Photo shows our hope
Re: “Itap time to get to work,” June 4 news photo
The inspiring and beautiful picture on the cover of Thursday’s Denver Post is so appreciated! Sage Wilson offers her joy and hope for all of us in a sea of people joining hands to celebrate togetherness during a pandemic and another scar of senseless tragedy. Thank you to Sage and to photographer AAron Ontiveroz!
J. Truesdell, Arvada
Word choice important
Re: “Ruling: There’s no abuse in womb,” June 2 news story
Over recent months, including the front-page coverage on Tuesday, The Post has consistently and correctly reported about the lack of legislative provision for a legal definition of “protected person” under Colorado law. In this most recent news item, The Post describes the “nuanced debate about whether fetuses ought to be recognized as persons under state law.” The current legal standard in Colorado is actually quite simple and acceptable to those inclined toward “choice.” If the mother wants it, itap a baby. If she doesn’t, Itap expendable protoplasm. With just a little more “nuancing,” we should also become comfortable about ignoring the science behind the “pain capability” of infants in utero.
Dennis Kirch, Aurora
Leading by example
Re: “Police chief marches with peaceful crowd,” June 2 news story
On Monday, the president called for the U.S. military to quell citizens’ protests. Outside St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, Trump held a Bible as stage prop while riot police gassed peaceful demonstrators.
The same evening in Denver, Police Chief Paul Pazen marched with those demonstrating against the killing of George Floyd. Together with protesters, his squad members knelt in silence for the 8 minutes and 46 seconds it took for a Minneapolis policeman to suffocate his unarmed, handcuffed victim.
The citizen uprising against Floyd’s murder arose from deep, smoldering burns of racial injustice. This is not more than a first step toward urgently needed police reforms. But the example tells a grieving, shell-shocked community we can do better. It tells a dangerously divided country we are one. It demonstrates that courageous leadership is not throwing a match into a tinderbox. Courage is standing up strong for your rights and the rights of others. Courage is kneeling with a heart that listens.
Charlotte Roe, Berthoud
Because it is the right thing to do
Re: “Police chief promises change, accountability,” June 4 news story
I just participated in the Denver Police Departmentap virtual community forum. Denver police Chief Paul Pazen fielded questions about his department in the wake of protests over George Floyd’s murder. I appreciated the forum and the promise for more public discussions. Chief Pazen said: “We have to do better” and “This is too big of a movement to ignore.”
Although I believe that Pazen sincerely intends to investigate and improve departmental practices, internal accountability shouldn’t depend on the size of a protest movement to prompt reform. All of our institutions — including the police department — should be challenging the racial inequalities that continue to degrade us as a society.
Lila Docken Bauman, Denver
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