Punishment for putting finger in Wendy’s chili
Re: “Chili-finger couple get time in cooler,” Jan. 19 news story.
This is another prime example of your tax dollars working against you. Here we have two very stupid and greedy people. Did they perpetrate a crime? Yes. They tried to extort money from a big food chain and caused a lot of people some hardship. But are they violent offenders?
From my point of view, a violent offender should do at least nine to 20 years.
These are the people we need to separate from society. These two need to simply be taught a lesson. They pleaded guilty and are fined millions of dollars by Wendy’s – which, by the way, is a joke. If you send them to prison, then they can’t really pay for their crimes.
No, what I would do is sentence them to have to work for Wendy’s until their debt is paid off. Now that would be a fitting punishment that most criminals will think about before committing such a crime, and one that taxpayers don’t have to pay for.
Paul Brunner, Lakewood
Colorado’s hate-crime law
Re: “Victim of beating never tied race to the attack, police say,” Jan. 18 news brief.
Your coverage of the investigation of a beating of an African-American man in Fort Collins may have left readers with the wrong impression about Colorado’s hate-crime laws. In fact, Colorado does have a hate-crime law, known as the Bias-Motivated Crime law (formerly known as the Ethnic Intimidation law), which covers attacks, threats and intimidation based on race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation.
Colorado is one of 45 states with hate-crime laws. Hate crimes are not like other crimes because they have an impact far beyond the individual victim. These crimes resonate throughout the victim’s community, and threaten the safety and well-being of every member of that group. Colorado’s bias-motivated-crime statute sends a clear message to the community that everyone is safe, protected and welcome here.
Bruce H. DeBoskey, Denver
The writer is regional director of the Anti-Defamation League.
Selling Broncos playoff tickets for a profit
Re: “Season-ticket holders find market for loyalty,” Jan. 18 news story.
As a longtime Broncos supporter and season-ticket holder, I am totally amazed and disgusted by the greed shown in your article. I understand some season-ticket holders may not be able to make it to the game due to unforeseen circumstances, but those who have no excuse should not be allowed to profiteer from ticket resales. If in fact they are true to the orange and blue, why would they miss a game as important as the one scheduled for Sunday afternoon? I would rather eat my ticket than allow an opposing team’s fan to sit in my seats.
Isn’t it bad enough that thousands of season tickets are in the hands of scalpers and ticket brokers, while the list of true fans waiting for the rights to secure season tickets has surpassed 20,000? Now we see the true color of some of the people who refer to themselves as fans.
Leo Castro, Westminster
Coming home from war
In response to The Denver Post’s “Home Front” series, a couple of letter-writers expressed dismay that one of the soldiers appears to be anti-American, or, more accurately, anti-war after returning from Iraq (Jan. 13 Open Forum). These letter-writers apparently would like all the returning soldiers to be portrayed in a heroic manner, but these soldiers are a cross-section of society, just as civilians are. It is a reality that some of the returning soldiers are seeing the pointless nature of our war in Iraq and are making their feelings known. Not wanting to see it in The Post’s series will not make it go away.
The most important point of this series, in my opinion, is that The Post has demonstrated to us the different ways in which returning soldiers are reacting to their experiences while in Iraq and are getting on with their lives now that they are home.
Marilyn Mattson, Denver
…
I am appalled at the personal attacks on Iraq war veteran Jeff Englehart (Jan. 13 Open Forum). Whether people agree with him or not, he certainly has earned the right to express his opinions. As a “mainstream American,” I do not particularly care for Englehart’s anti-Christian symbols. However, I am far more offended by the hypocrisy of a president who wears his religion like a sanctimonious cloak when convenient or politically expedient to do so, while simultaneously violating the basic tenets of Christianity.
Nicolett Darling, Johnstown
“Right to die” vs. “culture of life”
Re: “Court backs Oregon on right to die,” Jan. 18 news story.
White House Spokesman Scott McClellan said President Bush “remains fully committed to building a culture of life, a culture of life that is built on valuing life at all stages.” This is also an administration that values “family values” and “no child left behind” and defends marriage as between one man and one woman.
However, this administration has already been responsible for more than 2,100 U.S. deaths in Iraq. This has left widows and widowers to raise children without “a mother and a father.”
Some of those who have returned have discovered that their spouses could not tolerate the long absence faithfully, or could not tolerate the changed spouse who returned, resulting in painful divorce and bitter custody battles.
Some of those who have returned, maimed bodily and emotionally, courageously undergo extensive and painful rehabilitation, and yet their lives will be changed forever: dreams dashed, hopes denied, plan B for the next 50 or 60 years.
“A culture of life that is built on valuing life at all stages”? I don’t think so.
Fred Walz, Pueblo
Just for show?
Re: “Holtzman fires at mayor,” Jan. 17 news story.
I find Marc Holtzman’s description of Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper as a “show horse” amusing and somewhat ironic. I’ve yet to see any real substance behind Holtzman’s bid for governor, other than a large campaign war chest and his attack-dog-like mentality against fellow Republican Bob Beauprez and now Hickenlooper.
Perhaps Holtzman is attempting to goad Hick into jumping into the fray, which may turn into a “be careful of what you wish for” scenario. By underestimating Hick’s popularity and abilities, Holtzman and other Republicans could be setting themselves up for losing the governor’s seat as well as both houses of the legislature.
From my view, Holtzman is an empty suit with a Reagan button on the lapel.
Al Schwindt, Littleton
Is Roe vs. Wade “settled law”?
The Supreme Court ruling legalizing abortion has now been on the books for 33 years; hence it is referred to as “settled law.”
For over 30 years now, every January in the bitter cold, throngs of protesters descend upon Washington, D.C., to voice their opposition. A similar march will take place in San Francisco for the second year. Many upstanding citizens, including ministers, priests and nuns, have gone to jail over this issue.
Legalized abortion was a deciding factor for many Americans in the recent Presidential election.
This issue only seems to be gaining steam as the years go on.
Is Roe vs. Wade settled law? I think not.
Kathy Cain, Yampa
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