Iraqi opinion on U.S. involvement
I recently returned from my second tour with the Army Reserves in Iraq and note with interest the media’s negative slant on the opinions of the Iraqi citizens about the ongoing war. My experience there was quite different: When talking with us face-to-face – in the evening on the streets of Samarra when news cameras and insurgents were gone – most civilians were very positive about having the U.S. troops there, didn’t want us to leave, and were overwhelmingly against the insurgency.
The media gather a different story when they interview Iraqi civilians, and it seems obvious to me why that is. The only Iraqis who would be willing to speak out on camera are those whose views are pretty much in line with the insurgents’ – other than a few government officials who have bodyguards, etc. We won’t hear the uncensored views of the average Iraqi until they are completely certain that speaking out won’t result in their deaths or those of their families.
Sometimes what you see on the news is not nearly the whole story.
Graham Hoffman, Pueblo West
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Split among Republicans over state fiscal fix
Re: “Referendums open GOP rift,” July 18 news story.
The Republicans have only themselves to blame. I watched as the do-nothing, Republican-controlled legislature last year failed to devise a solution to our budget shortfall. So, as an independent who normally favors Republicans, I voted for the Democrats, hoping they would solve the problem. And they did. Working with Gov. Bill Owens, they crafted a solution that goes before the voters in November. The Republican legislators could have come up with a similar proposal, but they didn’t have the courage to act. They were afraid to touch even one comma in the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights, never acknowledging that it has a fatal flaw when the economy goes south.
Joe Power, Denver
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Democrats must be grinning ear-to-ear as the media make it appear that there are major divisions within the Republican Party because of Referendum C.
The truth is that this issue crosses party lines, and that fiscal responsibility is a winning issue for a candidate of any party.
Gov. Bill Owens’ elected career is over, and voters already do not care what he thinks. As if his issues in his personal life weren’t enough, he put the last nail in his own political coffin by supporting the biggest tax increase in the history of Colorado.
Left-leaning pundits are simply wrong to say that gubernatorial candidates Rep. Bob Beauprez or Marc Holtzman are pandering to the conservative wing of the party. We’re not talking about abortion here. This is about being responsible custodians of the state’s finances and not picking the pockets of Coloradans to satisfy the bottomless pit of legislators’ spending desires.
At the end of the day, many Democrats and independents will vote against Referendum C, particularly as claims being made by the measure’s supporters are outed as deceptions or lies. In the meantime, Republicans are far more united than the picture their opponents would paint.
Ross G. Kaminsky, Boulder
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Military recruiting and re-enlistment
Re: “How do we fill the ranks?” July 18 editorial.
It may be that recruiting and re-enlistment have suffered because media coverage has exaggerated the dangers of serving in Iraq, so perhaps grisly accounts of the war and stories like “Portraits of Valor” should be avoided in the newspapers and other media.
Maybe there can be more stories of GIs giving candy to children, more about the good that is being done by our soldiers. If only reports could convey the message like the song lyric, “And if you ever get a war without blood and gore, I’ll be the first to go.”
It’s a lie, but President Bush might be able to swing it. He convinced more than half of the people of the country and a majority of the U.S. Senate and House that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
Philip S. Miller, Telluride
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Cellphones in cars
There exists a great divide regarding the use of cellphones while driving. There are those of us who cringe and take cover on the shoulder of the road when we see a vehicle heading toward us riding or crossing the center line because the driver’s attention is riveted on a phone conversation. The other end of the spectrum consists of those who sincerely believe they can safely carry on a phone conversation and drive. I have even encountered those who hold the phone with one hand, curl their hair with the other and steer with their knees.
I wish to offer a viable solution: A cellphone-use-while-driving certification should be made a part of the driver’s license requirement, just as there are various endorsements for licensing truck drivers. Such certification should be based on passing a test which would measure the driver’s ability to drive safely in a vehicle simulator while talking to the test officer on a cellphone. The conversation carried on by the officer should include unexpected voice projection and content simulating what goes on during a normal conversation, perhaps with an angry spouse or boss.
Jim Harrington, Greeley
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Legal status of immigrant workers
Re: “Workers’ status is complex business; Eateries add verification of Social Security number,” July 18 news story.
Interesting. Lee Driscoll, chief executive of Wynkoop Holding Inc., states that “The simple truth is it’s foreign-born workers who are willing to do those types of jobs and who can be depended on to be loyal, effective, efficient and show up to work.” Yet, he feels it isn’t necessary to verify Social Security numbers of those who remain because of the high turnover rate. Huh?
Julie Clark, Arvada
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Widow on park land
Re: “Let widow stay at park cabin,” July 16 editorial.
Betty Dick should turn her summer home over to the federal government. Twenty-five years is a long enough time to use property that belongs to the people of the United States. It is also enough time for Dick to have made other arrangements for where to spend her summer vacations. Return the property to the National Park Service!
Mary J. Kemme, Greeley
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Schools’ obligation to disabled students
Re: “Ruling hobbles school district; Berthoud family to get $200,000,” July 14 news story.
The headline on your article makes it seems like the Thompson School District was the victim in this case, rather than Luke Perkins.
Federal law requires public schools to provide special education students with a “free appropriate public education.” If schools aren’t doing their job, the law allows parents to select a private school of their choice, and to seek reimbursement from the school district. If the child’s disabilities are severe, a residential treatment center may be required.
Federal funding is lacking for public schools. However, the real problem lies at the state level. Colorado ranks 49th in taxpayer spending for public education. Schools do need more funding. I am involved in a lawsuit brought by 14 school districts, students and parents challenging the constitutionality of Colorado’s school funding system.
Because of cost, school districts do not always do what is right for kids like Luke. I have represented a deaf girl who was receiving no special education services at all, and a dyslexic boy who was getting books on tape rather than reading lessons. Those schools knew what was needed (an interpreter and a reading specialist), but they didn’t step up to the plate. Parents shouldn’t have to fund the state’s deficit.
Louise Bouzari, Centennial
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