Touched by a young boy’s life and death
Re: “Letting go,” Dec. 18 special report.
Thank you for your magical story about Dylan; the strength and beauty of the writing and photographs was overwhelming. I broke into tears several times reading it. The mystical connections were stunning and, as the mother of a handicapped child, comforting to me. Dylan was truly blessed with a family who loved him so much, and who understood what he brought to their lives. They may not have gotten the miracle that they prayed for, but they got a few smaller ones along the way. I know from my own experience what that means.
Every Christmas season, I will remember Dylan’s story and what it says to us about love, faith and the beauty that he was able to find in a life that seemed negligible to others. Dylan knew better. He fought for his life on this Earth and taught us about hope and courage. He truly belonged to God and has returned to him.
Beverly Bennett, Aurora
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It was a beautiful, cold, snowy morning, and I was tearfully reading the story about Kerri Bruning, Dave Walborn and their little son Dylan. While never having had children myself, but being in similar situations with much-loved furry family members, I could relate to their suffering, pain and loss and empathize with their dedication, integrity, kindness and love. The chronology of the story was painful to read, but all the photographs (including the one of little Lily, the puppy, cozied up to Dylan’s neck) were extremely touching and displayed the love and happiness Dylan found for a short time. The story was so beautifully written and was full of sadness, strength, fear, doubt, love, reassurance and some of the most horrible, haunting and important moral and ethical decisions a parent could ever have to make.
This story showed me a family with great human strength and love during more than four years of very difficult times. It also gave me a greater sense of deep love for my own human and non-human furry family and reiterated the importance of living each day to its fullest and best, just like Kerri, Dave, Dylan and their friends and family did.
Kathy Hixson, Lakewood
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As an attorney and an individual with a disability who relies on a gastrointestinal tube for nutrition, and as the parent of two severely disabled children who also rely on tubes for nutrition, I found this article frightening, and the legal recitation inaccurate.
This was not a case of withdrawing medical care; this was a case of starving a disabled child to death: non-voluntary euthanasia. The parents and Children’s Hospital decided this child was better off dead than disabled. Why does Colorado allow parents to pull feeding tubes from disabled children who are not near death without any sort of judicial oversight?
Disabled children should be entitled to the same protections that all children receive. At the very least, Dylan should have been afforded the protection of a guardian ad litem and judicial oversight to ensure his best interests were met.
Carrie Ann Lucas, Denver
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I read last Sunday’s article on Dylan and his parents’ indescribable decision. As a parent, I couldn’t finish the article because it was so sad.
I commend your paper for have the foresight to publish such a strong human-interest story. I believe it is one of the finest news articles I’ve ever read and wish to see more hard-hitting real news stories like this in your paper in the future.
Please congratulate reporter Kevin Simpson on his exceptional achievement. It’s the kind of real journalism that local gossip columnists could only dream about crafting.
Sean Derning, Steamboat Springs
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I read with interest your 12- page special report regarding the death of Dylan. In my opinion, the article was nothing more than a blatant attempt to romanticize and justify euthanasia. Yes, we are faced with these agonizing decisions every day, whether it be an elderly, infirm parent, a terminally ill spouse, or a severely retarded child, but when did the acceptable answer become killing them?
M. Rita Patterson, Pasadena, Texas
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This was the most beautiful story I have read. Kerri Bruning and Dave Walborn truly know the meaning of unconditional love. I have never met anyone who has put their child’s needs so far above their own. What courageous and loving people. Dylan has touched my heart and soul; thanks to his parents for sharing their son with the readers of The Post. I encourage them to publish a book to further share the joy Dylan brought them.
Margo Behler, Edwards
Tapping oil shale for energy
Re: “Oil shale may be fool’s gold,” Dec. 18 Perspective article.
Randy Udall and Steve Andrews certainly don’t seem enamored with oil shale, and make some rather colorful energy comparisons, as in comparing the yield of oil shale to the yield of a baked potato. A more realistic comparison would be to compare the yield of a ton of the average oil-producing sandstone to the yield of a ton of oil shale. The ton of sandstone yields 11.5 gallons per ton, whereas oil shale contains 30 gallons per ton. That is probably why Shell and others are willing to risk millions of dollars to see whether they can extract it effectively.
Vincent Matthews, Denver
The writer is director of the Colorado Geological Survey and the state geologist
Bush’s authorization of eavesdropping policy
Re: “Bush gave agency OK to eavesdrop on citizens,” Dec. 16 news story.
President Bush says he is protecting us from terrorists. But who will protect us from him? His contempt for the constitutional rights of U.S. citizens (already manifested in attempts to jail citizens indefinitely without charge or judicial review) has reached a new and frightening low with the revelation that he has “authorized” the National Security Agency to spy on Americans without a warrant. One wonders whether Bush recognizes any limits on his prerogative to “authorize” violation of laws he finds inconvenient.
The president’s hollow justifications for illegal searches are the same ones routinely cited by both left- wing and right-wing police states to subjugate their citizens. Lord Actonput it plainly: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Nowhere is this more evident than within the insular administration of George W. Bush.
The NSA eavesdropping could have been done within the law under supervision of the courts. But the hubris of this administration does not permit it to accept oversight of any kind. Constitutional checks and balances of power are meaningless if an impotent Congress abdicates its responsibility to intercede when a president acts unlawfully. And this Congress clearly lacks the integrity and character to do so. What painful irony that President Bush insists we must give up our liberties in the name of protecting freedom. Terrorists cannot take our freedom from us, but our government can.
Chris van den Honert, Centennial
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With the recent revelation by our president that he personally authorized illegal surveillance of private citizens, we have come full circle in the parallels between Iraq and Vietnam. Both wars were initiated under fraudulent circumstances and conducted without a winning strategy or exit plan. Despite protestations to the contrary, the war in Iraq is being run by the White House rather than the generals in the field. High voter turnout and free elections in Iraq will likely mean little more than they did in South Vietnam during that costly misadventure.
When the final story on the illegal spying activity is told, it is my guess that citizens targeted by our president will include Nixon-era-type surveillance of political adversaries and others who have had the courage to question the continuing fraud being perpetrated upon America. What remains? My bet is that Congress will finally exercise some leadership and realize that it has a constitutional responsibility to oversee the war in Iraq. It will also begin to recognize its responibility to ensure the lawful activities of the executive branch, and impeachment will become a legitimate area for discussion. Bring it on!
Bob Resling, Fort Lupton
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Our enemies operate freely in our open society. Al-Qaeda cells have been discovered in New York. The Chinese Communists and the North Koreans fund organizations that plot the destruction our democracy. We have eco-terrorists who destroy lives and property. The government should (and must) conduct surveillance of these domsestic groups to protect the American people. Even when we try to keep enemy combatants from entering the country, the ACLU files suit alleging “racial profiling.” Therefore, all this synthetic “outrage” at the government as it protects our interests is just another example of how the left continues to jeopardize the safety of the American people. The idea that there are no domestic threats against us is naive at best.
Dave Petteys, Roxborough Park
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President Bush’s assertion of approving searches without warrants shows his complete disregard for law. His affirmation of these acts is something that President Nixon did not even do. In Bush’s admission, he said that getting a warrant was just too cumbersome. Obeying the 1978 law, not to mention the Fourth Amendment, was just too much effort. Is that a new legal defense – i.e., obeying a law is too much of a burden. In that case, I think I will just take things from a store because paying for them is too time-consuming and too much of a burden. Do not worry, though, I will respect property rights. I will take only those things that were made in foreign countries.
Russell Weisfield, Arvada
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Re: “Bush: Law on spying is dated; Anti-terrorism moves defended,” Dec. 20 news story.
On Monday, I watched President Bush vainly attempt to defend his authorization for wiretaps and electronic surveillance of American citizens. I have never seen any American president – either Republican or Democrat – behave or respond as he did. He acted like a petulant child throwing a fit because he wasn’t getting his way. And he shouldn’t get his way on this issue. Spying on American citizens who have not committed any crime is not only inexcusable and indefensible – it’s illegal. Using vague “what-if” scenarios to undermine our constitutional rights is fundamentally wrong.
Dominic Quintana, Loveland
A Colorado life well-lived
Re: “Teen’s appetite for adventure tackled football, food,” Dec. 18 news obituary.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Tyler Pilon personally, but Claire Martin’s story made me feel I knew him. Rather than focus on the tragedy of this 16-year- old’s death from cancer, her story celebrated his life. Martin captured the Littleton quarterback’s gusto, whether he was playing football or trying adventurous foods at home and abroad and expanding his palate by watching the Food Network. Tyler’s culinary interests led to his meeting Noel Cunningham, the Denver chef, restaurant owner and humanitarian who wrangled an invitation for Tyler to attend a taping of Emeril Lagasse’s show in New York and meet the renowned chef. Martin’s story is a gift to Tyler and his family and a tribute to a life bravely and well-lived. It inspires us all to not sit on the sidelines.
Kathy Erbacher, Denver
Words from the good book
Re: “‘No frigate like a book,”‘ Dec. 18 John Andrews column.
John Andrews makes an excellent recommendation for Christmas gifts: books. He correctly observes that the Bible is the most important book ever written. In that book, Solomon asserts: “The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.” At this Christmas time, the best frigate would be the Gospel of John.
J.D. Moyers, Centennial
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