Littleton soldier’s statue
Re: “Hero’s statue spurs unease; Parents oppose image, location of memorial,” April 5 news story.
Shame on those in Littleton trying to prevent the erection of a statue honoring a true Colorado hero, Navy SEAL Danny Dietz, who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the very hand- wringers who oppose his monument. Evil and violence are part of the real world, folks, and we should never be ashamed to teach our children to give thanks for brave Americans like Danny Dietz who have volunteered to defend our nation and its people.
Anthony J. Fabian, Aurora
…
The main issue here seems to be locating this statue in a park where children play and close to schools, including Columbine. The statue is rather violent, even for a war memorial, with the soldier’s hand on the trigger of an automatic weapon and his chest covered with body armor. There may be an appropriate place for this statue, but this spot doesn’t seem to be that place. Children will learn soon enough about “the real world.” Let’s not rush our children to adopt a violent, militaristic worldview.
R. Freeman, Golden
…
I feel bad for the family of Danny Dietz. If those few Littleton parents feel that way about an American hero, then us fine folks down here in Pueblo would gladly take the statue and put it in a place of honor. I would even pay the freight to get that fine statue down here. Then the awful pain those poor Littleton parents must feel will go away and be made better.
We folks here in Southern Colorado, the San Luis Valley and the Western Slope take our soldier heroes very seriously. Danny Dietz is indeed a great American hero, and his statue should be in a place of honor.
Bill Goldsberry, Pueblo
Health care in Colorado
Re: “Health bills simmer, should boil in ’08,” April 3 editorial.
The Denver Post’s editorial eloquently stated the need for House Bill 1355, which is aimed at solving a problem faced by small businesses that provide health benefits: “With only a small number of insured persons in a given pool, a single worker with a serious illness can drive rates into the stratosphere for his or her co-workers.”
Our association leaders, including our volunteer legislative advocates, take exception to your statement calling for the legislature to wait for the 208 Commission [which was created by last year’s Senate Bill 208] recommendations before taking action.
Approximately 53 percent of Colorado AARP’s 650,000 members are under 65 and many of those members are covered by the small-group market. Coloradans without health insurance cannot wait for recommendations from the commission; they need help now.
While AARP applauds and supports the focus the 208 Commission is putting on health care reform, we think this is a standalone idea that need not wait for the commission’s report. This is but a first step in eliminating the discriminatory practices by health insurance carriers in using pre-existing conditions to raise the rates of everyone in the group.
Jon Looney, State Director, AARP Colorado, Denver
Saving “unwanted” lives
Re: “Safe haven for newborns,” April 5 Go Figure item.
I was thrilled to see a small article in The Denver Post showing the substantial increase in unwanted babies taken to fire stations or hospitals from 2000 2006, especially at this Easter season. Letting parents avoid prosecution has saved these precious children from a painful death. Children are our most valuable commodity. Hopefully the success of this program will continue to increase.
Marguerite C. Blaskovich, Highlands Ranch
Science of global warming
As a practicing scientist, it was discouraging for me to see two editorial pieces on April 4 pooh-poohing the science underlying climate change: one by Al Knight (“High court wanders into policy thicket”), the other by Bruce Tinsley (Mallard Fillmore).
Mr. Knight equates the current consensus that human burning of fossil fuels is a contributor to global warming with “… there was once scientific consensus for a lot of things, like bleeding a patient, or avoiding the edges of … a very flat earth.”
Mallard cites two articles, one from the National Geographic News, the other from the Danish National Space Center, purporting to offer credible alternative theories to the current consensus. Mallard doesn’t mention that the National Geographic News article is based on data from polar caps on Mars, which, as the story points out, can be accounted for by Mars’ orbital variation. The Danish article, discussing possible indirect effects on climate caused by changes in solar output, acknowledges that other natural and human factors are at work in changing Earth’s climate.
I’m not a climatologist and can’t critically evaluate the science behind climate change. But I can evaluate people who don’t understand scientific method at all (Mr. Knight) and people who bias their sources (Mr. Tinsley).
Thomas R. Johnson, Denver
Oil and gas industry reform
Re: “The rush to reform oil, gas,” April 6 guest commentary.
I wonder if Ted Brown, president of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association, ever considered that the rush to reform the oil and gas industry is the backlash to the industry’s policy of ramming through legislation under former Gov. Bill Owens and Republican lawmakers.
I am a Democrat, but I do not favor unreasoned legislation by either party. If we all do not come back towards the center, we will all fall. I just hope Brown’s call for reasoned discourse continues when people with his view are in power again.
Ken Fiore, Arvada
Online extras
For more letters to the editor, go to blogs.denverpost.com/eletters
To send a letter to the editor
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
