Political ideologues
Re: “A diminished delegation,” May 21 Fred Brown column.
The tension among Republicans in Larimer County is part of a fundamental change in the political landscape. Instead of liberal vs. conservative, the most relevant divide today is between ideologues and pragmatists.
This divide responds to the complexity of the modern world. Ideologues try to tackle complexity by imposing a simplified world view using centralized force, while pragmatists try to take advantage of complexity by negotiation and competition among decentralized actors.
Since this difference is all about the distribution of power in society, it’s no surprise that the political parties have used it to redefine themselves. The GOP embraced authoritarian neo-conservatism even though it meant big government, because it seems simple and controlled. Democrats, always concerned about the “little guy” and diversity, broadened that to focus on small businesses, privacy, diplomacy and other aspects of distributed power.
This is why Republicans Marc Holtzman and Bob Beauprez compete based on adherence to ideology, while a pragmatic social conservative like Bill Ritter is easily accepted by Democrats. Lonely, pragmatic Republicans, like Bill Kaufman, would have much more success in the Democratic Party and would be more welcome there.
Paul D. Thompson, Castle Rock
U.S. birth rate
Re: “Latinas keep population in balance,” May 21 Cindy Rodríguez column.
According to Cindy Rodríguez, we should all be thankful to Latino immigrants for keeping the birth rate in the United States high enough so that there are new taxpayers to support the old retirees.
We can’t keep growing the population forever, and if not for Latino births, we would actually be doing the responsible thing by slowly reducing the population.
With natural resources becoming scarce and competition for these resources increasing from emerging nations, we need fewer people, not more. Americans are living longer and healthier lives. Many of us expect to continue to work at least part-time past the traditional retirement age, which will help reduce any gaps in the workforce. Automation, productivity increases and offshoring will also allow a gradual reduction in population with no major disruption.
Like so many reasons put forth to justify massive immigration, this reason is not valid.
Michael Weaver, Lakewood
Immigrant students
Re: “Next generation’s voices,” May 21 Open Forum.
The letters from Glenwood Springs Middle School students were outrageous on two levels.
First, it is outrageous that a teacher would allow letters to be sent that were so grossly inaccurate and demonstrated that the students were not given an explanation of the real facts in this debate.
One student states that “It’s unfair that all the American people can go to our countries and we can’t come to theirs.” Another states, “I think that the American government is not just, because they don’t want to give papers to the Mexicans. Why? I don’t know.” Another says, “When Americans go to Mexico, we are nice and respect them. They don’t respect us, do they?”
It is outrageous that a teacher would not have explained that the problem is illegal aliens and instead has allowed her students to labor under the false idea that Mexicans are not welcome here. The teacher owed it to her students to explain that there is no animosity toward Mexicans who come here legally, and that the real problem is those who are breaking the law by coming here illegally.
Second, it is outrageous that The Post would print these letters, knowing full well that these seventh-graders obviously have not been given the truth in this national debate. The Post shares in the shame of misleading these children.
Jack Palmer, Denver
WWII internments
Re: “Internment’s scars vanquished by resilience,” May 21 Rocky Mountain Ranger story.
The rest of the internment story should be told. Japanese- American children were not the only ones faced with the end of a rifle pointed in their direction by U.S. Army soldiers. German- American children and infants suffered worse. Unfortunately, writers rarely, if ever, tell the rest of the story.
During World War II, almost 11,000 German-Americans were interned in more than 50 facilities throughout this great land – including at Fort Logan in Colorado. Thousands of German- Americans, including U.S.-born infants and children, were deported to a Germany under siege, where they were exchanged with our enemy, the Third Reich, for American civilians and severely wounded soldiers captured behind enemy lines.
Readers can learn more of this rarely written episode of American history at www.foitimes.com.
Arthur D. Jacobs, Tempe, Ariz.
Disrespect for widows
Re: “A man and his sports,” May 21 Arts & Entertainment story.
I just finished reading Dick Kreck’s article on Rick Reilly. I was shocked to read the paragraph about one of Reilly’s “favorite yarns” which features “[Bill] Husted and his dating preferences” (“he’s always dating widows”) and Reilly’s twisted take on the “four stages of grieving when your husband dies in Denver.” According to Reilly, “There’s disbelief, anger, Husted, acceptance.”
Since when did grieving widows become acceptable fodder for The Denver Post? As a friend of a Denver widow and having personally experienced the trauma surrounding the death of a spouse, I found this lame attempt at humor to be grossly offensive.
Barbara J. Riccardi, Thornton
Leadville tourist spots
I can’t believe The Post’s May 21 Colorado Sunday article on tourist spots in Colorado, highlighting Leadville, did not include the National Mining Hall of Fame and Museum. This treasure attracts more than 35,000 visitors per year, and hosts hundreds of receptions, meetings and conventions. It’s certainly more of an attraction than “ample trout fishing in freshwater mountain lakes.”
Jackie Dorr, Arvada
“Da Vinci Code” and the church
Re: “A ‘Code’ of misconduct by men,” May 21 Diane Carman column.
Diane Carman suggests that Catholic bishops are uneasy about the movie “The Da Vinci Code” because it hits too close to home with regard to the church’s subordination of women. Does it occur to her that these men have dedicated their entire lives to Jesus Christ and find it reprehensible that His Holy Name is being defiled and that He’s been reduced to a character in a pop culture book and movie, all for profit? I get tired of hearing that our Catholic bishops are anti-women. These men are constantly praying to discern what God wants for His Church through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. As a Catholic woman, I have only to look to Mother Teresa, who never protested that the church treated her unfairly, but graciously dedicated herself to the church and served with humility and great love.
Kathy Cain, Yampa
…
Diane Carman uses “The Da Vinci Code” to slam the Catholic Church, as if the movie’s devastating attack on the faith of all Christians is inconsequential.
Amazingly, Carman writes that the most provocative part of “The Da Vinci Code” is the insight it provides into the subordination of Catholic women. Her argument offends modern Catholic women by relegating their devout roles to insignificance. It also neglects that three women are among the most recognized doctors of the church, and ignores the honor, above all mortal men or women, given to Mary, the mother of Christ.
Oh, by the way, then there’s that minor sub-plot in “The Da Vinci Code” that the divinity of Christ is a fabrication. Hello? Women’s role in the Catholic Church vs. Christ’s divinity is a lie? In her anxiousness to indict Catholicism, Carman totally misses what an insidious attack “The Da Vinci Code” is upon all Christian women and men of all denominations.
Rich McLean, Aurora
…
Diane Carman missed an opportunity to address the real issue that alarms the Catholic Church, which is just how good a job they are doing at leading the faithful.
The Catholic Church has been an example of the adage that “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” rather than an exception, and not just because it treats women as second- class citizens. The church should be alarmed by “The Da Vinci Code,” not because the movie will cause some of their ranks to question or even lose faith, but because if a movie can threaten such a faith, how strong can that faith be?
Instead of outwardly demonstrating a leadership role through example, the church perpetuates the “man behind the curtain” image and refuses to openly acknowledge its weaknesses and abuses of power by treating the symptom and not the illness by protesting and defending.
If they dedicated as much time coming clean on their issues as they do on protesting a movie, “The Da Vinci Code” would be seen for the work of fiction it is. But expecting that to happen is the real work of fiction.
Phil Viens, Westminster
Rules making it hard for DPS to suspend students
Re: “Strangled by red tape,” May 21 Perspective article.
Congratulations. What a wonderful way to display the problems of schools attempting to discipline disruptive students. Pictures are better than words any time, but graphs are even better.
We’d better get this education situation straightened out soon or our children’s results are going to continue to fall.
Ken Lloyd, Arvada
I find it ironic that Elaine Gantz Berman and Jerry Wartgow find it necessary to resort to such a specious, misleading and ultimately unscholarly argument to make their case for school reforms. The illustration their commentary is based on is nothing short of deceptive. It is clearly not designed to be read or understood critically.
At first glance, their ersatz flow chart looks daunting, but on closer inspection, it’s little more than an inchoate jumble of tangents, parenthetical observations, redundancies and other deceptively presented information all strung together to give the impression of complexity.
Deceptive tactics aside, what do they object to, specifically? Requiring public employees to document suspensions and expulsions? Including the child’s parents in the process? Is this the red tape they want to eliminate? Would they simply grant teachers and administrators ultimate authority to toss children out of our public schools with no oversight, no explanation, and no recourse?
I agree that the public school system is broken and needs reform on many levels, but the first step toward that is to address the issues with honesty and integrity.
Lisa Higgins, Broomfield
TO THE POINT
It is difficult to understand Sen. Ken Salazar’s objection to proclaiming English as our national language. The U.S. Constitution was written in English, as was as the Bill of Rights. One cannot get more “national” than that.
Norman Kautsky, Centennial
What I’ve learned in 60 years: Every once in a while, consider doing something nice for someone else because you’re a good person, regardless of what you think the other person might be. You’ll make make the world a better place.
Kurt Freund, Loveland
The immigration issue could be solved with diplomacy with our neighbors. After all, 5,000 years of combat between Egyptian and Jewish soldiers came to an end because of diplomacy. We do still have diplomats, don’t we?
James Warmer, Denver
The plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty needs to be changed: Give us your tired, your poor, huddled masses – every last one of them!
Patrick R. Ritchen Brighton
Yes, we do indeed have a crisis. Every day we see an influx of sick and debilitated birds of prey crossing our borders seeking only care and rehabilitation. We must show more compassion toward these “ill eagles.”
Bob Potter, Denver
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