Questions about the shooting of Denver cop
Re: “Shooting of Denver police officer,” May 17 Open Forum.
Letter-writer J.J. Barrera makes it sound like suspected killer Raul Garcia-Gomez is the victim, rather than the slain police officer, Donald Young.
There is absolutely no justification for the ambush killing of a Denver police officer and the wounding of his partner. If Garcia-Gomez is such an upstanding member of our community, why doesn’t he return to Denver and face whatever criminal charges are appropriate? Why doesn’t he act like a father to his daughter, and be responsible to the mother of his child?
The question is not: “What caused the deadly provocation that turned a peaceful young man into a killer?” The question is: Why does the community put up with a policy that allows illegal immigrants to be treated as though they have diplomatic immunity? There should be no tolerance for illegal immigrants who commit crimes while in the United States illegally.
John C. Gessert, Denver
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Letter-writer Tim Flynn writes that Denver Police detective Donald Young’s death does not merit more consideration than the death of Luis Romero, a civilian, who was killed on the same day. Flynn is absolutely and unequivocally wrong.
The death of Luis Romero is a tragedy not only for his family, but for our community, as is the death of any child. It is also a fact that the death of Detective Young merits greater consideration in both the media and the community. A police officer represents the law and adherence to the law by all. An officer is too frequently the only difference between our security and an obituary. Suspect Raul Garcia-Gomez did not just kill a man. He allegedly killed a representative of the law, a man who dedicated his life to protecting all of us and making us safe.
Denver police will continue to work diligently – not only to find Garcia-Gomez, but to find Luis Romero’s killer. Both will be brought to justice.
Sandra Wiese, Westminster
Consequences of Newsweek’s Koran story
Re: “Newsweek played risky game,” May 17 editorial.
The Post writes, “Basing a news story on a single ‘anonymous source’ is inherently risky.” White House spokesman Scott McClellan adds, “I think there’s a certain journalistic standard that should be met and in this instance it was not … . The report has had serious consequences … . People have lost their lives.”
I’d like to remind you of this exchange during an April 5, 2004, White House press briefing:
Question: “Does it concern the president that the primary source for the intelligence on the mobile biological weapons labs was a guy that U.S. intelligence never interviewed?
McClellan: “Well, again, all these issues will be looked at as part of a broad review by the independent commission that the president appointed. But it’s important that we look at what we learn on the ground and compare that with what we believed prior to going into Iraq.”
This country went to war on the basis of highly dubious, uncorroborated sources. As we read in the lamentably underreported “Downing Street Memo,” “(our) intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy.” Yes, “people have lost their lives.” Rather more in Iraq than in Afghanistan too.
As they say: Pot, meet kettle.
Ray Berry, Evergreen
Parental responsibility
Re: “Parental involvement in education,” May 18 Open Forum.
While I agree with letter-writer Bill Smith that there are many parents today who do not take responsibility for the actions of their “offspring,” as he puts it, not all of us are “outsourcing” or avoiding our parental responsibility by choice.
Many homes have two incomes and parents who work 80-plus hours a week because they have to pay for the one car and small house they have, not because they have a large house and three cars they can’t afford. Some households have only one parent, trying to do the best they can with what they have, and crave time with their children. However, by and large, most Colorado companies are not fond of giving workers any additional time off beyond what they already take to cover mini-breaks, parent-teacher-conference days, volunteer days, teacher in-service days and the numerous other days off our children in public school take for the sanity of our overworked and underpaid teachers.
That leaves “outsourcing” our responsibilities, but it’s not by choice; for many of us, it’s out of necessity. There is no easy answer to the problem, but it’s more complicated than just blaming greedy parents for trying to gain social status and not caring about their children.
Lisa Spano, Lakewood
Vandalism of new Durango Starbucks
Re: “Vandals perk up Starbucks’ neighbors,” May 17 news story.
I am encouraged by the citizen and business responses to the vandalism of the new Starbucks in Durango.
Many worldwide corporations are shunned as threats to local entrepreneurs. But I think that vandalism is an inappropriate way to protest against large-business enterprise in a small-town locale.
I do not visit Starbucks, Wal-mart, or other such corporations. But I think all businesses have the same goals and should therefore be empathetic toward one another.
I am glad that Durango businesses demonstrated the positive side of humanity by extending their regards to Starbucks, through gifts and letters, in order to aid a neighbor.
Courtney Hibbard, Denver
License-tag thievery
Beware city residents! The newest prank on Denver’s streets is to remove the registration tag from the license plates of cars parked on the street. Once you notice the sticker is missing, you must immediately remove your car from city streets – there is no grace period. If you fail to act, you are liable for subsequent tickets, even if your car is legally registered.
This is especially unfortunate for those of us who cannot afford the luxury of a garage or driveway to park on, and worse for those of us who dare to live downtown. There is, of course, another option. You could leave your job, go to the DMV immediately, wait in line and request a new sticker. But most will simply have to pay.
Mayor John Hickenlooper has promised he would reform parking in Denver, make city government easier to navigate, and draw new residents to the city center. Has he accomplished anything? He may have to follow some of us to the more user-friendly suburbs to ask. That is, until we can afford to build a garage.
Brent E. Butzin, Denver
Deterioration of the American dream
Re: “Downsizing employees’ dreams,” May 18 Marie Cocco column.
When will the American working class wake up? Your pensions are being devoured, Social Security is under attack, the American health industry rolls in wealth while your coverage goes down the tubes, American CEOs are shoveling in the riches that your sweat produces while your jobs go to India, and your energy bills soar while energy companies break every profit record in their books.
When I was a child in the ’50s, a working man could buy a house and two cars, send his kids to college and earn an excellent retirement. Our education and health care systems were the best in the world. The local corporation, or industry, was actually a part of your community. Now, the American flags fly while the American dream gets sold out to the best foreign tax shelter. You work harder than ever (it’s a fact). Who benefits?
If you’re at the poker table and you don’t know who the sucker is, guess what?
George F. Hope, Morrison
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