Questions for critics of the war in Iraq
We have an unfortunate culture of criticism. We grouse about President Bush and the war in Iraq as if we are experts (only because we have 20/20 hindsight). Going in, Bush and team made decisions based on the best information available. They had no crystal ball, and neither do we. It’s easy in retrospect to say he started an unwinnable war.
So, all you critics, what would you have done? More importantly, what will you do now? There was a despot killing off thousands of innocent citizens. The Iraqis needed the world’s help and the U.S. responded. Now the challenge is: be a part of the problem or part of the solution. We can face the world as a house divided, or we can stand united against despots and terrorists. We are, after all, the United States of America.
Why don’t we come up with solutions? Why can’t we pray for divine guidance for our leaders, that they may conduct military and political operations toward the best outcome for all involved?
Maybe we can provide support to our president and our Iraqi brothers and sisters and give them hope that they can overcome and have a free society.
Paul Redd, Littleton
New city law targeting parade protesters
Re: “Columbus Day and the right to protest,” July 1 Open Forum.
In the game of Monopoly, the “Get out of jail free” card is prized. For more than a decade, that’s been the attitude of hundreds of anti-Columbus Day parade demonstrators. Sure, it was illegal to block a city-permitted parade and disobey police orders to move, but protesters knew prosecution was unlikely. Why? Because the city’s ordinance was unclear and unenforceable.
Those days are finally over. Thanks to the mayor, City Attorney Cole Finegan and the unanimous support of the Denver City Council, there’s a new ordinance in town. It’s now easier to bring specific criminal charges against protesters who interfere with lawful events with the intent to prevent or disrupt them. The new law is modeled after state law, whose constitutionality has been upheld.
Letter-writers Stephen B. Nash and Mark Cohen know the jail-me-if-you-can game is over. No wonder they opposed The Post’s editorial and City Council’s support for the ordinance.
This small group of parade protesters (including Ward Churchill, who was arrested last year) seems to have problems grasping the concepts of tolerance and the Constitution. They want to dictate to the Italian-American community who they can and cannot celebrate. They believe they have a right to take away the right of another group to conduct a legally permitted parade. They also seem to think it’s up to them to decide whose freedom of speech is offensive.
There are a lot of “rights” at work here, and no one group has a monopoly over that cherished constitutional right: freedom of speech.
Charlie Brown, Denver City Council
Is the government paying attention?
I write to my senators and congressperson to let them know my views on issues on a regular basis. Over the last several years, I have been amazed that the form letters I receive from my representatives and senators usually address an issue completely different from the one I wrote them about. Rep. Marilyn Musgrave is 100 percent reliable in responding to a different issue. Sen. Ken Salazar just sent me a long-winded letter in response to an e-mail I sent about CAFTA, outlining his position on Iraq.
Surely our senators and congresspersons spend a lot of resources drafting responses. The very least they could do is to get the issue correct. If they have this level of error in responding to constituents, one only wonders what they are doing in Washington.
Needless to say, I have lost faith that our representatives even listen to our concerns, let alone draft legislation or vote as true representatives. What can we do to get through to them? Any suggestions (short of camping in front of Musgrave’s office) about how we, as citizens, can participate in democracy would be greatly appreciated.
Mary Ann Foster, Longmont
“Madama Butterfly”
Re: “Central City keeps classic ‘Madama’ fresh,” June 30 opera review.
Regarding Kyle MacMillan’s critique of “Madama Butterfly,” I beg to differ with his negative comment on director Catherine Malfitano’s artistic expression, when the character Cio-Cio-San wraps herself in the American flag as she commits suicide. This did not cheapen the scene’s effect, as MacMillan suggests. I’m surprised that an “art critic” would make such a statement. The arts have always been a means to express the human condition and political views, even when they are not popular at the time. Why suppress it with criticism? The “flag scene” drove home the point that I believe Puccini intended all along. It was masterful. I cannot think of a better way to express the exploitation and human tragedy that inevitably occurs with imperialism, especially in light of what is happening today.
Nick Lovato, Centennial
Map of state open space
Re: “Time is right for tally of state’s open space,” July 5 editorial.
Great Outdoors Colorado’s decision to “map” Colorado’s open- space resources and land ownership is an idea whose time is not only right but decades overdue. While GOCO is to be commended for taking this initiative, an open-space map is only a beginning on what would be invaluable for future land use planning: a statewide environmental resources inventory (ERI). Leading Colorado conservationists, planners, natural resource users, educators and environmental scientists have long advocated a statewide ERI.
The ERI envisioned would comprehensively inventory and scientifically characterize not only open space but such environmental resources as terrestrial and aquatic wildlife habitat, threatened or endangered species, vegetation, geology, unique ecosystems, watersheds, wetlands, historic and archaeological sites, and scenic resources. Although bits and pieces of such information exist, they have usually been collected for narrow purposes and constitute a hodgepodge of uncoordinated efforts. Widely differing methodologies have resulted in gross inconsistencies.
There would be many “clients” for a statewide ERI: state and local government; federal agencies; planning departments; educational institutions; scientific researchers; and the general public. Although GOCO could provide badly needed leadership, the ERI must develop as an interagency effort.
Roger P. Hansen, Aurora
The writer is executive director of the Colorado Open Space Council.
World climate change and the G8 summit
Re: “G8 sets focus on Africa, climate,” July 5 news story.
For the G8 to endorse President Bush’s agenda of pushing nuclear solutions for global warming would be wrong and unnecessary. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is right that the U.S. is the world’s leading polluter and must be part of the response to climate change.
American institutions are already taking meaningful action in spite of Bush. Although it’s too late to prevent climate change, the G8 leaders could give humanity a better chance of surviving if they have the courage to do the right thing in Scotland: endorse binding emissions cuts and early deadlines so corporate ingenuity and marketplace discipline can accelerate progress; subsidize smart zero-carbon energy sources, starting with efficiency, rather than waste money on the dead end of nuclear energy; and don’t be afraid to leave Bush behind when he opposes.
It will be difficult enough for us to defuse climate change even if we do everything right. We can’t wait for Bush to change his mind, which is highly unlikely to happen anyway.
Sharlene White, Colorado Springs
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