Bush’s repeat veto of Rep. DeGette’s stem-cell bill
Re: “Bush repeats veto on bill supporting stem-cell work,” June 21 news story.
I commend President Bush very much for vetoing Diana DeGette’s evil bill seeking money for experimentation on (and resulting in the destruction of) unwilling, unwanted and innocent human life. Ms. DeGette’s position makes her out to be as immoral and evil as Sens. Tom Harkin and Arlen Specter, among others in Congress.
The Post’s article mentioned that “critics accused Bush of favoring politics over science.” The same issue of The Post mentioned that 60 percent of customers of in-vitro fertilization would donate their unused embryos to such science (“Study: In-vitro patients willing to donate embryos”).
This may reflect a national average of voters. Plus, this is Bush’s last term. So what “politics” are the deceitful critics thinking of? The politics work the other way.
Two evils don’t make a right. It’s equally immoral to kill the unwanted for convenience or for the wanted.
Walter Smetana, Highlands Ranch
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I find it so interesting that President Bush’s defensive position on stem-cell research does not encompass equal concern and protection for me, as a taxpaying citizen, compelled to support the deliberate destruction of human beings in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For me, the political is also personal, because my mother died from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and my father from a spinal-cord injury.
Janet Feder, Denver
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So George W. Bush vetoes the stem- cell bill because he believes that it is wrong to destroy potential human life in an attempt to save human lives. If his belief is genuine, why is he on record as one of the governors who executed the most people on death row? If he values human life so much, why did we invade Iraq and cause thousands of American and Iraqi deaths for “freedom” and “democracy”? Why is he so intent on losing more American lives for a false premise? Why hasn’t he found Osama bin Laden? I’m confused.
Camille Accountius, Longmont
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In reference to Mike Keefe’s cartoon in Thursday’s Denver Post comparing our patriots serving in Iraq to embryos, Keefe fails to remember the human beings in Iraq are volunteers.
Annabeth Lockhart, Steamboat Springs
Animals for entertainment
Re: “Looking out for the little ones,” June 21 news story.
I was glad to see attention brought to the good work that the American Humane Association (AHA) does to protect animals used in the film industry. But the AHA and the article overlook some important facts.
For every animal seen on screen, many more are born that are not suitable. Those animals are euthanized or sold at public auction – for canned hunts, as exotic meat, or to roadside zoos or individuals where they live shortened lives in miserable conditions. Even the animals used in the industry often do not live in humane conditions.
As the AHA’s Wheatley says, “animals are a part of life.” That does not give humans the right to exploit, imprison or mistreat them. We should, as she says, celebrate animals. Let us celebrate them as they were intended: wild and free. Celebrating, through our ignorance of the facts, the use of animals in the entertainment industry means that we, the filmgoers, are aiding those activities.
Bonnie S. Mandell-Rice, Broomfield
Re: “Deciding on Christo,” June 19 Ed Quillen column.
As an 80-year-old Colorado native who once lived in Salida, and having traveled U.S. 50 between Salida and Cañon City numerous times, I cannot imagine how anyone thinks the natural beauty of this unique Arkansas River canyon will be enhanced by stringing fabric panels across it. I think Christo and Jeanne- Claude’s proposed “Over the River” project has a whole lot more to do with enriching their pocketbooks than it does with improving upon nature.
No one begrudges these artists for exploiting their business acumen, but they have already had the free use of public property once in Colorado to display their artistic virtuosity. That was north of Rifle in 1972.
I join Ed Quillen in being “agnostic” about their Arkansas River project and agree that the question should be put on the ballot for Colorado voters to decide.
Now, if only we could somehow get that China-proposed highway up Mount Everest on a ballot somewhere.
Percy Conarroe, Longmont
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