A victory worth celebrating
I remember 15 August 1945, the day Americans were told that the Japanese had surrendered and World War II was over!
I was a 5-year-old and recall standing with my dad at the corner of 8th and Sherman St. in Denver watching the world go crazy! Cars were bumper-to-bumper crawling along 8th Avenue, horns honking, headlights flashing on and off, adults were yelling and cheering, and whiskey bottles were being handed around. One was handed to me but before I could react my mother gabbed it away.
The people of Denver were never happier. Tears, hugs — it was a citywide no mask, no social distance party. We had learned anew that if you persevere the toughest of times will end, and then itap okay to celebrate.
Harry Puncec, Lakewood
Yes, the results of the use of the atom bomb on August 6, 1945 were horrific. So was the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 and the subsequent Japanese destruction of the Philippines, Burma, Singapore and so many other places in the Pacific theatre.
Read “Conduct Under Fire” by John A. Glusman for a recounting of the fall of Manila, Corregidor, Bataan (have you ever heard of the Bataan death march? Cabanatuan or O’Donnell Prison Camps in the Philippines? Hitachi in Japan?) The starvation, killing and enslavement for labor of thousands of British, Dutch and American prisoners of war — until those atomic bombs were dropped in order to bring to an end the atrocities.
The horrors of the atom bombs were matched and surpassed by the horrors perpetrated by the Japanese for close to 4 years. These days it is not politically correct to remind or be reminded of what was endured, the massive loss of life due to mistreatment by the Japanese. Amazingly, my father returned home alive after enduring it all, from the bombing of Manila on Dec. 8, 1941 to Bataan, to Cabanatuan, to Hitachi. So I am anxious that we be reminded not only of the atom bomb but of what lead up to its use.
Jim Bahrenburg, Wheat Ridge
Who exactly are these radicals?
Re: “Pulling Biden’s strings,” Aug. 13 letter to the editor
I’d like some clarification from the letter writer. Please give me the names of these radicals you think have taken over the party? Seriously, I’d like to know who they are. It is so easy to generalize but your point is moot if you can’t answer this question. I have been a Democrat my entire life, and all I see are the same people tirelessly making phone calls and canvassing neighborhoods advocating for affordable health care for all, equal treatment and opportunities for all, clean water and air and better treatment of our vets.
Itap time for our country to begin the healing process. No matter what side of the aisle you’re on I believe that everyone wants a more cohesive country that can grow and prosper and gain the reputation we once had. That won’t happen until we purge this president and his administration out of office and start anew.
Ellen Haverl, Denver
Fire comes with climate change
Re: “100% of Colorado in drought,” Aug. 7 news story
Thank you for the article about the state of Colorado’s drought. Itap clear that the effects of climate change and carbon emissions have arrived. Without serious and meaningful action, we cannot reasonably consider a massive drought like this to be temporary or even unusual. This will be our new normal. The good news is itap not too late to act. Letap reduce our emissions by passing legislation like the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act. The benefits will reach all four corners of this beautiful state.
Christina Johnson, Denver
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