Founding Fathers’ use of biblical principles
Re: “Biblical foundation?” March 4 Ed Quillen column.
It never fails to amaze me the things people will state in a newspaper, making assertions that are completely devoid of the facts.
Ed Quillen states that the Bible could not be the basis for our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution and that our federal government does not have a biblical foundation. What kind of faulty logic is this? Quillen’s statements could not be further from the truth.
Historical revisionists have tried to destroy the fact that 51 of the 55 five men who wrote and signed the Constitution were confirmed biblical Christians. Just because the Bible does not mention the words “constitutional republic,” it does not necessarily follow that our government is not based on the Bible and its principles. The Founding Fathers were greatly influenced by the Bible’s teachings and wrote their Christian values and beliefs into our founding documents. To prove this, read their writings and commentaries, even those who were not Christians such as Benjamin Franklin.
So, why is it that men are created equal and have certain “unalienable” rights? Because our Founding Fathers believed man was created in the image of God and “endowed” by their Creator with these “absolute” rights. Period.
Brian Catalucci, Pine
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Murdered mother’s relationship with girl
Although I admit that the only facts I have are what I have read in the newspaper, I would like to know how the situation of the relationship between a mother, Linda Damm, and her 15-year-old daughter got to the point that the daughter felt that murder was the only option.
Ms. Damm’s family’s admission that she was a “functioning alcoholic” and that the relationship between mother and daughter was very strained shows knowledge by family members of a serious problem and the lack of intervention. Did the school have knowledge of the situation? Why was the child not removed and living with another family? Just what is a “functioning alcoholic”? Other than the prosecutorial reason that the “nature of the crime is serious,” why are we charging the daughter as an adult? What happened to the term “juvenile law”? Is there no redeeming value to this child of a “functioning alcoholic”? What exactly went on at the Damm house between mother and daughter that caused so much anger?
The situation is tragic for four young lives and the deceased.
Cheryl Redmond Doyle, Littleton
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Plan to revive presidential primary in Colo.
Re: “Colo. primary revival,” March 8 news story.
It’s being suggested that we have a presidential primary election in 2008, followed by our neighborhood caucuses across the state a few weeks later.
This is a bad idea. In Iowa, presidential candidates spend about $40 per caucus attendee. It would be similar here in Colorado if our caucus system was given the same TLC the Iowa system receives from the Iowa media, civic leaders, and the major political parties. Instead, we get a stream of these efforts at reform where none is needed.
Nothing would weaken our caucus system more than splitting it off from the presidential race. People who are against this misguided change should speak out now.
John Wren, Denver
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AFL-CIO’s threat
Re: “Labor pulls an ace from sleeve; Convention threat,” March 9 news story.
The AFL-CIO is unfortunately trying to force Gov. Bill Ritter to sacrifice over 90 percent of Colorado citizens to the demands of labor unions who nationally make up only 7 percent of the workforce. Labor unions came about because of the early abuses of business, but when they take unfair advantage, as they did with the U.S. airline and automobile industries, unimaginable wreckage occurs. They are now threatening the same kind of wreckage on Denver and Colorado by threatening to pull the Democratic National Convention out of Denver unless Ritter singularly accedes to their demands.
Richard E. Bennett, Denver
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Well, it seems that labor’s leadership still uses tactics outmoded and repugnant to most workers. It will be interesting to see if “big” labor follows through on its threat and if Gov. Bill Ritter and the state legislators cave in to it. Even more interesting will be if the Democrats see fit to follow the “recommendation” and move the convention to, say, New York.
In the debate to eliminate a “secret ballot” requirement of state labor law, one opposing point said the secret ballot mitigates “intimidation” by labor organizers. Supporters quickly pointed out these tactics are no longer in the organizer’s lexicon. Ritter’s veto kept the provision unchanged.
I recall a recent news story following a federal bill to change labor law very similar to the Colorado bill. It seems the feds seek a national change, superseding any state law. While the bill will probably face veto by President Bush, it may wind up on his desk.
Union membership continues to drop because large companies export jobs to other countries. Costly strikes through two decades cost union members money and jobs in the long term, leading many rank and file to question a union’s relevance.
The AFL-CIO does itself no favor in publicizing this threat. Its leadership is learning nothing from history or today’s headlines. An entrenched mindset by union leaders continues the erosion of American workers’ security.
Michael J. Bentley, Centennial
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The reason U.S. troops are fighting in Iraq
Re: “‘Wasted lives’ in Iraq,” March 8 Open Forum.
Letter-writer Kurt Freund wrote, “U.S. troops killed in Iraq died for nothing. They died because of George W. Bush’s ego, and nothing more.”
I spent 13 months in Baghdad and find Freund’s comments very shallow-minded. I spent time with many honest, hard-working Iraqis who are thankful the U.S. relieved them of Saddam Hussein’s tyrannical ways. Saddam was exterminating his own people by the thousands and invaded Iran in the ’80s and Kuwait in the ’90s, killing more innocent people. How long should we have waited until he decided he wanted to take over the world? Just as Hitler needed removed from power, so did Saddam.
Do we really need another 9/11 to remind people why we are fighting terrorists in other countries instead of in our backyard? U.S. troops do not die for nothing, they die so people have the right to have an opinion – no matter how asinine.
Derek Hancock, Lakewood
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Disappointed in Al Gores use of energy
Re: “Al Gore’s energy usage,” March 8 Open Forum.
I enjoyed the perspective of letter-writer Stephen Cohn. What a disappointment that the publicly anointed speaker for the ills of global warming – Al Gore – is buying his way out of his profligate energy use. No doubt he is one of many politicians and Hollywood types so doing. Yet he is doing on a personal level what is being pushed at the corporate level – carbon credits, or paying to pollute.
We (lefties like myself) always thought the bad guys were the just the wasters, but now we see our leader is one of them. My new energy-efficient windows, low-flush toilets and front-loading washer make it possible for Al to party on. Yegad, the hypocrisy of it all.
Larry Kline, Lakewood
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