State quarter chosen for Colorado
Re: “A quarter’s tale: mountains; Owens picks design with “statewide vision” for new 25-cent piece,” June 1 Denver & The West story.
I prefer the Minnesota Loon Quarter. At least that state made an effort to include the whole state. For us dwelling on the Eastern Plains or the west side of the Rockies, there is nothing in the chosen quarter to show we exist. As a flatland native, I have no fondness for the mountains and resent that the “color” in Colorful Colorado is ignored for us outside the Rockies beltway.
Janice E. James, Kirk
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Can we have “do-overs” on the design for our Colorado State quarter?
The governor made a very poor choice. “Colorful Colorado” is NOT our official state motto and never has been. “The Centennial State” is, and one of the design choices offered to Gov. Owens reflected that.
In addition, the “mountain” in the design he picked looks as though it has mine tailings below it.
It’s just ugly. Come on, Guv, you can do better than that.
Carolyn Haenselman, Denver
“The Art of War” and the battle in Iraq
I am a retired Army soldier who participated in combat in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. As a result of my extensive army experience, I have long been a student of Sun Tzu’s “The Art of War.” This little book is often regarded as the oldest military treatise in the world. It has provided advice and counsel to military leaders throughout the ages. The strategy and tactics have been used in modern wars, including the Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm and in the initial assault in the current war in Iraq.
Unfortunately, I am unable to find much advice in “Art of War” to cope with the quagmire that confronts us now in Iraq. Our troops are confronted by countless unidentifiable religious fanatics who willingly agree to go to paradise by killing innocent civilians, political and security leaders but most of all American soldiers who are not trained or equipped to combat suicide bombers.
One of Sun Tzu’s dictates is still relevant: “If he is superior in strength evade him.” For this reason, I believe our troops should be withdrawn from Iraq as soon as possible, after Iraq has a stable government and an adequate security force. We should then strive for the formation of an international body to oversee multilateral reconstruction of this war-torn country.
Protracted continuation of this unfortunate war can only lead to more hatred of our country and the appalling, unwarranted deaths of our valiant soldiers.
James F. Lynn, Louisville
Alcohol in parks
Re: “Wine with your picnic? Council studying plan,” June 8 Denver & The West story.
I’d like a few things clarified having to do with this absurd nonsense about selling alcohol in the parks. Alcohol consumption in the parks is currently illegal, but people do it. This in turn leads our esteemed City Council to decide the solution to getting rid of illegal drinking in the parks is to change the law to authorize what is currently illegal behavior.
What happened to simple ideas like personal responsibility? Upholding the law? Following the rules? Letting the majority rule? Representing the people who elected you instead of a very loud small group?
The fact that many of the parks where they plan to institute this – like Washington Park and Huston Lake Park – are completely surrounded by residential neighborhoods that do not want alcohol sales apparently makes no difference.
I am sick to death of the way things are modified to suit the current point of view, despite the ethics or honor or integrity that gets lost in the process. I am tired of people – like the City Council – making excuses for people who are irresponsible and who break the law. What is the thought process going on with our City Council and others that has them actively looking for ways to make the illegal and unacceptable behavior of a few suddenly legal and acceptable?
What has happened to personal responsibility in our society, in our government, and in our City Council? Why is it no longer politically correct to expect people to follow the rules and obey the laws? Answers, anyone?
Debi Drewes, Denver
Apology for lynchings
Only on C-SPAN did I see the deeply disturbing details of the history of the more than 7,500 lynchings in the U.S. The Senate on Monday decided to apologize for its failure to enact legislation to outlaw lynchings by passing a resolution. The vote was by unanimous consent as some legislators did not want their individual vote recorded.
Despite the fact that lynchings are one of the most disgusting parts of the history of this country, this act of quasi-remorse will no doubt be lost on the back pages of most newspapers and media while Michael Jackson’s acquittal will occupy the headlines for days.
This fact speaks volumes on the tragic state of our democracy and the Fourth Estate.
Jim Williams, Englewood
Therapist-patient confidentiality in court
Re: “Court seals rape-therapist data; Air Force bid is put on hold,” June 12 Denver & The West story.
Much attention is being focused on the issue of therapist-patient confidentiality. While this case has frightening implications in that area, there is an even bigger issue here. The Air Force – a military organization – had an arrest warrant
issued for a civilian who had committed no civilian crime. Even if one does not support therapist-patient confidentiality, we should all be concerned by this exercise of military power over our own civilians.
The military branch uses its special organizational legal status to justify different legal standards for its own personnel and prisoners. The military has its own courts with its own standards of proof, statutory rights, and privileges which dictate the course of its own legal proceedings. This same special status, which allows the military such latitude with its prisoners and court proceedings, should bar it from having any jurisdiction over civilians.
The military should be required to respect state and federal laws and go through a civilian judge and review process before any arrest warrants for civilians are issued. If an arrest warrant is then issued, it should be processed through civilian
courts applying civilian law.
When we allow the military courts this type of jurisdiction over our civilians, we are but a few short steps from becoming a true police state.
David W. Miller, Erie
CU students paying for funding cuts
Re: “Students pay for funding cuts,” June 8 editorial.
Does The Denver Post believe that Colorado’s middle-class college students should take a back seat to Ward Churchill’s merry band of Boulder bureaucrats? After reading your editorial, my middle-class family can draw no other conclusion.
You mislead readers by asserting that budget cuts caused tuition hikes for in-state students at CU’s statewide campuses. True, state support to CU has fallen by nearly 30 percent since 2002. Out-of-state undergraduates have seen tuition increases of about 30 percent over the same period. However, enrollment for out-of-state students has been declining since 2003.
Logically, the loss of enrollment should compel CU- Boulder to cut its operations to compensate for the loss of work load and revenue. Instead, the regents are making up the difference by gouging CU’s entire population of in-state students.
Since 2002, in-state undergraduates at the Boulder campus have suffered cumulative tuition increases of more than 70 percent. And, as a part-time graduate student at CU’s Denver campus, my tuition has increased by 59 percent over two short years.
Alas, the next time the CU Alumni Association asks me for donations, the answer will be: Thanks, but the regents have already taken enough from my pockets.
Sharon Scheminske, Englewood
