Korean-Americans’ shame over Va. Tech
Re: “‘A sense of shame, guilt,”‘ April 23 news story.
I read with some sadness the article about Korean-Americans feeling a “sense of shame, guilt.” Unhappily, they may be wise to preemptively voice these sentiments, since rightly or wrongly we humans do tend to scapegoat and assign “collective guilt.” It is the natural reverse face of the same coin that gives us “bragging rights” for things done well by other representatives of “our” family, team or country. It is evident in everything from seesawing Franco-German war reparations to bumper stickers imploring, “Don’t blame me, I voted for … .”
Still, while I cannot speak for the victims at Virginia Tech, I wish to express that I and hopefully most Americans do not think less of the Korean community for the actions of one individual, any more than I would blame Arab-Americans for Sept. 11. I hope that I, in turn, will not have to bear responsibility for the many sins of Euro-Americans, both here and throughout the world. We each have enough personal responsibility to bear.
Steven Chostler, Denver
Starting to make the case for impeachment
Letter-writer R. Barry Crook calls for the impeachment of 16 Vermont state senators who had called for the impeachment of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney (April 24 Open Forum). He labels the effort of the state senators as “a government coup.” Nothing could be further from the truth. If Bill Clinton could be impeached for irrelevant personal behavior, then Bush and Cheney can be impeached – and they should – for involving the country in an unnecessary war that has cost the lives of nearly 3,500 U.S. military personnel and tens of thousands of Iraqis.
In my opinion, Bush has forfeited the right to be called the commander in chief.
Robert V. Hunt Jr., Centennial
. . .
The United States presents itself to the international community as a leader in democracy and human rights. The reality, as pointed out quite painfully by the invasion and occupation of Iraq, is that America is a nation where principles and actions contradict one another and whose leaders are willing to lie and commit crimes in order to achieve their goals.
It is time to bring the criminals, all of them, to justice. Impeaching Vice President Dick Cheney would be a start. Please support Congressman Dennis Kucinich in his efforts to bring justice to the wrongdoers and show the world that no one – even members of the Bush administration – are above the law.
Yehoram Weiler, Denver
Analyzing the trial of former Qwest CEO
As a criminal defense lawyer and former public defender, I was impressed by Anthony Accetta’s analysis of Joe Nacchio’s trial (March 20-April 20 Denver Post analyses).
Accetta’s observations in relation to Nacchio attorney Herbert Stern’s promise to the jury that he would “prove innocence” were particularly astute.
I was surprised to learn that an attorney of Mr. Stern’s stature would not trust the jury to acquit based upon the existence of reasonable doubt. In my 30 years of trial work, the reasonable-doubt definition requiring the jury to acquit if they were not convinced beyond any hesitation, has been the most important single factor in the acquittals I have obtained. I believe it to be the very backbone of our system of justice. I am convinced that when explained effectively, juries believe in it as well.
I was surprised to learn from Mr. Accetta that Mr. Nacchio’s lead counsel feels differently. Perhaps he should re-evaluate his convictions in this regard.
Scott Jurdem, Denver
British journalists’ monetary boycott of Israel
Re: “Brits’ boycott of Israel suspect,” April 25 Richard Cohen column.
Richard Cohen criticizes and ridicules the decision by the British National Union of Journalists to support a boycott of Israel. Cohen’s somewhat contradictory positions are typical of political and media leaders in America, and are at the core of our inability to deal constructively with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Cohen lists a number of countries that have engaged in deplorable behavior and asks why we are boycotting Israel and not targeting these other countries. No one can deny that there are horrible things going on in Sudan, Zimbabwe and China, or that many countries do not enjoy the freedoms that we have in the West. However, these countries do not purport to be full democracies founded on respect for human rights and international law, as does Israel. These countries do not enjoy the unconditional military and financial support of the world’s sole superpower, as does Israel. For these reasons, Israel should be held to a higher standard. The boycott efforts of the British journalists and many other respected organizations around the world are not based on anti-Semitism, but on a desire to see Israel remedy its illegal and unethical treatment of the Palestinians and behave as a civilized country should.
Journalists in Britain, unlike their counterparts here in America, are pressuring Israel to find a just and viable solution, and for that they should be applauded, not attacked.
Steve Laudeman, Denver
Soldiers killed in Iraq
Re: “Portraits of Valor,” periodic series.
Last Friday, I looked through “Portraits of Valor” in The Denver Post and just about came unglued. I saw the beautiful snapshot of 34-year-old Marine Maj. Megan McClung, who had been escorting reporters in Anbar Province. She had been blown up by a roadside bomb. She lived in Coupeville, Wash., a town I’m very familiar with. My heart bleeds for Megan and for her parents.
My own beautiful daughter turned 33 recently. She’s a teacher of middle school children. Megan and my daughter are both the best and the brightest, but Megan is dead. She had so much to live for.
For four years now, we’ve been dealing with the insanity of what seems to be perpetual war. Books that I read years ago informed me that military adventurism in the Middle East was unwise. I wrote letters to the editor to that effect. Four years later, the youngsters keep dying, and the old like myself keep writing letters.
I guess this nonsense will stop when we love our children more than we hate our enemies.
Richard J. Bluhm, Westminster
State health spending
Re: “Medicaid assessment; Colo. ranked 43rd in nation despite wealth,” April 19 news story.
Thanks for getting the facts out through this story. Despite ranking 43rd in Medicaid spending, the state legislature redirected $13 million this year away from health care. The redirection of these funds away from needy children and families is a step in the wrong direction.
The state can assure itself of this embarrassing ranking so long as it continues to erect barriers to covering the 180,000 kids and 770,000 adults without health coverage. There is no excuse for a state of Colorado’s wealth to provide so poorly for those most in need. Simply put, it reflects poorly on our priorities as a state.
State legislators and specifically leadership have one last chance this session to make children’s health a priority by passing Senate Bill 211. This bill makes small but essential steps toward insuring Colorado’s uninsured kids.
Steve Federico, M.D., Denver
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