Immigration policy through history’s eyes
At the present time, our nation is locked in a bitter immigration fight. Such a stalemate is ironic when one considers our history. In short, there isn’t one square foot of this land that wasn’t stolen at some point. The U.S. government broke numerous treaties with the various American Indian tribes (even building Mount Rushmore on land that should have remained Sioux). Many of our ancestors came here under the cloud of questionable (if not illegal) immigration practices. And many others had their legal land encroached upon (victims of U.S. greed and power). And although it is true that many of these events happened a long time ago, we still feel the effects of it today. Some leaders in Congress take a hard line and oppose any form of amnesty that would give undocumented people a path to earn citizenship. Perhaps such leaders should take a look at the skeletons in their own past before judging others so harshly.
Chris Sandoval, Arvada
. . .
More than half a century ago, the General Assembly of the United Nations (which includes the United States) adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that each member of the human family has the right to change his nationality. That being true, the other members of the human family are, of course, obligated to let him do so.
One international law scholar has described these universal human rights as “aspirational rights,” in contrast to currently enforceable legal rights. I suppose that the scholar is right. After all, when our forefathers declared that all men were created equal, women were not allowed to vote, and slaves were only property.
Nevertheless, over the years we have come a considerable distance toward vindication of the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness among our citizens. Isn’t it time we worked for the same rights for the non-citizen members of the human family in our communities?
Donald A. Klene Sr., Arvada
Former Flats workers denied benefits
Re: “Majority of ill ex-Rocky Flats workers may not get benefits,” May 4 news story.
I just don’t understand why the Rocky Flats workers think they should be covered by the U.S. government. They want an entitlement! They were very well paid for their work, and all safety and health precautions were always taken. The Department of Energy’s subcontractors never cut corners or fought internationally approved limits of exposure. The DOE never turned a blind eye to problems or infractions to get product out the door.
The U.S. government has no responsibility for these former employees, and I cannot understand why these people would expect this type of administration, elected by a majority of the voters in this country, to accept any responsibility for the health issues they now face. Get in line behind the Iraq-Afghanistan vets, Hurricane Katrina and Rita evacuees, Sept. 11 emergency rescue workers, etc., and pull yourself up by your own bootstraps and quit expecting the government to do everything … er, anything for you.
Remember, you get what you vote for, so vote responsibly!
(Note: For those who didn’t get it, this is satire.)
Sandra Gill, Thornton
Determining value of homes for tax valuation
Re: “Home values defy listless market; Tax-assessment time,” May 7 news story.
I worked for many years as a state attorney in California, and a large part of my practice was trying condemnation cases. There, the test of valuation was “fair market value,” defined as the highest price a property would bring in the open market. This was not unreasonable, considering property owners were yielding their property to the government involuntarily. Here, it seems the same test is being used by the government to separate homeowners from their money, and perhaps their homes, for the benefit of the government.
This is just plain wrong. In California, Howard Jarvis (my personal hero) got Proposition 13 passed in 1978, which saved homeowners, especially seniors, from losing their property. This lid on property taxes did nothing to hurt the state where business is booming and home values have soared in price. What Coloradans desperately needs is a Howard Jarvis of their own.
Bill Holroyd, Castle Rock
Post’s decision to drop B.C. and Wizard of Id
I applaud the decision by The Denver Post to discontinue the cartoon strips B.C. and The Wizard of Id after the recent passing of their creators, Johnny Hart and Brant Parker. It’s not easy to drop strips that click with readers. And, no doubt their popularity will continue after new writers and artists are in place.
All too often the funny pages are reserved for strips that have long passed their prime. Their creators, heirs and syndicates are more interested in keeping their brand alive and safe for the sake of lucrative licensing fees instead being on the cutting edge of humor. Cartoonists and syndicates should heed to the example set by Bill Watterson of Calvin and Hobbes and Gary Larson of The Far Side. They walked away from cartooning in the prime of their careers for one simple reason: they ran out of material.
More than 50 years ago, only seven newspapers took a chance on a new comic strip. What would have happened to Peanuts had those papers not given it the traction it needed?
Kirk Mueller, Colorado Springs
GOP presidential debate
It was amusing to hear the many pundits and talking heads ridicule Tom Tancredo’s performance in the GOP presidential candidate debate last week. While the neatly packaged “frontrunners” were timely with their slick sound bites, they failed to explain their fluctuating political positions and affinity for liberal ideals. With Tancredo, you know where he stands because he’s exactly where he has always been – a true conservative who will work to secure our borders and fight terrorism wherever it is found.
Anthony J. Fabian, Aurora
il and gas industry
Comments by Democratic leaders of the Colorado legislature that the 2007 session was “characterized by conflict between big oil and gas companies and ordinary Coloradans” and “the ordinary Coloradans won” was at best a gratuitous slap at the 70,000 employees who work for the oil and gas industry in Colorado and the companies that pay $500 million in taxes and contribute $20 billion to Colorado’s economy every year. The Colorado petroleum industry and its members were especially disappointed since we worked hard and constructively with members of both parties to promote responsible energy policies to help assure reliable supplies of energy to help power the state’s growing economy. “Ordinary Coloradans” will be the ultimate losers if the policies and attitudes of these politicians drive down supplies and drive up prices – making gasoline, natural gas and electricity more expensive – and drive investment and jobs out of Colorado.
Stan Dempsey, President, Colorado Petroleum Association, Denver
Breath test at the prom
Re: “Breathalyzer busts a move,” May 4 news story.
I am a sophomore at Northglenn High School. I think that allowing staff and police officers to randomly give breathalyzer tests to students suspected of drinking alcohol during or after prom is a great idea because high school students are too young to be drinking alcohol. If one student decides to drink or bring alcohol, it can ruin it for everyone. It’s unfair to the students who choose not to drink alcohol. If students are aware of random breathalyzer testing at school functions, it might help stop them from doing something they really have no business doing in the first place.
Ashleigh Lynn Townsend, Thornton
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