Digital television tower for Lookout Mountain
Re: “Hardly government’s finest tower,” Dec. 14 David Harsanyi column.
David Harsanyi is incorrect when he says that “the federal government is now mandating Coloradans be provided high-definition television.”
The government intervened to provide television, period. When he says the tower is about HDTV, he implies it’s rich people watching nonsense on a “cool TV.”
In 2009, the current analog signals will be shut down and replaced by digital signals. Many people in the Denver metro area cannot afford cable or satellite and will be unable to receive local stations without digital (which does not mean HD) transmissions.
Harsanyi might be skeptical that “HDTV is going to save any lives,” but some people actually watch the news and pay attention to weather forecasts. HD or not, this information could save lives.
George Kontogiannis, Highlands Ranch
Can Christianity and homosexuality go together?
Re: “Practicing what we preach,” Dec. 18 editorial.
I applaud The Denver Post’s editorial calling for compassion from churches with regard to their response to gay members and ministers. I am distressed, however, by your associating the situation of the Rev. Benjamin Reynolds with those of the Revs. Ted Haggard and Paul Barnes.
Rev. Reynolds spoke with courage and integrity, not contrition, when he informed his congregation that he could no longer serve as its pastor. In contrast with published reports regarding Haggard and Barnes, Rev. Reynolds is comfortable with who he is. He affirms himself as God has created him; he is not struggling with “sexual immorality,” nor has “he gone where he told others not to go.”
Reynolds’ alma mater, the Iliff School of Theology, supports his quest to find venues where he can exercise his considerable gifts for ministry. My denomination, the United Church of Christ, welcomes his interest in exploring ministry possibilities within our communion. Christianity is not monolithic.
Many churches already practice what they preach, responding with compassion and affirmation for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered members and ministers, thereby rejoicing in the God who made us all, gay and straight.
Rev. Phil Campbell, Denver
The writer is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and is director of ministry studies for the Iliff School of Theology.
…
The Post’s editorial, Diane Carman’s Dec. 17 column (“Preachers found logic in denial”), and a Dec. 17 news story (“Evangelical and gay? Believers find self-acceptance”) capitalized on the recent resignations of Ted Haggard and Paul Barnes to moralize about the acceptance of homosexuality by the evangelical community. It’s interesting that the writings of a columnist, a reporter and the editorial board had such similar goals, albeit one more subtle than the others.
The Post writers saw the chance to bolster the belief that evangelicals can and should accept homosexuality – in others or in themselves. Carman wrote that “it seems like two beloved evangelical leaders coming out of the closet would be such a dramatic turning point that reconsideration of the whole abomination thing logically would follow.” The news story chose to profile self-identified evangelicals who are gay or lesbian, documenting the evolution of their understanding of several biblical passages that address homosexuality. And the editorial opined that “Mary Cheney or not, there’s little chance that conservative Christian leaders will soften their antagonism toward homosexuality, but we can hope these recent revelations will stir more tolerance.”
What was blatantly absent was any reference to the thousands of men and women across the world who are willingly and joyfully submitting their sexuality according to their religious convictions. Rather than the best efforts to reconcile same-sex attractions with the Bible, these men and women have accepted the clear biblical mandate for human sexuality: abstinence until, and faithfulness within, marriage between a man and a woman.
Melissa Fryrear, Director, Gender Issues, Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs
Proposed mine near BLM lands in Alaska
Re: “Proposed mine could have dreadful impact,” Dec. 20 Charlie Meyers column.
In his column, Charlie Meyers discussed a proposed mine near Lake Iliamna in southwest Alaska. He noted the “apparent complicity of the Bureau of Land Management.”
The proposed Pebble Mine is located on State of Alaska lands. While the BLM manages lands to the south and west of the Pebble project, the Pebble proposal is not on BLM-administered lands. Therefore, the BLM has no regulatory authority for this project.
The BLM is currently conducting land-use planning for adjacent lands in the Bristol Bay and Goodnews Bay areas of Alaska. However, most lands in the planning area with high mineral potential, such as the proposed Pebble Mine, were previously transferred to the State of Alaska under the provisions of the Alaska Statehood Act.
The BLM welcomes public involvement in our Bay planning effort. Comments on BLM-administered lands in this area may be addressed to akbayrmp@blm.gov.
Thomas P. Lonnie, Alaska State Director, U.S. Bureau of Land Management
Beauprez’s failed run
Re: “Feeling benched by anti-GOP mood; Beauprez admits missteps, explores options,” Dec. 20 news story.
Bob Beauprez lost the governor’s race for a variety of reasons, among them voting lock step with an out-of-touch president and his party. He ran a campaign of misinformation and negative ads, and should take responsibility for it. If, as quoted, he thinks illegally obtaining information from a restricted database was “exactly the right thing” to do and he “hope that somebody learns a lesson from it,” I hope that somebody is Beauprez. Breaking the law because it suits your agenda doesn’t make it “right.”
Patti McKay, Lakewood
Death of climbers
Although the deaths of three climbers on Mount Hood sadden me, if only one egomaniacal mountain climber with young children pauses to weigh the impact of his absence throughout his children’s lives versus the fleeting adrenaline rush of a risky winter summit, perhaps these deaths are not completely senseless.
Christina Sands, Morrison
Too much sodium?
My husband has been in three nursing homes in the last two years. One of the biggest problems we encountered was the high salt and sodium content in the food at these homes. Swollen ankles of many patients were the norm, so they were put on Lasix. People who were already on high blood pressure meds required more. Money would be saved for prescription drugs by Medicaid and Medicare if they’d start in the kitchens of nursing homes.
Janell Hebert, Aurora
Use of the word “pimp”
Re: “Pimp my iPod,” Dec. 19 business news story.
I take issue with your choice of words regarding the article on iPods. “Pimp my iPod” not only lacks taste, but also shows a very limited and crude vocabulary. Whoever approved this headline needs to return to journalism school and learn to write captions using words that are above gutter level. Readers, such as I, don’t appreciate opening a morning “family” newspaper to see a headline like this one.
Arthur Martin, Littleton
To send a letter
E-mail: openforum@denverpost.com (only straight text, not attachments)
Mail: The Open Forum, The Denver Post, 101 W. Colfax Ave., Suite 600, Denver, 80202
Fax: 303-954-1502
Guidelines: The Post welcomes letters up to 200 words on topics of general interest. Letters must include full name, home address and day and evening phone numbers. Letters may be edited for length, grammar and accuracy.
To reach us by phone: 303-954-1331
