Death of Cal Frazier, former education chief
Cal Frazier, Colorado commissioner of education from 1973 to 1987, died recently. With his death, Colorado lost a dedicated, articulate and persuasive voice for public education.
As a member of the Colorado Department of Education during his last years as commissioner, I knew him professionally and respected him greatly. All staff members did. Cal had a questioning, inquisitive spirit that continually searched for information and the truth that it could reveal.
His message to all staff members was that all Colorado schoolchildren deserve a quality educational experience. The children and parents need our best efforts. We at the department worked with Cal Frazier and not just for him.
This steady focus enabled him to motivate us and provided a platform from which he spoke persuasively to educators, governors, legislators and the Colorado State Board of Education. His efforts cut across political party rhetoric. Cal was no partisan toady or policy hack. Cal Frazier exemplified the best qualities of an educator and leader.
Robert Conklin, Denver
Vice president’s shooting of hunting partner
Re: “Cheney shoots hunting partner,” Feb. 13 news story.
I grew up with a (hunting) gun in my hand and, though I no longer hunt, still have those critical rules of engagement indelibly burned into my psyche: Always know your target and never pull the trigger until you’re sure your line of fire is clear.
Part of being a member of a hunting team is your responsibility to your teammates. Tantamount in your responsibilities is to always know where your teammates are and to look out for their safety. When one of them downs prey and sets off to retrieve it, you don’t just go on your way and forget that he’s out there. It is unlikely, as well, that he will come waving and shouting when he returns to the group. It is always your responsibility to be aware of the location of others before you discharge your weapon. If you’re not sure, don’t shoot.
Cheney may well be a seasoned and careful hunter, but this time he made what could easily have been a fatal mistake and he should step up immediately and take responsibility. Suggesting that the victim was at fault, as the owner of the ranch did, or attempting to trivialize the incident or injury, is outrageous in its callousness and arrogance.
Dan Disner, Denver
Racial representation on network television
Re: “A whiter shade of network TV?” Feb. 13 Scene story.
The Post’s article laments the merger of the WB and UPN networks, intimating that this will result in a loss of black characters portrayed on TV. The Post displayed data on the percentage of black characters by network, ranging from 8.3 percent to 31 percent, with the average being 17.3 percent. Since African-Americans comprise 12 percent of American citizenry, (according to 2000 Census data), is this cause for alarm? If the networks implemented affirmative action in television, we would see a 5.3 percent mandatory drop in black character representation.
Jeff Metcalfe, Highlands Ranch
President Bush’s visit to renewable energy lab
Re: “Bush pencils in visit to NREL,” Feb. 10 news story.
The Denver Post tells us that President Bush might appear in Golden this month to promote his commitment to renewable energy with a photo-op at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. According to the sub-headline, “Golden stop would highlight U.S. efforts to develop alternatives to oil.” In reality, the NREL just laid off more than 30 workers due to funding cuts, while the oil companies reap record profits. Bush’s actions speak louder than his words.
Michael Collier, Denver
Plane crash in Montrose
Re: “Pilots in fatal crash used shorter runway,” Feb. 3 news story.
Your article covers the release of the National Transportation Safety Board report on the fatal jet crash in Montrose in November 2004. Attorney Brian Alexander was quoted as saying, “It is absolutely clear that the manufacturer of this aircraft bears substantial, if not complete, responsibility for this crash.”
Such an absurd claim should not even see the inside of a courtroom. Federal Aviation Administration regulations are absolutely clear: “The pilot-in-command of an aircraft is directly responsible for, and is the final authority as to the operation of that aircraft.” This pilot could and should have made a “no-go” decision based upon the deterioration of performance his aircraft would encounter, and did, in the existing bad freezing weather conditions. Worse, he did not use the longer available runway.
Richard D. Van Lew, Centennial
Sept. 11 not the only terror attack on U.S. soil
Re: “Bush’s response to 2001 terror warning,” Feb. 9 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Debra Meyer wrote that the only terrorist attack on American soil was during George W. Bush’s presidency, and she blames him for it. What about the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993? Would she blame Bill Clinton for that? I doubt it.
Inaccurate letters such as hers should be corrected; if not, even more people will form a priori judgments about our country.
People who believe as she does are probably the same people who falsely believe the economy is doing poorly and that no progress has been made in Iraq. Bush has made some big mistakes, in my opinion, but he has also done some good.
As with everything, we need to look at both sides of the issue.
Kelly Moberly, Boulder
Comparing Iraq to Revolutionary War
Re: “Soldier dies after explosion in Iraq,” Feb. 5 news brief.
While reading of another death of a U.S. soldier to an Iraqi improvised explosive device (IED), my time in the Army and my knowledge of military history led me to a gruesome comparison.
Iraqi insurgents are using concealed, aimed IEDs against Americans in a similar manner that we used concealed, aimed rifle fire against the English in our Revolutionary War.
Unfortunately, there are more similarities. Insurgents, not risking annihilation in asymmetric warfare, pick and choose their battles. They hide among the population. They have the courage, determination and imagination to constantly hurt the occupiers. We have even less justification to be in Iraq than England had to be in America.
Regardless of our battlefield dominance, hired mercenaries and unlimited borrowed financial resources, we should stop acting so self-righteous and English. We should remember our own history and leave Iraq. We should stop wasting our soldiers’ lives and bodies on this unjustified and arrogant subjugation of Iraq.
Bruce Baker, Lakewood
Colorado Voices
If you have good ideas and a writer’s touch, we hope you’ll apply for Colorado Voices. It is a den for part-time columnists, a feature we created in 1999 as a forum for contributors from across the state.
Send us two sample columns, 600 to 700 words each, along with a cover letter describing your background, your interest in Voices and whatever else you think we need to know. (For a good idea of the concept, check out some previously published Voices at www.denverpost.com/opinion.)
Deadline for entries is 5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 20. E-mail them to us at voices@denverpost.com (no attachments, please), or by mail to Mary Idler, Denver Post Editorial Page, 1560 Broadway, Denver CO 80202. Provide your address, phone numbers and e-mail address.
The Open Forum
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, 80202
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