Michael Vick’s apology for dog-fighting crimes
Re: “Apology delivered,” Aug. 28 sports story.
As if betting on animals to maul each other and then drowning or strangulating the “loser” underperformers were something children would naturally do, and outgrow with age? My eye! Thank you for your euphemistic apology, Mr. Vick, but you got it exactly backwards. You an your ilk were not “immature” but simply depraved and ethically unhinged. The only children who would engage in such a bloody circus would be those who learned it from “mature” adults as inhumane and lacking in conscience as yourself. Don’t try to “childwash” your guilt.
Pete Klammer, Wheat Ridge
. . .
Reading about Alberto Gonzales and Michael Vick made me wonder which one, in my mind and heart, was the most evil of the two. The answer: Michael Vick. For anyone to abuse an animal in any way, shape or form is not only disgusting, it is downright sick. That doesn’t take away from Mr. Gonzales and his torture tactics, which he and the Bush administration claim that they are not performing.
For now, Michael Vick, if I were the judge who presided over your court trial and had to listen and look at pictures of dogs that were drowned, mutilated and hung, I would have to look you square in the eye and order that you be evaluated for some mental disorder, then I would have you “feel” one of the tactics you imposed on these poor animals.
Linda J. Rudzinskas, Aurora
More to transportation planning than expansion
Re: “Public should weigh in on U.S. 36 corridor planning,” Aug. 28 letter to the editor.
The U.S. 36 Mayors & Commissioners Coalition and 36 Commuting Solutions wrote, “We believe transportation improvements to U.S. 36 are badly needed for safety, quality of life of daily commuters, and to support mobility choices. As the U.S. 36 points out, employment and population growth are expected to increase dramatically between now and 2030. If no action is taken, the level of service will deteriorate to stop-and-go traffic throughout the day.”
While it’s good to know that this august body of planners and thinkers are looking as far ahead as 2030, it would be even better if they had some sense of history. If they did, they would realize that, just as nature hates a vacuum, there has never been a highway expansion program that relieved congestion for more than a decade or so.
For a century, America has grown because of our ability to gorge on an unlimited supply of fossil-based fuels. Now that that era is nearly over, we need planners who can think beyond next year’s bottom line. What happens if you take the self-destructive notion of unbounded growth out of the equation? If you think that notion is scary, try to imagine what will happen if we continue down the current path. It’s something to mull over while you’re parked on U.S. 36.
Lewis Thompson, Denver
Newmont’s response to criticism of former CEO
Re: “Awarding Newmont’s CEO inappropriate,” Aug. 30 guest commentary.
Newmont Mining Corp. welcomes legitimate criticism, and we are willing to admit our mistakes so we can improve our performance. Information on our sustainability efforts, as well as our shortcomings, can be found at .
Unfortunately, some of our critics deliberately misrepresent facts to advance an anti-mining, anti-development agenda.
Tom Rowe’s commentary made a number of allegations that misled readers:
1. Mr. Rowe’s claims about Indonesia contradict the unanimous, five-judge panel decision – following a 21-month trial – which found that not only was Buyat Bay not polluted, the case never should have come to trial. In addition, the United Nations’ World Health Organization, Japan’s Minamata Institute and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation studied the water, fish, air, sediment and people of Buyat Bay and found no pollution. In fact, the woman making the initial allegations of pollution recanted her claims under oath.
2. Mr. Rowe alleged that Newmont operates on Western Shoshone land in Nevada without permission. But he fails to mention that the entire state of Nevada is Western Shoshone land. While the Western Shoshone believe some of the government’s land belongs to them, these claims were resolved with the government long before Newmont arrived in Nevada. Therefore, the title to Newmont’s properties comes from the U.S. government.
3. Mr. Rowe intimated that shareholders imposed a resolution requiring an independent study of our community relations. What he failed to mention was Newmont’s support ensured the resolution’s passage. The sponsor of the resolution, Christian Brothers Investment Services, said, “This is a real breakthrough in that this is the first time that a mining company has agreed to urge shareholders to support a social resolution.”
4. Mr. Rowe made general accusations about recent violence at our Yanacocha mine in Peru. What he left out was that the violence occurred between police and individuals who took 18 workers hostage. Employee hostages were injured and equipment was intentionally damaged by the kidnappers, who were upset that Yanacocha’s payments were diverted into an escrow account by a Peruvian court (because the hostage-takers failed to pay their bills to others). Also, any implication that we threaten our critics is outrageous and irresponsible. While we may disagree with our critics, we respect their right to criticize.
To our knowledge, Rowe, an associate professor from the University of Denver, has never visited one of Newmont’s operations. We’re open to legitimate criticism, but no one should tolerate intentional falsehoods.
Omar Jabara, Senior Director of Communications and Media Relations, Newmont Mining Corp., Denver
No Child Left Behind
Re: “Next up: ‘No Fad Left Behind,”‘ Aug. 24 Debra Saunders column.
The problem with the original No Child Left Behind bill is that, like so many other pieces of legislation emanating from the Bush administration, its practical effects have been the opposite of the bill’s title. The goal of 100 percent literacy is laudable, and garnered much bipartisan support in 2001. However, if that goal can be achieved only by forcing higher dropout rates or playing games with testing standards, what has really been achieved?
What we need are smaller classrooms, more teachers with time and proper materials to teach with, and fewer federal bureaucrats armed with draconian sanctions micromanaging the curriculum. Oh, and maybe we could afford a little more in the school maintenance and security budget, too?
The holes in NCLB are too large and numerous to be patched. Perhaps the best thing we could do is to let it gently slip beneath the waves.
Harry Doby, Denver
College for everyone?
I totally support the comments by letter-writer Vesta Harper made in Sunday’s Open Forum. Not everyone wants to go to college, can afford it or is suited for college. Asking those students to do four years of math and science is ludicrous. Those students not choosing college will need training in their chosen fields, so let’s give it to them. In the not-so-distant past there were classes they could take in restaurant work, mechanics, electronics, body work, etc. What happened to those classes? We need people with those skills. Let’s train them as well, as we prepare those that are college bound. If we’re going to keep comparing U.S. education with other countries, then why not take a lesson from Great Britain? When you reach a certain age, you take a test. It divides you into two tracks: higher education or the work field.
C. Davis, Broomfield
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