President’s opposition to stem-cell research
Re: “Senate votes to lift stem cell ban; Passage is short of veto override,” April 12 news story.
My wife has had Parkinson’s for a long time. It’s a progressive brain disease for which there is no cure as yet. Many countries smaller than ours, not as affluent as ours, are making progress in stem-cell studies and have made great strides in the use of these cells from fetuses that otherwise would have been discarded.
We have a hypocrite for a president who lied to us about weapons of mass destruction. The lie led to a war where American servicemen have died and continue to die daily. I guess he’s pro-life even if our servicemen are killed every day. The president has vetoed a bill before to fund stem-cell research that could save lives, and he vows to veto the same bill again. Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?
Howard M. Botnick, Aurora
…
What an interesting juxtaposition of stories in Wednesday’s Denver Post.
In the middle of page 2A was a story headlined “Stem-cell therapy works for diabetics.” At the top of the page was a story headlined “Bush vows another veto of stem-cell research bill.” What does the president not get about the value of stem-cell research and its potential benefit for so many Americans?
Paul Siegel, Denver
McDonald’s coverage: News or advertisement?
Re: “Smart fast-food test to ID healthier items,” April 10 editorial.
I realize that The Denver Post has the right to editorialize on any subject its ink-stained editorial wretches feel like writing about, but …
McDonald’s is a large, very profitable corporation that has a very large advertising budget, and therefore is quite capable of tooting its own horn. If McDonald’s wants to persuade the public that it’s really a health-food restaurant disguised as a fast-food purveyor of sugar, fat and salt, it can do so on its own dime. It doesn’t need the state of Colorado or one of the biggest papers in the state to shill for it.
In fact, rather than giving away free advertising in its editorials, The Post should be seeking paid ad copy from McDonald’s, just like it does from all of the other restaurants and food purveyors who advertise in it.
Peter Gross, Denver
Support for departing state parks director
Re: “Parks nominee not above debate,” April 10 news story.
On behalf of Colorado State Parks Board, staff and the many citizens who enjoy our state parks, I want to extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Lyle Laverty for his service as the director of Colorado State Parks.
Soon after Lyle started as director in 2001, Colorado faced significant challenges, including drought, wildfires and a downturn in the state’s economy. During these fiscally difficult times, Lyle pursued and initiated innovative approaches to keeping the park system healthy. Several highlights of Lyle’s accomplishments include:
Opened two new state parks, and initiated planning on two additional new state parks, with total investment costs approximately $70 million.
Initiated public involvement process and implementation of the Front Range Trail, a 700-mile trail extending through Colorado from Wyoming to New Mexico.
Initiated hazardous fuel treatment work on eight state parks in the urban interface.
Applied market investment strategies to facility investments, enhancing parks revenue.
Expanded opportunities for Colorado’s youth to develop an awareness of natural resource stewardship by providing 52 weeks of youth corps projects at 28 parks benefiting nearly 200 crew members.
Again, we commend Lyle for his leadership and his strong commitment to keeping Colorado a very special place.
Tom Ready, Chairman, Colorado State Parks Board, Pueblo
Cartoon depicting Arab classroom lesson
Re: April 10 editorial cartoon by Brian Fairrington of Cagle Cartoons.
If The Denver Post wants to encourage prejudice against Muslims and Arabs, this would explain why it ran a crude “cartoon” showing an obese woman teacher in Western dress with a class of adult Arab students. On the blackboard she’s written “Arab Math: United States + Israel = enemy.” She asks the students how many U.S. states there are. One shouts, “51!” She replies, “Very good Abdullah.” On a student’s desk is a “9/11 Lesson Book.” On the teacher’s desk are a sword and a Koran.
If The Post isn’t trying to encourage such prejudice, one must wonder about the judgment that found nothing offensive in this lazy, bigoted excuse for commentary. Political cartoonists of course have license to exaggerate and distort facts and offend their targets to make a point. But Mr. Fairrington’s grossness is astonishing. Never mind that there are many Arab states with varied relations (formal and otherwise) with Israel. Never mind that teachers, parents rabbis and ministers have been striving since Sept. 11 to help children understand that the vast majority of Muslims are not violent. Mr. Fairrington’s “teacher” could just as well have been asking American “students” what caused Sept. 11, and praising the one who shouts, “Islam!”
That this cartoon could be drawn in 2007 is depressing. Even more depressing is the fact that The Post published it.
Barbara Haddad Ryan, Denver
Ken Nighthorse Salazar?
Remember Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell? He started out as a Democrat and ended up as a Republican. It appears that the same thing is happening with Sen. Ken Salazar. Can we blame it, again, on Colorado’s thin air?
President Bush is treating the Democrats like naughty kids. They don’t want to go to bed on time, but eventually they will bend to parental pressure and fund the war without any conditions attached. Sen. Salazar has, in advance of the veto, given in. He is already under the covers! He’ll vote for war funding even though the majority of his supporters disagree.
What do we need to do in this state to elect Democrats who remember their constituents are against this war? First they have to remember which party supported them and look up the definition of “representation.”
Naomi Rachel, Boulder
Rutgers over Imus
Never before in the history of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament has a fourth seed accomplished as much as the Rutgers women did this year. They knocked off East Carolina, Michigan State, No. 1 seed Duke, No. 3 seeds Arizona State and LSU, and finally Don Imus. I don’t know who’s next, but I can tell you, I’ll have those clear-headed athletes in my pool next year.
Kris Moe, Boulder
What about Darfur?
We all know about the war in Iraq and that many American soldiers have died since the war began in March 2003.
But does anyone know the number of innocent people who have been slaughtered in the Sudanese region of Darfur?
Darfur, like Iraq, has been involved in a deadly conflict for more than three years. More than 400,000 people have been killed and 2 million people have been forced to flee their homes into neighboring countries. The world has not seen such genocide since Rwanda in 1994, another instance with which America did not get involved.
We have overstayed our welcome in Iraq. America needs to look around at other tragedies that are going on in the world. This could be a chance for America to redeem itself for not making a move in Rwanda by helping all the refugees in Darfur.
Alyssa Acosta, Sedalia
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