“Angry mob” rhetoric is either spot on or gross bigotry
Re: “GOP’s ‘angry mob’ rhetoric,” Oct. 18 Washington Post editorial
Your “angry mob” editorial was spot on, yet its criticism of our current political discourse was way too soft.
“Rhetoric” refers to the art of persuasive speaking or writing. A more accurate word would have been “bigotry,” which correctly describes many politicians’ intolerance, prejudice or hatred towards the other political party.
Would we tolerate quotes such as, “You don’t give power to an angry —- mob”, if the blanks were filled in with “female,” “black,” or “Hispanic?” Would we accept “—— are willing to do anything, to hurt anyone,” if the blank were filled in with “LGBT,” “immigrant,” or “welfare recipient?” We would not.
We would accurately call it racism, sexism or bigotry. It is time we held all politicians and political action committees accountable for their ineffective, provincial and offensive language by calling it what it is.
This isn’t “rudeness,” this isn’t “heckling,” this isn’t “fighting dirty.” This is bigotry, hatred and intolerance. This country gets better by addressing hatred, not by hiding behind it.
Jeffrey Sippel, Denver
I was shocked that The Denver Post would choose to share The Washington Post editorial “GOP’s ‘angry mob’ rhetoric is dangerous.”
Perhaps the GOP has a right to be angry. Congresswoman Maxine Waters has encouraged people to harass Republicans; Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked to leave a restaurant because of who she worked for; some colleges have denied presentations by conservative speakers; Eric Holder encouraged fighting dirty; and there are numerous other incidents that liberal-left members have done towards Republicans.
This has shown a very ugly side of the Democrats. The extreme hatred that has been spewed from a number of liberals and some cable news members is outrageous and very unpatriotic.
Itap time we all remember that we are Americans and there should be some respect for others.
Judy Robinson, Castle Rock
Denver is not holding violent police officers accountable
Re: “Denver cop has history of use-of-force complaints,” Oct. 20 news story
I find it sickening to read that Sgt. Joseph Rodarte, accused of second-degree assault on a manic teen, has had 20-use-of-force complaints levied against him in the 20 years he has served on the force; and only one has been taken seriously by internal affairs in that time.
It is unacceptable that it took Sgt. Rodarte badly beating a manic 17-year old boy for the Internal Affairs department to take any of these allegations seriously.
Why is it that time and time again, we the people have to wonder why the police don’t seem subject to the same laws we are?
Where is the accountability? How can the public hold any trust in our law officers when they seem to act with such impunity and disregard for the very rule of law they swore to uphold?
Not only is the lack of discipline displayed by certain officers morally reprehensible, but it costs Denver taxpayers a pretty penny.
Since 2004, the city of Denver has spent $28 million on police and jail claims — money that could have been spent on bettering the lives of citizens, rather than paying off individuals victimized by unruly officers like Sgt. Rodarte.
This appalling lack of oversight concerns all of us. If you don’t hold the police accountable for their treatment of your fellow citizens, then they won’t be held accountable in their dealings with you.
Kurt Schreiber, Denver
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