go back and review Ann Coulter’s remarks.
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Paul Campos & Mitt Romney
doctrines that seem to setmembers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apart from other Christian religionsis thebelief that Jesus Christ has a body, the very body he was resurrected with, an event thatis believed in and celebrated by all Christians on Easter!The other is that Jesus Christ and God the Father are separate beings asdemonstrated by Christ when heinstructed his discipleshow to pray. It is a prayer that all Christians recite and it begins, “Our Father which art in heaven.
"They are
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Endorsement for Frank Deserino
The election takes place at a trying time in the history of Colorado’s oldest school district. The recent announcement of the closing of eight schools, the redesign of five others, the distinct possibility of additional closures, the intense scrutiny given the district’s high drop-out rate, mediocre CSAP scores, the closing of Manual High School, and the continuing saga of North High School, has kept the district in the news for months.
Having Deserino’s pragmatic, articulate, and logical voice on the board will be a welcome change to DPS leadership. Given the district’s numerous difficulties it makes sense that a dedicated teacher should serve on the volunteer board.
The fact that the DCTA, the teacher’s union, has chosen to support local social worker Larry Botnick over both Deserino and incumbent Bruce Hoyt should serve as a powerful motivator to vote for Deserino. Frank is a member of the union but it won’t support him because he recognizes that improving DPS might come at the expense of closing schools; a development anathema to the union.
Like the union, the school district itself is finding its credibility with the community to be strained. In recent years parents, teachers and students have been voting with their feet and leaving DPS with increasing numbers. Having Deserino on the board will go a long way toward rebuilding confidence in this vital institution. School board election rhetoric from almost every candidate (visit their websites) speaks of promoting the collaboration of parents, students, administration, and teachers. Frank Deserino is the teacher running for the Denver School Board. Clearly he is not beholden to the union, he’ll act, speak, and cast his vote in the best interest of the students.
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Tell children the truth about war in Iraq
The disillusion was profound. Why didn’t anyone tell me!
As the years passed, My idealism slowly but surely shriveled up into the same apathy I lashed out at in college. That is, until I had my first child.
The miracle of seeing life through the eyes of my child unfolded.
As our liberties erode before us, as human beings continue to die as a result of our continued presence in Iraq (last Thursday, at least 6 women and 9 children were bombed into oblivion by a U. S.
Tell them the truth. It won’t kill them, but it may set them free! Parents, their future is at stake.
Their tax burden will be crippling, and they’ll be in far more danger. And most importantly, teach them to not accept collateral damage as a way of doing business.
Parents, as you complain about this and that, as you create excuse after excuse for your inaction, do not be surprised when the anguished question comes, “mom, dad what did you do when you knew?”
Come to the rally and march against the war on Iraq, Saturday, October 27 12 noon
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NRA cartoon not correct
To think that the NRA feels that school shootings or any criminal act is nothing more then a need for more lobbing money is criminal in itself.
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Limbaugh attack reveals Dem rashness
In case it has escaped your attention, common sense is a rare commodity in the
Democratic-controlled Senate. A sure lack of common sense has been exposed in
recent weeks.
In their desire to chastise radio talk-show host Rush Limbaugh, many senators
took time out from their busy schedule to draft a complaint to Rush's boss that
he is unpatriotic for exposing a person who claimed to have been in combat in
Iraq when he wasn't even in the military. Limbaugh rightly called the man a
"phony soldier."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and dozens of his Democratic cohorts jumped at
this perceived notion that Rush was condemning all solders in Iraq who apposed
the war. A false claim by Reid.
This lack of common sense is pervasive in their everyday conduct of legislative
business. They will take time to condemn Rush, then drag their feet over issues
that are important for the security of this nation. Reid and his cohorts would
rather play politics than accomplish needed legislation.
Needless to say, the letter to Mark Mays of Clear Channel Communications has
backfired. Rush raised millions of dollars for military widows and their
children by auctioning off the letter last Friday. Now is the time for all those
millionaire senators who signed the letter to make their contribution, too.
Ron Perkins, Littleton
Deporting the American dream
The Oct. 8 column, "Clock ticks as students near age 18," by Tina Griego, should
be required reading for all. There are so many people - including politicians -
who ignorantly group all illegal residents into one category: criminal.
Fellow citizens, I implore you to see these people as the majority of them are -
people trying to make a better life for themselves and their families.
See the children who, through no fault of their own, were brought here by their
parents in hopes for a better life. For many of these kids, the United States is
all they have ever known. How can we, as a people who say we strive for the
American dream, not understand the plight of many of these people who are honest, hard-working adults and
children? How can we deport children? What is our country coming to?
Our leadership is deporting the American dream, isolating us from the rest of
the world by attacking other countries based on lies, and is categorically
denying basic human rights under the Geneva Conventions. Maybe we need to teach
more history in schools to show where we came from. It seems we are denying our
very roots.
Joanne Hendricks, Littleton
We are the 'failed safety net'
Headlines in the Sept. 29 Rocky Mountain News on Page 4 point the finger at
child welfare officials ("Failed by safety net, kids die under social services'
watch") while on Page 23 - beside the banner "A backlog of upkeep" - the city
has placed the Health and Human Services funding request as only seventh on a
priority list of nine ballot issues.
It is hard to find fault with $99.8 million for streets, $65 million for public
safety and $93 million for parks and recreation. Maybe the $60.5 million for refurbishing cultural buildings, $70 million for
expansion of cultural facilities and $51.9 million for libraries is a needed
investment. But as long as each of us can live with only $48.6 million for
Health and Human Services (which includes a new animal shelter!), we can expect
stories of child abuse deaths to make their periodic appearance in our papers.
As a society our values are reflected in what we are willing to consider
spending out of our checkbooks. We the public are the "failed safety net," not
the Department of Health and Human Services.
Bob Cooper, Golden
Turks justified in going after rebels
Sometimes, says President Bush, a terrorist attack should be stoically accepted;
if the Turkish Army has lost 12 soldiers to Kurdish PKK guerrillas, well that's
just too bad. It wouldn't do to embarrass U.S. policy-makers by moving Turkish
armor into Kurdistan, a relatively stable area in an otherwise miserable Iraq.
Better that Turkish troops simply stand down.
The U.S. view is that if outside force is to be used anywhere in Iraq, it will be U.S.
troops doing the forcing. Just now, however, the Decider has chosen not to
pressure the PKK, despite Turkey's being a democratic NATO ally and the PKK's
indictment as a terrorist group by the State Department.
Try imagining a scenario in which foreign militants ambush and slay U.S.
soldiers within our borders while some other NATO member tells Bush not to
respond. Impossible, you would have to say. Certainly, most Turks would concur.
Cord MacGuire, Boulder
Marathon more like an obstacle course
On Oct. 15, the day following the running of the Denver Marathon, in a box
beside the news story covering the event was a list of facts on the marathon
that provided some statistics about that day.
It would have been instructive to include the numbers of people stuck in traffic
while heading for a downtown church the same day, and the length of time spent
in those frustrating jams!
The obstacle course churchgoers must run on many Sundays during the summer is an increasingly irritating fact of attendance
at downtown churches. It does have an impact on attendance.
If the city can make accommodation for attendees at events, some consideration
for those going to church on Sunday could be offered by making available to the
churches alternate routes from various sectors of the metropolitan area.
Joan Leimkuhler, Denver
Making a strong case for school vouchers
Bill Johnson's Oct. 19 column, "Shortage of money could close doors of
opportunity," profiled a private school (Escuela de Guadalupe) that's struggling
financially but has been successful in combating dropout rates and providing an
excellent educational experience. Two words kept leaping out between every line
Johnson wrote: school vouchers.
I wonder if Johnson saw any of those words jump off the page? For some reason, I
doubt it. Still, Johnson just made a strong case for school vouchers.
Joe Rosberg, Denver
Aha!
I heard that Sen. Edward Kennedy recently underwent surgery for a blockage in his carotid artery that supplies blood to the
brain. I wish him well, but this explains a lot.
Jim Weber, Denver
A DIFFERING VIEW/All Coloradans deserve share of energy production
The Rocky editorial of Oct. 13 lamenting how severance tax and mineral revenues are currently allocated largely misses the mark (“Colorado must redirect severance taxes”).
The current formulas allow the Department of Local Affairs to subjectively dole out grants to local governments.
If we were to take a cue from the state of Alaska, we ought to consider distributing a portion of these revenues directly to each taxpayer in the state of Colorado. Each year, the Alaska Permanent Fund— which manages the state’s energy and mineral revenues — issues a dividend check to each resident; in recent years, those checks have exceeded $1,000.
Yes, local governments that are directly impacted by the extraction industries ought to get a portion of the revenue, but the residents of Colorado should directly share in these monies from the industries that affect our state.
The legislature should not be addicted to this funding source and should be disciplined when allocating all our other scarce revenue resources.
James Frye is a resident of Aurora.
I hope everyone who votes on the recently recommended closures of various DPS schools (“Proposal calls for closing 8 schools, transforming 5,” Oct. 2) will drive from each of the institutions and see for themselves the problems involved with the transfers.
On paper, Whitman Elementary looks close to Place, but there are several problems to be considered. One, a child walking to Place must walk on Monaco Parkway, cross Alameda Avenue and Leetsdale Drive and, if they make it safely this far, they are still only halfway there.
There is RTD public transit on Monaco, but in this society, I have fears for any child under 12 riding a public bus without an adult accompanying them.
Further, if one thinks back to the days of busing for integration, kindergartners and first- and second-graders remained at their home school for a very good reason: Children this age are sick or hurt a lot and are often sent home. If a parent does not have access to a car to bring them home, it’s a long walk from the door at Place to Monaco and public transportation.
After they finally arrive at the new school, I have a major concern about the younger children being bullied and their money stolen by the middle school kids.
More kids means more programs can be offered, but small class size is helpful when they are reading below grade level.
Please try to weigh both sides before voting.
Jean M. McBirnie, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (24) | TrackBackChild welfare agencies must be fixed
I have to wonder why our social services agencies can be so inept that two children died horrible deaths even though child welfare had been notified as to the danger they were in? (“Lawmaker to push for kids’ ombudsman/Move comes in wake of deaths of two children,” Oct. 12.)
Little Neveah Gallegos was even taken to a hospital where it was confirmed that the 3-year-old had been raped. Why would anyone let that child go home with the mother who was living with the rapist? And why wasn’t there follow-up for Chandler Grafner? The ball was dropped in his case also.
This is unacceptable! Something must be done to stop this sloppy work. There could be a statewide data center that each county must contact on each and every case so no child falls through the cracks.
We all know that budgets keep getting slashed so there are fewer and fewer people to get the job done. That needs to stop. Everyone needs to start calling his or her senators and representatives and raise cane! Let’s also get Jessica’s Law passed here in Colorado. Why hasn’t it been?
Mimi Ryun, Northglenn
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (17) | TrackBackIllogical and unfair
The Denver Metropolitan Major League Baseball Stadium District with a seven-word title must be a powerful political entity in the Denver metro area. The very exciting recent performance of the Rockies must have been a disturbing distraction to those sitting in Club Level Section 222 in their viewing of the mountains seen through their “view plane”! (“Bullied by the majority,” On Point, Oct. 16.)
The district’s irrational, preposterous idea to limit buildings to 72 feet in height in the general area of Coors Field and Union station and deprive the business owners Bill and Paula Leake and others of their property rights is unreasonable, illogical and unfair.
The Denver City Council would not approve of such a weird proposition, I hope, trust and believe.
Luke Campeau, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBackSpray the poppies
Since the Taliban is growing 95 percent of the world’s opium poppies, why do we require the approval of the Afghanistan government before we spray the poppy fields? We are at war with the Taliban, whom we supported when we wanted to remove Russia from Afghanistan. Profits from opium are used to support terrorism, and drug sales in this country account for the majority of crime.
George Couchman, Littleton
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (35) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW/Airlines are to blame for airport congestion
On a recent trip from Denver to LaGuardia, our flight was delayed 45 minutes on the taxiway and another 15 minutes in a holding pattern prior to landing. This experience prompted a reply to the Rocky’s Sept. 29 editorial, “The right way to fight air congestion.”
The editorial implies that air congestion can be alleviated by implementation of a user fee system instead of the present “outdated fuel tax system.” On the contrary, the present system has been used for 40 years and is not broken.
The Government Accounting Office and two Department of Transportation reports have stated that the present system will generate sufficient funds to pay for all of the FAA’s objectives.
H.R. 2881, if approved, will provide $13 billion for air-traffic-control modernization and other FAA capital improvements. This is $1 billion more than what the administration proposes. In addition, airports will get $15.8 billion for capital improvements — some $4 billion more than the administration’s request.
The responsibility for airline delays was laid directly at the feet of the airlines during a House hearing on Sept. 26. Pat Forrey, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association stated, “Scheduling during peak hours contributes to delays at the busy airports even in good weather.” The Department of Transportation has started a process to help the busiest airports address this issue of chronic airline overscheduling.
It seems obvious to me that user fees are not required to fund the system or to fix the airlines’ self-inflicted air traffic congestion.
Incidentally, our return flight to Denver from LaGuardia, one week later, was held on the taxiway for one hour and 15 minutes and we were No. 18 for takeoff!
R.J. Doubek is a resident of Centennial and a volunteer with the Airport Support Network.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBack
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Aggressive corporate takeovers
Mr. Bush claims to be concerned with our democratic principles, the common people, and the environment, but for every cent this administration ( in collusion with large corporations ) has invested in America, it has taken out a dollar. Put bluntly, this president is a more immediate and serious threat to the American way of life than any and all of the enemies upon whom he would war.
Unbelievably, our Congress - principally the Republicans - continues to accept this deal for the American people - and the Democrats are too chicken-hearted to do ( or even say ) anything about it. No offenses have been more deserving of impeachment than the ( numerous ) offenses of this president. Apparently, taking care of business is not as important for the parasites in either party than being reelected in 2008.
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“Bush prosperity"
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David McSwane’s recriminations are hypocritical
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Foreclosures & helping the homeless
Foreclosures may soon force thousands of working families into the homes of family or friends, into temporary shelters or out on the streets to join the thousands of Coloradans already there. We must build a safety net, not only for tomorrow’s homeless but for today’s as well. Early intervention programs, transitional housing, and subsidized living quarters can save the lives of those we know, as well as those we don’t. Agencies such as the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, the Denver Rescue Mission, Volunteers of America and countless others work tirelessly to deal with homelessness and create solutions for people in need, but their resources are limited. We need a combined effort of state, federal, local and private resources to develop a safety net, so when a person loses his home, he has somewhere safe and warm to take his children. After all, the homeless are people just like us, and we should strive to insure they get the assistance that we would want if we were the ones on the streets. There’s no time to waste.
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Highlands Ranch housing developments
structures, there are strict environmental standards, including the National Environmental Policy Act, that must be followed, and a comprehensive knowledge of wildlife patterns that will be effected by the undertaking must be adhered to. However, these are massive public structures that are not built in the fastest means possible in order to maximize profit for a handful of private interests. Killing prairie dogs, furthermore, is rooted in a short-sighted philosophy because of the great benefits prairie dog colonies provide communities like Highlands Ranch, including but not limited to: - Prairie dog tunnels conserve rainwater and add a net increase of water to the water table.
- Prairie dog colonies improve the quality of the soil by improving the infiltration of water deep into the soil.
- Prairie dog colonies offset some grazing issues by controlling noxious weeds and native invader plant species and by reversing cattle-induced soil compaction.
- Prairie dogs act as an environmental/wildlife education tool for human communities, particularly children.
Those who reside in Highlands Ranch should consider taking a stance in opposition to Metro District and their short-term solution to an important long-term issue.
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Journalistic ethics
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Bush administration
I
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Al Gore & the Nobel Peace Prize
What would the Rocky Mountain News do if Gray, regaining some semblance of critical thinking, actually came out in favor of the Nobel Prize selection? Your retraction might sound something like this: “We’re sorry that we reported an assumed response from an isolated climate scientist as actual news. We were desperate to find some opposition to the selection, as evidenced by our quoting a local politician who believes that global warming is a fact. Next time we will fill such space with ads.”
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What are we teaching the children?
If we truly believe that the way to settle disputes with nations that disagree with us, is to bloody them up until they give in, why aren’t we preparing our future generations of citizens for this with practical experience in their youth?
Instead of learning to share, take turns, and shun violence, should we be teaching them that cultivation and exercise of overwhelming force is always the best trump card to play? That diplomacy and dialogue with opponents is for cheese-eating surrender weenies?
Aren’t the lessons we teach children supposed to be lessons for life?
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A DIFFERING VIEW/Kopel should acknowledge own bias on Israel
I am the theater reporter/critic for The Denver Post, and I recently wrote about the Denver premiere of the theatrical play My Name is Rachel Corrie, based on the journals of the 23-year-old American activist killed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003.
As a critic who at times has to write opinions people in our local theater community won’t want to read, I’d be a hypocrite if I could not take my shots as well. I’ve certainly taken them with good humor from the Rocky’s media critic, Dave Kopel.
This time, Kopel accuses me of having an anti-Israel bias in my reporting (“Stories about slain ‘shield’ lacking,” On the Media, Oct. 6). This is a hard charge to defend against, considering my sole intent was to call attention to a play coming to Denver about a woman killed by the Israeli army. I gave voice to her grieving parents, who simply want to know: Why is it that we can’t seem to have a civil conversation about Palestinian human rights in this country?
Kopel simply wanted another story. Forget the play; Kopel wanted a political and historical retrospective that would have looked more favorably on Israel.
In my due-diligence reporting, I gave the Anti-Defamation League and another local Jewish group their say. Kopel just didn’t like what they had to say. I gave Corrie’s parents a voice, while curiously, Kopel denied me my own: He corresponded with me at great length over two days, and yet he saw fit to print not one word of my response.
I ask your readers, what is more unconscionable: My own perceived “bias,” or that the media critic never revealed his own. I direct you to the bottom of Kopel’s personal home page, www.davekopel.org, where he flies an Israeli flag alongside the bold banner, “I’m a proud friend of Israel.”
Don’t you think that might have warranted a small mention somewhere in his column? Don’t you think that publicly boasting such a passionate and proud personal bias might excuse him from commenting on this topic?
John Moore writes for The Denver Post.
Gore a world-class snake-oil salesman
Al Gore awarded the Nobel Peace Prize? Please! Just what has he done to promote
world peace anyway? His so-called documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, is
peppered with inaccuracies, according to experts on global warming, and the man
doesn't even practice what he preaches. According to The Associated Press, his
10,000-square-foot Belle Meade mansion consumes electricity at a rate 12 times
the average Nashville home. George Bush's Crawford Ranch, on the other hand,
incorporates every "green" feature that home construction can provide.
Furthermore, Al "Bore" flies a private jet that does more than four times the
carbon emission damage than a commercial jet. The man is a snake-oil salesman,
as are those responsible for giving him this award, too engrossed in their own
politics.
So who will the next Nobel recipient be? Michael Moore?
Richard Colwell, Parker
Warming a real threat
No matter how hard scientists, public leaders and even the occasional celebrity
make their case for global warming to the public, we keep finding ways to shrug it off.
We say that melting ice caps are years away; they're not, they're melting right
now.
We ask ourselves what one person can do. Well, one person can make their voice
heard in the highest halls of the government.
Remember, our elected officials are "elected" by the public, and if they fail to
support legislation aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions, perhaps they
don't deserve to stay elected.
Tim Brauhn, Denver
Denver, mayor reward incompetence
Wanted: Incompetent Managers - Get Big Bucks in Hickenlooper Administration.
It appears this is the policy of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper. Like the
befuddled business person who says he is going to save a money-losing product by
increasing sales volume, the Hickenlooper administration is rewarding
incompetent managers with more city contracts and taxpayer money.
In the Rocky story of Sept. 27, "City contract could go to former clerk/Vaden
called 'a logical person' to finish work," former Denver clerk and recorder Wayne Vaden, who was forced to
resign following the disastrously managed election of November 2006, has already
collected more than $57,000 in $150-an-hour consulting fees from the city,
including billing $150 for a single e-mail.
Was the subject of the consulting contract "How to Mismanage an Election,
Embarrass Denver and Jeopardize Citizens' Ability to Vote, All While Costing
Taxpayers a Fortune"? Maybe so, since Vaden is about to be awarded yet another
sweetheart contract by Hickenlooper.
It is the responsibility of Denver auditor Dennis Gallagher and the City Council
to audit the Vaden contracts and be more responsible as to the performance
record of those obtaining contracts from this administration. What other
contracts of this sort are we not aware of? How else is city money being
misappropriated?
Michael Burke, Denver
What a sorry bunch of politicians
Having spent 71 years on this planet and coming from a politically oriented
family, I would just like to express my disgust with today's politicians.
Congress as a whole is nothing but a bunch of self-serving slobs whose only goal
in life is to get re-elected. They care little of what their constituents think
and answer e-mails with form letters that are automatically generated. Should
you write to them about an unpopular subject, they rarely respond. If you call
one of their offices, you get some kid who knows little or nothing and gives you
lip service.
I have never seen a sorrier bunch than what we have in Congress today. Most of
our state representatives are not much better; they are looking to move up into
national politics.
I do not know what it will take to change this but I have decided I will not
vote for incumbents regardless of what side of the aisle they represent.
It is a sad time in this country's history and I hope - for my grandkids' sakes
- it will change. I know it will not be any different for me, but people better
start realizing that we are in a crisis. There is zero bipartisanship and it is the us-against-them mentality.
Ed Saltzman, Grand Lake
Dems should take new look at fiscal votes
The recent Rocky article, "Union of Taxpayers flunks state Dems," reported that
the state's Democrat-controlled legislature and governor earned a grade of F
from the taxpayer group for their voting records in the first legislative
session since taking control in the last election. The governor and each
legislator's vote by bill is published in the group's report. Republicans rated
higher overall in voting against tax and fiscal bills unfriendly to taxpayers.
However, it appears the Democrats have gone giddy over their new power and are
getting accustomed to disregarding the people who pay the state's bills - the
taxpayers! They complain that "We could have stood on our heads, danced and
sang, been very entertaining and still gotten F ratings."
The taxpayers are not looking for entertainment from our representatives. Better
that they examine their own voting records carefully, thoughtfully consider what they are doing to Colorado taxpayers, and then change their voting
to be more in favor of the taxpayers. Maybe then they will get a better score!
Joseph Chavez, Westminster
Unworthy comment
I didn't really care if Rocky Mountain Collegian editor David McSwane comes or
goes ("CSU newspaper editor keeps job," Oct. 5). What I hope is that he fails
his journalism class. Whether his target was President Bush, Sen. Harry Reid or
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejiad, the editorial was unworthy to appear on
any editorial page.
If this loser wants to put this on a bumper sticker, fine - but please leave the
editorial pages for intelligent discourse.
Ron Knowles, Aurora
Mike, never shy about informing listeners of his attributes, tells us that he has really boned up on Global Warming and he’s concluded that its all a grand hoax ginned up by scheming lib scientists. Seriously, Rosen talks the talk about climate change and if one was not aware just how politically bent this fellow is, he comes out as very authentic. I say this because global warming has become a left, right debate and no one in the Rocky Mountain political environment champions conservative beliefs better than our weather vane Rosen.
Mike could out word me about climate changes, but I do think something is up (no pun intended), with the weather. I listen to both sides but both sides have their experts and after a while, I’m so fed up I turn the channel to an animal show but, lo and behold, it will show a polar bear running out of ice and seals.
So, what I plan on doing is keep watching and listening (sans Rosen), keep myself and property enviornmentally safe and watch it all play out, hopefully, not thru a brown cloud.
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More recreation research needed by writer
In his letter, Mr. Stretchberry states: “An indoor pool with kiddie areas as well as adult areas would be great. I don’t know of any Denver center with this. “ La Familia Recreation Center has a kiddie pool and an adult pool and is an indoor pool.
Mr. Stretchberry needs to do more research. Also, twice he praises the South Suburban Parks and Recreation (SSPR) system. If he is so enameled by the SSPR, then maybe he should move to that area.
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Al Gore & Nobel Peace Prize
It is ironic that this award is already reviving the “Gore for president” campaign. Al Gore never left politics. His environmental work has sparked debate that could lead to positive change unlike anything he could ever have accomplished working in the bureaucracy of the US government. And after all, politics is mostly about controlling the debate.
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Just lower the tax rates
So when the tax man tells us he needs more money to keep our cash-starved schools afloat we can just tell him, “Not a problem, just lower my tax rates.”
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War in Iraq
They should have thought about that before Bush attacked Iraq. Now it’s too late. To make matters worse, we attacked Iraq without a legitimate purpose.
We should not have lost one life or even one leg in that area.
Those same people should have realized that the middle east has been at war since day one of people on this earth. Real live terrorists are born there each and every day in Iraq and surrounding places. What makes those same people think the middle east will quit raising hell now. Our shamefull attack on Iraq just livened it up in that area. It was like pouring acid in a wound. And unfortunately and correctly, we are now called war mongers by the rest of the world.
Those hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who have had to leave Iraq won’t forget us. Those tens of thousands of Iraqis who are suffering the loss of a loved one or a wounded relative because of Bush’s hatred of one man won’t forget us. Therefore, we need to bring our soldiers back to watch our borders, to keep them who would in return do us harm, from coming in. So yes, we need to “cut and run” as far away as possible from that forbidden pit. Apparently, God has. We have lost too many lives and legs for nothing.
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Greenhouse gases
Prominent Australian climate scientist, Tim Flannery, has seen the raw data going into the upcoming Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report soon to be released. Reuters quotes Flannery: /"We thought we’d be at that threshold within about a decade.... We thought we had that much time. But the new data indicates that in about mid-2005 we crossed that threshold.... What the report establishes is that the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere is already above the threshold that could potentially cause dangerous climate change."/ So I ask, “why didn’t this make the front page?”
We need to make a united effort to reduce carbon emissions as quickly as possible. This means SAYING NO to the Comanche III coal plant Xcel Energy is building in Pueblo to meet a demand for electricity that ISN’T THERE. This means SAYING NO to ANY new coal plant, anywhere. This means SAYING NO to marketing ploys by Detroit to purchase inefficient vehicles. This means DEMANDING that our Federal Government to step up to the plate.
We need to SAY YES to all forms of renewable energy, plug-in hybrids, buying local, energy efficiency, etc. Need I say more? The Arctic sea ice reached it’s lowest point, ever, this year. What kind of a wake call do you need, people? The temperature of the planet is rising at a rate never seen before. Leslie Glustrom, of Clean Energy Action, makes the point that if we saw the temperature gauge on our vehicle rising this rapidly, we would stop immediately and fix it. So let’s do everything we can to save our planet. It is the only planet we have! There are no lifeboats. We can continue looking the other way by being immersed in our trivial but busy lives, or we can pay attention and do what is right. If we don’t, we will face the inevitable consequence - extinction. Earth will live on - mankind will not.
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Vote no on A through I
Just like the hippies put women & kids up front in confrontations with the police in demonstrations in the 60’s, Mayor J-Hic forms , staffs, and then marches behind “citizen committees” which stifle any organized opposition from forming.
Preschool kids, the arts, Denver teachers, a new jail, have all been subject to J-Hic’s “women & children up front” campaigning. Is Denver better? No.
How well has J-Hic’s “citizen committee” worked with the homeless problem in Denver? Take a walk through civic center park and decide for yourself.
$1 million has been amassed from those who will get the $550 million from what has been called by one concerned leader, “an alphabet soup grab for cash.” The million dollars is being called “a good investment.” This is an end-run around representative democracy. It is Enron-style politics.
Wake up Denver! Stop the insanity! Just vote no on A thru I.
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Hillary Clinton
Can you imagine Pat Nixon running for president after Watergate?! Republicans have had to use due process, such as impeachment in Bubba’s case, because the media protected him as their own, while Democrats use the media to lynch opponents without a trial.
Watergate actually was the second time Democrats stole the election from Nixon and the American people. The first time was when dead voters in Chicago helped to elect JFK over Nixon in 1960.
And aren’t Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Hussein Obama from Chicago, too? Mmmm?!
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Stop raising taxes
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New grading system is an outrage
2.You are not expected to try. An example would be in math if we get something wrong on the homework but correct it we get an A.
3.Colleges are not going to know who to accept because they don’t know what you are actually getting. There is a big difference between a C and an A- but if you get either one of those you get a proficient.
Editor, as you can see this new grading system is a disaster so please publish my article.
A “proficient” student
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Why so inconsistent, Mr. Rosen?
Mike Rosen’s column of Oct. 5, “The dollars and sense of war,” raises an interesting question but does not answer it. He points out that the burden of the Iraq war is fairly light, and should remain so. (He rejects calls for a draft and new taxes.) But in an earlier column (“Terrorism nonsense? Not so,” July 20), he said, “I believe our national survival is at stake.”
The question is, why isn’t Rosen in favor of a World War II-level of sacrifice on the part of the public? Why isn’t he calling for conscription, ration books, price controls, gigantic new defense programs — a true national commitment to defeat this mortal enemy? He says he opposes conscription “nless this Islamofascist war against the civilized world mushrooms.” Well, if our national survival is at stake, hasn’t it already mushroomed?
Why the inconsistency?
I suspect Rosen, like most of the pro-war “conservatives,” vastly overstates the threat because he wants a continuation of the current policy of an active and growing military empire around the world; but he realizes that if the public was ever confronted with the kinds of sacrifices that a war for national survival would entail, many would begin to question the extent of the threat, and come to realize that our national survival is not in the least at stake, and that the entire neo-con imperial program is a giant scam.
Paul Menger, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (54) | TrackBackTax-hike request just too great for many
Recently I researched information on ballot issues 1A and can only ask Mayor John Hickenlooper and those who support them, “Are you living on a different planet?”
If all these ballots passed at one time, the rest of the nation can look at Denver and think of us as really rich or really stupid.
Asking the citizens of Denver for a tax increase of nearly $550 million is outrageous. The majority of the citizens will be paying the bill and a small minority of communities will profit.
There are many new people who have moved into Denver but have also moved out after a short period of time because of foreclosures and other economic problems.
Those of us who have been paying taxes for 40 or more years will be paying for these bonds for 20 years. Do the math — it will not be a $63 a year tax increase. Even $63 is too much for people on low or fixed incomes. People struggle enough to make their house payments without their property taxes going up every time a new administration takes over the city.
I definitely say “No!” to some of the waste that is being proposed. Before Denverites vote, read each ballot issue very carefully. Remember it is not just on issue called 1A, it is nine different issues: 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E, 1F, 1G, 1H, 1I.
Josephine Zamora, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBackMexican-American resents footing the bill
I am a person of Hispanic descent and I have to tell you that it makes me angry that the other persons of Hispanic descent are expecting us as taxpayers to foot the bill for the education of their children in a bilingual school.
That doubles the expense of educating children. Why is it up to us to interpret the English language for these folks? If the parents of the children would educate themselves prior to coming to our country, perhaps it wouldn’t be as expensive for the schools and maybe then more schools could remain open.
It’s wrong for immigrants who come to this country to expect us to foot the bill for their every need! So let’s not blame the school district for the problems; how about we look in the mirror!
We can’t allow this abuse of our good graces and our programs that were designed for the American people to continue.
I am Mexican myself, however my family came here legally and assimilated to the American way of life including speaking the language of the land — English. If immigrants really want to contribute to America, that would be a good place to start!
Anthony Garcia, Castle Rock
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (20) | TrackBackVoice of reason about CSAP tests welcome
I’d like to thank Sheridan Middle School teacher Amanda Stevens for her voice of reason concerning CSAP tests (“Testing tune-up,” Oct. 6).
For too long, our legislators have striven to find a simple answer for the complex problems facing public education. Schools that consistently make a difference for students are chastised because they do not meet every benchmark set up by our public officials. As a longtime educator in the Jefferson County Public Schools, I have seen highly trained teachers and aspiring students face continuing discouragement because of the current standards for reporting and comparing student achievement.
I have long stated that the content of the CSAP test is excellent but the reporting methods are seriously flawed. Many thanks to Stevens for her rational and reasonable recommendations. Our education system needs to recognize the many dedicated and talented professionals like her.
Earline Bohling, Arvada
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBackQuestions could mean our survival
About the Rocky’s editorial of Oct. 7, “The persistence of an outlawed policy”: Am I to believe that if we are holding a terrorist whom we think has knowledge of a planned nuclear attack on an American city but we do not know where or when, and the detainee refuses to talk, there can be no recourse?
What folly! Maybe the publishers of The New York Times and the Rocky Mountain News are ready to surrender to the jihadists, but I’m not.
Percy Conarroe, Longmont
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (39) | TrackBackPublic servants could use higher pay
I’m glad the Rockies are winning, but I got to thinking, wouldn’t it be nice if, say, teachers, policemen and women, nurses, or even judges got paid the Major League Baseball minimum salary of $380,000 a year? Imagine, compensating people for what they do for the community beside giving us warm fuzzies.
Dan Eberhart, Denver
The Iraqi government is currently demanding an end to Blackwater’s presence in their country. The Iraqi investigation into the incident which happened last month has concluded the Blackwater forces were unprovoked. Blackwater security forces killed seventeen innocent civilians. Blackwater has also been involved in other questionable actions over the past four years. The Iraqi’s are demanding monetary compensation from Blackawater and that the personnel involved be tried in Iraqi courts.
Bush went out of his way as the U.S. invasion of Iraq began to establish “laws” that made U.S. troops and the army of private contractors planned to siphon off tax dollars in the corrupt rebuilding process “immune” for any crimes they may commit. The Iraqi government says the Blackwater license expired a year ago and any claims to immunity due to their security force status are no longer valid.
For months Bush and congress have claimed the Iraqi’s are a sovereign. government and the reason U.S. forces remain in Iraq is to provide security so the Iraqi government can operate. Now Bush says there will be no decision made on the Blackwater incident until after a U.S. investigation is complete. This impasse once again begs the question of who is really in charge in Iraq and what Bush’s true motives in Iraq are.
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Kohl Elementary cancelling Halloween parties
I was saddened to read in the Rocky Mountain News on October 3rd that Kohl Elementary in Broomfield has canceled their Halloween Party and will substitute a “fall party” instead on October 5th. This apparent minor, local event is in actuality symbolic of the loss of our cultural heritage.
As a kid back in Uni Hill Elementary in Boulder the annual Halloween party was a highlight of the year. We kids would proudly wear our costumes. The teachers would take us out on the playground for a parade. Parents would be there taking photographs. (Somewhere, in a box, are my father’s old home movies of these events.) I do not know why Kohl Elementary decided to cancel the Halloween party, but from the short article it would appear that some parents or teachers objected, possibly on religious grounds. The school was apparently concerned how to celebrate “without leaving out anyone.”
We see here the ugly underbelly of “diversity” and “political correctness.” We were told that “diversity” would lead to tolerance and understanding.
Instead, we have increasing intolerance and selfishness. Society is breaking into special interest groups, each with their agenda, each demanding that their values and wishes be accommodated. Then, in the name of political correctness, in order to be “inclusive” and not to “offend” anyone, we are given — milk toast! A fall party on October 5th.
Thus it is, like a rock slowly dissolving in a stream, molecule by molecule, our culture vanishes.
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Paul Krugman
Mr. Krugman claims talk show host Rush Limbaugh said that members of the military who oppose the Iraq war are “phony soldiers.” Mr Krugman’s claim is, of course, a complete fabrication. What Mr. Limbaugh really said was that there are many people claiming to be soldiers who really aren’t. He cited a recent case of a “phony soldier” who claimed to have seen our troops torture people in Iraq. Problem was this “soldier” had never been in Iraq, having been kicked out of boot camp. Mr. Krugman’s complete lack of investigation to find out the facts certainly qualifies him as a “phony journalist.”
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Broncos
Seems to me I remember that the tax payers had to spend millions for a new stadium so that the Denver Broncos could compete. Nuff said!
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SCHIP
Many people have chastised the President for vetoing the huge increase in the program that provides Health Insurance for “poor” children. Originally the program was created by the Republican Congress to address the needs of those families who simply could not afford health insurance for their children.
Now congress is wanting to make this program available to people who have incomes as high as $80,000. Those who criticize the President should take a careful look at the Federal Budget. If they did they would find that nearly two-thirds of the current budget is for assistance programs (Social Security, Medicare, and other assistance programs). They would also find that when the boomer generation peaks in its use of Social Security, the amount needed to fund just this one program will equal nearly 20% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product). The entire Federal budget has over the years been at or below this percentage of the GDP. So, ask yourself, if politicians continue to add “assistance” programs to a budget that is already soaking up two-thirds of the budget, who is going to pay for all of these new programs let alone the ones we already have? How will all of the other items in the Federal budget going to be funded in the future?
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Delivery of the Rocky Mountain News
Regarding the delivery service of our paper. Many years we have subscribed to the Rocky Mountain News and been very satisfied. Since the two papers merged, ti seems there isn’t an able-bodied person willing to deliver it on time. We understand weather issues and occasional production issues. But it has been consistently late over the last 2 or 3 months. I am sure there are others that like to have their coffee and read their paper when they get up in the morning. If people can’t get ou
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An individual's right to life
Deroy Murdock ("Hilary, unmasked,” Oct. 9) brings to light the most important issue of our times – the issue of an individual’s right to life.
He didn’t touch on it directly, but nonetheless what he wrote points dramatically to it. He quotes Hilary Clinton as having said “We must stop thinking of the individual and start thinking about what is best for society.”
History has shown, (e.g. the terror of communism,) that when society or a culture sacrifices the individual, the person, for the sake of the whole, the individual and society both suffer horribly. Hilary is not alone in this attitude; politicians and people of every stripe have espoused this outlook.
This past Sunday afternoon I stood for an hour at the intersection of !4thand Broadway here in Denver with 75 people holding signs that read “Abortion is Murder.” A husband and father of a young family, also witnessing to the right to life, and seeing and hearing the violent reactions of many passers-by to this message, shared with me his wonder at how our society could have such a big blind spot; that is, how is it so many of us cannot see that what lives in a mother’s womb is a person, an individual?
If we hope to survive as a nation and as a world, we must begin respecting and upholding the right to life, especially for the most innocent and defenseless among us – i.e. for the unborn individual person. Life and death, by definition, always have individual and personal impact.
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Vote no on any new war funding bills
For once, our “do-nothing” Democrat congress is equipped to do the right thing – nothing! Please, no more meaningless resolutions or “support the troops” bumper stickers. If Democrats lack the votes to pass legislation ordering troops home, then sit back, tighten your belts, and flip the switch to cut off the money. Simply vote “no” on any new war funding bills. There’s enough in the pipeline to safely evacuate American troops from Iraq in a phased timeframe. Better yet, leverage the standing committees Democrats control, and kill the funding bills before they ever reach the floor, effectively eliminating the concern of a filibuster.
Although withdrawal doesn’t solve the problems of Iraq and the region by itself, continued occupation only stokes the fires of conflict & resentment. In truth, no government in the region, Shi’ite or Sunni, desires a chaotic breakup of Iraq. The groups in power would be more willing to contain and fight al-Qaeda and Islamic jihadism, if it wasn’t viewed as knuckling under to the United States. U.S. departure would help lift those restraints.
Pulling out of Iraq will also ensure that we don’t get sucked into a regional conflict. Whether it’s for more oil or to hasten the coming Armageddon he believes in, Bush is itching for an excuse to attack Iran.
It’s time to say goodbye and good luck to the Iraqis – before it’s too late. Only a George W. Bush is capable of making the same colossal mistake of invading the wrong country twice.
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The vanishing Spanish American
Antonio Gomez
For over 400 years the Spanish American, Who was the first immigrant to set foot on what was to become the United States of America, has struggled to get to where we are today and it has taken the mexican illegals just a few years to destroy our Nationality, our Heritage and our Language. We the Spanish Americans are the real hispanics in America. Yet today the Federal and State Government, the news media the legal system and the catholic church call the mexican illegals—-Hispanics. Every time a mexican illegal breaks the law and is arrested, the legal system and the news media reports that he’s a hispanic from Denver and speaks only spanish. When in fact, he’s a mexican illegal that can’t speak spanish or english. That allows the mexican illegal to hide behind the spanish american which serves to demoralize and discriminate against the spanish american. The mexican illegals are not hispanic, they are latinos who come from a latin country or by law they are simply mexican illegals that speak only mexican. They do not speak spanish. Spanish and mexican is as different as summer is from winter. The Spanish American is born AMERICAN and speaks “ENGLISH ONLY", It’s the AMERICAN WAY. Polly Baca, Executive Director of Denver based Latin American Research and Service Agency, Janet Murguia Executive Director of La Raza Unida and the Mexican Illegals are the biggest threat to the Spanish American in this country. Polly Baca says that Colorado should focus on providing health services and education to all residents, regardless of language or citizenship status. So where has Polly Baca been, the mexican illegal is getting the best health care and education that money can buy, putting a strain on health care and other public services. The American Citizen should be that fortunate. Polly Baca claims that immigrants are a major part of our future and current labor force, but she doesn’t mention the three million americans that are out of work due to her favorite and protected mexican illegal.
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Endorsement for Frank Deserino
A fellow teacher of mine at South High School, Frank Deserino, is one of three candidates on the ballot from District #1 in next month’s Denver School Board election. I support Frank’s candidacy and I urge Rocky readers to do likewise.
The election takes place at a trying time in the history of Colorado’s oldest school district. The recent announcement of the closing of eight schools, the redesign of five others, the distinct possibility of additional closures, the intense scrutiny given the district’s high drop-out rate, mediocre CSAP scores, the closing of Manual High School, and the continuing saga of North High School, has kept the district in the news for months.
Having Deserino’s pragmatic, articulate, and logical voice on the board will be a welcome change to DPS leadership. Given the district’s numerous difficulties it makes sense that a dedicated teacher should serve on the volunteer board.
The fact that the DCTA, the teacher’s union, has chosen to support local social worker Larry Botnick over both Deserino and incumbent Bruce Hoyt should serve as a powerful motivator to vote for Deserino. Frank is a member of the union but it won’t support him because he recognizes that improving DPS might come at the expense of closing schools; a development anathema to the union.
Like the union, the school district itself is finding its credibility with the community to be strained. In recent years parents, teachers and students have been voting with their feet and leaving DPS with increasing numbers. Having Deserino on the board will go a long way toward rebuilding confidence in this vital institution. School board election rhetoric from almost every candidate (visit their websites) speaks of promoting the collaboration of parents, students, administration, and teachers. Frank Deserino is the teacher running for the Denver School Board. Clearly he is not beholden to the union, he’ll act, speak, and cast his vote in the best interest of the students.
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I am sickened and outraged over the sentencing returned by Judge Morris Ben Hoffman in the Lawrence Trujillo case. Denver DA Mitch Morrissey rightfully asked for the maximum possible sentence of ninety years, but Hoffman gave Trujillo just over half that, meaning that he may be eligible for parole in as little as 33 years. How in the world did this judge calculate a worth of 16 years for each of the lives lost?
Frank Bingham suffered the most unimaginable tragedy that November evening, a tragedy compounded by the fact that not only did Trujillo and Snell leave the scene of a fatal accident, but actually continued drinking while they conspired to conceal their crimes. Perhaps if Trujillo and Snell had stopped, offered assistance, and subsequently surrendered to police they might deserve some leniency, but they did nothing of the kind, instead hoping to get away with what they had done. This case could not possibly be more heinous and I am certain that any sane person would agree that Trujillo and Snell deserved much more severe punishments than they received.
I wish to know how Judge Hoffman can face himself in the mirror knowing that Lawrence Trujillo could be out of prison in 33 years, while Frank Bingham is left with absolutely nothing. If Judge Hoffman’s entire family vanished in a second, would he think this punishment appropriate?
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SCHIP program
It is all over the news. How when you neglect your children you lose custody. How when you don’t keep them safe they are taken away. How when you don’t provide for their health and welfare you lose your right to control their lives. Too bad the media spent so much time on Britney Spears and didn’t deal with the real ‘parent’ who should lose ‘custody’ of his ‘children.’ George W. Bush has vetoed the SCHIP program, denying medical care to millions of children. He sends our young men and women to fight in a war based upon lies of his Administration where more die and are maimed every day. He has let the children of New Orleans languish in the devastation that was Katrina. It is time Congress steps in and removes George W. Bush’s ‘parental rights’ to the children and people of the United States.
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Iranian President’s visit
As a patriotic Christian American I want to thank Mr. Ahmadinijad for coming to our country and presenting his opinion.
No two peoples ever share exactly the same viewpoints. We still conduct diplomacy.
We must debate.
I don’t agree with everything that he said.
Israel destroyed Palestine and does not recognize their borders (that will trigger AIPAC’s vigilant monitoring’s eloquent response along with an insult).
Debate that!
He came from so far away to speak, and I appreciate the real effort that he made to explain himself and avoid WW3 or Armageddon.
Having a diplomatic dialog with our two great countries means so much more in the big picture. Our peoples share so much as fellow earthlings: radioactivity in the jetstream!
Our current politicians fan these flames of hatred. To encourage them is to want to hate, and contaminate the planet.
It is unchristian, undiplomatic and unenvironmental.
The mendacious colonizing Neocon war profiteers that control our government now want to wag the dog and nuke Iran.
It is a detriment to our species as a whole.
That policy is devastating to our environment; their solution to global warming is nuclear winter!
Mr. Ahmadinajad keeps trying to talk to us. Encourage words.
Freedom means diversity of opinion and we can’t turn off a war.
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Paul Campos
Opinion columnist Paul Campos has indeed written a noble lie: he lies by omission to make himself appear noble. What exactly were the subjects of the propositions, veiwpoints and discussions to which he refers? In what way are they black, white or gray? Excluding any actual content from this column leaves only an empty piece of self-puffery unworthy of publication.
(This column is syndicated in my local paper, the MetroWest Daily News.)
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Afraid of government
I am afraid. I am afraid of my own government for so many reasons these days. But one big reason I am afraid of my government is that the NSA can now legally spy on ANY American’s phone-calls or emails — without a warrant, without probable cause, without any real reason what-so-ever — all because of the mis-named “Protect America Act” — which many Democrats, including Senator Salazar — helped pass into law back in August.
Well, at least the Protect America Act was suppose to be only temporary.
But now I have heard that many Democrats (DEMOCRATS?) are putting forth a bill to extend the Act several YEARS into the future, if not forever.
Why are Democrats giving in to Bush YET AGAIN? Why are they AGAIN acting against their principles and against the principles that made America great? Because, I have heard, they are afraid they will look “weak on terror".
Let me tell you something. The Democrats ARE weak, but not on terrorism.
They are weak against Republicans! They are weak on the issue of the Bush Administration’s onslaught against American and constitutional values.
And let me tell you something else. NO MATTER WHAT the Democrats do to appease Bush, the Republicans will STILL call them “weak on terror.” The sooner the Democrats learn this, the better.
Yes, I am ashamed to be an American these days, given how our country has given up almost all of its charished ideals. And I am even more ashamed to be a Democrat.
Please, please, do what you can personally do to help reign in the Orwellian powers that many in Congress helped the Bush Administration obtain. Please, call and email your Representative and Senators to tell them to vote against any extension of the government’s powers to spy on us all without any proper judicial oversight.
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Paul Krugman
Why give the print space for Paul Krugman of the New York Times? He’s a waste. He says misery is a joke to the GOP? Perhaps it looks that way to him, because the GOP puts the security of this nation first.
Something the Democrats have put on the back burner since John F.
If this country were to fall under a biological or chemical weapons attack, or if terrorists flooded out good ole Paulie’s NYC, there may not be a food stamp program to worry about. When there was looting of stores during the Hurricane Katrina disaster, he criticizes President Bush for stating there would be “zero tolerance for people breaking the law.” He points out the people were only trying to get food and water. Yeah Krugman, we all realize that. We also realize there were the punks and thugs who were just plain stealing what they could. As always, you so efficiently spin things to suit your agenda. You and the neo-libs are going to destroy this country from within.
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Man who shot cougar justified
Re: “Man won’t soon forget stare-down with cougar.” 10-10-07.
The article states: “The Colorado Division of Wildlife are reviewing the shoot. . . the agency is investigating what will happen to the person who shot the lion.” In other words, prosecute the person. The Division of Wildlife is quick to kill bears who have done no harm, and are also quick to condemn a person who was protecting life and property. The Division of Wildlife is out of control and needs to be reined in.
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War in Iraq
Anyone left in this country that actually believes that this illegal and unsupportable war in Iraq is meant to protect this country and the world must be as delusional and/or deceiving (deceived?) as those who’ve implemented it. I suppose that would be alright if it only affected their lives but when they try to impose their ignorance on the rest of us then they need to somehow be restrained.
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FasTracks
When we voters approved FasTracks, most of us were under the impression that the plan included a true transportation hub at Denver Union Station.
This would provide the services of Light Rail and regular trains as well as city and intercity buses -all adjacent to each other. Instead the “hub” has become secondary to a massive development of office and residential buildings adding to the “condo canyons” already in the area.
The developers are intent on packing everything into a relatively small part of a large, now mostly empty area of former railroad yards. To do this the planners have made some big mistakes including 1) putting the promised RTD commuter trains, along with Amtrak and others, into “trenches” which will be ugly and potentially dangerous. (The planners should see the Reno NV’s new rail “trench” for a bad example.) Equally bad, 2) the proposed Light Rail station location would be two and a half blocks further northwest from Union Station and downtown.
Thousand of commuters will have to walk or shuttle daily to Union Station and downtown. And 3) there is no track going south from Union Station.
There are other problems, for example,what would another South Platte Valley flood do to the “trenches."?
So who gains and who loses? Here’s the irony! The ambitious developers, with all their new properties, will make a lot of money. RTD riders and other travelers, for whom this was all originally planned, will walk further and be much more inconvenienced than necessary..
So far RTD and Denver’s Mayor (who has the most clout) have not been as responsive to these needs as they should be. If you are concerned, please call or write the Mayor’s Office at once.
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Circus tortures animals
The Circus is No Fun for Animals
Some animals are kept muzzled to subdue them and discourage them from defending themselves if they feel threatened. Others are drugged to make them manageable and some even have their teeth removed to prevent biting.
Because circus animals travel long distances on a grueling schedule in order to earn the most profit for their owners, these creatures are often confined for 20 hours or more a day in small cages. During that time, they cannot satisfy their natural needs and may not even see the light of day until they’re unloaded for a performance.
Many other countries and cities have seen the cruelty inherent in circuses that use animals. Denver should join them. There are other wonderful circuses, such as Cirque Du Soleil that do not involve the use of live animal acts. It’s amazing to watch trapeze artists, jugglers, clowns, tightrope walkers, and acrobats, but wild animals don’t belong in that kind of performance.
The circus is in town now. Before you pay them a visit, educate yourself about the torture these animals endure for the sake of our “entertainment.” For more information, check out http://www.circuses.com
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Kopel blames the victim for being killed
Rocky Mountain News media critic Dave Kopel’s column attacking Rachel Corrie was appalling (“Stories about slain ‘shield’ lacking,” On the Media, Oct. 6). In effect, Kopel blamed the victim for being killed by Israeli forces.
Kopel complained that The Denver Post failed to provide a context for Corrie’s death. He then did the same thing by omitting the fact that the Israeli destruction of homes is a violation of the Geneva Conventions. Kopel also managed to ignore the 40-year Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands.
Kopel tried to spin the International Solidarity Movement’s nonviolent efforts to protect ordinary Palestinians from Israeli violence. His major point was that ISM talked with people using violence in their resistance to Israeli occupation. If talking with people who use violence is a problem, what does that say about those who talked with Israeli terrorists Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir who later became Israeli prime ministers?
Israeli historians such as Benny Morris and Ilan Pappe have documented some of Israel’s early use of massive violence in the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians during 1948-’49. Ellen Cantarow, a Jewish author, wrote in 2002 about Israeli crimes: “Those who exonerate or apologize for Israel as it commits them are guilty by association.”
Ron Forthofer, Longmont
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (34) | TrackBackPost like Al Jazeera
The one-sided approach Denver Post theater critic John Moore took in his article about the death of and subsequent play about Rachel Corrie (“Staging a protest,” Sept. 28) puts the Post on par with the BBC, Al Jazeera and other anti-Israel media that continue to obscure and ignore the facts in favor of propaganda.
It’s apparent that the truth was also a victim here, at the hands of a naive and gullible writer. Shame on the Post for allowing a theater critic to venture into waters in which he is not qualified to swim.
And thank you to Rocky Mountain News media critic Dave Kopel for providing readers with the true facts of this tragedy (“Stories about slain ‘shield’ lacking,” On the Media, Oct. 6).
Steve Feld, Englewood
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBackAnti-bond issues comments diluted
Did the city pay for the series the Rocky Mountain News ran about the upcoming Denver election — what Denver GOP chair Mary Smith has told reporters is “an alphabet-soup grab for cash”?
I spoke with a reporter several times and made it clear that the election should be seen as a referendum on Mayor John Hickenlooper’s poor performance and people should just vote “no” and that perhaps it was time to Kick Hick.
My comments were watered down dramatically (“A backlog of upkeep/Mayor says mill levy hike offers ongoing fix, but foe questions past maintenance efforts,” Sept. 29), and Smith’s comments were not reported at all!
What has happened to the idea that our newspapers are watchdogs on city government? Ever since the Rocky-Post joint operating agreement came into being, it has become just one dysfunctional family — the newspapers, Denver city government and the bonding companies, contractors and others who end up with the cash.
Denver voters who want to send a message should just vote no.
John Wren
House District 5
Republican chairman
Denver
Immigration article bias
Your bias is hanging out for all to see. Reporter Fernando Quintero’s article (“Little middle ground at immigration debate,” Sept. 28) is a blatant example of yellow journalism. This man is not a reporter, he is an advocate for La Raza, and his propaganda is transparent to any reader.
In his “report” on an immigration debate between former Gov. Richard Lamm and assistant economics professor Benjamin Powell, he devotes all of 83 words to Lamm’s position (against illegal immigration) and a full 181 words to Powell’s position (for illegal immigration). In previous articles on the recent Greeley meeting on the impact of criminal activity by illegal aliens upon locals, he used words like ominous to describe music and took pains to point out the size of attendees’ belt buckles and cowboy hats, as if that made them comical or less important as an audience.
I’m tired of this man’s ridicule of legitimate citizen concerns. If he cannot even try to be fair to issues, his tripe should appear on the opinion page.
Denise Luepschen, Lakewood
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (24) | TrackBack9News misses story
On a recent Thursday evening, the lead story on 9News was about a Denver Broncos player who was being investigated for marijuana use. Wake up, 9News — it’s baseball season!
You have a Colorado Rockies team that is on an amazing run, yet 9News chooses to run a lead story about the Broncos? Did the Broncos play on Thursday?
Everyone who follows the Rockies is disgusted with the media back east that do not give the Rockies enough credit for what the team has accomplished. I think it is hard to be critical of the media back east when our own media do not give the team enough credit.
Barry Jark, Arvada
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBackAs I read the Rocky Mountain News article in Wednesday, October 3rd’s paper, I felt so sorry for all the little kids that look forward to the tradition in the United States that has been going on for a very long time. That is, Halloween school parties. They include a classroom party and a parade their costumes. Once again, we seem to be giving in to the minority of people who don’t want to participate, or don’t like Halloween, or think it is a day of devil worshipping. Whatever. I have heard them all. I raised my children in Jefferson County Schools. We fought for Halloween school parties 20 years ago. And we won. The parents that did not want their kids to participate that day could keep their kids at home. And life and the pursuit of happiness went on for the rest of us. I am seriously disappointed in the principal Cindy Kaier. I am not surprised though. This issue has been around for a long time. I am writing this to defend Halloween. It is a fun day in which children get to dress up and be someone else. It is call imagination! And I thought that all parents and teachers want their kids to have imagination. We grow up all to soon.
And it does not take much to throw together hand me down clothes, or just add some make up on faces to create some imaginary person. It is sad to see a few people get away with taking our traditions of Halloween and Christmas. We can’t have Christmas party’s we have to have Winter party’s. Now we can’t have Halloween Party’s we have fall party’s.
Pretty soon there won’t be any traditions left in the United States. Next is Thanksgiving Day, Easter, the 4th of July. You know, not everyone who lives here celebrate those holiday’s either. Parents, stand up for your children. Halloween is a tradition in the United States. If you want your child to have a school Halloween Party, then let you voice be heard. There are many of you and few of them.
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Revealing all the facts when it comes to voting
This November the Denver Mayor and City Council will ask voters to approve 9 bond ballot measures that will raise property taxes. Mayor Hickenlooper has sited several reasons for the need to increase Denver property taxes.
Not mentioned: The costs of illegal immigrants to the City of Denver. Are the costs minor or major? Will the costs increase over the next few years? Is the City of Denver tracking the current and projected costs? What are the costs? Should Denver voters be informed of the costs, or will it prove to be too politically sensitive and create controversy? Will the facts and details undermine the Mayor’s efforts to raise taxes in order to pay the bills? Should the voters of Denver be asked to not inquire, to remain uninformed as to Denver budgetary fiscal facts and details, relative to illegal immigration costs? Many believe that the costs are quite significant and will continue to rise. Many believe that transparency in our governmental processes is a good thing.
Many feel that those not afraid of being transparent (i.e., parents, teachers, accountants, auditors, politicians) demonstrates honesty, integrity, strength of character, and courage. It facilitates trust and confidence. Many believe that the above questions are fiscally prudent, reasonable and fair. Opening the Denver budgetary fiscal facts and details to the Denver voters so that they will be informed voters in November is the right thing to do.
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Health care cost & concerns
Letter to the editors...
Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a vision he called the “Second Bill of Rights.” One of the rights in his plan was the right to health care.
Recently, our elected officials passed a bill that would have provided for health care to poor children.
George Bush has vetoed this bill. One of his reasons is that he does not want government in the health care business. I believe George Bush’s veto is not only a mistake, but against the wishes of the majority of Americans.
Medicare, a government run health care program has administrative costs of about 3%. Private for profit health care businesses have an overhead cost of 20 to 30% - and often includes annual compensation of top executives in the millions and in one case billions of dollars. I do not want my health care decisions to be made with a profit motive influencing coverage decisions.
Some say the “free market” will control costs. The free market is good for some things; if I want a toaster and get to choose between a $10 and a $50 toaster based on features offered - that is not a life affecting decision.
How will I decide between a $100 procedure and a $500 procedure for my sick child? Will I ask my wife to call at least 3 ambulance companies to get the best price should I ever need a quick ride to the hospital?
I want the best standard of care for my family and myself. I want the same for you and your family, and the single mother, and her children, down the street, and the homeless man on the corner. If readers feel the same, join me in writing letters.
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Pass & enforce laws against illegals
Recently Arizona has reported that over 100 illegals a day (estimated) are leaving Arizona due to strict laws penalizing the employers that hire any illegals.
This shows that illegal immigration can be dealt with withing the confines of the law. If fines and prosecution is levied against the employers and companies that hire illegals, there will be a reduction in the number of illegals in that area. Of course a draw back is that the illegals then enter “santuary” cities like those in Colorado, i.e. Golden, Denver et al. Colorado and the rest of the country need to follow suit and increase fines and even hand out jail time to these employers for hiring illegals. Doing so would free up jobs for not only LEGAL immigrants, but also American citizens themselves. Question is, are the American people strong wnough to put these laws into effect and are the elected officials able to take their oaths of office seriously enough to enact such laws? I hope that the answer is YES.
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Global & national problems
An ultimate solution Recent media reports indicate a multitude of global and national problems plaguing humanity: climate change and the environment, energy resources, military recruitment, and of course, Bush’s war on Iraq. Is there a common solution?
US failure to lead on climate change is entrenched in failed domestic energy and foreign policy - the old way of thinking. Protecting the profits of fossil energy companies with our military is external to energy prices, so we don’t conserve. The lack of energy innovation fails to provide progress against climate change while unfathomable impacts loom, perhaps in our lifetimes. And, the absence of sacrifice has put the cost of Bush’s war squarely on future generations.
Innovation in the transportation energy sector is a good place to start. Perhaps the only thing that would make gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs more popular would be to make them more efficient, but Detroit doesn’t get it. So, Congress should, as an alternative to significantly improved CAFÉ standards without loopholes, enact legislation that would provide for mandatory military service as an external cost of buying any gas-guzzler.
The military would have a substantial new recruiting tool, demand for gas-guzzlers would decline, decreasing demand on energy sources we really don’t control, thereby reducing demands on military resources and our “carbon footprint.” It would be the next best thing to fuel rationing, a carbon tax, or a mandatory “cap and trade” program for greenhouse gas emissions. If Congress can’t pass realistic solutions, perhaps they should propose alternates.
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All we need is love
Anything that lurks against us can be dissolved with love. That’s the challenge. To an astrologer 9-11-01 was synonymous with the dropping of a veil that clouded our vision for 248 years. In removing the veil we have received a tremendous gift in the dark genius of the Bush Administration.
The utter transparency of the subterfuge and depth of media collusion illuminates the ease and effectiveness of manufacturing fear. This is the ripe manure that our evolution will flower in because of our conscious awareness of it. The exploitation awakens in us the wisdom that fuels our metamorphosis. It shouts about how vital awareness, fearlessness and good information are in creating a sane society. It cultivates the understanding that security is only found within trust and that trust is only found within goodwill. Injustice can’t help but seek justice. Ending terrorism is the easiest thing in the world. The solution is self evident. Provide the same justice you enjoy. Balance originates in parity. The choice between conscious evolution and unconscious devolution stands before us naked. How do we envision the future; how will we live our lives? I suppose we have no choice but to evolve, as we have for millennia, into the next level of understanding and grace. But I feel we are best off by striving fearlessly, living a life true to the unified spirit, awake and aware that we have someplace to go.
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The death of Chandler Grafner
I have been heartened to read of the outpouring of concern for what happened to little Chandler Grafner and the willingness of so many to see that this child has a proper marker.
Though I am in Florida and we have had our fair share of heinous crimes against children, I have been deeply touched by Chandler’s seeming joy of life and his lion’s heart. He loved his little brother and tried to protect him. I wish he could know how he is missed.
I hope Chandler and Dominicks mother takes this as a wake up call and cleans up her life. She brought them into the world and then did not take care and protect them. Her other problems were more important and consuming.
I will continue to follow this case. I hope the murderers are not allowed to plea out and not be made to pay for taking Chandlers life from him. The lawyers will say they deserve a fair trial and I agree but, trying to absolve them of blame is ludicrous and shameful.
The CPS audit was a joke and they should have been ashamed to even publish such a document. They failed him, all the way through. He never really had a chance from the time he was conceived but, CPS considered him a throw-away-child, in my estimation and, I think there should be more consequences in CPS for those miscues and failures than there has been.
I hope there will be an update on Chandler’s little brother and how he is doing, if there has been a fund set up for him and if Chandler has a marker for his gravesite.
Thank you for allowing me to speak. Chandler will not be forgotten.
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Political system supposed to be by & for the people
What is wrong with our politicians and especially our president? How can anyone veto a children’s heath insurance plan that was widely accepted by so many from both red and blue states? Isn’t the President of this great country supposed to represent the will of the people, all of the people? Why does the President think this is his country and that his will is paramount to the will of the people he was elected to represent? It is OUR country and our elected politicians are elected to represent us and what we collectively want, not what the politicians want! How can anyone veto such a bill while also spending so much money in Iraq with at best questionable intent and results? Why do we as a people allow our politicians to continuously embarrass us with their self serving partisan politics? It isn’t a red problem or a blue problem, and if you think so you are allowing your chosen political party to bias you. Both political parties do it and they do it without regard to we the people. I am not affiliated with either political party but I believe strongly in what our political system is supposed to be, for the people, by the people and of the people. Today’s political landscape is for the party, by the party and of the party.
What we need is term limitation. This would help focus the attention of our chosen political representatives to doing the best they can for the duration of their elected term and get their attentions away from trying to get re-elected and playing the party games.
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Denver should have kept up with maintenance
Denver wants to spend $94 million dollars to upgrade the Denver area. Cleaning up very badly needed areas such as civic center, office building with graffiti.
If I let my property go, I get a ticket and told to clean up my self with my own money. I say that the Denver people in charge of cleaning up Denver should do it on their own without my money involved. They should have never let it get this bad.
Why, because of the DNC coming to town. Got to have a nice place to look at while the big shots are here. People of Denver, give the city their ticket and tell them to spend their own money. NO MORE TAXES.
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Boulder students protesting the Pledge
The love of the U.S.A and its Constitution is apparently alive and well at Boulder High .
“Misguided, over-sensitive and goofy” were three adjectives Dan Caplis used to describe Ms. Martens, a leader in the protest at Boulder High.
Now , I’m no lawyer, but the same three adjectives could easily be used to describe the beliefs of Mr. Caplis, who has claimed to be a pro-life Christian, yet he has for some time been a pompous, self centered cheerleader for the Iraq war that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of unquestionably viable American lives and possibly more than a million Iraqi lives. Many of them women and children.
Aside from the fact that as a lawyer, Mr Caplis should have a better than average understanding of our Constitution, he should also have a vocabulary sufficient to convey his thoughts without insulting either Ms. Martens or the intelligence of the listeners of his local radio program.
It seems that there are two possible scenarios here. First, his boss at Clearchannel has directed him to ridicule anything Boulder, and second, Mr.
Caplis has no compassion or empathy and is merely trying to divert attention from the fact that his elected Republican party members have failed in their sworn duties to protect and defend the Constitution of these United States of America.
I’m afraid that both may well be the case.
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Anti-Columbus Day bullies back in action
The Columbus Day flap, at least part of it, is over for another year.
The misguided miscreants who attempted to thwart the First Amendment will have
their day in court, where they may or may not be punished for their deeds.
Regardless, they will be hailed as heroes by their "community," whatever that
is.
With the same motives as any bully, Glenn Morris, Russell Means & Co. go after
the Italian-Americans who revere Columbus. They take on the little guy because
they think they can win, or at least look tough in the attempt.
Though George Washington was a slave owner many years after Columbus' time, the
reason this bunch isn't trying to change the name of our nation's capital is
simple: if they did, they'd have to fight somebody bigger and tougher than
Mickie Clayton and her paisanos, who, as we've noticed, aren't backing down from
the bullies.
Daniel Chun, Denver
View plane for all
I am on the Ballpark Neighborhood Association Board of Directors as well as an employee of McClain Finlon Advertising at 2340 Blake Street (11/2 blocks away
from beautiful Coors Field).
With the amount of media and public interest that the debate over a potential
high-rise near the ballpark has struck ("Bullied by the majority," On Point,
Oct. 16), I am in awe that developers are leading the charge against the public
views and demanding that the gorgeous view of the Rocky Mountains from Coors
Field be destroyed for the profit of a few special interests.
The view plane from Coors Field is there for all of us to enjoy. It wasn't
created for these or any other developers to take away.
Joleen Allis, Aurora
Too many people
Al Gore and the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change well deserve
the Nobel Peace Prize. Climate warming is a fact and human activity is a factor.
However, the studies don't talk about the real basic cause: overpopulation.
Doubling and redoubling the Earth's population can only lead to ultimate
disaster. Go to any Third World country and you see swarms of malnourished, uneducated, sickly children living in grinding,
hopeless poverty. We are getting hints of that in this country.
Frederick C. Sage, Boulder
A DIFFERING VIEW/Tough interrogation tactics essential to prevail in war
The Rocky Mountain News editorial board once again lambastes the Bush administration for what the Rocky calls “abusive questioning of enemy prisoners” (“The persistence of an outdated policy,” Oct. 7).
Never mind that America is at war. Never mind that gathering intelligence is vital to our national security interests. President Bush’s first priority is to defeat the brutal reign of terror inflicted upon American soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Yet the Rocky is more concerned about defending the terrorists than the men and women serving our nation in time of war. In short, interrogation of enemy prisoners is essential in tracking terrorists and their sinister plots to destroy our forces.
Nonetheless, the mainstream media will stop at nothing to undermine such efforts, even in time of war. The facts speak for themselves.
Brian Stuckey is a resident of Denver.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (55) | TrackBackI rarely agree with much of what Paul Krugman has to say, as I regard him as one of those angry economists who seeks political appointment more than the esteem of his peers. But, what he had to say today resonates with my conservative views. I see the fundamental problem of conservatives in general and Republicans in particular as we are so far behind the acknowledgement of social issues that we appear in denial. We all look like the middle-aged fat cat in a green suit who just doesn’t get it. That allows the liberal Democrat to hijack issues and start the debate. By the time we catch up they have framed the argument and even though their solutions are ill-conceived, we are a day late and dollar short. The Republican Party was a progressive party from the time of Lincoln and up until the Great Depression most black people were Republican. The denial and slow start at dealing with the situation caused Republicans to fall behind. A loss in 2008, which seems almost assured, may mean the end of the party. Sounds a lot like corporations who fall behind and never catch up. Are we a Ford, Chrysler, or GM; we’re certainly not an Infinity.
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Columbus Day parade
Saturday I attended the CDP. Those protesting this celebration of Italian Heritage outnumbered those watching the parade. However, their voices and actions more than belittled their cause. They cursed, flipped off the paraders and generally harassed those in attendance. By contrast the marchers thanked them for coming with a smile.
The hate and intolerance came from the protesting masses that demand to hold people of 500 years ago to the moral standards of today. They have been lied to by Russell Means and Glenn Morris and others of their ilk. So much so that those swayed by the lies of the hate mongers feel that they can stop the Italian’s and others from celebrating Italian heritage of which Columbus is but a part.
The ability of these protesters to continue these disruptions of peoples rights is encouraged by the news media who, like Means and Morris, AIM’s Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, thrive on misdeeds, calamities and wrong doings.
Also, by the milquetoast of a mayor that does not recognize citizens rights or a National Holiday, Columbus Day.
Like the marchers, who have a permit and a right to march unimpeded, the protesters have the right to protest un-impeding. Any exceptions should be met with swift justice and removed from disrupting further.
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Socialized medicine
A recent response to one of my letters attacking socialized medicine claimed I lack compassion. It is not compassion I lack, but a willingness to submit to tyranny.
The Oxford dictionary definition of compassion is ‘sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.’ Because a great many people fully deserve their suffering, whether to offer compassion to someone should be, like everything else, left to each individual to decide for himself. Compassion ‘offered’ at the point of a gun has nothing to do with true compassion, and everything to do with subjugation.
The Oxford dictionary definition of subjugation is ‘bringing under domination or control, ...’ Every program advocated by the socialized medicine crowd involves some form of telling people like doctors, nurses, hospital administrators and pharmaceutical executives what to do, telling ordinary people how they are to receive medical care, and stealing property from all of us to pay for it, i.e. bringing the medical profession under the domination and control of the state.
Most people believe tyranny can only come from a dictator, but tyranny can also come from your neighbor when he gangs up with enough others to vote you into subjugation. The Founders of this country understood this all too well. It is why they were so afraid of establishing a democracy, (contrary to what you’ve been told we do NOT live in a democracy), and were so determined to create a proper constitutional republic that was initially intended to guarantee each individual’s freedom (look what’s become of those intentions now after 200+ years).
In the spirit of those Founders I state most emphatically, “My life is my own, which means that I decide how I will provide for myself and my family, I decide how I will spend my money, I decide what kind of medical care I will pay for, and I decide who is worthy of my compassion.”
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Secularism
Secularism has become a religion for the Modern American Leftist (MAL). The principle of Church and State separation for the MAL is not based on “separate but equal” footing. The MAL practices an intolerant religion that requires the dominion of the secularism over all other beliefs.
The public schools have become the MAL’s church. Daily attendance is required all year round so the virtues and benefits of unfiltered secularism can be preached to the young. Posting the Ten Commandments or the valedictorian’s reference of God is considered a sacrilege in this holy place.
It was the Founder’s intent separate religion from politics because they saw that the connection corrupted both. But the Declaration of Independence makes clear that it was not their intention to supplant the authority of God with the authority of the state. The assertion that rights are “endowed by their Creator” is meant to temper the reach of the government.
Our failure to comprehend that lesson is degrading both our schools and our communities.
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Al Gore & the Nobel Prize
Used to love Oslo. Went there when I was stationed in England with the U.S.A.F. They seem to have gone senile in selecting a person like Gor
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Dave Kopel & Rachel Corrie
Steve Laudeman of Denver writes:
Dave Kopel, billed as a media critic, has cast his eye on the Post’s coverage of the Rachel Corrie story. In his article, Kopel makes a few subtle references that confirm his own biases. Who is keeping an eye on Dave Kopel?
Kopel attacks the ISM, of which Corrie was a member, for supporting violent resisitance to the Israeli Occupation. He fails to note that violent resistance to occupation is an internationally recognized right, even if the occupier is an ally of the United States. When political and diplomatic means to end the Occupation fail, as they have repeatedly over the last forty years, what other recourse is there? He implies that the ISM is complicit in terrorism by stating that they have provided human shields to “terrorists”, including the militants who took refuge in Bethlehem and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Again, military resistance to occupation is legitimate, and it is not terrorism. Kopel freely casts aspersions when referring to Palestinians. Yet he does not refer to the bulldozer operator who destroyed a doctor’s home and killed an innocent American as a terrorist. What’s the difference? Kopel tells us the bulldozer that killed Corrie was searching for explosives, yet does not cite his sources for this information. Could it have come from the Israeli military? Is there any possibility that the perpetrators of this crime might have not been completely truthful?
Kopel seems convinced that the Post did not cover the story adequately, and he presents convincing evidence that there is more here than meets the eye. So how about a thorough and nonbiased investigation? This is exactly what the Corries have been asking for. They have asked the State Department and the U.S. Congress to figure out what happened to their daughter. And they have been denied, because the politicians in Washington and the journalists in Denver are beholden to the pro-Israel lobby.
We will never really know what happened to Rachel Corrie.
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Smoking in apartments
Thanks for your Oct. 5 editorial, “Apartment is still a home.” You are correct that anti-smoking has taken on a tint of zealotry. It has taken on more than a mere tint; it has become full scale zealotry.
There is little doubt that smoking is injurious to the health of smokers, but much doubt as to whether second-hand smoke does any significant injury to non-smokers. Yet, questionable as it is, second-hand smoke is the excuse for legislation making smokers, in effect, second-class citizens. Business owners are forbidden to smoke, or to allow their patrons that privilege, in their own places of business. Smoking is prohibited in government buildings which are paid for in great part by hugely discriminatory taxes on tobacco products.
Intolerance and bigotry are ugly words, but do they not apply directly to the current attitudes and laws regarding smoking? Because anti-smokers are affronted by the odor of tobacco smoke is insufficient reason for draconic anti-smoking laws.
(Personally, I am offended by the odor of coffee. How about banning coffee drinking next?) Many are affronted by the sight of tattoos and body piercing.
Will these be the next targets of our intolerance and bigotry?
It is well to remember that intolerance and bigotry have resulted in untold millions times more deaths than has smoking.
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Columbus Day Parade
WHY?
Why do those of Italian decent celebrate Columbus Day? We all know that Columbus was born in Italy, however this is his only connection to the country. Columbus settled in Portugal at the age of twenty after a shipwreck. After many attempts to persuade Portugal’s king to fund his ventures to the West Indies, he moved to Spain. The Spanish crown furnished the money to fund Columbus’ West Indies adventure. On October 12, 1492, he landed in The New World near the current Bahamas. Columbus also traveled to Cuba and Haiti. Columbus made four trips to the New World, not once ever exploring anywhere close to the current United States. Vikings explored and landed in the same region, finding the indigenous people 400 years before Columbus. Why is it that decedents from the Vikings who are American’s, do not have a holiday?
Conquistadors like Cortes and Pizarro commanded Spanish armies against the Aztec, Mayan and Inca’s, which eventually wiped most of the indigenous nations of New Spain or current day Mexico. Current American Latinos have been known to side with the Native American to protest Columbus Day events. Why would anyone with a Spanish surname in the United States protest against or deny their heritage? It was the Spanish who invaded and murdered the indigenous people of Mexico. Mexican’s since Spain’s invasion speak Spanish and have taken Spanish family names. Many Mestizo’s since the 1500’s have traveled deep into the southwestern United States to include parts of Canada and Alaska. Spain gave up control in 1821 and Mexico lost control of most of the land in the current United States in 1848. There is little evidence that the Spanish or Mestizo’s ever killed Native American’s during their occupation of the American southwest.
There is a million cases that the European Anglo settlers who arrived in America murdered vast amounts of Native American’s beginning with the founding of Jamestown up until the late19th Century. The United States government is responsible for the slaughter of the Native American due to many events like Westward Expansion. The government forcing the Indian onto reservations or offering small amounts for the land is the tragedy those of us who have Spanish surnames and have Mestizo blood should be protesting along with the Native American against the government, not Italian community or Columbus.
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David McSwane and CSU’s editorial
The CSU editor, McSwane, gets reprimanded?? If I went to my boss and said F-the President, I would be fired, not consulted. If I published it in the company newsletter I might be brought up on charges; not because I was exercising my right to speech, but for discrediting my company. McSwane shouldn’t be fired for using the F-word, the Onion uses it all the time, but he should be fired for exceptionally bad judgment. He’s cost his paper $30,000.00 in advertising revenue, and some of his fellow students their jobs.
Free speech isn’t absolute. Technically the RMN could legally publish a headline that read: “F-itty, eFF, eFF, eFF the Government,” but it wouldn’t, even it felt that way, because it’s foolish to do so. You can’t yell “Fire” in a movie theater and you can’t threaten the President; free speech is not absolute, nor should it be. Almost anything goes, this is true with speech and religion; but when a religion calls for you to hack off the head of the non-believer, your freedom of religion ends there, and should end sooner than even that extreme.
What extreme Leftists seem to forget is that freedom is never absolute. You don’t have the freedom to kill your neighbor because he mows his lawn at 6:00 in the morning. You have to use a modicum of reason when exercising God’s gift of freedom. If the far left doesn’t understand this, then every standard we have grown to love will diminish a crumb at a time until there’s nothing left (pun intended).
The frog scenario has the reptile dying by getting into a cool pot of water that heats to a boil; right now we are collectively in the water and the bubbles are starting to form. Let’s hope we’re wiser than the frog.
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Mike Rosen and the cost of war
Re: “The dollars and sense of war” Mike Rosen column Oct. 5, 2007 Wow! No need to sacrifice to pay for this war, according to Mike Rosen. No need to increase taxes. You see, it’s all about the cost of the war as a percentage of GDP. Golly, there isn’t even a need to send our sons and daughters to Iraq because, after all, we have a professional military. Apparently, our military is made up of sons and daughters who belong to someone else.
Today I’m going to see my banker to tell him it’s not necessary to pay on my home mortgage any longer. Since my mortgage is such a microscopically small percentage of GDP, an increase in GDP will more than pay for it. I guess all we have to do is keep wearing our flag lapel pins and display “Support the Troops” bumper stickers on our cars Wheat at $9.72 a bushel, oil at $80 a barrel and going much higher, the dollar at new lows every day; of course none of this is related to the war. It’s just market forces. Rosen and his republofascists say, “Let them eat cake.”
Cake, anyone? Too dry and too stale, you say? Just ask Rosen for some neo-conservative, republofascist, Bush/Cheney Kool Aid to wash it down with. He’ll say, “It’s good for you. Drink up.”
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CSO ready to pitch in for improvements
Denver's citizens are fortunate to enjoy an outstanding collection of public
facilities, from Denver International Airport and the Colorado Convention Center
to sports arenas and cultural venues. Each of these contributes to the economic
vitality of the region. The renovation of city-owned Boettcher Concert Hall and
the creation of a new symphony center completes a vital part of this collection
of exceptional public facilities.
The extensive evaluation of the Infrastructure Priorities Task Force determined
that the renovation and expansion of this dated city facility, along with the
many other improvements comprising the eight bond issues, was a need for the
city of Denver. A new symphony center, complete with education and meeting
space, will give the city of Denver an opportunity to leverage bond funds for a
substantial private investment.
As a tenant in Boettcher Concert Hall, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra is
willing to donate $30 million for this public project.
Furthermore, the CSO will raise an additional $25 million in endowment for a
total of $55 million in private dollars raised. The CSO is proud to partner with
the city to truly make this a better Denver.
Douglas W. Adams
President and CEO, Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Denver
Just say 'no' to some city bond issues
Voters are being asked by Denver's mayor, City Council and other organizations
to get in "lock step" and vote "yes" on all ballot measures.
Hold on - not so fast.
As a homeowner who is concerned every time I pay my property taxes, I appreciate
that the Rocky Mountain News does a great job in educating the voters.
I will vote "yes" on some items, like improving the police crime lab, libraries
and infrastructure such as streets and sidewalks, but will vote "no" on many
others. It is a shame that instead of lumping highly needed projects with ones
that are very questionable, we cannot simply vote on issues separately, even if
it would mean a ballot with some 20-plus items.
I am a great admirer of Mayor John Hickenlooper, but I hope the voters will, like me,
seriously study the issues and just say "no" to some.
Norm Brown, Denver
Rocky leaning ever more to the left
The shift from relatively fair and balanced reporting to left-of-center
propaganda is becoming more apparent as the Rocky Mountain News comes closer and closer to mimicking The Denver Post.
The Rocky's Oct. 7 editorial, "The persistence of an outlawed policy" (about the
questioning of enemy prisoners), could have come right off the pages of The New
York Times.
Oh, I'm sorry - it did come right off the pages of the Times as the Times was
quoted no less than six times as the source for this hit piece on the Bush
administration's efforts to protect this country from Islamic terrorists.
Boo-hoo, so we sometimes use "harsh" interrogation methods on these radicals to
try to save this country from another 9/11.
The problem with the left and their media enablers in this country is they
equate waterboarding to torture but say nothing about beheadings, burning our troops alive and dragging them through
the streets, blowing women and children up and on and on and on.
Listen up, leftists: Rules are made for a civilized society. We are dealing with
people whose only agenda is to wipe us off the face of this Earth and you want
us to play by the rules. They have no rules, except cut off the head of the
infidels, of which you are one.
Don Fredricey, Wheat Ridge
Open-space taxes take money from poor
This year, both Boulder County and the city of Longmont are asking for
extensions on open space sales taxes.
The county wants to borrow $40 million, to be paid back by 2029. Its bond
payments are more than $20 million this year, while its revenue was less than
$17 million in 2006. No wonder it wants more money to spend!
While 65 percent of Boulder County land is already publicly owned and protected
forever, the county has borrowed $262 million since 1994 to buy more. We will be
paying off this debt until 2024. The new proposal is like taking out a second mortgage so they can spend even more!
Our elected officials have been spending our money like the proverbial drunken
sailor.
Sales taxes are the most regressive kind, whose burden falls hardest on the
needy members of our community. We don't need to buy more recreational land by
taking food from the poor.
Anyone who says we need to borrow money for more open space is a fanatic who
should not be trusted with public money. It's time to cut up their credit cards
and say "Don't go in the red to buy more green."
Russell Josephson, Longmont
Dems dummy up
The State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) now covers more than
600,000 adults and allows some families making more than $70,000 to get
taxpayer-discounted insurance. I pay for health insurance for my family though
our income is under that threshold.
The Democrats in Congress want to increase funding for that program and broaden
eligibility. I have asked my Democratic senator and representative why they
support using my tax money to fund medical insurance for a 25-year-old "child" from a family
that has an income of $70,000. I have not received a response. Perhaps a
question from the Rocky Mountain News would elicit a response. Please try.
Jim Potts, Lakewood
Fund care, not war
Why limit funds for children's health care? So what if one thinks it is
"socialized" medicine? Isn't the post office a "socialized" institution as well,
run by the federal government? I think our money should go toward children's
health care rather than killing in the Middle East for oil.
Janice Rinsky, Arvada
Ski area wasteful
I wonder if the owners of A-Basin happened to read the little Rocky Mountain
News editorial of Sept. 30, "Water sense at last," before they wasted countless
hundreds of thousands of water on snowmaking just so they could make the
ridiculous claim of being the first ski resort to open ("Ski area in pole
position," Oct. 10).
So they're the first - so what? Is it worth wasting all that water?
Al Hinojosa, Centennial
A DIFFERING VIEW/SCHIP bill focuses on low-income children
The Rocky’s editorial, “An SCHIP compromise” (Oct. 16), reads like a page ripped from the Bush administration’s talking points on children’s health care. Both are dead wrong — the bipartisan SCHIP compromise bill is not an entitlement for the middle class.
Rather, it’s a block grant focusing on providing basic health care coverage to the poorest children in America. Supported by more than 60 House and Senate Republicans and the majority of the nation’s governors, this bill preserves coverage for 6.6 million children currently in the program, and provides new health coverage for 3.8 million low-income children who are eligible, but not enrolled.
The bill’s enrollment formula targets low-income kids who do not have insurance. The bill’s outreach efforts do not target families who already have private coverage, but instead focus on providing basic health care for low-income children who currently have none. The Bush administration recognizes the need for this program as well. In fact, it is the Bush administration that has granted countless waivers to states expanding SCHIP eligibility. The claim that this is one step closer to government-run health care is simply untrue.
It is shameful to deny health care to the poorest of America’s kids, including 116,000 kids in Colorado, while we spend millions of dollars on Iraqi health care. President Bush and his Republican colleagues should wise up and make the children of America a top priority.
Diana DeGette, a Democrat from Denver, represents Colorado’s 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (16) | TrackBackThis is in response to Mike Durcan on Global Warming.
Mr. Durcan I don’t see anything that says you are a scientist, so do you know this is a farce? How long have you lived in Colorado Mr. Durcan? Do you remember the summer’s in which it rained every afternoon? When the temperature barely reached 90 degrees? So Newsweek is a silly gossip magazine because they disagree with you? I recently, took a trip through 6 States in the Northwest and the temperature was 95 degrees to a 105 degrees everywhere, Oregon and Washington etc. Now, that kind of weather in those particular places is peculiar to say the least.
Yes, it may be a natural occurrence but, there are a lot of things we can do to slow it down, we can drive more efficient cars with alternative fuels. Not only will this help with global warming, but it will help with Denver’s other major problem, pollution.
So instead of just writing everything off as a liberal paranoia, open your eyes for once.
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Glenn Morris & Columbus Day parade
This Saturday will mark the strident efforts of rabble-rousing racists led by Glenn Morris, the CU professor who complains about what America has become while he feeds at the teat of a taxpayer-funded university job. I always wondered how his ilk could drum up numbers of people until I realized that many protesters are likely getting some sort of university credit for their participation. You’ve really got to love the atmosphere in Boulder that attracts Ward Churchill and his buddies.
The last time these racists planned a major interruption of the Denver Columbus Day Parade was in 1992. They were successful in their efforts that year, by threatening violence against the parade participants, which included women and children.
Why do I refer to them as racists? They have their own parade on the same day, which no other group attempts to interrupt. But that parade is a sham event, because their true purpose is to interrupt or stop the Columbus Day Parade. And what is the Columbus Day Parade? It is more than a celebration of the Italian community or Italian pride. It is a celebration that the mixed races of the world, mostly persecuted people, were able to create the most successful country in the history of the world.
Is everyone in the United States of America united? No; and as long as there are fringe groups on the periphery who would rather blame others than to help their own, there will be protestors. However, this is one of the few nations in the world those protestors have the ability to protest their own nation, until they encroach on the rights of others.
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Fear of zealotry
We have as much to fear from zealot atheists as we have to fear from zealot religious.. It is not beliefs we have to fear but the zealotry.
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48 years not enough for Lawrence Trujillo
It’s true that no amount of prison time for Lawrence Trujillo will bring back Becca, Garrison, or Macie Bingham. It’s also true that no amount of prison time will take away the pain that Frank Bingham will have to endure for the rest of his life because of Mr. Trijillo’s reckless decisions.
Judge Morris Hoffman may have felt powerless to remedy the devastation caused by Mr. Trujillo but that really wasn’t the issue here because absolutely nothing could remedy the destruction Mr. Trujillo caused. The issue is what would be an appropriate sentence for Mr. Trujillo’s actions.
The possibility of 48 years in prison – which converts into a likely parole date years earlier — is not enough of a punishment for Mr. Trujillo’s actions.
And regardless of how remorseful Mr. Trujillo is now, he wasn’t remorseful on November 13, 2006.
Mr. Trujillo wasn’t remorseful when he decided to drive with a .226 BAC. Mr.
There are some actions where remorse after an act is not enough to mitigate the immense harm done. Nothing can bring the Bingham family back but 48 years is not enough of a punishment for Mr. Trujillo’s horrendous actions.
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Bush bent on American destruction
He has effectively destroyed true patriotism which is now defined by how bloodthirsty and intolerant one can be and continues to defy the will of the people of the United States. The result is an ongoing debacle in Iraq where the best among us, our courageous servicemembers are dying for his stubborness, wasted years and resources in the war on terror and a demoralized American public. Now, with seemingly no one left to demean, or bedevil, he aims his arrogance at our most priceless and most vulnerable treasure, children (Bush Vetoes Children’s Health Insurance Plan, RMN.com, 10/3/07)! How could you, Mr. President, how could you? I know longer say God bless America, I plead, God help America and rescue her from the hands of an evil dictator bent on her destruction.
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Congressional democrats
Its quite apparent that the Congressional Democrats have lost all sense of decency, direction and sanity. Just a short example,, the flap over the radio commentators, Ken Salazar and now Waxman. Sure Democrats whine and cry about any type of international phone monitoring, but in the meantime, try and break the Constitution and silence up talk radio.
Unbelieveable !!!
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SCHIP program
Are you going to expose the lies and hypocrisy of the Democrats using Graeme Frost to pump the expansion of the SCHIPs program that President Bush vetoed.
Why should we pay for their insurance with our tax dollars when I already pay for my families health insurance? Graeme’s dad, who it appears can afford it, should be ashamed of himself for letting the Dems use his son and his family in this way when he won’t provide for them essential health insurance.
Remember...just because the NY Times liberal news service won’t cover this doesn’t mean you can’t.
Denver should have been doing it all along
Not all are as elated as your paper for the city of Denver’s proposals that will reach deeply into our pocket books for what the city ought to have been doing all along. We have to live within our means and so should the city and we don’t need the new being the propaganda agent for “hizzoner” the mayor and his costly wasteful ads that we are forced to pay for.
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Urban sprawl
Over the past few years there has been a noticeable rise in urban sprawl. Housing developments are being constructed (poorly) further and further outside of Denver to accommodate for the increase of citizens desiring to experience the beauty of Colorado. As a native I have observed this population fluctuation first hand. In a very short number of years concerns have been raised publicly such as added cars and trucks on the roads contributing to the pollution, excessive water consumption, and poor urban planning.
Colorado could certainly support such growth if done intelligently. A positive start would be implementing renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, including grey water and passive solar systems within new homes, and encouraging Colorado to adapt the clean cars program which would reduce pollution of new cars up to 30%. Current and future residents need to be aware of their personal environmental impact and take steps to preserve Colorado. Small efforts towards a sustainable future start locally by encouraging discussions and raising public awareness of such environmental concerns. By taking a stand and speaking out we can make a difference in our future. Have an opinion, have a voice!
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Safe Climate Act
We are running out of time. As rational, concerned citizens, but also as rational, concerned *humans*, we can no longer afford to ignore pressing scientific evidence detailing the effects that we are having on our planet.
Forget facts and figures, forget what you hear on the radio, and simply look at your world. The last two decades have seen the 15 hottest years on record. Weather patterns around the globe are changing, and the increasing frequency and strength of weather disasters are clear indications of just how deadly things can get.
It’s simple, really: the earth heats up, snow melts, and ocean levels rise.
Here on the Front Range, we can expect to see our snow pack decrease visibly every year. Aside from the obvious effects that less snow would have on our multi-million dollar ski industry, reduced snow pack means reduced water supplies, further straining our already-struggling agricultural sector.
We can still turn this sinking ship around and save our world. U.S.
Congresswoman Diane DeGette is sponsoring the Safe Climate Act, and our elected officials would do well to follow her lead. This legislation is based on science, and would set up enforcement to cut our current pollution output to an 80% reduction of 1990 levels. Governor Ritter needs to make sure that Colorado leads the United States in tackling our deadly pollution problem. But we must act now, for ourselves and for our own troubled blue and green orb.
I hope and pray that it’s not too late.
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Boettcher renovation a waste
I sure would love to know what percentage of Denver city/county taxpayers have ever or will ever set foot inside Boettcher Hall. I dare say a very small percentage. Yet each and every Denver taxpayer is being asked to cough up money to try to rehabilitate that albatross. And how sad that the Museum of Nature and Science is fatally joined at the hip with Boettcher in Issue 1H.
The museum, which, I imagine, day in and day out draws far greater numbers of young and old from all walks of life, and is a great center of learning, is far more deserving of taxpayer funds than is the elitist Boettcher, which, since the day it opened, has been a loser in more ways than one. I say get those who messed it up to fix it up. Or turn the space into something that will pay for itself. Hopefully, the taxpayers, the majority of whom will never enter the place, won’t vote in favor of (Issues 1G and 1H) fixing what never should have been in need of fixing to the extent that it is.
Jim Bahrenburg, Wheat Ridge
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBackFood-for-fuel insanity
The insanity of using food for fuel has now been recognized by the experts.
For some wisdom on biofuels and our foolish corn-for-fuel program, please see “Green Dreams” in the October issue of National Geographic.
For example, and I quote: “Every biofuel also consumes crops that could be feeding a hungry globe.” The only way to reap the benefits of biofuels without squeezing the food supply is to take food out of the picture. Perhaps our subsidy for ethanol would be more wisely spent to subsidize “producing corn for food.”
Consumers need to just say no to E85 fuel and goodbye to those politicians who support this fleecing of America.
Bob Berling, Red Feather Lakes
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBackLeave Columbine dad alone
I am shocked that the Rocky printed the vicious personal attack on Brian Rohrbough by Andrea Stutheit (“Embarrassing,” Oct. 9), accusing him of “bloodlust” and comparing him to “a loud drunk at a party.” Every parent who has lost a child never really recovers, despite their attempts to make sense of it and to bring change to prevent it from happening to others. It is Stutheit who needs to “leave the poor man alone.”
Louise Benson, Broomfield
A DIFFERING VIEW/Museum reaching out to private donors, too
A recent Rocky Mountain News editorial suggested that the Denver Museum of Nature & Science should raise funds from private donors to cover a portion of the cost of expanding the museum’s operating space.
I’m writing to explain that the museum is doing exactly that. We have committed to raising $90 million from outside supporters to complete the construction of a new science education center and improved storage facilities for our collections, as well as new exhibit halls.
We believe that this is a good deal for the museum and a good deal for Denver. The Museum of Nature & Science is a major economic engine for the city. In 2006, the museum served 1.6 million visitors and generated $86 million for Denver’s economy.
By shouldering the majority of the cost of these projects, the museum is committing itself to provide Denver with a world-class facility. This will include a science education center that will expand our ability to engage students in science as well as storage facilities that will ensure our invaluable and irreplaceable collections remain preserved and available for future generations.
This will help ensure that the museum remains a vibrant part of Denver’s cultural fabric — a win for the museum and a win for the city.
I hope that voters agree — and join me in supporting Ballot Issues A through I.
George Sparks is the president and CEO of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack“Delusion of exceptionalism” RMN 10/2/07 Mr. Campos, As you glibly spread labels around, placing everyone into neatly opposed campos to fit your classist dialectic, I lost track of which bird you associated with five years ago in your support for the war, “liberal hawk”
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Paul Campos
I want to write to say Paul Campos’ recent opinion piece on nationalism was easily his best and most provocative column to date. And this is from someone who has never before agreed with him. That is not to say however that I agreed with everything. I too believed that we had a sound moral argument for going into Iraq and let this reasoning overwhelm my suspicion of the WMD argument. Before the war I saw the argument has (1) Saddam is a mass murderer (proven), (2) he will attack again as soon as he has the ability (probable) and (3) that he has or is developing WMD’s (unproveable at the time). I figured if they didn’t find any in Baghdad, Cheney would go out a bury some in the desert from his own private stash. So I let the swing vote go to it being a historic opportunity to establish a stable democracy in a world trouble spot. I should have weighed the objective and the subjective differently and thanks to his essay I will try to do better in the future.
I do think though that he missed a broader perspective by bringing in a political slant and using the words
To me nationalism means
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American taxpayers forced to pay
I was prompted to ask: “HOW ABOUT A BROWN THANK YOU?"...
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Paying for the war in Iraq
Finally, it appears that the congress is going to begin to put some teeth into their very sensible desire to change the coarse of events in Iraq.
Their surtax on all Americans to actually pay as we go for the Iraq war is the first thing I have seen by either party that will stop the huge drain of tax money for the war and stop the huge debt we are building for our children. It should be supported by all of us, if we are really dedicated to supporting our troops while not bankrupting our heirs and the country in general. I believe this is the first long term war where this country has not had some sort of special tax to pay the bills and it is only logical that all of us should help pay the price of this never ending and questionable conflict. So far, the only people paying any price has been the troops and their families, while many upper income families have actually gained net income. Not logical.
Also, the house committee handling the Iraq war supplemental request has determined that they will not report out any bill on this until next year—and then only if the administration puts forward a plan to change the coarse of the war including a plan to end it. This thing will never end if no controls are put in place. It is far past time for us to put the pressure on Iraq, in the form of ultimatums for them taking control of their own destiny. The U.S. stake in Iraq is limited at most and there is no reason for us to put more huge sums of tax money in there with no commensurable return.
We should be spending our war taxes in Afghanistan and on the pakistan border areas if we truly want to reduce terrorism. Even if we stay in Iraq for decades it will not effect terrorism enough to matter.
This war has been more mishandled by the administration than any I can remember, other than maybe the Vietnam war.
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DPS school closings
As just an outside observer and a Denver taxpayer, I thought the articles on the closures were interesting and most predictable. Oh the people that participated in the project, when polled by the news people, gave predictable answers. They were not about to cast any aspersions on themselves and all felt that they made the “tough but necessary” decisions....blah, blah blah. And the parents who worried about the schools that were spared the ax felt relieved. And monies are supposed to be saved (RIGHT) and there will be more choices and options (RIGHT). Sure there will be.
To me it is what is always has been for a most very long time-the downward death spiral. Those kids failing now will maybe move to another school and will continue what they are failing in now. Who are you people really trying to fool????? The education and achievement of students in not really improving and you can all continue to distract people’s attention from that fact by continuing to play your variation of move the shell game but the bottom line is still the bottom line. And we will all continue to see monies frittered away for most little or nothing and you will need more.
Some day though there could be a day when the Popeye effect of “I can stands so much and can’t stands no more” does occur. For your sake, you ought to hope you have moved on to better things when that occurs. I mean that is what all the other CEOs and politicians do.
I think I will send a copy to the news folks just for the enjoyment of saying I told you so. And in case you really don’t know-a kid’s mind really is a most valuable thing to waste.
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Blackwater
Anti-globalization activists have long insisted that post Cold War neo-liberal policies are tantamount to a corporate takeover of the world. And of course, books like “When Corporations Rule the World” and documentaries like “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” have been fiercely criticized. But even the staunchest critics can not challenge these accusations anymore. Blackwater USA is a privately-owned mercenary army, earning an impressive nine-figure profit in only a few years from services they have sold to American taxpayers. And since no government or justice system has jurisdiction over them, their business model is rock-solid. Maybe Blackwater USA will go public soon so we can all get in on the action.
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SCHIP bill
P
President Bush just vetoed the SCHIP bill that would have paid for health care for millions of kids. He says its too expensive. Now, isnt that a hoot coming from a man who has spent over half a trillion in his personal war in Iraq, including paying for Iraq’s socialized health care!!
This is the president who didn’t veto one spending bill when Republicans con- trolled congress, including their last budget which was $55 billion more than he requested. Now, when Democrats control congress, this tight fisted, fiscal driven president, is threatening to veto a budget which is over $22 billion more than requested. Does something smell here?
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Effective war government
Tory-crats
The Whigs were sensitive to the danger of French aggression in Europe.
They understood the deep nature of the struggle and were prepared to form an effective War Government. The Tories, on the other hand, resented the country’s being involved in the Continental commitments and voiced the traditional isolationism of the people. In the name of peace, economy and isolation the Tories prepared the ground for a far more terrible renewal of the war. Their action has been largely imitated in our own times. No closer parallel exists in history than that presented by the Tory conduct in the years 1696 to 1699 with their similar conduct in the years 1932 to 1937. In each case short-sighted opinions, agreeable to party spirit, pernicious to national interests, banished all purpose from the State and prepared a deadly resumption of the main struggle. These recurring fits of squalor in the Tory record are a sad counterpoise to the many great services they have rendered the nation in their nobler and more serviceable moods.
What would Winston think about our struggles today? Will someone in the future write about the Democrats
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Mandated insurance
The Partnership for a Healthy Colorado is insulting our intelligence by seeking to inject more money into the health system by way of mandated insurance, payments to hospitals and subsidized health benefits for retail and service workers.
The plain and simple fact is that Colorado workers are already taxed mightly to pay for other people’s health care. The Lewin Group data compiled for the 208 commission suggests that 2.6 million Colorado workers and their families are paying between $14 and $16 billion dollars a year to support 2.0 million non-workers who receive Medicare, Medicaid and other governmental health benefits. The Colorado Hospital Association asserts that uncompensated charity care is less than $800 million of the $30.4 billion total for FY2008 health care in the State.
That is added to worker’s by way of cost shifting, but it is almost immaterial in the grand scheme of things. And, it is still cheaper than the $3 billion dollars the proponents of the 208 Commission’s “Jim Beam” 5th proposal want to spend by way of mandated insurance.
If these people knew how or wanted to solve the really big problem of health care costs rising 8.5% a year, for those footing the bill, I would listen with both ears. But, they don’t and can’t and never will.
Time to turn my I-pod back on.
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Anonymous blog posters
Steven Shelton’s letter published today has managed to neatly summarize nearly everything that has gone wrong with the Bush Administration and the GOP in the last half-dozen years. That he made his point with wit and style illustrates the power of words, and the intelligence required to wield them effectively. It’s one of the better justifications for having a “letters to the editor” section.
Most of the responses on your blog, however, were in sharp contrast — vicious, unreasoned and in some cases self-deluded. It makes me wonder if the anonymous posters ever bother to read the rest of the newspaper where the essence of Mr. Shelton’s letter has been on clear display for many years.
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SCHIP veto a threat to state’s children
When you were a kid, did you get the shots you needed to prevent measles, mumps and other childhood diseases? When you got sick, were you able to see a doctor and get the medicine you needed to get well? Some of us are lucky enough to be able to answer “yes” to these questions.
At 9to5, the National Association of Working Women, many of our members’ children have access to this basic care because they are among the more than 50,000 Colorado kids and pregnant moms who are covered by the Child Health Plan Plus, part of the federal SCHIP program.
For 10 years, CHP+ has covered kids whose families make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to afford most private insurance. CHP+ provides affordable medical and dental coverage to low-income kids, but the program is in peril.
Another 56,000 Coloradans who would qualify for the program are not enrolled and cannot access basic care. And now it will be even harder to enroll those kids, because President Bush vetoed a bill that would put more money into this program — money we need to reach out to the kids who aren’t enrolled and to pay the doctors who care for them.
I urge all members of Colorado’s congressional delegation to vote to overturn Bush’s veto. Don’t jeopardize Colorado’s kids!
Lorena Garcia
Organizer, 9to5
Denver
More children need health care
I am fortunate to receive my health care through Medicare. It’s not a perfect program, but for more than 40 years it has helped seniors like me get affordable health care.
For the past 10 years, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program has done the same for low-income kids. Until now. I am ashamed to see President Bush veto a bill that would allow this vitally important program to help more of America’s — and Colorado’s — children get the health care they need to start their lives right.
Overturn this veto. Overturn this mistake. Our president is leading us off course, and it is left to us to chart the right path.
Dave Childs, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBackCatholic hierarchy embraces illegality
The other day I went to our local Polish priest in our Catholic church to discuss some issues.
I was astonished to learn that:
1. He fully supports illegal immigrants and that U.S. law is unjust.
2. The Denver Catholic archbishop fully supports him in this.
3. Since I wrote a previous letter to the editor in which I voiced my opposition to this, I was not welcomed back into this Catholic church.
Needless to say, I was shocked at his and the Catholic stance on these issues. I reminded him (and Archbishop Charles Chaput) to read Romans 13: 1-3 where St. Paul says to obey the laws of the land.
Anytime someone speaks out or questions the Catholic stance on this issue, those who do so are ostracized. The church always wants to “hush” people (or problems) up. I will never contribute another dollar or my time to the Catholic Church as long as they maintain this idiotic condoning of lawbreaking!
Patrick F. Cipolla, Estes Park
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (22) | TrackBackCollege liberties ebb
Now we are using Tasers on our kids for asking too many questions (“Taser video big draw,” Sept. 19). We need to stop and ask ourselves when this will trickle down to our high schools.
We should be thankful for having the next generation growing up to actually have an opinion. They should be outraged by what is going on in this country and they certainly should have the right to ask questions. It used to be that college was the one place where we were able to think outside the box. I guess that’s slowly being taken away from us, too.
Since this incident has become national news, we might as well face the fact that this video clip will be seen worldwide. Actions speak louder that words. Wake up, people!
Kathy Davis, Castle Rock
Congress is talking about a special tax to fund this war so that our Great Grandchildren won’t have to be paying for it.
Right now, China, Saudi Arabia, etal own our debt. Why doesn’t the U.S. Government issue War Bonds or Debt Bonds, that pay the Americans who buy them the same percentage of Interest that we pay Foreign Countries, take that money and start paying off the debt?
Wouldn’t it be better to have the debt spread among Americans than a Foreign Government?
When WW2 started we were coming out from under the Great Depression, we were totally unprepared. The U.S. issued War Bonds, converted factories into defense plants, rationed eveything. There were no Millionaires that came out of that war.
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More ID requirements for voting is wrong
Re: “Proving Who You Are” Editorial, Oct. 1, 2007 Dear Editor(s): There is an essential difference between boarding a plane and voting in an election. Voting is for many Americans the primary way that they participate in our democracy. It is a fundamental right protected by our constitution and it is critical that Colorado protect this right.
The argument for those who push increased identification for voting is flawed. There is scant evidence to demonstrate that voter fraud in the form of voter impersonation even exists. Indeed, the Colorado County Clerks Association testified numerous times before the state legislature that there were no known instances of fraud in the state. The evidence does show that the number of people disenfranchised by ID requirements far exceeds the number of people who might be deterred from the risky felonious act of voting in the name of another person.
Many Coloradans cannot afford basic necessities such as food, shelter or electricity. How, then, is it acceptable to expect them to pay for an ID to exercise their right to vote? These laws fall hardest on people who have traditionally faced barriers at the polls. The impact of ID requirements hits hardest - the elderly, students, people with disabilities, low-income individuals, and people of color. Do these otherwise eligible voters have less of a right to vote?
Colorado should champion policies that encourage all eligible voters to participate on Election Day, not ones that place serious impediments in their paths.
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Blackwater scandal
The attention on Blackwater for its latest abuses is just part of the problem the U.S. faces with private firms in Iraq and government contracting. The privatization of our military has created a more costly and less accountable process for doing many of the things previously run under the sole authority of the military. Private security and other services cost more than it would if the military operated its own supply lines and security details. The advent of private security firms – mercenary armies really- has created a more lucrative career option for many of our best trained military personnel, who often leave our military, taking with them training and expertise provided at taxpayer expense. Blackwater employees often work along side U.S. military personnel, for more money, creating free advertising for the private security firms and possibly a drain on career military personnel. The profits are taken by the middle man - Blackwater, Custer Battle, Halliburton Aegis Defense Services – at taxpayer expense.
Then there is the issue of accountability.
It is no coincidence that the Bush administration deliberately created conditions in Iraq that made both U.S. military personnel and also private contractors immune from prosecution for crimes and violations of Iraqi and international laws.
From contracting fraud to the use of torture and abuse, private contractors along with CIA personnel have been at the center of the storm. This gray area of responsibility has led to a lack of accountability, and helps create the distrust and legitimate resistance to Bush policy in Iraq.
Part of the issue in the past was the almost total lack of oversight by Congress when controlled by Republicans, and the White House. Now the Democratically controlled Congress has the opportunity create justice and fix the problems.
Will it? Or will this Congress again shirk its responsibility and become complicit in the corruption?
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Fighting air congestion
This is
While Congress and the entire U.S. aviation industry are moving ahead to fund modernization of the air traffic country system, the Rocky Mountain News has taken a flying leap backwards in support of the FAA’s own widely discredited proposal. ("The right way to fight air congestion", September 29).
There are many good reasons why the FAA’s funding plan has, as the newspaper’s editorial states, “languished” since its introduction in March. One of the biggest is that it will not raise as much money as the tax-based system approved by committees in both the House and Senate.
The FAA’s plan is just another tax break for the airlines, which have received billions in taxpayer-funded tax breaks and bailouts in the last decade. The agency has admitted its own plan would raise $600 million less than the current system of ticket and fuel taxes.
The House and the Senate recognized the shortcomings of the FAA plan and wrote their own proposals that contain modest fuel tax increases for general aviation while leaving the taxes paid by airlines and their passengers alone. And they do it without imposing a radical new funding system that would require an expensive, cumbersome new federal bureaucracy to collect the fees.
Pay-at-the-pump fuel taxes are the fairest and most efficient funding mechanism and general aviation pilots support reasonable tax increases to pay for a modern ATC system. We oppose airline tax breaks, new user fee collection bureaucracies and decreased funding for the world’s largest and safest air transportation system.
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Death toll in Iraq down
Deaths among U.S. forces and Iraqi civilians fell in September to their lowest levels in more than a year. The U.S. military credited the newly implemented Petraeus’ strategy which includes 30,000 additional troops.
These figures are for a single month and, while not conclusive, demonstrate signs of success.
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Moveon.org’s ad
In her letter titled, “ Moveon.org ad tizzy a diversionary tactic", Kathy Madden of Aurora asserts that the outcry over the New York Times’ ad about General David Patraeus was simply a red herring to hide what she perceives to be lies about the situation in Iraq by Gen. Petraeus and the current administration. I would remind Ms. Madden that General Petraeus was chosen without dissent by a bi-partisan Senate to gather information and report. He did exactly this, and his report, while not rosy, was favorable to the surge effort, while encouraging that the troop numbers be reduced to pre-surge numbers very soon. This is not what Moveon.org wants to hear. The left knows that they cannot gain power in this country if America is successful in it’s efforts in the Middle East, so every step forward in Iraq is a step backwards for Democrats in America. While I believe that political dissent is absolutely necessary, dissent and sedition are two very different things. Moveon.org is in the business of sedition. and a lucrative business it is. So, Ms. Madden, feel free, as you are, to send your hard earned dollars to an organization that does nothing positive for anyone. But understand, these tactics that you and they have in common of calling people that disagree with you, “minions", “chicken hawks", “betrayers", etc., are no better than the ones used by people who call you “traitor"- it’s all a lack of civil discourse and decency that is prevalent on both sides of the political fence, sadly. Politicians and political activist groups have very little interest in anything but power, and they feed off of the polarization of citizen against citizen. And as far as people being exposed for what they really are, well, you had better cover yourself up- your gullibility is showing.
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Biofuels policy & legislation
Here in Colorado we are subsidizing a huge global disaster. No, I’m not talking this time about factory farming.
Eight years of Biofuels (ethanol) policy and legislation has cemented in place the first world wide food cabal, which threatens a humanitarian disaster, a famine more serious than those caused by any tsunami, earthquake or drought.
This crisis is not in the dim future, it is here.
Political leaders of both parties have appropriated billions of dollars to subsidize major agribusiness corporations to destroy food; the latest appropriation was $14 billion. They call the process ‘bio-fuel’ or ethanol production, but because the amount of fuel produced is less than the amount of fuel it takes to produce it, the only correct term for the process is systematic destruction of the food consumed in the process. Agribusiness giants include Archer Daniels Midland, whose income was $44 billion last year, are subsidi zed to burn up America’s surplus food (mostly corn), while they carry out their principle business, marketing the remaining food which is made more scarce, expensive, and profitable in the process. Congress has created over us the first nearly foolproof, open-ended, food monopoly.
If you look at the gas pump, you’ll see a little sign: ‘Contains 15% (or 10%) ethanol.’ So, if your tank holds 20 gallons and you fill it for a total cost of $50.00, three of the 20 gallons you pump into the tank are grain alcohol made from corn.
One study tells us the subsidy to those who make ethanol cost taxpayers $2.21 per gallon of fossil fuel replaced, or $6.63 for three gallons.
(The lowest estimate of direct subsidies we find is $.51 per gallon, or $1.53 for your three gallons of alcohol.) This subsidy is over and above the $7.50 you pay for the three gallons of alcohol you pumped into your tank, which will not take you as far as the fuel farmers burned to raise the corn that went into the alcohol! No wonder agribusiness wants to build more plants and distill more corn into alcohol!!!!
The three gallons of ethanol are distilled from about 70 pounds of corn that would otherwise have been converted into beef, chicken, eggs, milk, pork or catfish. Corn would and does sustain human life quite nicely as a main staple for those who cannot afford meat, eggs, or milk.
Your feedback is welcome.
Please write to me at 1wonderswhy-owner@yahoogroups.com
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Take responsibility for your actions
Let me get this straight. Your friend went to your house and he got drunk. Now you feel that the cab companies should have “an ethical responsibility” for giving your friend a ride home? How about your friend, knowing he still has to go home, being “ethically responsible” and not getting drunk. How about your “ethical responsibility” and not serving your friend until he becomes inebriated. How about you, as his friend” offering him a place to stay until he sobered up. If your friend had left your house and was involved in an accident, you are also responsible. I’m sure the cab drivers didn’t want to take the call because they probably get stiffed from the majority of drunks they pick up. Bottom line, it was your friends choice to get drunk, not the cab companies. You and your friend need to take the responsibility for you actions. That is what ethically responsible adults do.
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You need to pass to move on
In response to Mr. John Packs, letter in the October 1st Rocky Mtn. News Do they take a test on the Constitution in the 8th grade here in Colorado? When I was growing up in the San Francisco Bay area, we had to take and Pass a test on the Constitution to go on to the ninth grade.
Maybe we need to be just a little harder on our students. When a lot of us “boomers", were young, you had to pass, period. They didn’t care if you were the only person in the 6th grade or 7th grade with a drivers liscense, you stayed until you passed.
Also being in a multi-culture neighborhood made no difference. You had to pass, and guess what? because they had to pass, most kids did.
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Too much hoopla over voting ID requirements
“Currently, any registered Coloradan can present a utility bill at a polling place and cast a ballot. Try getting through security at DIA with a utility bill.”
Oh my! Oh how horrible.. and what is required to gain a photo id? Why, it’s a utility bill too? With Ritters “end around” of 1313 shoring up the election criteria doesn’t do a thing unless the requirement to get such proof are as stringent. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
So why all the hoopla over identification requirements for elections when the illegal is already well versed in getting the fake ID’s they need?
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A DIFFERING VIEW/Protect the moutain views from Coors Field
I find it highly ironic that, during the week in which the proposed construction of a 140-foot building downtown, massive enough to severely compromise mountain view from Coors Field, has been in the news, and on the very day the Rocky itself printed an editorial defending such a proposal (Oct. 10), I received in the mail a clipping from my sister who lives in Minneapolis.
The article, by Bill Ward, was about Denver and appeared in the Travel section of the Star Tribune.
The piece begins with the following: “‘Check it out,’ my friend Mike said, pointing out beyond Coors’ Field’s left-field wall-way, way beyond the wall — at the sun dipping into the Rocky Mountains. ‘That’s where the Broncos got their colors.’”
Indeed, the vibrantly orange puffs of cumulus and matching solar orb, playing off a cerulean sky, were a spot-on match for the National Football League team’s original colors. And quite the icing for some kind of cake: the Front Range, the majestic purple mountains rising abruptly from the valley west of the Queen City of the Plains.
Those indelible, incandescent sunsets are but one of the countless reasons why Denver denizens spend the bulk of their time in the truly great outdoors. Three new big-league open-air stadiums lure large crowds in this sports-crazy city even when the teams are struggling.
The public spaces, even the downtown streets, feel more open than in virtually any U.S. city, the better to sneak peeks at the nearby peaks.
Here’s hoping the Denver City Council has the insight to reject this proposal and that the next time Ward visits our city he can continue to enjoy the uniqueness of Coors Field. And fie on the Rocky for supporting such an idea, especially just as the (baseball) Rockies prepare for the league championship series!
David Lampert is a resident of Denver.
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Iraq war not about “protecting our interests”
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Bill Johnson & CSU’s editorial
Jay and Dianne
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Amy Goodman writing about Bush
We all know that President George W. Bush has probably never ever considered using diplomacy in the MidEast — that would change his master plan for a Third World War predicted in the Revelations.
In regards to the global warming ( or climate crises), our President has never believed in the scientific data that suppports that this is occuring. All he is worried about is lining his gignatic pockets with oil profits, and forgetting the other consequences that can be fall all of us.
The words that our President are lacking in his vocabulary are the following — “cooperation, diplomacy,and open mindness” — they do not exist in this microworld. We can only hope that he will see the light before its’ too late for all humankind; but that could be a “pipedream” — play with the word “pipe” like in oil pipe line. Ha, ha
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Ignorance no excuse
Nice try, Mr. Page, but no one with an IQ over 50, has any excuse to be “ignorant” about common social issues. For the erudite Mr. O’Reilly, ignorance is no excuse.
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Columbus & Thanksgiving days
We should celebrate Columbus Day as an Italian American celebration. It’s a day to honor all Italian Americans who have worked hard to make our country great.
I would prefer to call it Nancy Pelosi Day.
We should celebrate Thanksgiving Day as the day we give thanks to God for all we have received and for Native Americans, who helped English Americans survive.
Our country owes a profound debt to the Native Americans.
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Neveah Gallegos
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Keeping track of at-risk babies
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Mother upset with drive-in “show”
With her obvious concern for her children, and with a title of “Demented Divas", did any flags go off in Ms. Landorff’s head? I Googled “Demented Divas Denver". Out of the first 10 entries, 3 specifically mentioned they were drag queens. One said they were bearded. Another called them half-baked and twice toasted. She was told by the management that one act was rated PG-13. She was therefore warned in advance.
Going to the police about bad language and skits she disapproved of was sadly misplaced. Of course, the police can’t do anything, because the First Amendment does indeed cover bearded drag queens spouting off about sex, pot, and alcohol. She may feel the Divas have poor taste, but they violated no laws.
She says the management took away her options. Wrong. She saw something she didn’t like, so she removed her kids. She therefore exercised the option available to her as a consumer.
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Denver IS a sanctuary city
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A DIFFERING VIEW/Rocky off base in critique of museum in Civic Center
Your melodramatic Oct. 6 editorial about the Colorado History Museum move to Civic Center deserves comment on three points.
First, the museum is precisely the “sort of amenity” that would activate and repopulate the Civic Center. Furthermore, the City Charter allows this use for the Civic Center. The CHM’s programs and exhibits attracted nearly 150,000 visitors last year alone, and, with the contemplated expanded facilities (allowing the museum to finally host major traveling exhibitions) it would easily attract not only more people than that, but make Civic Center the kind of resource that would indeed have a rekindled relevance and a broad appeal.
Second, this new-found devotion to the “open space” in Civic Center, I feel, is disingenuous. If that area were continually populated with Rocky Mountain News staff having picnic lunches, it might be a compelling concept. But this space is not going to be sold or leased or “lost,” it is going to be “utilized,” and the ultimate benefits of that to the community will be immeasurable.
Knowing that, all the visionary designers of Civic Center included the companion building on that empty space. They did so, knowing that it isn't a “park,” it is a civic gathering place. It was in 1908, and it is now.
Third, concepts such as redesigning the Carnegie Library building with some glass enclosure, or a companion building in a location other than that contemplated in the historic Civic Center designs run the risk of ignoring architectural balance and violating historical integrity. The Civic Center is on the National Register, and monkeying around with it risks losing that important historic certification. It makes one wonder whether some people want to save Civic Center grass but are willing to sacrifice the city's reputation and its integrity in the process.
The Colorado History Museum will find indeed a new home, but this is a tremendous opportunity for the city and the state, and a unique opportunity to let the museum be a catalyst for a needed change to Civic Center. Let’s not blow it.
W. Bart Berger is chairman of the Colorado Historical Society.
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Inappropriate photo of woman giving birth
Why would your editor think it is appropriate to post this? We are only centimeters from viewing her pubic hair! Clean up your act and realize that there are varieties of citizens (including youth who use the newspaper as tool for homework and current events) who are your audience) I am sure you had dozens of photos from which to choose. But of course, sensationalism wins out. Look at what it did for me- caused me to write to a newspaper for the first time in 48 yrs! Touché!
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Why so many new comics?
And while I am at it, why did we have to see a beautiful young mother holding her newborn with her legs spread eagle in yesterday’s paper? A picture of her cuddling her newborn would have been much more appropriate and made the point.
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Boulder students protesting Pledge
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CSU’s editorial
And it has also been pointed out that one person’s rights ends where another’ s begins. Parents, who send their children to CSU, have a right to expect they will not be exposed to a student publication boldly printing a word seen in publications better kept under the counter in reputable bookstores.
Equally disturbing, is CSU journalism instructor, Pam Jackson, who defended the use of the F word.
Mr. McSwane should not be fired, or suspended, but instead be required to repeat the journalism class on ethics and standards.
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David McSwane & CSU editorial
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David McSwane & CSU editorial
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David McSwane & CSU editorial
The Rocky Mt. News condoned an article by Berny Morson which was nothingmore than ruthless one
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Pres. Bush is not pro life
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CSU’s editorial
A college newspaper should be provocative. After all, it’s written *by*students, *for* students. Like it or not, Dick Cheney ensured the F-word entered the contemporary American lexicon while speaking on the Senate floor, no less.
So what’s the problem?
My wife and I are CSU graduates. We support the protection of free speech and the Rocky Mountain Collegian editorial board. Don’t let them Swiftboat you, Mr. McSwane.
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I find it very interesting that you think so little of your front page that you have turned it into an advertising forum. Get rid of the stickers.
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CSU’s editorial
If J. David McSwane had printed an editorial titled F—- Obama, or F—- Hillary Clinton, does anyone really think the students would be arguing about free speech? Not a chance. We would be seeing protests wrought with liberal clichés accusing the paper of “hate speech", calling them “hate mongers” and “angry conservatives", as well as demands for firings from the very people who are now hiding behind free speech to support their political viewpoint. Like the Jay Bennish fiasco, when the target is the President, anything is fair game. When the tables are turned (like when a conservative comes to speak on a college campus), its amazing how quickly free speech goes out the window.
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CSU’s editorial
As a long-time RMN subscriber and supporter of newspaper journalism, I must express my disappointment in your article, “Student’s woes not a big surprise,” about CSU Collegian editor David McSwane. Surely you know that the story is not about the journalist—even if it seems he thinks so. To portray McSwane as an “arrogant” editor who “[REDUCES] some [STAFFERS]to tears” and as a egomaniac who should have listened to his mama is tantamount to saying he deserves to be fired because he’s not a good boy.
Fortunately, today’s paper also includes Mike Littwin’s column. In addition to focusing on what really matters—language and the First Amendment—Littwin reminds us that the purpose of the student newspaper, of the entire university enterprise, is to educate.
I hope we are teaching our youth that it matters not who says it or even how, but that we all have the right to express our opinions, and journalists have an
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CSU’s editorial & Iraq
Republicans don’t want to talk about their war (occupation) so they jump on a word. Students are most affected by this “war started by lies” when their contemporaries are coming home in boxes or without limbs and functioning brains. They will also have to pay for the run- away costs of the war at $10 billion/month, all borrowed debt outside the budget.
McSwane is brave and the best example of an informed citizen who is trying to get the attention of the students at CSU who are too busy to get involved. He has already got our attention, yet we are not smart enough to understand the need for the press to be out there.
We are in a quagmire in Iraq, possibly adding Iran to the mess, because the press can’t be relied on to alert us to the dangers of the Bush/Cheney war for oil. Why, because the same pressure is put on reporters in our news and paper media, so they can’t inform us what we need to know. Right here is an example of “kill the messenger” and we totally miss the point!
Wise up, Americans, and don’t be fooled again. Our free speech and constitution are at stake.
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Ed Stein’s cartoons
I am worried about Ed Stein. Both of today’s comics were critical of the Democrats or liberal policies. Please check on Ed and make sure he isn’t running a high fever or that he ran out of his hallucinogenic drugs. Perhaps he sustained a head injury? Or maybe he was kidnapped by aliens (space aliens, of course. I wouldn’t want to offend any ILLEGAL aliens. That would be in poor taste.) I am hopeful for a complete recovery or his return from deep space. The editorial page isn’t the same without his Republican-bashing, conservative-hating, military-demoralizing, religion-bashing, socialist-loving, big-government, and illegal-alien-pampering politics. NOT!
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Full page ad in poor taste
Hold it, just hold it a moment!! Rocky Mountain News daily features pictures of grieving families or writes columns of “news” concerning drive-by shootings, a National Day Commemorating Families of Murder Victims, anniversaries of heinous deaths, and multiple reports of suicide bombers wreaking death, injury, and havoc around the world, yet...has the egregiously twisted audacity to publish a full color page advertisement for Showtime’s season premier of DEXTER, AMERICA’S FAVORITE SERIAL KILLER!!
What perversion and gross insensitivity!! Your paper makes me sick! But, hey, there’s no other paper offered in metro Denver. Rocky Mountain News owes every Colorado family an apology for depicting a blood-spattered young man as a humorous side-dish in their evening viewing fare. As for me and my house, we won’t order or receive such a villainous cable channel.
SHAME ON YOU!
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Freedom of speech
Correct me where I’m wrong, but as I see it: The 1st amendment to our Constitution, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”, does not protect the right to say any ‘word’ that you like. It protects your right to express your ‘opinion’, your ‘thoughts’, your ‘ideas’, as it should. It does not necessarily protect you from all consequences for expressing those thoughts, opinions and/or ideas, as it should not. Nor, should it always protect you for ‘acting them out’.
The ‘morals’ of a society determine the words you can use to express that opinion or thought, as it should. The morals of a society are determined by the majority, as it should. The larger the majority, the less argument occurs.
In a small, close group some words may very well be acceptable, but those same words may not be acceptable in the general public, as it should be.
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Baseball is a beautiful thing
This is too much fun-a nail biter today, with cheers for out-of-town scoreboard changes that rivaled the volume created for mid-season grand slams. Life-long friends made in the stands at every crisis in today’s version of The World’s Most Beautiful Game. Season-long heros became icons and legends today, as the Babe looked down from heaven and said “What a beautiful game, I’ll have another beer, thank you.".
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Impeach Cheney
If Cheney is allowed to escape impeachment, you, as an elected government official will be sending the message to the whole world that America is no longer a democracy, and that our government officials are above their own laws. How is that dangerous? We will be seen as ignorant hypocrites who flaunt our so called freedom and democracy with no true knowledge of what freedom or democracy really are. Meanwhile, the very man who stripped away so many of our constitutional freedoms is allowed to walk away unhindered. This has gone on long enough. It is time for justice to be served, so that we Americans can regain our honor.
Support the impeachment of Cheney.
Make democracy strong again.
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Library hours being reduced
Can anyone tell me why Denver is asking for $51.9 million dollars to build three new libraries and meet maintenance needs like boiler and air conditioning and bad roofs when they are reducing the hours of the libraries now due to not enough monies in their budget?
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The convicted killer who was on the run for thirty years claims to be a good person and an excellent citizen. Always obeying the law. Is this because of was on the run and had to stay below the radar? Of course he had to be a good person, he was on the run from the law. Do not forget that he killed a person thirty years ago.
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Make “American” our official language
I’ve heard and read a lot about making our national language English.
While most people in this country speak a common language may I suggest we call this language “American"? I have acquired several dictionaries that span decades. Many new words have been added in that time and many are no longer used (or are misused). Many of them are foreign in origin and have been assimilated into our own language. So while we may be amused or offended by the unique and often unfamiliar words and pronunciations of the British, Mexicans and many others, let us not forget that we have many dialects and nuances in a very flexible American language that now have been accepted as part of it. Let’s make American our official, common language.
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CSU’s editorial
Where do you get the polls that most Americans may use the F-word on a regular basis, much less toward the president (9/28)? “Partisan loudmouths and other knuckleheads” may be justified when Hillary takes over as the first female dicta—/president. I doubt that there is much chance to teach an arrogant hard-head, McSwane.
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Boulder students protesting the Pledge
The love of the U.S.A and its Constitution is apparently alive and well at Boulder High.
“Misguided, over-sensitive and goofy” were three adjectives Dan Caplis used to describe Ms. Martens, a leader in the protest at Boulder High.
Now , I’m no lawyer, but the same three adjectives could easily be used to describe the beliefs of Mr. Caplis, who has claimed to be a pro-life Christian, yet he has for some time been a cheerleader for the Iraq war that has resulted in the deaths of thousands of unquestionably viable American lives and possibly more than a million similar Iraqi lives. Many of them women and children.
Aside from the fact that , as a lawyer, Mr Caplis should have a better than average understanding of our Constitution, he should also have a vocabulary sufficient to convey his thoughts without insulting either Ms. Martens or the intelligence of the listeners of his local radio program.
It seems that there are two possible scenarios here. First, his boss at Clearchannel has directed him to ridicule anything Boulder, and second, Mr.
Caplis has no compassion or empathy and is merely trying to divert attention from the fact that his elected Republican party members have failed in their sworn duties to protect and defend the Constitution of these United States of America.
I’m afraid that both may well be the case.
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Moveon.org’s ad
Morons who support Move.on.org aren’t happy with the America of our fathers and grandfathers. They want a socialist state, period. Kathy Madden(RMN Letters Oct 2nd) rants about chickenhawks but I wonder how much military experience she has?, especially at the classified level where I worked as a naval intelligence officer for sixteen years. Move.on puppets like Steve Shelton and Kathy Madden have no clue about the big picture, they just hate Bush. Their shallow diatribes don’t include any solutions, just emotional liberal talking points. The U.S. Senate voted 77 to 23 (bipartisan votes) to remove Saddam Hussein. That’s why we’re there.
And no, Bush did not lie, the intelligence services of many countries agreed Saddam was a threat. So did John Kerry, Hillary, Ted and other Democrats. Look it up. Has it been perfect? Of course not. What the Move.on folks don’t want to admit is Islamic fundamentalists are more of a threat to us than President Bush. Unfortunatelyour enemy reads this liberal drivel and is energized to kill more U.S. soldiers. By the way, every time you hear thelinethatthe President has failedto find Bin Laden it isn’t the President who has been puttinghis boots on the ground around the world. He sent us,the soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen of the U.S. Armed Forces. Soyou’re really saying we have failed. Thanks for reminding us, you’ve been a big help. Especially with your cries of we support the troops, but Bush is a failure.
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Denver Issues 1A & 1E
This November, Denver residents will be asked to ensure that our city’s neglected infrastructure needs are met and maintained through the passage of a series of bonds and a mill levy increase. The nine issues before voters include “Issue 1A” to create an ongoing maintenance fund for parks, streets, and city buildings, and “Issue 1E” to address long-standing capital liabilities in our parks and recreation system.
Our park infrastructure represents the often unseen elements that are critical to our park experience. Replacing outdated irrigation systems, rehabilitating playgrounds, enhancing public swimming pools, building more restrooms, and repairing historic structures are among the long list of benefits that 1E will bring to our prized parks and recreation system.
Issue 1A will then protect this investment by providing funds for ongoing maintenance.
Our parks are our community “back yards,” where we gather with family, chat with friends, reinvigorate our bodies, play with our children, seek tranquility, walk our dogs, and re-create ourselves. Our recreation centers are vital community resources, offering programs to stay healthy, take classes, and provide young people with a safe environment to have fun.
The wonderful amenities we enjoy today exist because of the foresight of residents who were willing to invest in these special shared spaces. Thanks to their investment years ago, Denver now boasts the largest public park system in the nation and a recreation center in nearly every part of the city.
Now it’s our turn to show our love of Denver’s beautiful parks and recreation facilities by voting YES on Issue 1A and 1E!
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Arts & humanities for students
National Arts & Humanities Month 5280 a.s.l. Colorado State Capitol Arts education in all it’s shapes and forms, acknowledged this month on a National scale, along with Humanities. Both the Arts and the Humanities are essential to a complete and fulfilling education. The drop out rate continues, with incentives for college, increase of credits, and policies of prejudice towards subjects.
Cuts continue in districts throughout the system, throughout the Nation, and we let it happen. Americans for the Arts have all the data, test results and testimonies of the value of cultural connections to education through the arts and humanities. Writing, reading and adding the arts to the curriculum, can keep a student in school. The art of learning is to be concerned with the humanity, in the way we teach. Creativity is in each of us, and children are naturals. We collectively can change the direction of education. In our Towns, Cities and States we can value our rich history, and embrace our heritage. Our local control school boards have the ability to develop their students for the 21st century. More math and science will not fill the void, or make the grade, but together with the arts and humanities, all subjects become interesting.
Let’s celebrate our arts, visual and performing, and all the literature of classic people who can bring real class to the classroom. Moving forward in the education of our children K-12 starts with you. Get involved; Speak with your Representatives who sit on School Boards, Municipal Councils, Legislatures and Congress. Make the most of the Month.
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GOP Pres. candidate Fred Thompson
I read with interest the News’ report that GOP Presidential candidate Fred Thompson is “failing to galvanize GOP’s core voters” (Oct. 1). Seems like you in the press are eager to quash Thompson’s campaign before it barely gets started-a sure sign to us conservatives that he’s on the right track.
You can count me as one GOP core voter whose interest in the presidential race has been rekindled by Thompson, a conservative in the tradition of Ronald Reagan who possesses Reagan’s appealing plain-spoken, no-nonsense style.
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Clarence Page
Clarence Page says in his column of Sep. 28th that he “disagree(s) with Ahmadinejad, but that’s precisely why I want him to be heard.” It is nice that Page disagrees with state-sponsored terrorism, religious imperialism, oppression of political opponents and minorities, holocaust denial, the destruction of Israel, and the murder of American soldiers and Iraqi civilians. But Page, Columbia President Lee Bollinger, President Bush and anyone who supports Ahmadinejad’s alleged free speech rights need a lesson in debate 101. When one side in a debate concedes a false premise, the debate is lost before it has begun.
The premise of Ahmadinejad’s visit to Columbia was that he is a legitimate head of state. Notwithstanding Iran’s pretense at representative government, Ahmadinejad rules by force not by rule of law. But he has no right to rule the Iranian people since there can be no such thing as the right to violate rights. Therefore, he has no right to promote his dictatorship at a public forum in a free country.
The debate should not have been over the legitimacy of Ahmadinejad’s ideas; no rational person supports them anyway. The debate should have been over whether he has any rights as a head of state. But once that premise was conceded, Ahmadinejad’s rant became just another man’s opinions, as valid as any other man’s. And President Bollinger’s critical words, in the minds of many confused people, became unfair adhominem attacks.
The only proper response to Ahmadinejad’s visit would have been to arrest him and put him on trial as the criminal that he is.
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War in Iraq
“Listen to the experts” said the TV media, as they paraded one deceptive so-called expert after another, in an effort to convince the American public to go to war in Iraq.
Let’s review some of these experts remarks not only on the present Iraq war but the previous Iraq war : “The incubator story became the war cry of the Bush administration. There was only one problem with the story: It wasn’t true.” The “young girl” actually was the daughter of the Kuwait ambassador, and the Kuwait family’s American PR firm, Hill & Knowlton, had coached her.
George Bush Senior used the invasion of Kuwait as one premise to go to war.
In response to a journalist’s question that the U.S. had invited Iraq to take Kuwait, the Ambassador to Kuwait April Glaspie was quoted as saying , “Obviously, I didn’t think, and nobody else did, that the Iraqis were going to take all of Kuwait.” Little if anything was mentioned to the public that would suggest that the U.S. may have been prepared to let Iraq take over the Rumailah oil fields. In fact, Administration officials told The Washington Post six days before the invasion that “an Iraqi attack on Kuwait would not draw a U.S. military response.”
Over and over we heard the so-called experts Rumsfeld, Rice, Bush, Cheney, Colin Powell and others say, “They found the smoking gun; Iraq has W.M.D.’s". They must have a memory like Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, they just can’t recall where Iraq put them.
Bush has some W.M.D. he has used on the American people like the destruction of our currency by inflation and massive debt for our children and grandchildren. He has W.M.D.ed our Bill of Rights.
Ray McGovern who worked as a former C.I.A Analyst under the Reagan administration as well as other administrations stated that “The people in the 1980’s Paul Wolfowitz, Richard Perle, etc who now control our policies for Iraq and Iran were known as the crazies in briefing sessions.”
John F. Kennedy was right when, in 1963 just days before his assassination, he said, “The high office of President has been used to foment a plot to destroy the Americans’ freedom, and before I leave office I must inform the citizen of his plight. “ (I know he said this because I caught part of his speech on T.V. at that time.) Let’s hope the American people will wake up!
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Profanity is a language mechanism designed to confer emphasis through shock value in speech. Other than during consensual sex, when such dialogue can conceivably add to the excitement, people use profanity when they attempt to emphasize certain thoughts - such as affirmation, surprise, indifference, frustration, indignation, and anger - in terms other than universally acceptable verbage according to the majority of the population.
This can be due to a lack of options in vocabulary, a habit produced by constant exposure to foul language in a contained environment (including upbringing), or it can be a conscious choice made in an effort to either irritate or impress a particular audience. The latter is by far the more common circumstance.
The primary problem with the use of profanity in public conversation is that it conveys a distinct disregard for anyone listening who may be offended by it - whether they are being specifically addressed, or they happen to overhear it indirectly. It is this implied lack of consideration for others that creates a hostile situation, as much or even more than what the word itself may be.
J. David McSwane made the simple mistake of failing to consider the total audience that he would be addressing when he made his editorial comment. Or, at least, that scenario would be preferable to the possibility that he, as the editor of a respected college campus publication, just wasn’t smart enough to express himself any other way.
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Moveon.org’s ad
You no doubt recall the recent ad by MoveOn.org in which General Petraeus was referred to as General Betrayus. Much well-deserved outrage followed this insult. It seems the defenders of MoveOn.org have launched an effort to deflect attention which can be called the “So’s Your Mother” defense. In other words, instead of admitting that what they did was wrong, they’ll try to dig up anything wrong ever done by their enemies and focus on that. A case in point: A few days ago, MSNBC’s David Shuster interviewed Tennessee Republican Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn. The subject was supposed to be the MoveOn.org ad and the Congresswoman’s opposition to it. Instead, Mr. Shuster ambushed Ms. Blackburn by asking her what the name of the last person from her district was who died in Iraq, and then providing a name himself and berating the Congresswoman for not knowing it and lecturing her about how she should pay more attention to those sorts of things and less to the ad.
Let’s see, as we later learned: 1) The name Shuster gave was of a person who had NOT lived in the Congresswoman’s district; 2) The family of the soldier who had died had filed a request under the Federal Privacy Act, as is their right, that the soldier’s name not be revealed; and, 3) It is simply unreasonable to expect any Congressperson of either party to know at any and every given moment the name of the last person from their district to die in Iraq. Have Republicans (and Democrats!) done things that are distasteful in the past? Yes. Does that in any way justify the MoveOn.org ad and/or Mr. Shuster’s treatment of the Congresswoman? No. The last time I checked, two wrongs still do not a right make.
So we are left with Mr. Shuster being a non-fact-checking opportunist who would rather prostitute the memory of a fallen soldier to score a point than call the MoveOn.org ad what it is: pure crap. If Dan Rather couldn’t get away with it, Mr. Shuster shouldn’t either. He should apologize to the Congresswoman, the family of the fallen soldier, and to his viewers, although I’m not holding my breath.
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Victor David Hanson
I was incredulous at Victor David Hanson’s illogical attempt to validate his view that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad should have been censored with other examples of censorship! While “free speech comes out one side of his mouth, he advocates censorship with the other!
Incredulity turned to deep discomfort when his bio disclosed that he is apparently an instructor at one of America’s premier Universities.
Hanson starts by railing against Ahmadinejad’s railings, letting us know loud and clear what his opinion is of letting a “petty bigot” address an audience of American citizens. He manages to drag Hitler into the conversation, then promptly begins to list other people who were suppressed because their views didn’t agree with someone besides Hanson.
OK Victor. Since you didn’t get a cookie, nobody else should either. Wow, playground politics.
Three glaring errors completely destroy Hanson’s credibility as a rational person.
Free speech is free. Everybody gets to speak or it’s not free speech. Boolean in its simplicity, Hanson doesn’t get it.
Ahmadinejad stood up in front of a large audience of Americans and proved Hanson’s point that he’s a nut job. Hanson should be happy, instead he espouses his third logical error.
Ahmadinejad’s audience was what we hope are the future leaders of America and their teachers. Hanson arrogantly implies that the audience is too stupid to realize it is being addressed by a fool. He completely misses the point, that is precisely why Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Hitler too, for that matter, should have been allowed to speak to a free audience in a free country. There’s no fool like the one you meet face to face.
I wonder if Hanson knows that, as a history teacher, his illogic is much more dangerous to young minds than the raving of a third world tough guy.
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Stopping radical politicians
It’s time for the good and the righteous of this world to step up and tell out leaders, Enough is Enough! We need to take back control of our lives and our governments! We need to STOP these INSANE RADICAL POLITICIANS everywhere in the world NOW!
Religious has NO PLACE in Government, and as God is my Witness, there is NO PLACE IN RELIGION FOR GOVERNMENT! The Radical Religious Leaders need to rethink their beliefs for as sure as the sun rises every morning, they are WRONG! And when the time comes, God will address each of their discretions, dishonoring, and distractions from what is TRUE and GOOD in this Holiest of creations, LIFE!
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Greater Anglican Church
The first request was dodged with a statement, “Oh, we don’t ‘authorize’ them.” But they occur openly with newspaper announcements, etc. Bill Clinton sadly hid behind the definition of “is”. Bishops should not. To the second, they promised to “exercise restraint” in this regard. Gene Robinson, the homosexual bishop from New Hampshire has already declared that this language in no way prevents the election of a lesbian who is currently a candidate in Chicago. Lastly, they declined the alternative oversight scheme and dredged up and dressed up a already rejected plan. The bishops also did not speak to a side request of stopping the lawsuits which continue unabated and only serves to transfer moneys given by our fathers to our churches into the pockets of lawyers. In summary, on this three question exam, the students got half of one question correct. 16% is a failing grade.
People on both sides of this issue are now saying let your ‘Yes“ be not “Maybe” and your “No” be not “Maybe”. It is sad when the president hides behind the definition of “is.” It is despair, outrage, confusion, angst, tragedy, etc., when the leaders of our churches do the same.
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Lakewood’s mayoral race
I am writing in regards to Lakewoods upcoming Mayoral race this fall. I have read the candidates profiles in one of the Lakewood papers, and have come to the conclusion that Rita Bertolli is the best choice to run this city. Rita Bertolli was responsible for defeating the city councils disgraceful attempt at giving away Forsberg Park in a land swap, for a drainage ditch! This land swap benifited no one but the developers of Rooney Valley. Rita is running a true grassroots campaign which is funded solely by individuals, with no big business or special interest dollars.Check out her website at www.lakewoodmayor.com, and judge for yourself.
Vote Rita for mayor this fall and help make a real change. The leadership of tomorrows generations depends upon your involvement and vote. Thank you
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Mike Rosen
Mike Rosen writes “shut up and sit down” in reference to the ‘taser’ incident in Florida and the editorial comment in the Rocky Mountain Collegian, as being “sophomoric". My response to Mike Rosen, is “shut up, stop writing, and sit down” as I do not want others to read your Chardonnay-fueled neo-con right-wing illogical scribbling.
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Paul Campos
Dear Prof
As with many hard core left wing academics, you are projecting your own issues. Kristol is not the one displaying weekly columns dancing on the edge of sanity (and often going over the top). As my Father always said, you are known by the company you keep. Any campus that employed Ward Churchill for many years (than God he’s gone) and still employs Michael Tracey and your own self will never see any of my offspring or cash. The lunacy going on at CSU underscores the fact that the moonbats are running the show at most major universities all over the country. There are none so blind as those who will not see.
Look in the mirror if you wonder who that refers to.
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Where’s the competition?
When the Rocky Mountain News and the Denver Post merged together you no longer had a choice in where you can get you
Before if you were not happy with one and wanted to cancel you paper, they would work with you so you will not leave. That is impossible now. With EchoStar and Direct TV merge you will no longer have completive prices in you cable decisions. Same things happen with telephones companies. Then when they are too big, they are busted up by the government for being a monopoly. Then they start over again and again.
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CSU’s editorial
I am hardly amused with the Rocky Mountain News editorial, which appears to treat the Rocky Mountain Collegian remarks as comedy. Frankly, I am hard pressed to find any humor in this despicable display of contempt for the President of the United States.
On the contrary, the Collegian editorial is nothing less than reprehensible! For the sake of Colorado State University and its alumni, we hope the administration will take whatever steps are necessary to restore normalcy to the newspaper and rid itself of this self-serving vermin.
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Americans’ resolve disgracefully weak
I watched the new Ken Burns production, The War, and I am amazed at just how anti-American America has become in 60 years!
In World War II, we fought a two-front war against ideologies that intended to kill and conquer free people, and end their way of life.
By the end of only the first year of that war, 35,000 Americans were dead, but we knew that we had to fight to the end.
In today’s two-front war, slightly more than 3,700 Americans have died in four years, and people are screaming for us to just quit and come home.
In World War II, we were losing badly to Japan in the Pacific. The media kept their reporting upbeat, and did not report how bad it was, so as not to demoralize the country.
In today’s war, getting a positive story from the media is like pulling teeth, even though our troops say there are thousands of good reports to give.
In World War II, we knew we had to take advantage of every opportunity to kill the enemy.
In today’s war, Iran is supplying both weapons and terrorists that kill Iraqis and Americans, yet we allowed the leader of that country to visit our soil unfettered and unarrested. If Adolf Hitler were alive today, would he have spoken at Columbia University, and perhaps spent an hour with Larry King on CNN explaining that there were no Jews in Germany?
I am disgraced by my countrymen’s behavior, and openly wonder: Has our love of freedom and liberty for ourselves and others around the world sunk so low, and our ability to recognize and confront evil so disintegrated that we will take anything as long as we don’t have to fight?
Jim Kiel, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (172) | TrackBackWhile GIs died, Iraqi officials vacationed
It was a typical August in Iraq with our brave fighting men and women risking their lives with the daily attacks of insurgents, IEDs and temperatures soaring well over 100 degrees.
Eighty-one of them gave their lives to afford the Iraqi government time to arrive at the political agreement that is the only answer to the conflict.
Hundreds more of our soldiers suffered injuries, many so grievous as to make one turn away.
All of them suffered without their families and their families without them. Many families will never recover from the effects of war and separation.
And where was the Iraqi government? On vacation! I repeat: on vacation!
Our brave fighting men and women are sacrificing their all and the Iraqi government is on vacation.
I am enraged that they could have such contempt for the efforts and lives of our brave fighting men and women. It is equally appalling that our president could continue to support with the lives of our soldiers the lack of effort on the part of the Iraqi government.
The Iraqi government will never reach a political settlement while our brave fighting men and women stand between them and their responsibilities and while we continue to throw billions of dollars down the bottomless pit that is the Iraqi government.
It’s time to bring our fighting men and women home.
Sig Jaastad, Buena Vista
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (10) | TrackBackGoodman fails to enlighten readers
Amy Goodman’s column of Sept. 16, “Another wall also cuts off Israel-Palestine debate here,” a rehashing of President Jimmy Carter’s distorted talking points on the Middle East, does little to enlighten Rocky readers on a complex issue.
We don’t understand how a syndicated columnist published in a major American newspaper can write about the Israel-Palestine issue and then claim an “absence of debate.” A passionate discussion on both sides of the issue is taking place all across our country. To claim otherwise — while also asserting “powerful political forces” keep peace talks at bay — is absurd.
What’s really keeping peace talks from advancing is the lack of a Palestinian partner for peace. Unfortunately, Israel can’t agree to tear down the wall in the present climate — such action would ensure a return to suicide bombers and loss of innocent life.
Steven M. Stark and Gale Kahn
Colorado Chapter, American Jewish Committee
Denver
Porn at library difficult to avoid
I’m writing in response to a recent letter by Steven Sharp, who complained that his wife was forced to wait at the Denver Central Library while some computer users there perused pornographic Web sites (“Surfing porn sites at library is troubling,” Sept. 21). I have also experienced the same visual assault while working at the main Denver Public Library.
As a professional genealogist I must frequently use the Western History Department to look for information for a client. There is a whole bank of public computers on that that floor situated right next the microfilm readers we must use. On many occasions I have been forced to see these despicable sites because one cannot work there and avoid it.
I complained verbally, I have written letters; even suggesting the computers be moved to a central location that we can avoid. All to no avail. It seems perverts in the library have free rein and good citizens are the victims. What a shameful society we have become where nothing is judged and the rights go to the lowest rung.
Nancy Serra-Spencer, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (25) | TrackBackSlipped his mooring?
Has Rocky Mountain News columnist Paul Campos slipped his mooring? His Sept. 25 column, “Is Bill Kristol respectable?” comes within a gnat’s eyebrow of accusing Kristol, and others in the so-called neo-conservative movement, of intentionally inflicting the horror of war on others. Indeed, it seems to hint at a psychosis, suggesting, for example, that Kristol and other neo-conservatives have “An overwhelming lust for
violence ... ”
Also consider: “All these men appear to genuinely love the idea of war for its own sake — inflicting the horrific violence of modern warfare on various hapless foreigners is something that clearly excites these gentlemen quite a bit.”
Opinion columnists have considerable leeway; however, there is a line, and Campos not only crossed it, he obliterated it.
John Pilon, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBackPetraeus and Kerry
MoveOn.org’s ad attacking Gen. David Petraeus was roundly criticized by President Bush and other Republican leaders as “disgusting.” While that is true, let us not forget that these same sanctimonious Republicans similarly and hypocritically attempted to destroy the reputation of another military war hero: John Kerry.
Bob Birnberg, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (32) | TrackBackSelective outrage
The Rev. Al Sharpton is out and about protesting in favor of the Jena 6 in Louisiana. I wonder: If six white students beat a black student, would he be out there defending the white students?
Leroy M. Martinez, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW: Show some backbone; print the whole word
The Rocky Mountain News editorial position is a thing of wonder.
In the case of the Danish cartoonist, whose works featuring a likeness of the prophet Muhammad, violating a precept of Islam, the Rocky was adamant that it would not be cowed by potential threats. It, too, published the cartoons, proving that ...
Well, at the time I wondered exactly what it proved. It was easy to publish cartoons that offended so few readers of the Rocky.
The real question was whether it would, as a matter of principle, also publish those words whose use in Colorado remains marginally taboo.
So now we have that very test in the case of the editorial published in Colorado State University’s Rocky Mountain Collegian.
As a matter of consistency, the Rocky should likewise print the marginally objectional word.
Instead, the editorial of Sept. 25 — “Dumb and dumber” — feigned a strong stance while making sport of the Collegian.
Rocky Mountain News: You can’t have it both ways. Espousing bravery when there is no danger
is not courage. Get some fiber and print the word in full, or at least figure out your principles.
Allen Best is a resident of Arvada.
Posted by denver-admin at 12:00 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBackDPS schools are talking about closing more schools next year and now they want to borrow $400 Millions dollars for the under funded pension and use the school building as collateral. Maybe the schools should hire more business teachers in their schools because this does not sound like a good adventure. Now they will close even more schools when they cannot pay back any monies and lose the building that were collateral.
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Improving high-poverty schools
In Nancy Mitchell’s article, “Raising the bar, raising success,” in the Sept. 17 Rocky Mountain News, leaders of the two schools featured in the article, KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy and West Denver Prep, insist that what they are doing to help their high-poverty kids succeed could be done elsewhere. So why isn’t it being done? Perhaps because the “secret” to their success is not an easily replicated model, curriculum, or program - the standard fare of most education reform efforts. Most reform efforts, while seeking to make important and necessary changes, are often insufficient to raise student achievement because they fail to address the more complex challenge of transforming school cultures.
Recently, McREL, a Denver-based education research organization, studied 49 schools where high-poverty students “beat the odds” by achieving at high levels. We found that what distinguishes these schools from others is that they develop “cultures of high expectations.” Leaders establish clear visions for success and set high expectations for student behavior and achievement, and teachers take responsibility for creating structured, well-managed classrooms, where students are clear about their learning goals and behavioral expectations.
This finding may help to explain why school improvement is so difficult.
Were it simply a matter of adopting a new reading curriculum or offering a different training program for teachers, schools would be doing it already - and demonstrating higher levels of student achievement all across the country.
The findings from our study suggest that improving schools is both a science and an art. School need to use scientific research to improve their teaching methods and help struggling students catch up. At the same time, they need to attend to the art (i.e., where there’s no prescribed formula for success) of creating cultures of high expectations, in which teachers and students share a “can-do” attitude and work together to succeed.
It’s encouraging to see that DPS superintendent Michael Bennet is quoted in the article as saying, “I’d like to see schools do whatever it is they can do to establish very intentional school cultures with a high set of expectations for conduct.” Research suggests that Mr. Bennet is on the right track. Attending to both the science (i.e., use of rigorous research) and art (i.e., transformation of school cultures) of school improvement will be the key to helping students succeed in his district.
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Investigate Denver Dept. of Human Services
As an attorney doing a great deal of work in the Denver Juvenile Court, I know and suggest to you that you investigate the following regarding Denver Department of Human Services so-called independent investigation of their child protection practices: 1. The Annie E. Casey Foundation and the other Casey family foundation have been giving DDHS substantial grants over the past few years. Many of DDHS practices which have led to the recent major problems have been suggested or greatly increased over the past six or seven years and relate to these grants. You should ask for the amount of grant money from the Casey foundations to DDHS and copies of the grant proposals and reports before assuming that the investigators are not the initial instigators of the policies they are investigating.
2. The Kempe Center is nominally independent with strong ties to the University of Colorado which supplies the residents in psychiatry who work for Kempe, but many of their programs are either in part or entirely funded by charges for services to children in DDHS custody or to DDHS families. If you include medicare funding, a very high amount of Kempe’s current budget is for children and families referred (and certainly could be unreferred) from DDHS.
3. The relationship between the state DHS and DDHS goes without further details although it would be interesting to determine which and how many of the actual investigators of DDHS assigned to this job are actually past employees of DDHS who were “promoted” to state jobs.
In short an “independent” investigation requires entirely different investigators.
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Boulder students “walk-out demonstration”
I felt compelled to write regarding the “walk-out demonstration” of a handful of students who left classes during school hours, to protest the recitation of the pledge of allegiance, especially in regard to Principal Jenkins not punishing these children for willfully and blatantly committing truancy. Maybe instead of letting these kids off the hook with no punishment, Principal Jenkins could instead hold a special class for these students to teach them a history and constitutional lesson.
First of all, the naivete of the students, especially young Miss Martens, who evidently should have been attending civics and history classes, instead of so incorrectly stating the inclusion of “under God” is in violation of “separation of church and state.” One needs only review the Supreme Court cases Abington v. Schempp 1963, Marsh v. Chambers 1983, Lynch v. Donnelly 1984, Wallace v. Jaffree 1985, Allegheny County v. ACLU 1989, and Lee v. Weisman 1992 to understand the precedent the Court has recognized in the use of the words “under God” not being in violation of the establishment clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution.
Secondly, I would ask the question of Miss Martens, and her fellow protesters to describe exactly, in their opinion, what religion the phrase “under God” is attempting to establish? Would it be Christianity? If the answer is yes, than what sect? Catholicism? Or maybe Baptist? No? Must be Lutheran, or Episcopal, or maybe it’s not even a sect of Christianity, but Judaism. See the problem here Miss Martens? Finally, Colorado law does indeed require that the Pledge of Allegiance be recited to begin the school day. However, the Supreme Court ruled in 1943 in West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette that no one could be compelled to recite the pledge. Seems to me at least, these “kids” should use the school day to learn about the topic they obviously do not understand, instead of protesting.
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Costa Rica using US military
This tactic is also the modus operandi for Iceland, The Marshall Islands, The Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and Panama.
Even the larger world powers such as the United Kingdom understand that without the US’s strong military assistance their national defense could be compromised.
The situation presents quite a dilemma. Why should the US government spend tax dollars gained from hard-working American’s to defend another nation and those foreign citizens have national health care and educational policies superior to the States? Yet, if they need us, what might happen if we don’t come to the call of these countries? Quite possibly, they could come under the control of less democratically minded sovereignties who might harbor and cultivate terrorism. This would not only hurt the liberties of that nation, but could also cause harm here in the heartland. Perhaps when we hear the amount of our national budget dedicates to our military, we might want to consider it money well spent to ensure peace around the globe, and Americans safe both here and abroad.
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Luciano Pavarotti VS. Dr. D. James Kennedy
Mr. De Nero asserts in his letter of 9/27 that “Pavarotti’s legacy (is) far greater than” Dr. D. James Kennedy’s. I agree with Mr. De Nero that Luciano Pavarotti has been very popular the past several years. Mr. De Nero mentioned Pavarotti’s God-given talent. I am glad he gave God credit, albeit Pavarotti worked tirelessly to develop and use that talent.
My question to Mr. De Nero is: What do you really know about Dr. Kennedy? Unless you know the person you are talking about — the person’s contributions and institutions — how can you make the critical statements that you made? For example, you commented on Dr. Kennedy having been a dance instructor in his younger days as if he should have been stuck with that label for life. Your insults didn’t stop there, including your putting down of car salesmen and questioning Dr. Kennedy’s sincerity.
While in college my husband cut grass during summers to support his family. He obtained his Ph.D. from a Big Ten university; retired as a university professor emeritus; and was chairman and director of an MBA program for a major Hong Kong university before fully retiring. Besides, what is wrong with cutting grass or being a car salesman?
Has Mr. De Nero ever considered all of the people (like myself) who have been ill for years and cannot attend church regularly to whom quality television religious programs mean much? Dr. Kennedy’s programs were quality and not hatemongering. Your letter is more representative of the latter.
On one of our trips to Hong Kong, while in flight we sat on the plane next to Dr. Kennedy. At that time, we did not know who he was. We saw a very soft-spoken person and one who appeared very humble (which others already knew and was soon proven to us).
I do not support the statement that “Any sensible person knows” that Pavarotti will have the greater impact. Worldwide and in the short term, that is undoubtedly true. However, several decades from now that conclusion may well be invalid. Dr.
Kennedy’s writings and influence will be long lasting. How many people will be listening to a Pavarotti recording/performance at that time?
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School vouchers
Theresita Polzin’s ignorance of the plight of the disabled is forgivable in her “rebuttal” of Erik Palmer’s Speakout column on school vouchers, as is the heartlessness borne of such ignorance. But to represent herself as authoritative or knowledgable on the subject is not, because she has no idea what she’s talking about.
All students in the USA are entitled to FAPE, or a Free Appropriate Public Education, including disabled people. Public schools are subject to IDEA, or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which requires them to accept disabled students, and to provide them with said FAPE. Private schools are under no such mandate, and the private school which accepts special needs students at the same cost as “typical” students is non-existant. Hence, Mr. Palmer’s “sweeping generalization” is accurate and reasonable.
People who choose private schools are entitled to the same FAPE as everyone else, whether or not they choose to avail themselves of this opportunity.
That some citizens have a particular aversion to secularism, or to minorities, or science, or people with disabilities gives them no moral position from which to loot the public school system for selfish reasons. Yes, they’re paying twice. By choice.
I challenge Ms. Polzin to name the private school which would welcome the special-needs student at the same cost as the “typical” one; which would provide the speech and occupational therapies available in the public schools; which would provide a full-time one-on-one paraprofessional when appropriate, and whose dedicated staff are willing to change diapers for a severely disabled 14 year-old because market forces won’t. Those of us in the disability community will be thrilled to learn of this resource.
While we’re waiting, perhaps Ms. Polzin should devote her eloquence to subjects she knows something about, and thank her lucky stars that her children don’t need the special services available to all, paid for by all, and thankfully needed by only some, in our public schools.
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CSU’s editorial & Bill Johnson
A simple perusal of today’s edition displays a perfect example of the reason so many people have chosen to get their news from sources other than the mainstream media. In his opinion piece about the Collegian’s attention-grabbing headline fiasco Bill Johnson tells us not once, not twice, not three times, but four times that ‘according to the polls’ the majority of people in the US erupt into a blue streak whenever President Bush is mentioned. He then labels those offended by McSwane’s editorial whoopsy as ‘partisan loudmouths and other knuckleheads.’ We’re supposed to be dialoguing with the Iranians to prevent war but I doulbt Mr. Johnson could have dinner with a person who disagrees with his politics without coming to verbal blows.
Granted, Mr. Johnson’s column is an opinion piece, so to strengthen the unsaid point that the liberal view is actually the world view, in a report headlined ‘Cheney’s visit ousts workers’ Tillie Fong admits 5 paragraphs into the article that there was disagreement over whether the occupants of the building Cheney visited yesterday were actually ordered to evacuate the premises. A grand total of five protesters showed up to rally support to impeach ‘evil Cheney’ but one would have to read the entire piece to gather that information, since the accompanying photo manages to catch 4 of the 5 protesters present in frame.
Protester Nick Dodich, the only one to show up in time to be possibly be seen by the Vice President, explains that he hoped Mr. Cheney could have seen his sign ‘World court impeach and try Bush and Cheney for war crimes’ in order to spark an intellectual debate with Mr. Cheney and Mr. Bush. That’s why I get my news and opinion from more than one source, and no, The Daily Show doesn’t count.
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Many children in jeopardy
I don’t know the facts surrounding Niveah Gallegos’ or Chandler Grafner’s deaths. No matter, they were undoubtedly horrible. As long as you are handing out blame however, you should consider that for every Niveah or Chandler, there are dozens of children in similar jeopardy across Colorado at any given moment. Sadly, these cases are not unique.
The Colorado Department of Social Services has an impossible mission. You need to keep in mind that the call to DSS usually comes only after many other things have gone terribly wrong. When you mix young children with parents who are little more than older children themselves, drugs, alcohol, multiple sex partners, violence, lack of income, lack of employable skills, lack of education, lack of family commitment, parents themselves victims of all manner of abuse from their parents, etc., this is what you get. These are often un-fixable situations and people. They are bad outcomes that might, sometimes, be able to be mitigated into less-bad outcomes.
Those are the cards that DSS deals with every day of the week, 24/7. I’m not excusing anything DSS did or didn’t do in the above cases. What I’m saying is, you’re living in a fantasy if you think the state can fix these broken people through some procedure.
There’s only one solution to this problem. Stop the behaviors that lead to it. Recognize that the burden of self-destruction falls most heavily on those least able to handle it - the kids.
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New West Physicians
I enjoyed the 9/28 Speakout piece by Ruth Benton, CEO of New West Physicians, in which she wrote approvingly of her favored approach to containing health care costs, a method usually called “capitation".
Now I get it.
Now I know why I can’t get an appointment at my local New West provider when I need one.
I know why the appointment I do get is at their convenience, not mine, requiring an overnight fast for the sake of blood work to be extended through the day until late afternoon. After which I’m informed that part of the blood work will need to be repeated, since some elements of my blood won’t survive an overnight stay in the New West office.
Now I know why their best piece of health advice to a guy who spends all day on his feet is to “Walk more.”
Why?
It’s simple. I’m capitated.
That means insurance pays New West a set amount to keep me on their patient rolls, whether they see me or not.
Now, Benton says New West would rather keep me healthy, than treat “maladies". How will she keep me healthy? “Walk more". Or maybe she plans to starve and bleed me healthy, by way of the multiple visits to draw blood.
Well, this carpenter would rather get paid to fix houses that don’t need any work. Any jobs like that out there? Only for doctors, apparently.
Reason with me here. Isn’t New West getting incentives to not see patients? And to add more, as long as they can avoid seeing those new ones too? All this explains that message I wade through every time I call my doctor. “If this is an emergency, call 911. If it’s Monday or Friday, good luck getting in here. You still there? Please hold.”
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Collegian editorial not proper, reasonable
It’s been awhile since I was editor of a daily newspaper, but I can’t agree that “editorial” is even a reasonable euphemism to describe the four words used in the recent issue of the Rocky Mountain Collegian at Colorado State University (“CSU paper draws heat for editorial,” Sept. 22, et al.).
There is nothing right, reasonable or “proper” about these words. The Taser use on the University of Florida student has no connection, not even tenuous, with the president, however critical the publication might desire to be. “Toilet mouthings,” if used at all, should be only in the company of close intimates. Crude profanity reflects emotional anger, at the opposite end of verbal reasoning stimulating discussion or debate.
I am aware a certain amount of deterioration of our culture and manners has occurred in recent years, but the Collegian has far exceeded even the most liberal contemporary usage with its four words, in print, in a college newspaper. It’s time to say “no way”!
Frank Brown, Arvada
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBackMurdock challenged over speech issue
Deroy Murdock’s column of Sept. 23, “Intolerance by the left rife on college campuses,” spends several column-inches quoting and attacking universities that set limits on speech. Accordingly, I assume he would certainly condemn the administration at Colorado State University which announced a “plan to conduct an investigation,” and the deliberations of the school’s Board of Student Communications over the status of Rocky Mountain Collegian editor J. David McSwane because he used a word — only one — that aroused the conservative community.
D. Ferrel Atkins, Estes Park
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (14) | TrackBackSex ads a poor way to respect future citizens
There are still some things in our society that are private and sacred. The sexual acts that take place within the marriage covenant are surely at the top of the list. Please consider this and the respect due our future citizens — that is, the children and grandchildren of the Rocky’s readership. They deserve — as do all Rocky readers — the respect and dignity so necessary to grow in the moral life.
If we are to raise a generation of young people who can uphold the moral direction to which our beloved nation has been raised by religion and civilization, then we as adults must surely be the leaders in the struggle.
Please, no more ads in the Rocky Mountain News about erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
Rudolph and Mary Andras, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (27) | TrackBackPut-upon media critic
Poor Jason Salzman, ever the victim. Everywhere this Rocky Mountain News media critic goes he claims he must endure the Independence Institute (“Too much media Independence,” On the Media, Sept. 29).
A simple question, Mr. Salzman: If you are either physically or emotionally incapable of changing the station on your car radio, what are you doing driving a car? Another tech flash for you: The channels on your TV can also be changed at virtually any time.
As to that insensitive newspaper that insists you read it — maybe you need a little vacation, whaddaya think?
Finally, I have noticed that 100 percent of the time when I find someone who claims to be “ ... humble and reasonable ... ” they ultimately turn out to be arrogant and dogmatic. Thanks for keeping my stat in triple digits, Mr. Salzman.
Mike Durcan, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBackAn idea for ad stickers
There have been several letters lately criticizing the advertising stickers on the front page of the Rocky Mountain News.
Some letter writers say it’s a hassle to pull the stickers off, while others complain that the stickers detract from the front-page photos. In this day of declining newspaper revenues, however, the Rocky should be commended for finding an innovative new way to sell advertising.
I have a win-win proposal for all sides, one that allows the stickers to continue while actually enhancing the paper’s content: Instead of placing the stickers on the front page, they should simply be glued neatly over Ed Stein’s political cartoons.
Kevin Redmond, Littleton
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (6) | TrackBackEnough already!
It’s fine to point out the flaws, waste, and inefficiencies in America’s health-care system.
But to compare it to the socialized systems of island nations like England, Cuba, or, most egregiously, Japan, is not fair at all.
First, these island nations have rational immigration policies which geography assists them in enforcing. Although I don’t think Cuba is exactly swamped with immigrant applications.
But the point is that, if a country doesn’t import poverty as we do, willy-nilly, across our southern border, it won’t have poor survival rates for newborns.
But Japan?
Gimme a break!
Try to sneak into the country! Try to overstay your visa! Try to become a citizen! Non-Japanese natives, as well as foreign-born Japanese ethnics, have enough trouble gaining citizenship. You and I have no shot at all.
But if we did live in Japan, we’d wake up every morning in a society where people think first, not of their rights, but of their duties to family and society.
Most Japanese would never dream of receiving benefits without contributing in return.
Such a sense of duty is probably the most essential ingredient to making any socialized program work.
And if you haven’t noticed, we sorely lack that sense.
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Slow security procedures at DIA
Not only has DIA shut down one of the largest security check points. The check points that were open for screening were not running at full capacity. The wait in line to get through security was over two hours long. The standard time to get through the airport from check-in to the gate; as the airlines have suggested; is two hours and the airlines only recommend that you have to be at check in 45 min prior to flight time. It took over 4 hours to get from check-in to the concourse. DIA was not prepared for the change in the security process that started yesterday. This is absurd. It is not an issue of having Government officials checking ID’s it is a matter of having the airport run at full capacity. Had all of the security check points been operational and staffed there would not have been such a delay to the passenger. It is my opinion that DIA needed more officials checking the passengers ID’s so that they could get through the lines. This process was so inefficient. There is a reason that a private company was facilitating this process in the first place and that is efficient government is an oxymoron. If you are flying out of DIA anytime soon be at the airport four hours before your flight.
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CSU editorial
Dear Editor, I wanted to say thank you for covering the J. David McSwane story with fairness and balance. I truly believe that Mr. McSwane does indeed have every First Amendment right to say and publish exactly what he wants to, and did, HOWEVER, and here it comes... there is nothing in the Constitution that says you can say (or print) what you want and not be held — gasp — Accountable (everybody run... it’s the A-Word!!). While the Constitution does guarantee that the government can “pass no law” to abridge the freedom of the press, it does not, in any shape or form, state that you can say what you want and not suffer for poor judgement (i.e being fired like a certain CU professor, or being ridiculed in public, etc.). Mr. McSwane’s problem is that he should have known better, and shame on him for abusing his position of authority in such a manner. It is time that we, as a citizen-nation, stop letting certain folks stick their noses out into the air, blurt out anything they like, then run and hide behind the First Amendment. Mr. McSwane has broken no laws and should not suffer any legal action as a result of government interference, but he should absolutely have to answer for and defend his actions... and that may include being fired as a paid representative of the greater CSU staff... I fully support the university’s right to do so if he violated any university policies. We are supposed to be a civilized, educated nation, but actions like his show how low some are willing to slither in order to “make a point.” Sadly, this type of twisting of “First Amendment rights” is rampant today, and it’s tragic that so many think that they can say, print or do whatever they want without being held Accountable— there it is again... the A-Word... get used to it.
“The world is full of willing people, some willing to work, the rest willing to let them.”
(Robert Frost)
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Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform
A September 22nd Rocky Mountain editorial argued that anything The Blue Ribbon Commission for Healthcare Reform in Colorado proposes would be overridden by Congressional action in Washington, D.C. To the contrary, the Blue Ribbon Commission’s tireless work is not in vain, but rather a very important step towards fixing our broken health care system, regardless of what happens at the federal level.
We must be realistic in assessing the likelihood of when or if a federal health care plan will be developed. The nation faces a transition to a new administration, changes in Congress, and managing the war and/or exit from Iraq. In other words, the new administration will be confronted with the same challenges we have here in Colorado: prioritizing many important needs and demands. And as we know in Colorado, crafting a health care reform package that will cover more of the uninsured, improve the quality of care in our system, and reduce overall costs and waste in that system is a daunting task.
We have a much better chance of coming to consensus on a Colorado health care plan that will work for our residents than Congress and a new President will have in agreeing on a national solution. States are already the creative force behind reform solutions. We cannot afford to wait on Washington any longer.
Colorado has the opportunity to set an example as a leading state in health care reform, and we should support the Blue Ribbon Commission’s work and thank its members for staying focused on a Colorado health plan.
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“Ask First Centennial” ordinance
"Ask First Centennial” does not
As a City Council Member in Centennial, I’d like to share my perspective on the matter of “Ask First Centennial." This editorial is not written on behalf of the City of Centennial, or
If you’d been given the impression that “Ask First Centennial” would empower city employees to have greater control over their paychecks, you may want to be aware of
We have one of the leanest city staff-to-citizen ratios in Colorado and even so, our salaries aren’t on the high side.
If passed,
Centennial’s tradition of
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Why are lost hikers not charged when found?
Concerning the missing 56 yo hiker from Cedar Rapids, Iowa that is lost in Estes Park. First, I would like to know when these people go out hiking in the mountains. Why are they not charged the full price to rescue them when they are lost. Second, I would like to know exactly who is dumb enough to go out hiking alone. They should be bill for rescuing them and for being stupid.
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Columbia University’s hypocrisy
During his visit, Ahmedinejad was granted all the courtesies.
Columbia twisted its arm patting itself on the back as the bastion of free speech. Yet when the Minutemen tried to speak recently, they were shouted down by unruly students. Even the President of the United States is not welcome on campus! It shows the depths of hypocrisy and anti-American bias to which Columbia has sunk!
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Moveon.org’s ad
Re: “Senate condemns Petraeus ad; GOP condemns Dems,” 9/21/07.
The ad offered one extreme statement supported by three factual paragraphs.
Yet it drove Republicans to hysterical hypocrisy, showing again how intellectually bankrupt they’ve become when it comes to governing.
For three decades Republican officials and media touts have poisoned American politics, maintaining a power base through character assassination, falsehood and the emotional oversimplification of complex issues. But they can’t tolerate criticism directed toward them.
Thus Senate Republicans have deplored the MoveOn ad and conned some clueless Democrats into condemning the ad – and free speech – and into glorifying the military as a group immune from criticism.
For years I have called Republicans “Recorporcans,” because their primary interest isn’t the public. Perhaps, I will also say “Reprussiacans” now and then, since they are drooling militarists, too.
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Moveon.org’s ad
I find all the wrath boiling out of the mouths of GOP pols and the White House regarding the recent ad by Moveon.com to be about as hypocritical as a group can get.
While I agree with them that the ad was in poor taste and should not have been run in a major media outlet, I think back to the much worse and more ongoing ads by the GOP and their mentors about the Kerry war record during that presidential campaign.
Those were likely the worst—and most phony ads I can remember. There was never a peep out of George Bush or Dick Cheney at that time. In fact, there were a number of GOP operatives such as Karl Rove, who thought the ads were great and talked them up in private fund raisers, etc.
This kind of campaign advertising should be stopped by all sides—but it won’t be. Some, particularly the far right have found a market for this trash and so, it will likely get even worse as we near the 2008 elections. This country seems to be in a mode that favors personal assassination over sound and reasoned policy statements. I don’t think that will improve the quality of our candidates or our country in the future.
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RTD using light rail or diesel power
In the debate for RTD utilizing either light rail or diesel powered vehicles for their future routes, one possibility that they don’t seem to be exploring is placing photovoltaic modules on the roofs of their parking structures to offset their electrical usage.
RTD could build a structure which would provide shading for cars parked on the roof and provide a place to mount modules. Some of the money to finance the installation of the photovoltaic systems could be provided with renewable energy credits from Xcel and, since renewable energy is a favorite subject for Governor Ritter, maybe he can ask the legislature to help with the funding.
It would be the best of all possible solutions to their quandary; while pushing RTD in the same direction as the rest of the state of Colorado in promoting the use of renewable energy. This would help to satisfy those neighborhoods who are objecting to RTD because of their proposed use of diesel powered cars. And it would go a long way into providing RTD with a means to offset the costs of the light rail. Seems like a win-win solution for all: “quiet clean public transportation, powered by renewable energy".
A solution that all of the Denver metro could be proud to own.
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Evidence of ‘surge’ success lacking
The recent brouhaha over the legal status of American security contractors in Iraq such as Blackwater is actually a very good thing — they have been above Iraqi law since Paul Bremer signed a decree (No. 17) saying they could not be prosecuted under Iraqi laws.
I can only imagine how this had made the Iraqi populace feel, knowing that these men can literally get away with murder in their country, and they cannot do anything about it. Perhaps this will now change, and it’s long overdue.
But another interesting point has been made here: American diplomats cannot even leave the security of the Green Zone without the protection of these companies, so how much good has the so-called “surge” done? If Americans need heavily armed guards to even walk the streets of Iraq, I think the American public should seriously question the claims of progress being made in the war. Sounds pretty bad, and this is after four and a half years there.
Neil Haverstick, Lakewood
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (55) | TrackBackU.S. is not ‘America’
But for one error, I agree 100 percent with letter writer Ann Johnson concerning the Rocky’s interview with the new Mexican Consul General (“Mexican consul general’s missed opportunity,” Sept. 26).
Her last sentence begins “This is America ... ” This is incorrect. This is the United States of America.
A geography lesson is needed. Moving from south to north, South America ends and Central America begins at the Columbia-Panama border. Central America ends and North America begins at the Guatemala-Mexico border. North America consists of Mexico, the United States of America and Canada. Thus the United States is not “America,” but rather one country in one of the three Americas.
Jim Bahrenburg, Wheat Ridge
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (29) | TrackBackA special place
I visited the Columbine Memorial recently. It is lovely — a beautiful place to reflect on the lives of the 13 victims.
It is not a place to talk on a cell phone, have long chats with friends you run into, roller blade or let children run around stomping on the plants.
Please, folks, turn off the phone and control the kids in this special place.
Ellie Bontrager, Limon
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBack
In important votes considering rate hike I believe that everyone should be present.
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9/11 and a social psychology experiment
On 9/11/01 America was psychologically locked down for 3 days by a grounding of flights while the world was barraged with the repeated image and sound of attack. After 3 days President Bush made a simple speech to the U.S.
In social psychology/advertising one creates conventional wisdom by repeating an idea through various mediums.
In the experiment, with the fear of attack in play the people are told by a trusted authority that they are good and the attacker evil. In 3 days the subjects relinquished their previous animosities and create a unified animosity against the new enemy (Social Psychology professor Metro State College, Denver 1970), One thing is for sure, judging from America’s reaction, the process works great.
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David McSwane’s editorial & Dick Cheney
What’s even more interesting is the fact that Pat leahy had at that time, only asked Dick to explain his relationship to Halliburton, (the no-bid contractor who is fleecing the Iraqi people and the American taxpayer), for which Dick Cheney still receives pension benefits from. We heard NO ONE from the right, at the time, raise a ruckus about Cheney’s appalling bad behavior, nor did we hear any answers from Dick, to Pat Leahy’s questions.
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Disapproval of Iraq war
In March of 2003, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. I have no medical insurance and my doctor bills are very expensive. I can’t afford medication that may keep my health from debilitating further. I’ve chosen to borrow thousands of dollars to go back to college so I will be able to provide myself with money to get the medical care I need. The money being spent on the war could help hundreds of thousands of Americans like me.
We have already spent over 500 billion dollars and President Bush is requesting approximately 200 billion more. If you would like to help stop funding continued occupation, call congress and tell them so at 1-800-614-2803. Every voice counts because our representatives need to know that the American people no longer approve funding unless it is spent on bringing our troops and tax dollars back home.
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Iranian President’s visit
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Paul Campos
U
Otherwise we are apt to be consumed by our own bitterness toward each other.
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Thankful for yellow ribbons on cars
Kathy MacAllister of Gunnison
To Diana Carlson-Sherbo and Paul Sherbo.
Please allow me to respond to the editorial in the Sept. 22, 2007 Rocky Mountain News regarding support to the troops and their families. My son, James, is in the Army, just now finishing his first 15 month-tour of duty in Bahgdad. He is with the 1st Infantry Division and has, I am certain, lived through more hell than I will ever know. He lost more than a dozen friends in combat last year. In August, he lost one of his closest friends since grade school; they joined the Army the summer they graduated high school, both believing passionately that it was the right thing to do.
I take great exception to the statement regarding the yellow magnetic ribbons on cars; “The troops and their families don’t really feel that kind of support, if you can even call it that.” Please, please do not make this statement for the rest of us!
I, for one, mouth a silent “Thank You” any time I find myself behind a vehicle with a yellow ribbon because I know all too well there are people who will not put one on their car for fear of being accused of supporting the war. I smile anytime and anywhere I read, “Support our Troops”. While I do not disagree that there are many, many ways to support the troops, please do not presume to discount any support, no matter how insignificant you may deem it to be. Personally, I am grateful for it all.
So, allow me to send a heartfelt Thank You to all those who support our troops, in whatever way they choose. Thank You to the people who put the big sign on the side of Hwy 285 on the way to Denver. Thank You to the people who stop me in the grocery store to ask about James and tell me they are praying for him. Thank You for the beautiful presence of Patriot Guard riders who volunteer their time at military funerals. Thank You to the strangers who stop James on the street and thank him for his service and to the barber who won’t let him pay for a haircut. Thank You to the sweet elderly lady who, after witnessing our very emotional and tearful reunion at the airport when my son was home on leave last May, stopped us to say that was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen and now she knows why she prays for our troops every day. Of course, Thank You to all of you who send cards or packages, donate to organizations, shovel walks, help with child care – whatever your heart directs you to do. You are all appreciated more than words will ever say. And Thank You for each and every yellow ribbon I see!
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Paul Campos
Somehow, you have judged that Kristol and the other gentlemen you cite are certifiable “war lovers” in the mold of the character in John Hersey’s WWII novel. I submit that you confuse “war loving” with hard-headed and realistic patriotism, a concept about which I suspect you have no clue. This lumps you with all the other “global pacifists” who have “[N]ever come within a thousand miles of a live bullet.”
If you had the slightest idea of what it takes to be a military person and what it’s like to serve in wartime, or even to open your mind to civilized and objective discourse on politico-military subjects, you would not be so quick to judge the motives of others who are much better informed on these issues. Not that you would understand, but there have been millions of volunteers who sense it their duty to enlist for the purpose of defending, not just their country, but the constitutional and moral principles that guide our nation and society, in order to help free others under subjugation and yes, to defend the right of jackasses like you to bleat and denigrate true patriots and those whose only motive is to protect our nation and culture of freedom.
I shouldn’t be surprised about your attitude, given that you are a card-carrying member of the Peoples’ Republic of Boulder and, to paraphrase the words of Columbia President Bollinger to Ahmadinejad, “I doubt that you have the intellectual courage honestly to address these charges.”
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Valedictorian speech
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Mexican Independence Day Celebration in Denver
The ‘fiesta’ (party) had a good turnout but lacked proper organization. For example, trash cans were few or non existent, there were only two food stands for thousands of people, two stages with almost the same monotonous country music during the whole event, not even mariachis! The celebration failed to show the vast diversity of the Mexican culture without any program or exhibit regarding traditional Mexican dances, music, arts and crafts. Further, there was no stall to distribute information about tourism in Mexico and different legal services available through the Mexican consulate in Colorado for visitors and Mexican citizens. I am comparing this event to an Indian Independence Day event I attended in Boston one year ago where the program included two hours of dances from different regions of India, at least ten different food stalls with wide variety of Indian cuisine and several tents with information about important matters related to the Indian community in Boston.
In summary, more thoughtfulness and planning could make this event a true portrayal of Mexican cultural richness and an important platform to reach out to people interested in learning about Mexico through tourism or local groups.
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Letter writer’s memory on Iraq faulty
Letter writer Dennis Reuss (“Why tire of a just war?” Sept. 18) wants us to remember how when President Bush and the Senate “declared war on Iraq” (which they did not do) that the president said it would be a “long and hard war” (which he never said).
In fact, we were told by Dick Cheney that our troops would be greeted “as liberators.” Then on May 1, 2003, President Bush gave the following speech for the cameras:
“Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed. And now our coalition is engaged in securing and reconstructing that country.
“In this battle, we have fought for the cause of liberty, and for the peace of the world. Our nation and our coalition are proud of this accomplishment — yet it is you, the members of the United States military, who achieved it. Your courage — your willingness to face danger for your country and for each other — made this day possible. Because of you, our nation is more secure. Because of you, the tyrant has fallen, and Iraq is free.”
Would Reuss now like to discuss how Paul Wolfowitz told us that the occupation of Iraq wouldn’t cost the U.S. taxpayers a nickel because it would be paid for with Iraqi oil? Or are we now to believe that Wolfowitz told us it would cost us hundreds of billions of dollars and that is somehow OK?
Rich Graham, Longmont
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (59) | TrackBackDon’t blame farmers for our water woes
Everyone who lives on the Front Range of Colorado is responsible for the availability of water that is used on the Front Range.
We learned many, many years ago that as people move into our area, there is a tremendous increase in all phases of the infrastructure required for their needs. The bulk of this additional expense has always been passed onto the farmers and local businesses.
It is wrong to blame farmers for using water to produce food for us. Most of the water the farmers use returns to the river anyway. Farming has always been the greatest industry of the state. They give us food and contribute immensely to the income of local businesses. It is totally wrong to destroy this fabulous industry just so people can drive their clean SUVs to beautiful golf courses.
Had we been allowed to build Two Forks Dam when it was proposed, much of our water problems would have been solved by now. To build it now will probably cost 10 times as much as it would have 25 years ago. What a terrible travesty it was to have this fabulous project stopped by people who are now trying to eliminate the farmers.
S.H. “Bud” Scott, Brighton
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (18) | TrackBackU.N. a great forum for Ahmadinejad, his ilk
Why all the fuss about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad appearing at the United Nations? The U.N. actually performs an important service by providing buffoons and tyrants a worldwide stage, thus giving them all the rope they need to hang themselves in the court of public opinion.
Remember Hugo Chavez of Venezuela last year, and the smell of sulphur he ranted about? It proved to all the world that he is a clown. And how about Fidel Castro in years past, with all his bellicose huffing and puffing? It did nothing to enhance his stature in the world community, but only diminished his credibility. And who could forget the granddaddy of them all — Nikita Khrushchev’s shoe-pounding tantrum in 1960? If there was ever a moment that set the former Soviet Union firmly upon its march into the dustbin of history, that was it.
As Ahmadinejad proved, he is no different than these others.
James J. Amato
President, Pikes Peak Chapter, United Nations Association of the USA
Woodland Park
GOP talks the talk but won’t walk the walk
So one or more Republicans find a proposed sales tax referendum for disability services “heavy-handed”? (“Rift forms over aid for the disabled,” Sept. 19.) Well you might ask the parents of adults who cannot care for themselves what they think. Or the law enforcement officers who have to answer calls due to family stress relating to caring for adults with disabilities. Or the persons with disabilities who are worried or depressed because they cannot find or keep a job, the most obvious measure of success in this society. Or even all the highly paid medical professionals who keep infants and children alive at any price — to others.
In the 1980s a majority of this nation brought about a “family values” and “right-to-life” agenda. Most of these people were the very Republicans now whining about the cost; where are their right-to-life family values now? Because I don’t see them coming to my house everyday to make sure my adult daughter takes care of herself.
Cynthia Barnes, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (27) | TrackBackA 10th-grade effort
I would ask columnist Paul Campos whether he has any evidence to support his column of Sept. 25, “Is Bill Kristol respectable?” Or are we to assume that the associative responses in his head are news?
This piece had all of the intellectual and journalistic value of a 10th-grade creative writing assignment. All that was missing was a little more angst.
It’s impossible to disagree with someone who is only reporting what he thinks. If he thinks this, then by definition, he thinks this. If Campos were Sally Field it might be news. But he doesn’t have her stature, so it isn’t.
Why is the Rocky paying this guy?
Yaakov “Jim” Watkins, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBackLight rail no bargain
The front page of the Sept. 19 Rocky Mountain News carried a “refer” that read “Nearly nine out of 10 rail riders believe light’s fantastic,” in reference to the Regional Transportation District’s light-rail service.
Well, they should think it’s fantastic because the 99 percent of the population that doesn’t ride light rail each day pays for the light-rail rider’s ticket.
The light-rail ride should be even more fantastic during noncommuter hours or on weekends, since the rider often has a car to himself or even an entire train.
To paraphrase Winston Churchill: Never has so much been spent by so many for so few.
Robert Gray, Foxfield
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
I had the recent displeasure of having my life threatened in front of my own home in North Park Hill by two strangers in the middle of the night so I called 911. Almost fifty(50) minutes later the police showed up apologizing and explaining that they were on other calls. Of course by then the suspects had disappeared.
This response time to a 911 call did not sit well with me or some of my neighbors. We were beginning to wonder if our city’s priorities were misplaced for having new beautiful architectural marvels of police headquarter buildings but not enough money for police to patrol the streets!
I called our city council representative, I received no response. I then e-mailed the Mayor’s office and the entire city council. I did not get a response from the Mayor’s office but did hear back from our councilman who directed me to contact the Commander of our local police station so that I could do all the “leg work” on this serious 911 response time issue.
Our block is now going to participate in a neighborhood crime watch program which is good but I was told multiple times by the police that their staffing is adequate and multiple times I was referred to the latest “statistics” recently published that shows Denver’s crime rate dropping over 2006 figures.
As we have noticed a definite spike in property crimes in our neighborhood since January, these crimes on our block did not make any sense until I read the article and particularly the caption written by Shepard Nevel: “Since 1994, while Denver’s population has increased by 21 percent...the number of (police) officers has increased by only 5 percent".
Mr. Nevels’ writing of our city’s low police force staffing and high crime rate compared to other cities is refreshingly candid! Thank you for making this serious issue finally clear. It is still though alarmingly frightening that our city leaders are not doing anything about police staffing but putting a “spin” on certain numbers nor do they seem to really care by not responding to my e-mails or calls.
Any plans for running for political office Mr. Nevel? You’ll certainly have my vote as we need a straight talker like you in Denver government. Thank you again.
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Sticky notes block headlines
Either way, what is the point of a headline if the publisher obviously feels advertising is more important? I know that advertising supports the news but it’s beginning to seem like the Rocky thinks news is secondary.
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Health care and homelessness
Now, because of the medications we take, no health insurance company will insure us. I have been told by all I have called that we need “Group Insurance". We cannot get group insurance. His employer does not provide it anymore. We are behind on rent and utilities. Our utilities are going to be shut off. We will soon be homeless. A friend took me to Jeffco Action Center for help with the utilities. This is what took place. We arrived early as instructed ( first come,first serve) we were fifth in line for assistance.
A man with a clipboard came out of the building and had people signing the paper on the clipboard. Having never been there before, I did not know what this was for, he passed right by us. On his way back into the center, we stopped him to ask if I needed to sign the paper. He said “Yes, because that is the order in which they help people.”
We pointed out that we were fifth in line, and that he had passed us by. He had me sign the bottom of the page, and said he would let them know inside, that I was actually fifth not last. He drew an arrow from my name to a space between the fourth and sixth names. ( He seemed to know most of the people there by name). We waited for over an hour. I saw people going into the interview room that had been behind me in line. He came out to let me know that he was sorry, they only had enough funding to help the first twelve people. I reminded him, by showing him the arrow from my name to the fifth position in line. He said “ Sorry". I have called every church in the phone book. No one will help. Please help, we are an average American family. I believe this is how many families become homeless. (There is no more funding until November. We need help. The money can go straight to Xcel Energy, and our Landlord. If anyone can help. I will give you the information you need. The lease agreement for the landlord, the account number for Xcel, anything. We have lived here ten years! Our medications and doctor visits are about $900.00 per month. Once we are current, we can stay current
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Lee Greenwood’s concert cancellation
Greenwood. Sadly enough, I think this should have been taken care of long before the evenings events began, and that is really the issue that faced the audience that night. Failure to complete contract negotiations by these parties, in my opinion, does absolutely nothing to discredit either party. Both are long time supporters of the above listed and both have devoted years and tremendous energy to support these organizations. It was an unexpected disappointment to those seated in the audience that night and while many grew angry I believe most of us were in shock and quite confused by the turn of events. The audience was not privy to the facts and issues regarding the contract negotiations. Therefore it’s my opinion that we should avoid passing judgment against anyone involved. We will each live with our disappointment and encourage those involved to take appropriate steps so that this doesn’t ever happen again. Simply stated...mistakes were made and the concert was cancelled. Let’s move forward in unity for our beautiful state and country and continue to support all those who contribute in a positive and generous way to the freedom and quality of life that we enjoy as Americans in this great country. Please don’t dismiss years of dedication by either of these men because one event was cancelled. Together...there is nothing we cannot do; Divided...
Thank you.
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If U.S. bombs Iran
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Iranian President & 9/11
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No justification for war
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Freedom of speech
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Ann Mcfeatters column
She claims they too “...are afraid to rile the party base” and she is absolutely right. While Republicans fear their base the difference is their base is the American public not Moveon.smear.
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The freedom of others better serves our own
I would like to thank Rocky Mountain News writer James Meadow for penning such an articulate article about my father’s experience as a pilot in World War II (Maj. Fred Jeffers, “Their War,” Sept. 22). Also a big thanks to Steve Nickerson for his photographic efforts.
One thing I learned growing up, aware of the huge price that was paid for my freedom, the world at war during those times was fought in faraway places.
Many people thought it was none of our business to go “over there” and get involved in the war. Germany wasn’t any of our business. The Philippines weren’t any of our business, etc. Are Iraq and Afghanistan none of our business, too? I guess time will tell.
Either way, plus or minus, our freedom is better served when others are free as well. Our freedom is diminished when others are not free.
Tish Jeffers, Centennial
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBackThe wrong battle front
I believe the answer to letter writer Darrel Richardson’s question — “When will al-Qaida and the terrorists who want to destroy America surrender?” — is never and, under the present and perhaps future administration, the troops can never come home. This is based on Richardson’s apparent view of this situation (“The wrong question,” Sept. 19).
Al-Qaida/terrorists will only be defeated when all nations stand up to them — preferably united in purpose. Terrorist leaders must be killed, imprisoned or disabled, and their funds/weapons must be cut off.
The Iraq war is not the right battle front. It is so complex and involves so much more than al-Qaida that it has become virtually impossible for any complete, sustainable success.
Roy M. Cantrell, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (21) | TrackBackNo to Army expansion
I am very opposed to Fort Carson acquiring more property for training (“Senate OKs 1-year hold on Piñon site,” Sept. 7). It is very poor from an ecological standpoint to churn up valuable farmland and turn it into a dust bowl by the military. When the Lord said to subdue the Earth it was not the intent of the Almighty to have it subdued by tanks.
We have not been instructed to turn our plowshares into guns. Rather we are instructed to turn our guns into plowshares.
Helen Clark, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (7) | TrackBackThe Bush administration continues to pursue in Iraq, not a failed strategy or a misguided plan, but a war of false purposes, of corporate hegemony in the Middle East. Leaving has never figured into the Neocon campaign, because their ultimate goal has nothing to do with defeating anyone or reaching a logical end point.
Therefore, it is up to the Congress to do their Constitutional duty in this matter. They must impeach Bush and Cheney, of course, and while that is progressing they must also refuse to fund anything that does not constitute an orderly and deliberate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Left to their own devices, Bush and Company will never end this occupation. The Congress must act for the people and end it for them.
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Stop the war in Iraq
We must stop the US actions in Iraq. This is a civil war and we have no business in a civil war. Let the Iraq people decide their own fate. With American ingenuity, there is no reason to stay and fight for the oil there. We can devise other energy methods.
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CSU’s editorial
Re; Article from Rocky Mountain News, Saturday, 9/22/07; CSU paper draws heat for editorials.
It is apparent that free speech here in The USA is the next censure we Americans will face under the Bush/Cheney regime.
Shouldn’t we speak out to prevent Buch/Cheney from initiating a nuclear attack on Iran?
Shouldn’t we speak out for the 3,790 US Troops that have been killed in the Bush/Cheney war in Iraq for oil and money?
Shouldn’t we speak out to against the Bush/Cheney State Department for using the Black Water mercenaries to kill innocent Iraqis?
Shouldn’t we speak out for the 650,000 plus innocent Iraqi civilians that have been killed in the Bush/Cheney Iraq war?
Shouldn’t we speak out against Haliburton and the criminal behavior of the Bush/Cheney awarding no bid contracts for their war in Iraq?
Shouldn’t we speak out against the Bush/Cheney crimes of illegal spying, torture, signing statements that arrogate legislative powers to the executive branch, schemes to punish political foes and refusal to cooperate with congressional inquires?
We cannot allow our speech to be silenced by these greed driven war mongers.
I do fully agree with the young scholars of CSU; F———— Bush!!
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Jena 6 & OJ Simpson
Once again activist American Blacks prove that they are leaders in and at the forefront of American society’s charge for human rights. By peacefully descending thousands strong on the tiny Louisiana town of Jena to protest the apparent discrepancy in charges between the White and Black kids in their high-school racial ‘dispute’ 9/20 they’ve certainly reconfirmed this in my mind. It was reassuring to see such spontaneous action by so many concerned and dedicated (to not returning to the past) people and is something we can all be proud of.
It was certainly a positive contrast to the news of that murdering idiot OJ Simpson’s arrest. And as for OJ I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again the old words ‘Those Whom the Gods would destroy would first drive mad’ seem to seriously apply here.
For him to behave as if none of the rules of a civilized society apply to him in that pathetic ‘I thought what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’ statement indicates to me that the Gods and perhaps his own ego are indeed driving him mad. Well the first part seems a done deal.
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Emma Jean Amrhein
The piece that Tom Noel wrote in today’s Rocky on the remarkable human being, Emma Jean Amrhein, (” E.J."), nurse extraordinaire, made we weep tears of joy! What an inspiration that lady appears to have been for her contemporaries and for those yet to enter the nursing profession. I would bet that those long ago patients lucky enough to have found themselves under her loving care at Colorado Gen’l got well twice as fast as those who did not!
Thank you for giving her, and the nursing profession that she represents, the recognition which she and they so richly deserve.
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Rep. Mark Udall and Iraq
I’ve visited Representative Mark Udall"s office many times over the past year. Usually, I"ve had a “concerned” representative of Representative Udall responding to my queries about the necessity of the Iraq war. On Thursday Sept. 20, I was greeted by an empty desk with a microphone on it. As my friends addressed
Never mind the maiming and destruction of a people in a far away land Poor Mr. Udall, with 600,000 constituents to deal with, how can he waste time on Iraq. He’s stated his case, he supports the troops, although he doesn’t elaborate. I assume he supports the tens of thousands of soldiers with post traumatic stress disorder, and the tens of thousands of maimed and injured, and the 3880 body bags, and the fact that most soldiers know not what they’re fighting for nor whom they are fighting! On top of all this, he has to raise campaign funds for his Senate bid! BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Never mind the maiming and destruction of a people in a far away land!
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MoveOn.org’s ad
On Thursday, the Senate voted on and passed an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill to “strongly repudiate” the ad MoveOn ran in the New York Times to question General Petraeus’ recent testimony, calling it a personal attack, which is absolutely ridiculous. What is it that compels them to step out of their line of duty to rush to the General’s defense and wag a disapproving finger at anyone who dares to question him? The ad is fact-based. It takes a much-needed critical look at Petraeus’ statements and points out that they contradict recent independent reports, citing reporting in the mainstream media that reveals the Pentagon’s flawed methods of deriving its information. Is the Senate’s time this cheap, and more importantly, are our lawmakers this petty? Both Senators Allard and Salazar are among those who voted for this junk rather than focusing on the real issue at hand. Shame on them.
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Obey the law
Delio D. Tamayo offered here (9/19/07) what he describes as a “Latin proverb” that teaches, in effect, that if five people tell you that you are an ass; you are an ass. This must be the sort of wisdom that has lead to the Golden Age in Mexico. But wait a minute, if this is the Golden Age of Mexico, how come so many Mexicans are risking their lives streaming across the border illegally?
Mr. Tamayo, allow me to offer you a proverb from us Gringos who are “stranded on the far-right” - Obey the Law.
That one has worked pretty well up north here. It would probably work in Mexico too.
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208 health care commission
The Colorado’s 208 Commission on Health Care has run out of gas and is by the side of the road waiting for a tow. It’s very creation was founded on the assumption that our elected officials didn’t know what to do and they farmed it out to a blue ribbon commission. The idea of commissioning a group of citizens chaired by an insurance agent to solicit proposals from special interest groups without clearly defined and agreed upon requirements turned the whole adventure into a fools errand. The additional revelation that the Commission sought monies from outside interest groups is very disturbing. A reading of the minutes and proceedings of the Commission is also revealing. At one point they toyed with the idea of adding children because they weren’t represented.
When you design a skyscaper do you put janitors and elevator operators at the drafting table and give them crayons?
The Legislature and the Governor should seize upon this opportunity to kill this absurd process. They should just wait until the Democratic convention and let Hillary enlighten us as to how we should do it. She has it all figured out, I hear.
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Crime rates
Shepard Nevel’s Speakout column ("What dip in crime rate means,") 9/20/07) was placed right where it belonged - in the opinion section. I disagree with his opinion.
Anyone who listens to morning radio in this town is aware that there is no dip in the crime rate; there is a refusal by the Denver D.A.’s office to prosecute criminals. I guess that’s one way to get those numbers down!
Just this week, a deadly car chase and attempted murder-by-vehicle of undercover and uniformed police officers by an auto-theft ring provides a perfect example. Out of seven defendants, most with extensive rap sheets and some known to have been previously held by I.C.E., six were allowed to walk away.
That’s not a dip in crime - that’s the district attorney’s office refusing to do their sworn duty.
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What about Aurora’s unkempt properties?
Just two weeks ago, my husband and I became first-time homeowners.
We purchased a dilapidated HUD home in northern Aurora that we are currently in the process of remodeling. Then, much to my surprise, we received a notice of violation in the mail from the city of Aurora that we need to cut the weeds and pick up the trash or we will be assessed a fine. At that point, we had only legally owned the home for 10 days and we do not even currently reside there since major work is being done.
My son and I often walk down a sidewalk that parallels Sixth Avenue between Moline and Dayton streets. I would like to give the city of Aurora a notice of violation for the unruly flowers, shrubs and trees that are hanging overhead and have grown onto the path. There are dead tree limbs that could fall on my baby’s head!
In addition to the vegetation problems, there is always litter spread around. And to top it all off, there is a decaying cat corpse that has been on the sidewalk for approximately two months that nobody has bothered to clean up. I’ve taken note of it, wondering if the city or a good neighbor might pick up the body.
Why is the city not expected to clean up its property while I am expected to clean up mine? Don’t we have jails full of people with time on their hands? If city workers can’t or won’t do tree-trimming and trash pick up, why can’t light offenders or juvenile detention kids get out and clean up the city?
Mary M. Duncan, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (11) | TrackBackGOP has to draw the line somewhere
Now let me get this straight.
The Republicans are comfortable with a president who lied in order to involve us in an unconstitutional, genocidal war in Iraq. And apparently they’re also OK with torture, secret detention, clandestine prisons, election tampering, influence peddling, global warming (which they prefer to call “climate change”) and a ruthless war on the middle class.
Nor was it a problem when the vice president shot a friend in the face and refused to speak to the police, or when the president groped the German chancellor.
Clearly they are good with leaks of classified information to the press and a cover-up resulting in a perjury conviction. And they don’t seem to be very disturbed that the president is trying to open yet another war, this time with Iran.
No one seems to be losing much sleep over an unsustainable budget deficit of trillions of dollars or the economic collapse this portends.
But when a closeted Republican senator gets busted making a pass at an undercover police officer, the wrath of the entire party is loosed.
I guess they had to draw the line somewhere.
Steven Shelton, Westminster
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (44) | TrackBackMoveon.org ad tizzy a diversionary tactic
I’ll believe the right-wingers’ indignity over the “General Betrayus” ad (saying it undermines discourse in this country) when they also come out and denounce the many times this administration and its minions have described us anti-war folks as “traitors” and “cut-and-runners” and “siding with the terrorists.”
Why didn’t the author of “Has Moveon.org no decency?” (Sept. 12) pose the question, “Do the Bush administration and its followers have no decency?” My guess is that the feigned indignity was more about trying to deflect attention from the real story of the day — that Gen. David Petraeus was going to say whatever the Bush administration told him to say and that we’re staying in Iraq even though the majority of Americans want us out.
By the way, I just mailed a substantial check to Move.on.org. I hope they use it to begin exposing all the chicken hawks like Bush, Cheney, Limbaugh, Hannity, et al., and the rest who carry water for this corrupt administration. It’s about time they were exposed for what they are.
Kathy Madden, Aurora
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (55) | TrackBackCampos’ side better be prepared
What most intrigued me about “Is Bill Kristol respectable?” — Paul Campos’ column in the Sept. 25 Rocky — was the challenge of understanding the underlying dispositions that could lead one to a reasonable conclusion that other people love war and the infliction of mortal suffering on foreign strangers.
The only way I can twist myself into that conclusion with reason is to suspend all sorts of proven facts about humanity and the world.
Campos mistakes a passion for our own survival as a form of masochism. And he places all moral responsibility for war on conservative shoulders, as if this war was and remains unprovoked. Should Campos’ side succeed in convincing a majority of Americans to accept its tunnel vision of the world, I hope he has a good hiding place from our enemies to go to, because come they will.
Brooks Imperial, Kiowa
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (19) | TrackBackHeartbroken
I am truly heartbroken to hear about the deaths of Sgt. Omar Mora and Sgt. Yance Gray, two of the seven active-duty soldiers who wrote a New York Times Op-Ed piece refuting the right-wing talking points of the Iraq war (“Mom wants answers in soldiers’ deaths,” Sept. 13).
They have heroically given up their lives, and left wives and daughters behind, because it was their duty to follow the orders of the commander-in-chief. Each one of us needs to write to his or her congressional representatives and let them know we are done with Bush’s war. Our troops need to come home and protect us here.
Our national security is not aided by continuing operations in Iraq.
Jeri A. Logan, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBackThose who shouldn’t decide on drilling
In spite of the Rocky’s support, hyperventilating county commissioners with dollar signs in their eyes are hardly the logical people to decide whether or not it is appropriate to drill atop the Roan Plateau or in the Vermillion Basin (“Let’s develop the Roan responsibly,” Aug. 29). Neither are those in the extractive industries (oil, gas, timber and mining) who salivate at the prospect of pillaging public land for corporate profit. It’s about the money, baby!
Survey after survey has shown that a large majority of the public wants these kind of places protected from this sort of exploitation.
When the decisions to drill or not are made, we’ll see whose side the decision-makers are on, and whose interests they support. We already know where the Bureau of Land Management stands with the anti-environmental administration prodding them.
P. Riley, Brighton
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (9) | TrackBackThe letter from Linda Graham, RN, BSN was spot on and highlighted a significant problem: “medical advice” gleaned from the web. WebMD was specifically cited and indeed, is one of the more worrisome sources. It has gathered a rather large following and has even expanded into a slick color magazine format. Some of the information passed along on the web is reasonably documented. Most is not. Very small studies are cited and most of these are not from peer reviewed journals. It apparently appeals to the conspiracy theorists among us. They are sure that there are cures for most of mankind’s ills but “they” (physicians, pharmaceutical companies, anyone who attempts to practice evidence-base medicine) are concealing these cures for pecuniary reasons. I have practiced medicine for almost fifty years and can state, unequivocally, that if cures exist, they are widely and unselfishly disseminated via reputable, peer-reviewed journals. No physician I have ever known would knowingly let a patient die or even suffer, if there was a treatment for relief of symptoms or cure of the condition in question. We live in an age of almost daily miracles, medical and other. Unfortunately, there is not a miracle for everyone, every day. Also, unfortunately, there are unscrupulous folks who would prey on suffering fellow humans, offering modern versions of snake oil. Shame on them and shame on us for buying their wares.
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How Iranian President was treated
Students faculty, Alumni and all Americans should be embarrassed by the treatment received by the democratically elected President of Iran from the appointed President of Columbia University. Good manners requires respectful treatment of invited guests. Academic freedom requires that students be informed and when informed be allowed to make their own judgment about the information received and its source. They don’t need an indoctrination by the president of the university first in order to make an informed judgment about what the President has to say.
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The Rocky Mountain Collegian editorial
It is truly sad to see CSU, which has been traditionally an institution which evoked much pride not only from alumni but from all Colorado residents, start down the same path of radical, MoveOn.org liberalism that has transformed CU-Boulder into a source of shame and embarrassment. Let’s hope the CSU leadership heeds the warning signs like the recent outrageous slur in the college newspaper and rights the ship before it sinks in the muck of the socialist/liberal agenda.
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Illegal immigrant issues
WHO WILL WRITE ABOUT OUR WOES?
There are hard working taxpayers who are finding it difficult to pay the tuition for their children.Yet, our lawmakers are now planning to reward the children of illegal immigrants with resident tuition through the dream act. Everyday, I hear stories from people whose jobs and contracts have been given to illegal immigrants. People are losing jobs, homes and families.Yet, we only read stories about the hard working “Undocumented Workers who only take the jobs Americans will not take". Our ID’s are stolen. Police officers are killed.
Recently, the farmers want more illegal immigrants for Cheap labor as if native labor is not available. We never had a budget crisis in Colorado for nearly a decade. Now, we are forced into a tax hike. Our school system, health care system and public services are overwhelmed with demands for additional funding. Because, our population has grown manifolds during the past 10 years.
Besides economic crisis, we are losing our language and culture.
Everyone is aware of this. Yet our newspapers glorify only the hard working “Illegal Immigrants “No not really, they are undocumented workers. Bill Johnson, Diane Carman and Tina Griego. accuse Americans as Racists for raising these issues. The result is the American middle class is soon becoming an endangered species.
When will our newspapers write about our own woes and troubles and start caring about Struggling Americans?
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Iranian President Ahmadinejad
It should be evident that President Ahmadinejad wants to lay a wreath at the World Trade Center site to honor the fallen hijackers and no one else.
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Bill Johnson & Greeley forum
Bill Johnson neglected some key points in addressing last week’s town meeting in Greeley. Cities and towns all across America are holding similar meetings. In view of frustrations over an almost complete lack of will in the White House to enforce federal immigration law and the recent “sanctuary” declarations of a few large cities across America, U. S. Citizens are growing more fearful of the influx of the unknown. Neither Greeley law enforcement officials or legal inhabitants will ever know how many of its residents pose a potential threat to security. Various United States government agencies have estimated that somewhere between 12 and 30 million illegal aliens reside across America. These are obviously guesses and the resultant fear is leading to its ugly first cousin, anger. U. S. security agencies have admitted that terrorist “sleeper” cells exist here and future attacks are imminent.
If illegal residents were granted some sort of instant amnesty, what kind of security would they expect from for their families from their new government? I think they would likely gather with the rest of us in peaceful town meetings to relate experiences and discuss the security of their children and grandchildren. They would likely wonder why they should spend billions annually on a Department of Homeland Security which only makes empty gestures to protect our ports and borders. They would probably be influenced to demonstrate their anxieties toward their new government of choice. They might even realize that legal residence in a successful democracy requires active and responsible participation, just like those 600 citizens on that Tuesday night in Greeley.
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J. Jackson & A. Sharpton are “racist agitators”
When a gang of “chip on their shoulders” black youth terrorize and beat white kids, it’s called an “expression of ethnic identity". But if the white kids band together for protection, it’s called “racist white supremacy!”
The biggest racists in this whole mess are Jessie Jackson and Rev Al Sharpton! The foundational outrage in all of this is the Progressive theological notion that “only the dominant group can be racist", which is utter nonsense! Either we strive for Martin Luther King’s color blind society or we do not!
The reverse discrimination to “undo the years of discrimination” is fraudulent! And there is no mechanism to turn it off, no way to measure when “enough is enough!” It is conferring perks and privilege on the basis of skin color, which has fragmented our nation into warring racial and ethnic groups. Diversity is NOT our strength! It is a weakening division and conflict. (But weakening America has always been the Progressive agenda!) Our forefathers realized that in order to build unity they had to leave religious denomination off the table. So must we now concerning race and ethnicity. We enjoy our rights and liberties on an individual basis, not on the basis of our race. We need to eliminate the 3 pages of racial group check boxes we find now on every government application!
The racist agitators such as Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton need to be shamed, imprisoned, put out of business and recognized as the hypocrites they are!
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Racism alive in America
Blacks can proclaim “Black power” and Hispanics can yell “Brown power” and that is free speech that must be accepted and defended; have a white student proclaim “White power” and...that it different.
Have six white people gang up on a black person and beat him almost to death and Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton will decry the actions of the lynch-mob racists — no matter what the black person may or may not have done days before. But have six black people gang up on a white person and beat the white person almost to death —- and that is different. Jackson and Sharpton will defend and justify the actions of black lynch-mob racists simply because they are black lynch-mob racists.
Yes, racists are alive and well in this country — as recent events clearly show.
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Americans should sacrifice for Iraq war
RE: “Deeds, not decals,” Saturday 9/22/07 Dear Editor: Your article, “Deeds, not decals,” shows a total misunderstanding of Ken Burns’ words as well as a distressing lack of knowledge about World War II.
Those of us who lived through that war understand his words perfectly. We are likewise “appalled and insulted” by the lack of sacrifice asked of Americans while our troops are dying in foreign wars. Burns is not seeking suggestions as to how he can help, he is reminding us that in the second World War, EVERYONE made sacrifices, not just the participating troops and their families.
Americans learned to live with rationing - gasoline, tires, sugar, butter. We spent our money on war bonds, not shopping sprees as our current president urges.
These are the ways we should be supporting our troops. Selling bonds or setting a war tax would let everyone share the burden and it would also help pay for the current war. Gasoline rationing would decrease our dependence on foreign oil, lessening the need for war.
The politicians who took us to war should have the courage to take these actions.
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Regarding a Denver Post editorial
As we might expect, the Denver Post editorial is once again defending habeas corpus for terrorist suspects. Yet, this is hardly surprising. The Post has been a vigorous supporter of terrorist suspects, while at the same time, failing to defend our own troops on the field. It is, in essence, nothing less than a blatant attempt to excoriate the Bush administration for its own political gain. Hats off to Sen. Wayne Allard for his vote to defeat this defeatist scheme!
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Little wonder so few know Constitution
Thank you, Rocky Mountain News, for remembering Constitution Day with “Constitution Day a blank for students” (Sept. 17) and the same day’s Speakout column, “Founders’ genius: leave power widely dispersed.” Sadly, the law creating Constitution Day and requiring “any school and college receiving federal money to teach about the Constitution on or about Sept. 17” is, itself, a violation of the Constitution.
The Constitution grants no authority to Congress regarding education whatsoever. As a result, every federal educational regulation, mandate or budget item is unconstitutional.
Our youth are ignorant about the Constitution because our politicians ignore it (and their duty to protect it) except when giving rah-rah speeches.
The Founders’ genius was not simply spreading power among three branches of federal government, but in leaving most power in the hands of state governments and the people of those states directly. We do a great disservice to the Constitution by ignoring the checks and balances between the states, the people and the other branches of government — the first of which is the limitation of the federal government to the 17 enumerated powers of Article I, Section 8.
John R. Pack, Parker
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (142) | TrackBackCharge mountain drivers $100 a head
In his recent online letter to the editor, “Mountain property owners” (RockyMountainNews.com), James Scott complains about the traffic congestion he ran into on a Sunday afternoon as he and his fellow metro-area residents tried to make their way back home after a weekend in the mountains.
Apparently not realizing that he was contributing to the very problem he was complaining about, Scott seems to think the solution is to punish people such as myself who live and work in the mountains by raising our property taxes and forcing us to post a large bond.
I have a different solution to Scott’s problem.
From Friday to Monday morning, turn all roads and highways leading from the metro area into the mountains into toll roads for personal vehicles with a fee of $100 per person and issue free passes for mountain residents. Not only would that ease the congestion, but the funds could be used to pay for all of the highway expansions, upgrades, repairs and maintenance as well as police and emergency services, such as ambulance and mountain rescue, required to support his weekend forays into the mountains.
Dean Rowe, Bailey
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (23) | TrackBackSalazar merits thanks for anti-war efforts
Sen. Ken Salazar deserves Coloradans’ thanks for his recent statement supporting a significant withdrawal of troops and possibly cutting off funding for anything but bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq (“Salazar out to end U.S.combat role,” Sept. 18).
With a growing majority of Coloradans opposing the ongoing war in Iraq, as well as countless lives lost and more than $450 billion spent, it’s time for everyone in Colorado’s congressional delegation to support plans to the end the war.
Salazar’s commitment to visit Iraq and speak directly with soldiers is respectable and we’re glad that he has taken important steps to strengthen his previous support for the Iraq Study Group recommendations. It’s our hope that others who represent Colorado on Capitol Hill, including Sen. Wayne Allard, will stop supporting President Bush’s endless war. Colorado, Iraq and our troops all deserve better.
Jane Feustel
Colorado Progressive Action
Denver
Misplaced priorities
So Sen. Ken Salazar returned from Iraq on Sept. 17 pushing legislation that would force the Iraqi government and the Iraqi people to secure the peace for Iraq (“Salazar out to end U.S. combat role,” Sept. 18).
Gee, wouldn’t it be nice if he would stay home and work on securing the borders and protecting the American people from invaders and lawbreakers who are streaming into this country illegally every day? Or am I dreaming?
Cathy Swartwood, Morrison
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (13) | TrackBackSome ‘compassion’
It is heartwarming to see the compassion shown by Director Doug Kelley and Denver Animal Care & Control regarding Romeo, the chow mix that heroically defended its dead friend in the middle of the road (“Hark, it’s Romeo’s sad tale,” Sept. 20).
Too bad Kelley and his fellow workers did not show that same compassion a few months ago when they executed 21 adult pit bulls and 12 puppies whose only crime had involved being brought into Denver in a truck by a moronic owner.
Too bad they don’t show that same compassion each year as they euthanize hundreds of pit bulls, American Staffordshire terriers, Staffordshire bull terriers and their relatives at Denver’s killing centers.
Still, I guess a little compassion is better than none at all.
David Riethmann, Arvada
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBackDeGette’s wilderness plan applauded
I would like to applaud U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette’s action to represent the interest of Colorado citizens rather than the deep-pocketed oil and gas industry (“DeGette unveils plan to designate 1.6 million acres as wilderness,” Sept. 13).
Her proposal halts the destruction of Colorado’s most pristine lands from oil and gas excavation so that we and future generations can enjoy them for years to come. If we fail to protect Colorado’s most valuable resource and biggest attraction with strict restrictions, the oil and gas industry — only interested in deepening its already overflowing pockets — will suck the beauty from our beloved land.
By designating 20 percent of Colorado’s land as wilderness, we will ensure that we can keep the oil and gas industry at bay. If we don’t, we might have to replace our well-known and loved silhouette of mountains on our license plates with that of oil and gas pumps and derricks.
I urge all representatives to shun the influence of money from the oil and gas industry and instead represent the wishes of Colorado citizens.
John E. Schleicher, Boulder
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBackLittwin’s hero
In his Sept. 18 column, “Bill Clinton elicits what we liked, would like to forget,” Mike Littwin speaks fondly of former President Bill Clinton. He neglects to mention the Whitewater fraud, Travelgate, accusations of sexual assault, allowing Osama bin Laden to escape twice, a contempt of court judgment, loss of Arkansas law license, pardoning many criminals, etc.
One wonders how anyone could be fond of people like this. Alas, Littwin appears to be the perfect representative of such.
Charles Newton, Highlands Ranch
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (12) | TrackBackCat owners beware
Today I had a sad, traumatic job — cleaning up the remains of a neighborhood cat that had been killed and eaten by a fox (or coyote?) on my east Denver lawn. With the destruction of habitat such as at Lowry and Stapleton, wild animals have migrated into nearby residential areas where food is scarce. Outdoor cat owners be aware: Your pets are not safe from these hungry predators, day or night!
Karen Hickey, Denver
Posted by denver-admin at 12:01 AM | Comments (20) | TrackBackA DIFFERING VIEW: 'Restorative justice' unfair to the kids who behave
The Rocky’s editorial, “Keeping them in school/ ‘Restorative justice’ just might work,” ignores other stakeholders. While solving the offender’s problems is ideal, detracting from the other 35 students’ education is wrong.
Anyone who has been in a classroom knows that one persistent offender can effectively keep other students from learning anything. With two offenders, you might as well send everyone home. With three, you have a circus.
The Rocky notes that several schools already use restorative justice or something like it. Yet teachers asked for more tools. That indicates that restorative justice isn’t working well. Otherwise, test scores would have improved.
If you were one of the other 35 students in the class, what would you do if you wanted to learn? If your child reported persistent troublemaker(s), what would you do?
Restorative justice isn’t fair to anyone else.
Ultimately, it is not even fair to the offender. The subtle approaches convince the parents and students that everything is OK.
When the Rocky Mountain News has employee problems, does John Temple use restorative justice, three- strikes-and-you’re-out, or one-strike-and-you’re-out?
If the offender’s problems are that bad, then put him with a teacher who has specialized skills.
Yaakov “Jim” Watkins is a resident of Denver.