McCainās legacy of dignity and decency endures
I wonāt get maudlin about John McCain; he wouldnāt have liked that. But, we should all both mourn his passing and give thanks for his service to the nation.
I usually disagreed with McCainās political views. I voted against him because his opponent was, I thought, a better fit. Nonetheless, McCain was always honest, sincere and respectful of those who held other views.
John McCain was that which is becoming increasingly rarer, a āreal man;ā one whose moral compass points to honor and duty and whose strength is inner, not feigned.
Ralph Taylor, Englewood
I have seen numerous articles with differing opinions about how President Donald Trump was criticized during McCainās memorial service. I watched the service and re-read the speeches and could find no mention of Trump.
The speakers unanimously praised McCainās sense of honor and decency. They also spoke about his character, bipartisanship, and how he placed country over party. Isnāt it interesting that the media, and the country as a whole, immediately thought this was personal criticism of Trump? I believe this speaks volumes about how we see the president.
Theo Davis, Phoenix
The way President Trump has reacted to the passing of McCain, from raising the flag back up from half staff, to his comments about someone who served this country both during wartime and in his time in politics, is in my opinion, much more disgraceful than NFL players kneeling for the National Anthem. The President should know better than overpaid athletes, but maybe he just doesnāt.
Steve Gray, Englewood
John McCainās passing and memorial service remind me that we have reached a point in our history where civility is a rare commodity. McCain was apparently the last of a breed of decent men in our government — a man who willingly worked with people from the other party. He may have disagreed with you on issues, but he always treated you with respect.
Todayās Senate is paralyzed when it comes to achieving any meaningful legislation. Immigration reform is a good example: A coalition of Democrats and moderate Republicans could likely develop a reasonable compromise. But given McConnellās inability to ignore the right wing of the Republican Party, such a compromise has not happened.
And of course the worst example is Trump. Trump cannot handle criticism, and he is incapable of debating people on issues. Instead, he constantly resorts to personal attacks. In some cases, he has attacked the families of people (e.g., the wives of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio).
Where are the Republicans when Trump violates all principles of common decency? They apparently are too frightened to take a stand on the side of civility. John McCain had the necessary courage, but now heās gone. Who will take his place?
James W. Craft, Broomfield
āOptimism for our timeā is shared by some
Re: āOptimism for our time,ā Sept. 2 commentary
I loved Vincent Carrollās realistic look at current state of affairs in āOptimism for our Time.ā
Parents fear letting children walk to school or the park alone. Statistics say that they are less likely to be preyed on by perverts or violence than when I was a child.
Everyone secures their doors and arms themselves because fear of crime if they donāt. Again, statistically there is less crime than previous decades.
Everything is poisonous in the air, water and our food. Again, we are safer now then ever. The Flint water crisis was national news, as it should have been, for exposing children to lead poisoning. Previous generations of children were exposed to lead not just in the water, but in the air from leaded gasoline and in their homes from lead-based paint on everything from the walls to their toys.
Weāve already made āAmerica Greatā and we just need to keep up the good work.
Tim Haley, Colorado Springs
Much appreciated Carrollās piece concerning life today vs. the old days. The glass is half full, not half empty. Thanks.
Patrick Bowman, Van Alstyne, Texas
I very much agree with Vincent Carrollās optimism and know that I am more optimistic than most of my family or friends.
However, I think that global warming is the biggest problem facing the world and every time I read an article about what our administration is doing to reduce environmental standards, degrade the environment and exacerbate global warming, my heart breaks and I lose a little of that optimism.
Debbie Overeynder, Aspen
Carrollās reasoning is similar to the captain of the Titanic saying, āIf you donāt count the giant hole in the hull, this is still the greatest ship ever built!ā
The problem is not that we wish to return to a better day that never existed, but that we are in danger of losing many of those gains that have been made.
No, the journey isnāt over, but it is so painful to realize that the human journey is not one of continued progress toward peace and justice, but a cyclic Sisyphean slog. We push that rock toward the mountaintop and the Donald Trumps of the world kick it back down to the bottom, and tell us it¶¶Ņõap progress.
AC Dion, Westminster
Cartoonās broad attack on socialism is red-baiting
Re: Sept 3 Lisa Benson editorial page cartoon
Political cartoonists have a certain license for exaggeration, and certainly a First Amendment right to free expression. And I generally appreciate and respect both The Washington Post and our Denver Post for including a range of political views on their editorial pages.
But it is disheartening to see such a broad attack on āsocialismā and positions being advocated by progressive Democrats.
This falls directly into the long history of red-baiting and the ācommunist menaceā that has effectively blocked serious discussion and debate about policies that most of ādevelopedā (meaning rich) countries of the world have embraced without losing their freedom or democracy.
Take health care; universal health care is provided by virtually every country except the United States, even those with conservative governments. Thanks to our health system being so completely dominated by large private for-profit insurance companies, we pay exorbitantly higher health care costs and have poorer health results by almost any measure.
Is this āsocialism,ā requiring that we give up our freedom? Our public discussion of these issues is debased by this simplistic name-calling, and our people pay the cost.
Eric Wright, Denver
The cartoon shows a definite conservative point-of-view.
Why is universal health care a problem for some politiand. I lived in the U.K. for ten years and spent a week in hospital and many visits to dentist because horrible teeth problem, all at no cost.
All my fathers side of the family live there, and two of them are doctors. They have no problem with their system. Your cartoon is offensive, and some of your writers lead in right wing bias. I like balanced news, not distorted.
John H. Pipe, Centennial
I wondered if the message would be the same if the machine were labeled āpredatory capitalism.ā
Lo and behold, I received my answer when I glanced down and saw the letter, āWhere a garden once grew.ā It tells the story of an older resident in Capitol Hill who isnāt changing quickly enough to handle the progress and high prices of the ānewā Capitol Hill. Her tiny garden, by the sidewalk and a parking lot, was her salvation; literally and figuratively. The weeds got ahead of her and she received notice to mow it over. One of many similar stories.
I think the take-away is fairly obvious and certainly at the heart of John McCainās messages. Humanity exists on a spectrum, not in the vacuum of absolutes. It¶¶Ņõap crucial we engage in compromise and aim for understanding. At the very least, tolerance and peaceful co-existence.
Neither unfettered socialism nor unchecked capitalism will work for very long. Extremism is unrealistic. It creates in-fighting and weakens social order. And while weāre busy going at each other, the āmanā is hauling away with all the loot.
Time to right this ship and chart a new course. And we know how to do it!
Patricia Scott, Denver
Todayās political cartoon shows a man giving up the bill of rights to ābuyā socialism. Iām curious what right heād be giving up.
The right to live on the street or eat poorly because he canāt find a job, or because his minimum wage job doesnāt cover basic living expenses? I donāt see that in the first 10 amendments.
The right to die of a curable disease because he has no insurance for preventative medicine or existing conditions? No, that¶¶Ņõap not in the bill of rights either.
Maybe it¶¶Ņõap the right to pay your employees a pittance while you get a six figure income. That¶¶Ņõap not in there either.
Is it freedom of speech or the press? No, it¶¶Ņõap Trump and his ilk that want to curb that if it¶¶Ņõap negative toward them. The truth is, socialism is an economic system that has nothing to do with freedoms set forth in the bill of rights — even the right to bear arms.
Is the cartoonist ignorant of this, or is she just trying to deceive us?
Beth Gardner, Aurora
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