Offended by comic strip
I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kentucky. I love and cherish the rich history, folklore, music, literature and scenery. The people are warm and friendly. It is with this in mind that I am writing to express my concern for a comic strip called “Natural Selection” by Russ Wallace.
Over the past month, he has made fun of the people of Appalachia, most recently on Aug. 2. I am deeply offended by his insensitivity and the inappropriateness of these “comics.” There is nothing whatsoever humorous about these mean-spirited portrayals of people who live in abject poverty and very poor living conditions. This area has suffered at the hands of dishonest and corrupt mining, logging and land companies and others who have taken advantage of a very special area.
Mr. Wallace must think it is OK to mock and stereotype a group of citizens. I wonder if he would do that to other minorities who have a louder voice and presence in our society.
Andrew Speer, Denver
City’s 1st disc golf course
Congratulations to the Denver Parks Department on dedicating the city’s first disc (Frisbee) golf course recently at Paco Sanchez Park. Through the collaborative efforts of Councilman Rick Garcia, Councilwoman Rosemary Rodriquez, the Parks Department, and local disc golfers, especially the tenacious Ronnie Ross, the 10-year effort to get a disc golf course in the city of Denver is complete. The 18-hole course straddles Lakewood Gulch (just west of Federal Boulevard) for 12-15 blocks. It is a beautiful course with hilly terrain and fabulous views of downtown Denver. The course is a wonderful amenity to the West Denver neighborhoods and the city at large. Disc golfers will enjoy a long, challenging course and Denverites will see an under-utilized green belt cleaned up and made safer and more inviting by the frequent play of the disc golfers.
Dennis Smith, Denver
The writer is a member of the Denver Parks Department Advisory Board.
Trains and complaints
While I was in Denver recently to ride the steam train, I was impressed by how The Denver Post handled the whole day-long adventure to Cheyenne. Thank you, well done.
However, Amtrak and its California Creeper to Chicago on July 23 was a tourist’s nightmare, perhaps meant to reawaken me about the end of my mini-vacation. There was an eight-hour delay before we departed for Chicago.
Denver city officials should discuss ways to soften the bench-hard reality of the stately train station. I saw a charter group of senior citizens who tried to nap on the depot benches. These were older people, and they left Denver much older, and certainly crankier, at 2:30 a.m.
How about cushions? Lounge chairs? Or, horrors, a hotel cool-off room? For good reason, the security guard was armed. Older travelers like me spend money, and we compare, contrast and complain if necessary. I’ll never forget the Bataan Death Sit in Denver.
Pharis S. Brooks, Racine, Wisc.
Lebanon is Israel’s Iraq
Israel has met its Iraq. Israel thought a lightning and brutal attack on Lebanon would make Israel safe from Hezbollah terrorism, much as George W. Bush said that attacking Iraq would make us safe. Most of us have long since realized that was sheer stupidity.
No serious American can reasonably conclude that the Middle East is less of a threat to the U.S. than it was four years ago. Israel is now bogged down in difficult ground combat in southern Lebanon. What can they possibly achieve? A 30-mile wide border zone will be re-infiltrated by Hezbollah as easily as Iraq was infiltrated by terrorists of many persuasions. A multinational force has historically been ineffective at stopping military actions by a motivated and well-trained force. Israel can expect a long, drawn-out conflict, without good options for a real and lasting peace. I doubt that Israel expected such difficulties.
If Arabs could be any more fire-breathingly mad at the U.S. and Israel than they were from our horribly ineffective Middle East policy, they certainly are now.
Will Burt, Lakewood
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