Columnist’s involvement in Plame leak
Re: “Columnist joins Plame debate,” Aug. 1 Robert D. Novak column.
After reading Robert D. Novak’s column, I was struck with the impression that he has not one iota of professional integrity. The fact that Joseph Wilson’s wife had even “suggested” that her husband be sent on a fact-finding mission to Niger need never have been mentioned in Novak’s July 14, 2003, column, let alone her name. It was not relevant to the story, especially since Novak, in his column this week, took pains to point out that Valerie Plame did not “authorize” her husband’s trip. But, being a Republican hatchet man, once told this information by “two senior administration officials,” Novak could not contain himself. His hubris has become suffocating.
Rick Kearney, Colorado Springs
—————————————-
Who’s more open-minded: Springs or Boulder?
Re: “Colo. Springs evangelical image out of focus, officials believe,” Aug. 2 news story.
Your article brings to readers a fact I noticed when I moved from Boulder County to the Springs: It’s more diverse and tolerant here. Yes, Focus on the Family is headquartered in Colorado Springs, along with the Colorado Freethinkers, the Gay and Lesbian Foundation, an association of witches, and the Earth Spirit Pagans. This area is more politically and ethnically diverse than Boulder, with a broader range of thought and speech. Commercial procedures also offer more opportunity. Old Colorado City, where I own a museum, is similar to Pearl Street, but with fewer franchises and offering affordable rent for small businesses. I was able to design and construct my house here, with the full cooperation of the building department. In every way, the Springs offers a climate that is truly open-minded.
Timothy Buchanan, Manitou Springs
—————————————-
Effect of global warming on DEnver temps
Re: “Stats prove it was hot this month,” July 29 news story.
The Denver Post story on Colorado’s heat wave fails to make mention of any possible connection with global warming. Both The Denver Post and USA Today recently ran excellent stories on the reality of global warming. Yet when it comes to this heat wave, there is silence on the topic.
Ben Franklin would be ashamed. As a scientist, publisher and Founding Father, he understood that our nation’s health depends upon an open press reporting the truth. It is natural human instinct that “you can’t change the weather,” but the truth is that in the 21st century, we humans can and are changing the weather.
Every day, long coal trains roll through downtown Denver on their way to Colorado power plants. The problem is right before our eyes. The press has a duty to tell the American people that global warming is real and the heat wave of 2005 may not be a fluke but a wake-up call from a scorched future.
Michael Banks, Boulder
—————————————-
Boycott by NRA
Re: “NRA launches corporate boycott,” Aug. 2 news story.
The National Rifle Association is calling for a boycott of companies that restrict gun possession on their properties. This is quite puzzling. The NRA wants everyone to have a gun except for criminals – yet it wants to block a practice that helps to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. Criminals can’t buy guns because of gun laws, so where do they go to get them? From burglaries of homes and out of people’s cars.
Sue Cole, Littleton
—————————————-
Study of Colo. tourism
Re: “Tourism on the rise, more or less,” July 28 business news story.
I am disappointed to read about the $140,000 the Colorado Tourism Office spent to understand our state’s tourism industry. Could the office not find a group in our own state, such as the University of Denver’s Center for Travel and Tourism, to facilitate this study? Instead, $140,000 was spent hiring a firm that is not only from outside the state, but is headquartered in another country.
Geoff Levy, Denver
—————————————-
Neighborhood squabble
Re: “Neighbors, builder spar over Wash. Park school,” July 26 news story.
It is a rare opportunity that a neighborhood has the chance to save a historic building. I have lived across the street from the Washington Park School building for 15 years. I made a choice to buy my home across from the school. I love the building. The 1100 blocks of Race and High streets have a unique community design with the church and school. I would like to see my block stay unique with the preservation of the school building.
I think the primary argument against saving the school is that its use would most likely be multi- family housing and the potential parking problems that may generate. Having lived with the Denver Academy as a neighbor for many years, there is no way 20-25 condos would generate the type of problem with parking we experienced with the Denver Academy.
Denver is a young city. We need to keep the history that we have. The neighborhood is trying very hard to work with the developer, Jonathan Miller, to make this a win-win situation for everyone.
Cristi Hulse, Denver
—————————————-
Cities cracking down on pit bulls
Re: “More cities considering tighter leash on pit bulls,” Aug. 1 news story.
Thank you for your responsible article in Monday’s Post. “The thought of one kid getting hurt is too much for me,” says Aurora City Councilman Bob Fitzgerald, who supports a ban on pit bulls. Judging from the news coming out of Aurora in the last few months, he might better spend his time thinking about how to keep Aurora citizens safe from pedophiles, gang bangers, people shooting up shopping malls, etc.
You cannot kill good, innocent dogs because of a few irresponsible owners. You cannot punish for the potential to harm. If you do, you are a self-righteous judge, jury and executioner. Putting down hundreds of good, innocent dogs qualifies as abuse in my book, and should be punished in this world or the next.
Mary Edwards, Arvada
—————————————-
Defining the beginning of life
Re: “Abortion laws and overturning Roe vs. Wade,” Aug. 1 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Peggy Loonan criticized state Rep. Kevin Lundberg, R-Berthoud, for attempting to “redefine pregnancy from a medical definition (implantation) to a religious definition (conception).”
This statement confuses the hard science behind pregnancy and when life begins. There is no such confusion in the science of human embryology. Any human embryology textbook (not the Bible or Koran) will tell you that life begins at conception, when the egg and sperm unite, not at implantation. From conception on, there is a continuum of human life until death, regardless of location.
Supporters of embryonic stem- cell research, abortion and the morning-after pill may feel more comfortable with the implantation story, but it is just not true. These will each end a human life in some way. That should no longer be argued. True dialogue will happen only when we accept the truth.
Greg Caudle, Littleton
TO REACH OPINION EDITORS
Phone: 303-820-1331
Fax: 303-820-1502
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com (only straight text, not attachments)
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202 or PO Box 1709, Denver, 80201
Letters guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
