Criticism and misconceptions about Muslims
Re: “Suthers’ trip for naught,” Nov. 30 Pius Kamau column.
Pius Kamau’s anti-Arab/Muslim tirade crosses the line between legitimate criticism of a nation or religion to ethnic and religious bigotry. Blanketing other Arab countries in his criticism of Saudi Arabia and his attribution of an individual’s criminal behavior to his religion are an excessive abuse of editorial license.
Connecting the United Arab Emirates with Saudi Arabia is an example of his apparent ignorance of the different social climate which sets these two countries apart. The UAE has made incredible progress during the 34 years of its existence and emergence from its primitive Third World status, and continues to address the flaws that remain. They are an open and tolerant society compared with Saudi policies. Kamau reveals the depths of his religious intolerance when he says that ” Al-Turki, wearing the mantle of Islam, felt no qualms raping the Indonesian nanny.” It is understandable why the many Muslims in our community are deeply offended by such columns that feed the widespread anti-Muslim prejudice that prevails in our society.
Ray Nelson, Denver
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The leaders in the Muslim community have made numerous statements regarding the misinformation being circulated by this newspaper as well as other sources in the community who are constantly bombarded with negative or misinformation regarding Islam. Letter-writer Mark Jensen’s comments (Dec. 5 Open Forum) confirm this phenomenon.
The truth is that there is only one Islam. There are those who strive to practice the religion according to the teachings, and there are those who don’t. The events in the Middle East are no more reflective of Islamic values and beliefs than murder, rape, child molestations and other heinous crimes committed daily in the West reflect Christian values.
At some point, intelligent people realize there is a difference between the behaviors of an individual and the philosophy of a religion. The two often don’t coincide. For example, nowhere in the Bible does it teach that a priest should molest a child, yet we find countless Catholic and Christian leaders can’t keep their hands off the children.
Do we really believe we, as Americans, have a moral “high ground”?
Should we discount the thousands of innocent lives destroyed by our so-called weapons of peace? I think not.
Malik Taylor, Denver
Is Denver’s recycling program worth the cost?
Re: “The waste debate: Does recycling pay? Denver says per-ton cost is half that of using landfills,” Dec. 3 news story.
Thank you so much for highlighting Denver’s recycling program. I applaud the city of Denver’s efforts. Jeremy P. Meyer did an excellent job in bringing out several pertinent issues on both sides.
There are, however, two other points that I would like to add. First, it is crucial for us to become consumers of products that are made from at least a certain percentage of post-consumer waste. Yes, purchasing products made from recycled materials right now costs more. One reason for that is that not enough of us purchase the items, so the market is not strong yet.
Once the demand equals the supply, the prices will drop.
Secondly, we cannot ever forget that recycling is more than a surface choice between products made from post-consumer waste and virgin sources. This is a social justice issue. We in the West, in particular, currently use more than our fair share of the world’s resources. Recycling is one way we can help restore the balance. Reusing items and reducing our use are the other pillars of the three R’s – recycle, reduce, re-use. Along with this point is the reminder that these resources are nonrenewable, so we absolutely must do all we can so that our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren have a planet with basic resources.
Tisa M. Anders, Lakewood
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I’m not all that good at math, but if landfill disposal costs $50 per ton and recycling costs $25 per ton, I’m pretty sure that recycling pays.
Steve Read, Denver
Grad requirements
Re: “Tougher route to diploma,” Dec. 1 news story.
It’s really amazing there is any discussion about the high school graduation requirements recommended by the Colorado Education Alignment Council, particularly in view of Colorado’s anxiety about having a world-class competitive workforce in the future. The requirements are pretty much the minimum level of high school education needed for getting around in the 21st century, whether the graduate is headed for a four-year university or right into an entry- level job. The only relevant discussion is: Are the standards tough enough? Not really. Four years of science and one year of economics should also be required. Science and economic illiteracy of many U.S. citizens contributes to most of our current problems. Smooth- talking pundits and ideologues frequently fool these unaware citizens.
Local school district control is great – up to a point. That point is where the local school boards start making decisions that damage the education of their students.
Jim Leonard, Evergreen
Oil and gas industry
I’m getting a bit tired of seeing America’s oil and natural gas industry taking out full-page ads week after week with titles like “A balanced energy approach.” Their idea of a “balance” is drilling more in America. I have an idea for America’s oil and natural gas industry: Quit spending money on full- page ads and use the money to come up with an entirely new business plan. We need alternatives to oil, and we need them fast.
Emily Frazee, Colorado Springs
Wreaths for the fallen
Re: “One man’s gift touches nation’s heart; Wreaths honor fallen warriors,” Dec. 3 news story.
This was a very nice article, regarding the Maine man who organized to bring and place Christmas wreaths on gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. Just wondering what they do when they reach my uncle’s grave with the star of David on it.
Do they:
A) Disrespect him by leaving the wreath; or
B) Ignore him by leaving the grave empty?
Mike Fishelman, Arvada
Sen. Wayne Allard’s environmental record
Re: “If lured to ’08 race, Allard likely to face roughest road yet,” Dec. 3 news story.
Sen. Wayne Allard, according to his profile in Sunday’s Denver Post, wants to be remembered for his efforts to protect Colorado’s endangered fish. While it’s true that the senator has helped bring to Colorado funding for our endangered fish recovery programs, on the whole his conservation record has been abysmal. He earned only 17 percent on the League of Conservation Voters scorecard during the last Congress; he consistently votes to roll back clean air and clean water protections; is against critical conservation issues like protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; and he has actively promoted weakening the Endangered Species Act.
In fact, if the Endangered Species Act “reforms” that he promoted had been adopted by Congress, the endangered fish recovery programs he touted would have likely ended, with severe consequences for these four native Colorado fish species.
Sen. Allard won his last two Senate races in part by claiming to support conservation, but he’ll have a much tougher time making that claim in 2008 against Congressman Mark Udall, one of Colorado’s true conservation champions.
Jacob Smith, Golden
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