Kirk was a true believer in the First Amendment
I abhor the assassination of Charlie Kirk, CEO of Turning Point USA. I believe him to have been a righteous and moral voice for original American, constitutional, and Christian values upon which our great country was founded, and along with millions of patriotic Americans, who love this country as he did, I grieve for his loss. He was a true believer in the First Amendment.
It is this inconsistency that I address today. The termination of employees in the public and private sectors for reacting contrary to the majority opinion on the assassination of Kirk is radically opposed to the very freedom that he espoused. Civil discourse is the foundation of our republic and contrary opinions and freedom of expression are two of the pillars on which our nation was founded. As abhorrent as I find opinions on social media that I strongly disagree with, I will defend the right of the publisher to express them.
The bigger issue that we face in this “instant media” world is the total lack of critical thinking skills. People feel free to throw out the first, poorly-thought-out, vacuous reaction to any news story — whether based in fact or fiction, and regardless of negative consequences. Social media has promoted this, by rewarding the first reactors to these news stories with “likes,” and re-publishing these reactions across the internet.
We are in a toxic environment where people are adverse to express their thoughts face-to-face, but have no restraint about publishing damaging and destructive discourse online because there is no reasoned debate to their published opinion.
Scott L. Stockton, Castle Rock
Up until this point, I agreed that the majority of cancel culture came from the far left. With the aftermath of the senseless assassination of Kirk, the calls for silencing those who call out his vile and divisive policy positions (including firing people), we are seeing cancel culture and First Amendment freedom of speech violations by the far right on steroids. If someone uses their employer’s platform to say something vile about Kirk, ok free to fire people. Pointing out controversial positions Kirk advocated does not seem to me to justify firing.
But if it’s an individual’s social media account is otherwise not connected to their employer, that’s cancel culture on the right and it is happening. Charlie would not want that or calls for retribution-driven political violence. RIP.
John W Thomas, Fort Collins
This has got to stop. All the outrage and blame directed at Democrats over the killing of Charlie Kirk by the president, vice president and his followers has got to stop.
Where was the outrage when Minnesota’s Speaker of the House, Melissa Hortman was murdered in her home along with her husband and the family dog? That assassin went on to seriously wound a colleague of Hortman and her husband and had a hit list of forty-four Democrats.
What did Trump do? Nothing. He didn’t order the flags at half staff for them, nor did he attend the funerals or even send a delegation. He couldn’t even be bothered to call Minnesota’s governor. Democrats didn’t rant and rave then and call for retribution from the GOP. Where’s the outrage for those murdered Americans? This has got to stop.
Nancy Rife, Wheat Ridge
It wasn’t our gun and it wasn’t our kid
Gun violence in schools is a horrible thing. But all those kids who walked out of school to protest the latest shooting need to look in the mirror to see what most of the perpetrators of this violence look like. They are young, and in most cases, students, or former students of these schools. Those of us who went to school back in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s didn’t have this kind of problem, even though guns were readily available back then and gun laws were much more lax than the gun laws of today.
What’s the solution to today’s school shootings? How about going after the parents of these killers first as a start. Start charging the parents as accessories to these crimes, if their child gets hold of the parent’s gun, or guns, and commits one of these horrible crimes. If it’s not the parent’s gun and the perpetrator got the gun elsewhere, charge the person, or persons who enabled the child to get the gun.
Maybe people will get the message to properly secure whatever guns they might have so their kids can’t get to them. And, parents, quit blaming the rest of us for what your children do. You raised them, we didn’t. And to all you students wanting to blame everyone else with your little marches, it wasn’t our gun, it wasn’t our kid.
JB Adams, Arvada
Save the next generation from violence
A few years ago, I was coming out of my local recreation center and heard a little girl comment, while holding her father’s hand, “Look Daddy, No one died today!”, as she gazed up at our flag. It was not at half-staff.
How did we get to this state of affairs? My heart breaks while we posit rhetorical answers. We can do better and must ask our leaders on both polarities to come together.
Fifty years ago, an effort was begun to bring children from Northern Ireland to America to help them escape a sectarian war called, The Troubles. Catholic and Protestant, right and left today, were shown a different way to avoid hatred and violence. It helped pave the way for the negotiation of the Good Friday Agreement and peace. Twenty-three thousand young people have come to America and returned home changed for the better.
Much remains to heal and bind up ancient wounds, but this program has been a major influence in doing that. I stand willing to contribute to building bridges across our national divides so other nations don’t feel compelled to help our children escape from similar fates.
Anthony Massey, Broomfield
Editor’s note: Massey is the Colorado coordinator of Project Children.
Looking for a reading reset? Start local
Re: “Falling in love again with reading, and my stressed-out life,” Sept. 14 features story
I enjoyed Allyson Reedy’s essay on how she benefited from her own personal reading retreat. This is such a wonderful way to reset one’s internal compass. Rather than an A-Frame at Winter Park, I’ve done it many times at one of our many beautiful state parks, sitting by a campfire under the moon.
Should you decide to undertake your own private book camp, I hope you’ll consider packing a title or two from local creatives. The Colorado Authors League is our state’s best kept non-profit literary secret. We’ve been around since 1931 and represent over 300 Colorado authors and illustrators from many different genres. Learn more about us at coloradoauthors.org
Jack Maher, Parker
Editor’s note: Maher is president of the Colorado Authors League.
Preserve Burnham Yard’s archeological history, too
Re: “What stands between Broncos and a Burnham Yard stadium?” Sept. 14 news story
Those of us who do historic preservation work strive to find a balance between the needs for development and the preservation of our collective historic fabric. Personally, I think the redevelopment of the Burnham Yard and surrounding area into a new stadium neighborhood is a good reuse of this site.
While this article presents a good summary of the community involvement process, city and state permitting and taxing issues, and environmental cleanup challenges, and recognizes this was an active rail yard since the 1870s, it fails to mention anything concerning historic preservation.
As I understand from recent reports, there are a few significant historic buildings still standing at the site. There is also a high likelihood of historic archaeological remains at the Burnham site and the surrounding properties. As the article points out, there are not many historic records from that era making these archaeological resources vital sources of information for enhancing our understanding of the early days of the rail yard and surrounding neighborhood and the contributions they made to the city and state. I hope these resources are given proper consideration as the process goes forward.
Robert Mutaw, Louisville
Democrats need to do more to oppose Trump, not less
Re: “Colo. voters are dissatisfied with Democrats. Polis, Hickenlooper and Bennet can’t hide,” Sept. 14 editorial
The Post editorial on voter dissatisfaction with Democrats has it exactly wrong. Americans aren’t recoiling from the Democratic Party because office holders are focusing too much on Trump, but because too many are publicly silent in the face of Trump’s cruelty and corruption. Their failure to challenge the current sitting president, who is obviously showing cognitive decline while in office, is a large reason voters are upset.
Bravely opposing Trump’s rush to totalitarian dictatorship doesn’t mean Democrats aren’t keenly aware that Americans are struggling, nor that making the quality of life better for all Americans is not a top Democratic priority. But minimizing or normalizing Trump’s betrayal of his presidential oath, the Constitution, and of the American people will lead only to the destruction of what President Reagan described as a “country that would be a light unto nations, and a shining city upon a hill”.
Stephen Levin, Denver
Eliminate the income cap for Social Security
Re: “Social Security: Americans’ top asset isn’t a home or stocks,” Sept. 14 business story
The article deals with the future insolvency of Social Security, predicting it could happen as soon as 2033. I have read several articles dealing with this issue. They deal with different scenarios, such as, raising the interest that is currently charged, or reducing the amount recipients receive, etc.
One possible solution, that never seems to be brought up, is the income cap. Currently, everyone pays into the fund up to an annual income of $176,100, so anyone making that amount or less, pays based on 100% of their income. Anyone making over that amount pays no additional tax.
If the maximum payout were kept the same, and everyone payed into the fund based on 100% of their income, the fund would most likely remain solvent. The assumption here is that people making over $176,000 per year can just as easily afford to pay their fair share.
Steve Nash, Centennial
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