Classic Denver signs
Re: “In celebration of Space Age style,” Aug. 20 news story.
Some of the most fascinating signs and lights in town can still be found at Lakeside Amusement Park. Any fan of the era will be floored by the twinkling sign proclaiming “Satellite: Be your own Pilot” or the hot pink neon wrapped around the ticket booth for the Hurricane. Colorado is extremely lucky to have such an amazing treasure, preserved primarily intact. There are only a few more weeks left in the 2006 season. Please, everyone, show your support for this aging beauty and help keep the park from fading away.
Heather Hawkins, Aurora
Preventing dropouts
Re: “Colo. schools ditch pushy attitudes toward dropouts,” Aug. 20 news story.
Your article missed a major change in state education policy that will drive improved attitudes toward students who may otherwise drop out. In January 2006, my colleagues and I on the State Board of Education approved a set of rules that strengthen and standardize how dropouts are counted. This was not a popular change. It is hard to keep some students in school for many of the reasons you stated in the article. A student who does not want to be in school can be disruptive; their presence can make it more difficult for educators and classmates alike; it costs time and money to find a student who stops coming to school; it is an increased administrative burden for schools. But it is also communicates an important value: every student is worth the extra effort.
We must make it harder for students to drop out without being noticed. We must care about the future of these students. A positive attitude and new approaches are applauded. It can be as simple as a caring adult at school wondering where you are that day. The Gates Foundation released a national report that points to a pattern of students becoming disengaged from school before dropping out. Many dropouts, in hindsight, feel they could have graduated with more support or intervention. The first step is knowing how many dropouts we have using a common measure. It also means taking positive steps to keep school relevant and engaging for all students. This is not just a school’s responsibility, but a community responsibility. We can all play a role as we work to reach and educate all of Colorado’s students.
Karen Middleton, Aurora
The writer is a member of the State Board of Education, representing the 7th Congressional District.
Women in combat
Re: “Post-war stress seizes women as combat roles shift,” Aug. 20 news story.
The Post’s article suggests that women who are being exposed to combat are suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder with the same frequency as their male counterparts. Perhaps we should all “thank” ex-Congresswoman Pat Schroeder and the gentle ladies from NOW for pressuring the military and insisting that women should have the same combat experience as men so that they could move up the promotion ladder. Tell me, ladies, is it worth it?
Everitt W. Simpson, Golden
CowParade exhibit
Re: “Cow sculptures: good, bad or a moo-t point?” Aug. 20 Arts & Entertainment story.
Critic Kyle MacMillan certainly gave us his utterly, no pun intended, high-brow artistic opinion of Denver’s CowParade. Yes, it is a public art exhibit, accessible to everyone – what is the rub about that? This event benefits many, in many ways. It brings art to those who may never have imagined it could be fun and interesting and creative and different. Young and old, from all walks of life, find value in its accessibility. Individuals who may be creatively and artistically challenged can see the possibilities in art presented in this way. It benefits young, upcoming artists who aspire to reach the levels of achievement of the artists he mentions in his article, top-flight international-caliber artists, of whom none chose to participate.
MacMillan tells us we should be getting a taste of artistic excellence and we are not. He tells us that “this project champions the lowest common denominator” in art. This statement is so insulting. Maybe the art community should make an effort to embrace its young artists, encourage them, congratulate and “champion” them and their art. This is what will ultimately enhance Denver’s image as a sophisticated arts city.
Susan Granere, Golden
“Gospel of Judas” book
Re: “‘Judas’ a window on Gnosticism,” Aug. 20 book review.
If you want to understand the merits of an ancient religious writing, you should probably ask a historical scholar, not a Christian apologist.
Reviewer Douglas Groothuis approaches “The Gospel of Judas” as much like a creationist approaches science – start with a literal biblical conclusion and work back, dismissing along the way any evidence that doesn’t fit the conclusion. In this case, the gnostic “Gospel of Judas” is dismissed as theological rebellion because it doesn’t square with the view “most scholars” have of Christian history.
None of the biblical gospels were meant to be biographies, and they certainly aren’t history. They were, when written, apologetic writings providing reasons to believe a circulating point of view. They have historical value because they chronicle the developing and shifting views of Jesus over a period of time. The biblical gospels were accepted as both historically accurate and sacred because they supported orthodox Christian views developed over time.
People with an open mind will read “The Gospel of Judas” with an appreciation for the creative ability of ancient writers and the churning cauldron of early Christian thought. People who rely on Groothius to form their opinion will turn off their minds, preferring the cozy darkness of belief.
Chuck Stober, Westmintser
Immigration hearings in districts with tight congressional races
Re: “Politics in immigration debate,” Aug. 20 editorial.
The Post calls U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard’s scheduling of “field hearing on illegal immigration” on Aug. 30 in Aurora “cheap politics.” OK, it’s politics, but it’s politics concerned with governmental policies, politics at its very best. By no means is it cheap politics.
Allard recognizes the critical importance of “resolving the nation’s immigration problems,” just as does the 7th District’s Republican nominee for Congress, Rick O’Donnell, who has identified illegal immigration as “hands down the No. 1 issue” of voters in his district.
Did not The Post recently report that Colorado voters consider illegal immigration as by far the most serious problem facing America today? Apparently The Post disagrees with Coloradans. Revealing its politically partisan opinion, it editorializes, “… if Congress was really interested in resolving the nation’s immigration problems, Republican leaders would be working to reconcile the House and Senate legislation rather than conducting campaign season show hearings.”
No, Congress would not. Senators and representatives alike would be working hard to secure our borders and internally enforce our immigration laws. In no instance must our immigration laws reward illegals with amnesty. And the House immigration bill must be essentially maintained and strengthened, not weakened, by the outrageous Senate bill. And soon. And no amnesty. And no “catch and release.”
Charles L. King, Boulder
…
It seems that the Aug. 30 Senate hearings on immigration in Aurora are intended to help Republican Rick O’Donnell over Democrat Ed Perlmutter in the 7th Congressional District race. O’Donnell opposes a guest-worker program and amnesty; Perlmutter does not. The hearings will focus on cost to governments. But the public is likely far more interested in the costs to them personally. These include:
1) greatly increased health care costs to provide free care to immigrants;
2) lower incomes because of increased numbers seeking the same jobs and higher health insurance premiums for employers;
3) fewer jobs in some states;
4) degraded schools where immigrants concentrate;
5) the consequent need to move to better public school districts or to private schools;
6) fear of a growing, functionally illiterate, permanent underclass our schools are unable to educate for lack of enough good teachers and diet, but who will eventually have the right to cast uninformed votes; and
7) increasing need for those with good education and income to separate from those without by concentrating into separate areas, as now, but eventually into separate states, where their senators can block unwelcome majority legislation.
These are considerations the Senate needs to hear.
Raymond J. Rostan, Parker
President Tancredo?
John Andrews suggests that Tom Tancredo would be a viable presidential candidate as soon as 2008. He applauds Tancredo’s single-issue stand on immigration and border control, and likens him to another of Andrews’ heroes: the Barry Goldwater of 1960.
This observation demonstrates once again just how far out of touch Andrews is with respect to mainstream American values and thinking.
I’m pleased, however, that The Post provides him with space. He gives your readers an interesting, and often amusing, caricature of the radical right mentality. Thank goodness Andrews is no longer directly influencing the direction of Colorado government. I sincerely hope we can keep it that way.
Robert Hofmann, Golden
…
John Andrews again exhibits his extreme ideology in in this column. The dispiriting cult is not the “cult of multiculturalism” but the cult led by Tom Tancredo. Andrews doesn’t recognize that the rhetoric of this cult is contained in the way the cult members express their concerns – “the immigration mess, the multiculturalist assault on American identity, and the clash of civilizations pitting Islamic fascism against Western civilization.” How will we solve the real problems facing the Untied States by using such biased illogical exaggerations? The cult members need to look at the real facts of each concern and talk of real solutions. They can start by presenting a more accurate picture of North American society. As Joel Garreau shows in his 1981 book “The Nine Nations of North America,” there are many regions in North America, including Canada, Mexico and the United States. Each region has its own distinctive economic and cultural features that do not follow national or state borders.
Eldon VanDerWege, Denver
…
In his column about Tom Tancredo, former state Senate president John Andrews wrote that “Michigan Republicans made him No. 1 in a recent straw poll. Might the enthusiasm be contagious?”
I say, why not? Venezuela elected and re-elected Hugo Chávez. After all, hate, like sex, sells.
Delio D. Tamayo, Aurora
TO THE POINT
The Post’s Aug. 23 editorial “Ramsey case needs calm and evidence” is a welcome call. The Denver Post can heed it easily by taking the case off the front page and reporting the news that matters.
Arno Laesecke, Louisville
Re: “Builders decide on dual endorsement,” Aug. 23 news story. I guess this is a case of “Both Ways Builders.”
Gordon J. Johnson, Broomfield
Why does the U.S. send money to Lebanon to rebuild its bombed structures while at the same time it sends missiles to Israel to destroy Lebanon’s structures? Maybe your readers or Hillary Clinton or George W. Bush have the answer.
Richard F. Proud, Parachute
Has our political system gotten so far out of tune that a man like George “Macaca” Allen could be considered as a viable candidate for president?
Ray Yedinak, Highlands Ranch
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