Angry Hillary?
Re: “GOP’s ‘anger’ strategy has Dems on defensive,” Feb. 9 news story.
I am fascinated at the recent news coverage pertaining to Sen. Hillary Clinton as an “angry” woman. Not only as a woman myself, but as the mother of three daughters, I find this lack of parity insulting and disturbing. Even forgetting that perhaps there are issues she actually should be angry about, why does this need to be a gender issue? Why does this seem to translate to negative images of shrews and bitches instead of a woman of deep convictions and justified outrage? A man may speak “passionately,” but a woman is marginalized by calling it “anger.”
Vote for the candidate you believe in, of whichever party you choose, but do not disregard a person based on a gender stereotype.
Susan Balzer, Parker
Race for governor
Re: “Mayor’s no-go leaves a weak field,” Feb. 7 editorial.
The Post’s editorial bemoaning the Denver mayor’s decision not to run for governor came to the curious conclusion that there now is “nobody qualified” who wants the state’s top elective office.
Republican Congressman Bob Beauprez may or may not turn out to be The Post’s pick in the race, but no one can deny he is spectacularly qualified to be Colorado’s next governor. Here is a man who led his state’s party and then went on to represent the 7th Congressional District in the U.S. Congress with distinction. He won that office in 2002 after a primary against a very effective challenger and a race in the general election against the former state Senate minority leader.Two years later, he easily won re-election against another prominent public official. Beauprez has made a name for himself in Congress on illegal immigration, among other issues, and serves in that body on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee – an influential post almost unheard- of for someone elected so recently to Congress.
So, what is The Post’s beef with Beauprez? Apparently, it is simply that he opposed Referendum C. But then, so did most of his party – Colorado’s largest political party. The Post, of course, repeatedly editorialized in favor of that ballot measure and, as it turned out, the final vote tally was pretty close. Reasonable folks will differ.
State Sen. Andy McElhany, Colorado Springs
The writer is minority leader of the Colorado Senate.
Substitute teaching
Re: “A sub’s thankless job,” Feb. 1 Colorado Voices column.
I’m a Jefferson County teacher who’s actually made a career of substituting. It was a good job when our children were growing up and is a good job today for a semi-retired person: control over workdays, sites and situations; minimal expenses.
I left subbing for about 10 years but missed it and returned. Now I sub often in English/social studies classes fairly close to home. Some teachers let me teach, not just babysit. My school districts do not penalize me for refusals. A bad day in a classroom? Hey, I walk out that door and don’t ever return. I can survive a few uncomfortable hours knowing I’ll do that.
Sure, some days are rough. I’m not always patient of sympathetic. Sometimes I disengage, stop talking, pick my battles – useful traits anywhere. I improvise and ignore as well as praise and admire. Subbing is about the student and learning, not about me. Most days I feel like I’ve accomplished something useful, even if it’s just keeping kids on track per teacher’s instructions. Subbing is not a thankless job, and I am thankful for that.
Anita Churches, Arvada
Stigma of adoption
Re: “Please, don’t tell my daughter she’s lucky,” Feb. 5 guest commentary.
As an adoptive parent of a Chinese daughter, I read with satisfaction Victoria Donovan’s commentary in last Sunday’s Perspective section. I appreciate The Post’s willingness to publish such a positive and heartfelt piece about international adoption. I also believe that the commentary inadvertently added to the perceived stigma of adoption by referring to adoption in the present tense (“Is she adopted?”, “Being adopted …”), even though the piece’s intent was to lessen that stigma. My daughter was adopted five years ago. I would agree that having been adopted does not in and of itself make her lucky. However, having adopted our daughter, we are one lucky family.
John N. Hansen, Denver
We need “video mute”
When TV arrived, we loved getting to watch the people and see what was happening on the program. Even if we didn’t care for the show, at least we appreciated getting to look because, generally, cameramen used the classic rules of photography. Now, computerized production has changed all that. Practically every scene whirls, flashes, zooms, explodes and otherwise looks like a 50-cent video game. It’s nauseating. Commercials are the worst. Whereas I used to mute them, now I turn them way down and close my eyes. What we need now is video mute.
Jim Inman, Colorado Springs
