RE: RAYBACK AND THE WELL
I have two issues with Nicole Garcia’s comments in the “Risky Business” article (News, May 25, 2023). First, Nicole states, “It’s hard to know if this little Bible … is the exact word of God, or is it a place where we start…”. The problem with saying the Bible has been manipulated, even by accident, basically lets you ignore or read anything you want into the words of the text, effectively making the entire Bible irrelevant.
Second, [Shay Castle] states, “…what Garcia objects to is the infusion of The Well’s brand of Christianity into American law, which elevates one denomination’s views over others in violation of the separation of church and state enshrined in the Constitution.” Here I think Nicole’s understanding of the First Amendment and our history is lacking.
States within the U.S. used to dictate religion, even when the First Amendment’s establishment clause was enacted. The establishment clause only prevented the federal government from dictating a specific religion for the people of the U.S., which left the states free to do so. Six states had established churches in 1789 (see Clarence Thomas’ concurrence in Town of Greece v. Galloway and Established Churches in America by John R. Vile). Massachusetts was the last state to disestablish its church in 1833, well after the First Amendment was ratified in 1791. States were not bound by the First Amendment until 1941 when the Supreme Court decided it applied to states (in Everson v. Board of Education), where the court used the 14th Amendment (ratified in 1868) to say the Bill of Rights applied to the states. The Supreme Court continues to allow states and religious organizations to work together today, as they complement one another (e.g.: Fulton v. Philadelphia).
Regardless of U.S. history about religion’s intermingling with the law, a person’s views of what laws should be enacted is going to be directly related to their moral foundation. Those at The Well have a certain moral foundation based on their understanding of the Bible. That foundation informs their morals, which then impacts what laws they would want passed. To want laws passed that are antithetical to their own beliefs likely means they don’t actually believe those things. This likely applies to Nicole or anyone else for that matter.
— James Wendel / Erie
BRIDGING THE CONFIDENCE GAP IN THE TECH MARKET
When most people think of tech jobs, they imagine young math and science whizzes working for big-name companies like Apple or IBM, or they think about the recent tech layoff headlines and assume the industry isn’t doing well. But a tech company isn’t the same as a tech job. And you don’t need to look like Mark Zuckerberg or live in Silicon Valley to work in tech. You can work in tech right here in Boulder.
In fact, the median tech wage in the surrounding Boulder area is estimated to be $107,254. The Boulder tech job market offers a wealth of opportunities and promising career paths for individuals; however, a significant barrier is keeping job seekers from even considering these positions. That barrier is the confidence gap, and it needs to be addressed
to keep Boulder’s tech job market growing.
This confidence gap stems from real and perceived barriers by over 55% of job seekers. One of the most prominent perceived barriers is that many individuals assume they need a mastery of complex mathematical concepts or scientific principles to pursue a career in technology. The truth is that while these skills are valuable in specific tech roles, they are not essential for every position. In fact, some of the most in-demand IT skills have nothing to do with math or science.
The numbers don’t lie. Boulder is helping lead the tech job market, and now is the time for Boulder residents to consider a career in tech. Just because you don’t live in the Tech Capital, or thought you were “bad at math and science” in grade school, doesn’t mean tech isn’t for you.
— Hannah Johnson /Downers Grove, IL
