I think Joel Dyer is making his story “What’s wrong with this picture?” (DyerTimes, May 2) much more complicated than necessary.
The fact that Native Americans were well-armed, proud and proficient warriors became the very excuse for the White Government to vilify, demonize and ultimately extirpate them. The billboard could more accurately be titled: “Because they wouldn’t turn in their arms, the government had to ‘take care’ of them.”
Those deemed, for whatever reason, enemies of the state have no chance. They are damned if they possess weapons, and once they are dispossessed of those weapons by superior state forces they are marginalized and decimated. Just as the NRA radicals will be if and when society deems them an intolerable burden for the establishment to bear.
It also is of interest that while the government repeatedly violates the Constitution, either through executive orders or blatant disregard of Constitutional procedure (eg, waging undeclared wars, privatizing Congress’s mandate to create money, illegal taxpayer-funded bailouts of crony capitalists, etc.), the NRA does nothing.
It is more and more evident that the NRA exists simply to promote sales of weapons and ammunition by constantly hyping real and imagined threats. But it is doubtful if any threat will actually motivate them to take action.
Michael Korn/Arvada
Disregard Danish
I recommend that readers ignore all future writings from Mr. Paul Danish.
I respect him and his right to state his views, but the amount of mail that apparently wishes to react to them suggests to me that everyone would be better off devoting their attention to other portions of this newspaper.
Walgreen’s might sell fewer antacid capsules, too. If “interest” in what Danish has to say withers, then the newspaper may feel led to discontinue his columns. That means more ink and space for more worthwhile and sensible thoughts.
Gregory Iwan/Longmont
Oppose ag-gag bills
(Re: “Gagging on ag-gag laws,” The Highroad, April 25.) “Despicable, unconstitutional, ridiculous, immature, idiotic, and mendacious.” And that’s just how Tennessee newspapers characterized the state’s “ag-gag” bill now awaiting governor’s signature.
“Ag-gag” bills criminalize whistleblowing that exposes animal abuses, unsafe working conditions and environmental problems on factory farms. Instead of encouraging whistleblowing and preventing these violations, ag-gag laws ensure that consumers and regulatory authorities are kept in the dark.
Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota and Utah have enacted ag-gag laws, but such bills were defeated in eight other states, thanks to a strong outcry from the public and newspaper editors. In 2013, new ag-gag bills were introduced in Arkansas, California, Indiana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont and Wyoming. The language has been invariably drafted by the infamous anti-consumer American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).
Thirty newspapers and 60 national animal protection, workers’ rights, civil liberties, public health, food safety and environmental conservation organizations have recently gone on record as strongly opposing ag-gag bills.
Each of us who feels that our government must never restrict our right and obligation to know where our food comes from should urge our state legislators and governor to oppose the ag-gag bill.
Rudolph Helman/Boulder
Our energy future
Gov. Hickenlooper and friends in oil and gas claim that natural gas is the bridge fuel to a greener economy.
It’s tempting, at today’s prices, to go along with this notion. However, these prices are the result of an industry-generated glut to spur export, and are too low for the industry to sustain — by their own admission.
If/when Washington approves export of natural gas, the supposed independence we derive from increased fracking production will also be compromised as we compete with the world market. Are we going to ignore development of cleaner, renewable energy until we have reached a critical loss of fossil fuels? By then it will be too late.
Please support legislation to increase renewable energy standards and expand wind and solar energy.
Eve Palmer/Longmont
Municipalizing is an opportunity
Living in Boulder is, for me, like many other people, a way to really define one’s personal aspirations by being surrounded by people who have similar passions and ideology. Among these is the concept of sustainability, and presently there doesn’t seem to be a better way to be a national leader than to adopt a municipal electric utility. Needless to say, I don’t think that investments in coal parallel residents’ interests, nor the long-term image of the university. To neglect the chance to be on the forefront of clean energy would be obstinate to what we value as Boulder residents, and how we view ourselves in the eyes of other Coloradans.
So, with this in mind, a decision must be made, and the outcomes will determine much more for future generations than we are currently aware of.
With so many stakeholders moving in and out of our thriving city, it’s important to embrace opportunities to be on the cutting edge. This is one of those opportunities, so let’s keep moving forward!
Tim Jenkins/Boulder
