Are U.S. soldiers in Iraq dying in vain?
Re: “U.S. soldiers’ sacrifice,” July 4 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Eric Schmidt’s rebuttal to Joe Felice’s June 28 letter warrants a response.
There is nothing noble or heroic about the war in Iraq. We are not fighting for our freedoms, and we are not fighting for Iraq’s freedoms. All we are doing is killing each other and in the process destroying towns and cities. We are destroying the lives of some of our best and brightest. The lives of those who love these soldiers are deeply altered, and for what? Nothing! Yes, they are doing what they said they would do when they joined the armed service. However, because we are stuck with a leader who refuses to abide by any law other than his own, the deaths of these wonderful men and women are, indeed, in vain.
Cheryl M. Kimberley, Buena Vista
Pending veto of Senate stem-cell research bill
Re: “Rove predicts Bush’s 1st veto; Stem-cell bill to be rejected,” July 11 news story.
As a resident of Rep. Diana DeGette’s district, I have been proud of her co-sponsorship of a bill to expand federal funding for stem-cell research, and its bipartisan support in the House for increasing the number of stem cells available to researchers hoping to find a cure for diseases such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis and diabetes.
I can only shake my head in amazement upon reading that President Bush’s closest adviser, Karl Rove, has stated that DeGette’s bill, if it is passed by the Senate, will likely become the first victim of Bush’s veto pen.
How can this be so? If we are to believe Rove, it is because “we were all an embryo at one point, and we ought to as a society be very careful about being callous about the wanton destruction of embryos, of life.”
I have long known that conservatives pine for the “good old days,” but I had no idea that their memories were that good. Some of my best friends were embryos, too, but frankly, I found them a little boring. I would much rather hang out with adults, despite the fact that they may be suffering with a life-threatening illness from which they might be freed if only our leaders would value actual, living people over theoretical ones.
Lewis Thompson, Denver
Greed, Enron and the death of Ken Lay
Re: “A sad turn to the Enron saga,” July 7 editorial.
Greed, or love of money and power, was Ken Lay’s downfall. Greed is so pervasive in America, the richest nation in history. Its allure often corrupts the souls of good people and results in tragic consequences. Greed may be our country’s major moral/spiritual shortcoming and might someday lead to her downfall.
India’s Mohandas K. Gandhi spoke an eternal truth when he said, “It is difficult but not impossible to conduct strictly honest business. What is true is that honesty is incompatible with the amassing of a large fortune.” The pursuit of great wealth is fraught with self-deceptive snares which threaten the well- being of the pursuer’s soul. I believe Jesus and Gandhi would give a loud “amen” to the Middle East proverb, “Enough is a feast.”
Paul L. Whiteley Sr., Louisville, Ky.
World Cup complaints
I have to admit, I became a fan of World Cup football when I lived overseas a few years back. I’d hoped that, this year, I’d see some high-quality play that would persuade more Americans to enjoy the sport. Wrong! Here’s what we saw:
1) Millionaire prima donnas behaving poorly. More diving in those matches than you might see at the local pool.
2) Poorly officiated games. The sport has gotten away from three officials, two of whom must watch from the sidelines. A single on- field referee is just not enough to manage the game with athletes as skilled as these.
3) Outdated rules. An arcane offside rule penalizes an aggressive attack; three substitutions per game deprives teams from giving their top players a breather and fans from seeing teams put on the best show possible; and the entire world has to guess at time available within a period.
4) Contests decided by penalty kick? Watching Italy vs. France decide the World Cup by penalty kicks was like watching Miami vs. Dallas decide the NBA championship by free throws. C’mon, guys, come up with a better plan.
Until FIFA decides to bring its sport into the 21st century, Americans (including me) will continue to look upon it as a novelty rather than a real event.
Paul Gibson, Longmont
Mercury in fish
Re: “Mercury: It’s not for dinner,” July 10 editorial.
Your editorial was correct in stating that state officials should pay close attention to mercury emissions in the name of protecting the public’s health. However, mercury is a global problem and found not only in the fish that Colorado residents catch for themselves, but more commonly in the fish they buy at the supermarket.
Boulder-based Wild Oats recognized this fact and was the first supermarket chain in the country to voluntarily post the Food and Drug Administration’s 2004 warning on mercury contamination in fish at its seafood counters nationwide. Because of Wild Oats’ leadership, Safeway and Whole Foods stores decided to as well.
While governments wrestle with how to curb future mercury emissions, more supermarket chains could and should be warning customers of the dangers that already exist in the food they buy and feed their families.
Jackie Savitz, Campaign Director, Oceana’s Stop Seafood Contamination Program, Washington, D.C.
Refreshed by Colorado’s indoor smoking ban
My 14-year-old daughter pleaded with me to take her to see The Allergies, an alternative punk band, at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom at 27th and Welton in Denver on July 4. I was not going to allow her to attend without supervision, but I dreaded the thought of attending a noisy rock concert. I gathered my earplugs and we headed over to the ballroom to find out that it is actually more like a bar. I was very much out of my comfort zone, considering the audience and music, but was pleasantly surprised to find the place smoke-free, and I actually enjoyed myself. I’m not sure if the venue has always been smoke- free, but I can now go to restaurants/bars in Colorado and be able to breathe. Thanks for the smoke- free environment.
Candace Ruiz, Westminster
Editor’s note: Prior to the July 1 enactment of the state smoking ban, areas of Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom had indeed been designated for smoking, and is now smoke-free.
Columbine killers’ documents made public
Re: “Father wrote of Harris’ run-ins,” July 7 news story.
The disclosure of the Columbine letters and journals firmly validates the belief held by many that the killers’ parents did not act appropriately to avert this horrible tragedy. Wayne Harris’ pathetic denials regarding his son’s actions leading up to the killings and his calling of the school on the day of the shooting illustrate a man who clearly thought his son was capable of doing worse things than vandalism. The school, police, mental health officials and other parents/ classmates all told the Klebold and Harris families to do something about Dylan and Eric and they chose to ignore and deny it.
Instead of blaming the police and the emergency response personnel, we should focus on the massive failings of these kids’ parents to do something about their abhorrent behavior before it was too late.
Jeff Wright, Arvada
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