Focusing on the end of the war in Iraq
Instead of debating whether the level of violence in Iraq qualifies as civil war, isn’t it more urgent to focus on how to end this war? If the media had done its job and investigated the stated reasons for going to war, rather than just repeating our government’s claims without question, these reasons would all have been shown to be without merit. This war, and all these deaths, could have been prevented.
We owe it to all the innocent people, and to the troops who have been killed as a result of our actions in Iraq, to end further bloodshed there as soon as possible. The media could play a much larger role by honestly showing the horrendous costs of war, and helping to ensure that our nation will not choose war or pre-emptive attacks in our dealings with Iran or other countries.
Suggestions: Print running totals of civilian and military deaths in Iraq on the front page each day, and the cumulative amount of our tax dollars spent. Print regular interviews with bereaved families in Iraq. Run an in-depth series about U.S. veterans, active-duty troops and military families working to end this war. Provide ongoing coverage of clergy and religious groups speaking out on the war and related moral issues.
War should be the absolute last resort to solve grievances. Constant reminders of the true costs of war, and creative actions for peace, can help us choose more fruitful paths.
Mary Ellen Garrett, Estes Park
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This past Thanksgiving holiday, while most of us were gorging ourselves with turkey, watching football and getting ready to go throw money at the new generation of PlayStations at the malls, Baghdad was in flames and hundreds were killed in the streets. It’s disheartening how disconnected most Americans are from the ravages of the Bush war.
There are few Americans who want to go fight in Iraq, and when Congressman Charles Rangel suggested reinstitution of the draft so all of us would have an opportunity to shoulder the burden, critics came out of the woodwork. Most Americans don’t want to serve, and many complain about paying the taxes necessary to support those who do. The elections are over and hopefully the new Congress will move ahead with the business at hand, including a timely withdrawal from this tragic war.
Larry Carnes, Trinidad
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News reports indicate that Sen. John McCain is urging many more thousands of American troops to be sent to Iraq in order to achieve victory there.
If all members of Congress, and President Bush and his close advisers – all of whom support U.S. involvement in Iraq until victory is achieved – were to urge their children and grandchildren to volunteer for active duty in the front lines of Iraq, wouldn’t that war end very quickly?
Unless McCain agrees to the above proposal, despite his past valued services, I must regrettably conclude that he is a coward or hypocrite, or both.
Joe Stern, Fort Collins
A message about winter driving in Colorado
This is a simple message to all Colorado drivers this winter: Either prepare your vehicle for winter driving or leave it at home and take public transportation. Your ill-equipped vehicles cause an inconvenience and are a danger to all other considerate drivers on the road.
This means putting adequate snow tires and/or chains on your vehicle. Put some sacks of sand in the back of your pickups and in the trunk of your car. The extra weight will give you better traction and the sand can always be used to get you unstuck should the need arise.
This message is especially intended for people like the owner of that shiny, yellow Camaro that was in the intersection of Federal and 92nd Wednesday morning. When the light turned green, you used your 400 horsepower to spin your bald tires so you could creep ahead inch by inch, all the while blocking motorists behind you from getting where they needed to go. When the light changed, you had made it to the middle of the intersection.
Of course you would not back up, giving up the precious ground you had already gained, so you got to inconvenience all the cross-traffic. We all hope you get coal in your stocking this Christmas if you do not change your ways.
Kent Fishman, Arvada
Shouldn’t the Democrats already have a plan?
Something happened recently as I walked the 16th Street Mall that made me realize this country is ripe for a third political party.
A young man holding a clipboard asked me if I had a few minutes for the Democrats. I said I thought the election was over, that we wouldn’t have to face this kind of thing for almost another two years. He informed me that, although the Democrats now have a majority in the House and Senate, it is time to develop policy. I blinked in surprise, then asked him, “Shouldn’t the Democrats have developed a policy before the election? After all, what did they get elected on?”
He didn’t have an answer for that, and I walked away scratching my head.
I have since come to realize that both parties have conspired to turn something that was a right and privilege – the election and voting process – into nothing more than an unavoidable evil. Although I believe the Republican Party’s policies have left us mired in Iraq, the thought that the Democrats possess no united policy scares me as much, if not more.
The nation is more than ready for a third political party.
Al Ellis, Denver
Neighborhood bullies
The story of a homeowner association asking a person to remove a Christmas decoration illustrates how powerful these associations have become. This is a good opportunity for us to consider how homeowner associations are helping us.
As a 12-year-old in a neighborhood with an HOA, I understand the importance of clean, safe neighborhoods. However, when an HOA can request that someone take down a Christmas wreath, we should ask ourselves if this has gone too far.
Kelsey Piper, Louisville
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The peace wreath controversy is just one more example of homeowner association abuse and excess. It seems all too many busybodies – granted minimal authority – can’t resist the opportunity to pursue their personal agendas. Fortunately, homeowners with the courage to stand up frequently find the modern-day version of the neighborhood bully is mostly bluster.
Jack Cassidy, Parker
In defense of trucking on Interstate 70
Re: “Easy fix for traffic on Interstate 70,” Nov. 28 Ed Quillen column.
So, Ed Quillen wants to ban trucks traveling across Interstate 70. What a great idea – I guess commerce between Denver and the West needs to get a a lot more expensive.
Quillen suggests putting the trailers on the rails. Great idea until you see what that costs, what with more tax subsidies for the railroads, the building of staging areas, the extra truck traffic to drop the trailers in the yards and then pick them upon the other end.
As for his suggestion that trucks run Interstate 40 and Interstate 80 for the trucks originating out of state, most of them do already. The ones that originate in Colorado would be traveling hundreds of miles out of route, increasing the costs. At 5 to 7 miles per gallon, it adds up.
Here’s an idea to cut down on the trucks: Go live in a cave and grow your own food and make your own clothes. But then how would you get the seeds, or the materials to make clothes? Repeat after me: If you got it, a truck brought it.
Tom Beard, Aurora
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