In defense of Israel, Jews
Re: “Anniversary of the occupation of Palestine,” June 7 Open Forum.
Two letters in Thursday’s Post overlooked a few historical facts.
1. Until 1948, the British government controlled Palestine. Under their rule, no Jew could carry a weapon; Arabs could carry them and used them to attack Jews. When Hitler took over Europe in the ’30s, the Jews were not allowed by the world governments to emigrate to Israel or anywhere else in the numbers necessary to save 6 million from death.
2. When the United Nations gave the displaced Jews a homeland in 1948, the modern nation of Jordan was also partitioned as an Arab homeland. After partition, the Israelis had to fight to keep any territory at all.
3. In 1967, Israel was attacked and fought back, taking the West Bank, a great deal of the Sinai, and the rest of Jerusalem as the spoils of war. In 1973, they were attacked on Yom Kippur, their highest Holy Day, but successfully defended themselves.
Today, Palestinian Arabs continue to try to obliterate Jews from the Mideast, using suicide bombing and other terror tactics to do so. They only call on the rest of the world to take their side when the Israeli people manage to fight back well enough to keep them from doing it.
Marie Cline, Westminster
CU athletic program
Re: “Former player’s dad remains upset,” June 8 sports story.
So, the mess in the University of Colorado’s athletic department continues. Mike Bohn and Jeff Bzdelik take away the scholarships of four players because they don’t fit in with Bzdelik’s style of play.
Maybe the CU administration ought to honor its commitment to these four young men by paying for their educations out of Bzdelik’s salary. Nah, that would make too much sense.
After years of mismanagement and criminal conduct in the athletic department, maybe it’s time for President Hank Brown to shut down the athletic factory at CU. If he were to do that, the years of athletic failures would disappear, and CU would probably still find the money to fund its academic programs.
If Bohn and Bzdelik can’t honor commitments and operate with integrity, Brown should clean house again. If the citizens of Colorado want a first-rate academic institution at CU, the first step is to shut down the athletic factory. It’s a big loser in more ways than one.
Wesley Smits, Denver
onvention protesters
Re: “Setback for protesters; City Council dumps rights measure for Dems’ convention,” June 7 news story.
In canceling a proclamation affirming the right of people to demonstrate during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the Denver City Council has chosen big-money business interests over citizens’ rights and the First Amendment. In an era during which politicians openly trample upon our Constitution at the behest of corporations and the ultra-rich, this action by “our” elected officials teaches us once again that it’s all about the money rather than about doing what is right.
One of several excuses for this decision is that the committee to raise funds for the convention is $2 million shy of its goal. I suspect this shortfall is due more to the Democrats’ betrayal regarding the Iraq war and illegal immigration, rather than to the proclamation.
Since the now-dead proclamation also affirmed the right to protest free from unwarranted police harassment, apparently the Denver Police Department will be free to exercise its legendary aggression against innocent citizens.
Regardless of whether we have “permission” from the City Council, police or corporate CEOs, those of us who seek to return this government to the people of the United States will be in the streets during the DNC exercising our First Amendment right to protest the sell-out of America.
David Canaday, Denver
CU prof Ward Churchill
Re: “Freedom of expression and Ward Churchill,” June 7 Open Forum.
Ward Churchill was not investigated for his remarks regarding the Sept. 11 massacre; he was brought before a review panel because he plagiarized parts of his research and in doing so revealed a flaw in his ethics. The fact that he embarrassed his employer, failed to use common sense and besmirched the name of the University of Colorado (and its students and alumni) is, unfortunately, not a firing offense as it should be and is with many occupations across the United States. I do not feel his firing would diminish my freedom of expression one bit.
Steven Phillips, Westminster
Failed immigration bill
Re: “Shaky accord stalls in Senate,” June 8 news story.
With the failure to pass cloture on the “immigration reform” bill in the Senate Thursday evening, America won. This was a bad bill from the beginning. Our own Sen. Ken Salazar was involved in writing the final version of the bill. In looking at where he stands on numerous other issues, it seems he has turned out to be something many who voted for him never realized: a Ted Kennedy clone.
I would like to see a recall election to remove him from office before he can do any more damage.
Robert LaLanne, Colorado Springs
