Callous reaction to injuring a child on the slopes
My 8-year-old son was recently . As a competitive athlete, he was alone but very comfortable with the mountain and his skiing ability.
While the individual who hit him fled the scene, he was aided by a kind woman who helped him secure medical attention. My son suffered a concussion, facial lacerations requiring stitches, and lost an adult tooth that will require years of dental work. Despite news coverage seen by millions of people across the country, no one has come forward as a witness or perpetrator.
I understand the fear of becoming involved in contentious situations, particularly in a country where many people seem unpredictable, but I wonder where our collective empathy and humanity have gone. Have we reached a point, as a community, where we are no longer willing to stand up for those who need us? If so, how can we expect anyone else to help us when we are in need?
I urge everyone to consider how they might do better to serve their friends, neighbors, and community. If this were your son, nephew, friend, or neighbor, what would you want for them? Surely, you would want more.
Saddened, yet hopeful, mother,
Ann Lotin, Denver
Company right to defend safeguards in its AI
Re: “AI company sues, seeking to undo its ‘supply chain risk’ designation,” March 10 news story
Along with most people, I have many concerns about the ways AI will be used to help and to hurt us.
Anthropic lost out on a $200 million Pentagon contract because its CEO refused Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s demands to remove the Anthropic chatbot Claude’s internal safeguards against spying on Americans and against launching weapons without human oversight. Shouldn’t we all want these safeguards in place?
By designating Anthropic a “supply chain risk” (generally used for firms linked to terrorists and foreign adversaries), the president ordered all government departments to cut ties with Anthropic, seeming to want to destroy the company. It was heartening to see that the conflict has boosted Anthropic’s reputation among some for its moral stance.
Carol Kalmes, Wheat Ridge
Documentary will remind you to ‘engage in our democracy’
In celebration of 250 years since the birth of our nation, I would like to encourage you to watch Ken Burns’ documentary, “The American Revolution.” In it, you’ll find much known and unknown history leading up to our break from the English monarchy.
My hope is that you’ll learn or be reminded of the events and reasons leading up to the end of authoritarian rule. Understanding the sacrifices made in life and property in order to create our unique government will remind you how fortunate we are. Natives, immigrants, and people freed from slavery forged this country out of ideals women and men had only previously dreamt of. Every other country in the world at that time was under authoritarian rule.
The major difference between our government and authoritarian rule is that we must each be civically engaged to make it function. It doesn’t work when individuals make decisions based on social media feeds, armchair pundit shows or prejudices.
Celebrate our 250th anniversary by reading history books, watching historical documentaries, becoming more civically engaged, and appreciating the precious gifts of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I know I’m not the only person frustrated with the current state of politics where so often lies, greed, and power rule.
It is our responsibility to actively participate in our government. As it says in the documentary referenced above, if we don’t engage in our democracy, we may as well live in a dictatorship.
Michele Howard, Silt
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