Demotion of Pluto
Re: “Left out in the cold: Pluto demoted,” Aug. 25 news story.
I am sorry to see the scientific community decide that Pluto is not worthy of planet status. As a boy growing up, I identified with the little guy because he was small and named after one of my favorite Disney characters. I also held out hope that they might find Donald out there, too.
So what’s up with Uranus? What does Uranus mean? What led the smart folk of the sciences to pick Uranus as the name for a planet? I suggest we drop Uranus and rename the orb Pluto. Let’s give the little guy an upgrade. I don’t think many folks would miss looking at Uranus, and I believe children would be less inquisitive about the origin of “Big Pluto.”
While we are at it, maybe we should update some of the constellations, too. Cassiopeia to the “Golden Arches” is an example. Just thinking.
Cordell Staker, Englewood
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We never lost a planet under a Democratic president.
Tim Cochran, Highlands Ranch
Ignorance of foreign news
Re: “Americans’ ignorance of foreign news appalling,” Aug. 24 Pius Kamau column.
Pius Kamau’s assessment of the average American’s knowledge of world events was essentially correct. However, his opinion that part of the fault is in the media’s decision to print less international news is in error. Here he put the cart before the horse. Newspaper editors have learned from experience that printing news that people are interested in will increase or keep them in business. To do otherwise will contribute to their demise.
Gordon V. Petersen, Denver
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Pius Kamau blames American “ignorance” for “allowing” 30 million Africans to die from HIV/AIDS. This is preposterous. Americans – in words, dollars and deeds – have been trying to help Africans for decades, with little to show for it. Even during the Depression, poor Americans sent money and aid to help Africans. In regards to HIV/AIDS, Americans have worked to ease the pain of Africans already infected, as well as with attempting to educate Africans on prevention.
Scott Moore, Aurora
Bush’s Iraq policy
Re: “No pullout from Iraq, Bush vows,” Aug. 22 news story.
Leaving Iraq before the job is done would be a disaster, states President Bush. He is mistaken. The invasion and occupation of Iraq left a political vacuum. America can’t fill this political vacuum. Iraqis must step up and decide their own political future. Iraqis must decide how to structure their own political institutions and how to divide their oil revenues among themselves. Americans can’t decide these issues for them, nor should we. Some Iraqis use violence and intimidation to try to resolve political issues, causing internal civil conflicts. Our troops could get sucked in to these internal conflicts, and our troops also draw insurgents into Iraq, adding to political instability in Iraq. America needs to stay focused on the destruction of al-Qaeda and not get drawn into Iraq’s internal conflicts that don’t concern us. We need to redeploy our troops to defeat al-Qaeda and to add to political stability in Iraq.
Scott A. Sloan, Denver
Colorado name games
Re: “Say where?” Aug. 20 Colorado Sunday story.
Years ago, while driving around Colorado (“Colo-RAD-oh”) with our young children, now all grown, we drove into Saguache. One of the younger kids said, “Look, Dad, we’re in Sah-Goochie,” and in our family, that’s what it’s been ever since.
Dick Stacy, MON-trose
