Intelligent design and the theory of evolution
Re: “Reggie Rivers column on intelligent design,” Sept. 9 Open Forum.
I was more pleased than some of your readers at Reggie Rivers’ thoughtful column on intelligent design (“Theory, not science,” Sept. 2).
Letter-writer Phil Mitchell said that intelligent design and evolution theory should both be given a hearing. Perhaps he is unaware that intelligent design has already been given a fair and thorough hearing in the scientific community and has been discredited as science.
In another letter, J.D. Moyers seems to hope that doubt can be cast on evolution theory by taking out of context a quote from a private letter by Charles Darwin which refers to his theory as not being “true science.” This quote, often misconstrued by anti-evolutionists, refers to the “true science” methodologies described by Roger Bacon some three centuries ago, not to modern scientific theory.
Glenn Murray, Boulder
Governmental and personal responses to Katrina
The federal response to Hurricane Katrina is a national scandal that requires an independent investigation like the Sept. 11 commission, but Republican leaders are trying to set up an investigation they control.
Four years after Sept. 11, it is clear the Bush administration has made us less safe. We need an independent commission modeled on the Sept. 11 commission to investigate what went wrong at the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other agencies.
Congress should support Sen. Hillary Clinton’s legislation calling for an independent commission modeled after the Sept. 11 commission.
We can’t let one political party – especially the one running the government – control the investigation of the federal response to Hurricane Katrina. The investigation must be independent from the politicians and have its own investigators, budget and subpoena authority.
Wayne Flick, Grand Junction
…
After seeing the cacophony of requests to donate in Hurricane Katrina’s aftermath, I have a confession to make: I have yet to give a dime to any relief efforts. And I see no reason as of yet to do so.
When I see environmentalists accuse me and my president of allowing global warming to cause Katrina while the storm still is washing ashore, I see no reason to give. When I see various individuals on TV and the Internet accuse me and my ideological brethren of committing genocide against African-Americans, I see no reason to give. When I see the finger- pointing at me and my president delivered in full fury by the mainstream media while search and rescue is still ongoing, I see no reason to give. And when I see the federal government’s relief efforts go into full overkill mode, I see no reason to give.
So, tell me why I should give. And please try to do so without calling me various names and without the finger-wagging nag of, “If you were in the same position …” – for that sort of behavior will only further harden me in my position.
Just tell me why I should give.
Bradley J. Schwartze, Denver
Tips for drivers sharing the road with bikers
I’m a competitive, experienced cyclist, and on Aug. 29, I was hit by a car during an easy training ride after work. The driver of a Toyota Avalon thought she had enough time to make a right turn in front of me. I was riding in a bike lane with the right-of-way, and the next thing I remember, I was face-down on the road, spitting out teeth.
I write because I am lucky to be here. I have many friends who have been hit by cars, and also hear stories of cyclists who weren’t so lucky to have survived. Sadly, it’s a chance we cyclists take, throughout the thousands of miles we ride each year around cars.
The next time you are driving, remember these little things that can make a huge difference: Pay attention when you drive. Hang up the phone, or let the call go to voicemail. Leave the latte in your cup- holder – it will still be there when you reach the next red light. If your kids in the back seat need something, pull over and get it for them. Finally, if there’s a cyclist on the side of the road, give him or her some space. Please don’t buzz us with your side mirror to make a point that you’d prefer not to share the road.
The tiniest mistake, maliciously intended or innocent, can change someone else’s life – and yours – forever.
Cathy Egleston, Parker
Parents of soldiers
Re: “Other parents dispute stance of Sheehan,” Sept. 12 news story.
I’m glad to see The Post is publishing the opinions of many people who have lost their children to the war in Iraq. However, I was saddened by the language many of the parents used to express their opinions. One parent called Cindy Sheehan “a crazy woman,” another said she is spreading “manure,” and yet another said he’d tell her to “get the hell out” if she came to Colorado.
If these parents are truly convinced their sons haven’t died in vain, why are they so bothered by Sheehan? And why must they demean her personally instead of discussing the issues? They want our nation to respect American soldiers, but they can’t show respect for or compassion toward a woman who lost her own soldier son?
I read these parents’ opinions with great interest, but I found their name-calling neither mature nor thoughtful.
E.J. Stone-Ehrhardt, Arvada
College drinking
Re: “Boozy rite has fallout at CSU; School disciplines eight Greek houses,” Sept. 9 news story.
Once again, the negative outshines anything positive. The front page of The Post has a story telling us what drunken kids are doing now that they are back at college, yet hidden inside is the story “CSU students tackle villages’ dry spells.”
Can we try to at least give equal billing to show not all students are drunken buffoons?
Mike Fishelman, Arvada
Pro-life or anti-choice?
Letter-writer Paul Farley (Sept. 8 Open Forum) complains that The Post should have described the wife of Supreme Court nominee John Roberts as “pro-life” instead of “anti-choice” in a recent editorial. He supposes Mrs. Roberts would have been cast in a more favorable light had The Post done so.
The Supreme Court ruling in Roe vs. Wade simply forbids government intrusion into the choice a woman makes in determining whether to carry her fetus to term. Those who would deny a woman the right to make that decision for herself are, indeed, anti- choice. The Post’s description of Mrs. Roberts is absolutely correct.
G.G. Spalding, Westminster
Why share so little outrage at governor, mayor?
Much criticism has rightly been leveled at the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its performance in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and at President Bush, whose choice of the unqualified Michael Brown to head that agency and whose own behavior after the disaster were both inept, to say the least.
Much less scrutiny and outrage, however, have been leveled at the mayor of New Orleans and the governor of Louisiana. As the government officials primarily responsible for the implementation of disaster mitigation and relief in and around New Orleans from the start, their lack of leadership and poor decision-making were disastrous and led to the deaths of many innocent citizens.
While bigots like Kanye West suggest that President Bush does not care about black people, more charitable commentators have said that the president isn’t a racist, he simply doesn’t care about poor people. Actually, the president and the Republican Party care about all Americans, regardless of color or income, as long as they make some effort to help themselves.
Mark Proper, Lakewood
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.
