Letters - Sunday

Far to go
Racial epithets at game show nation not yet rid of bigotry

My son plays basketball for Cheyenne Mountain Junior High's seventh-grade team. On Nov. 19, they played an away game at Elizabeth Middle School in Elizabeth.

After the game my son informed me that during the game every time he dribbled the ball or guarded someone near a particular section of the bleachers, an older man would yell "you n----- ." What kind of an adult would yell this to a 12-year-old kid playing in a basketball game?

My wife and I were a dual military couple until I retired a few years ago. My son has often been in schools with very small minority populations. This was the first time that anyone has called him a racial slur.

If this man knew my son he would know that he is not only a good athlete but also a good student and kid. He would know that my son enjoys theater and is a gifted saxophone player. He would know that my son is caring and kind.

If this man knew my son, he would know that my son has deep religious beliefs and prayed for him after the game that night. My son may have already forgiven him but it will take me a while longer to reach that point.

Some people say the U.S. has come a long way over the years. I agree, but it's idiots like the man at my son's game that reminds us we still have a ways to go.

B. Dewayne Brown
Colorado Springs

Disorganization chart
City government, enterprises in need of new accountability

The dysfunction of Colorado Springs city government, though all-too-evident to insiders, was on full public display in a courtroom this week, as the jury trial began in The Broadmoor golf course land sale debacle ("Rivera says only he, council can approve city land deals," Metro, Nov. 21). Mayor Lionel Rivera testified that the parcel in dispute, which was owned by Colorado Springs Utilities, couldn't be sold without City Council approval. This directly contradicts the testimony of former Utilities CEO Phil Tollefson, who told the court he had full authority to dispose of surplus land and had done so in the past.

Is one of the men shading the truth, in order to justify actions that caused the city embarrassment and led to a $3.7 million breach of contract lawsuit? I doubt it. More likely, they are simply unsure about who has authority to do what, in a city that assumes too many nongovernmental functions, through its enterprises, and where clear lines of authority and accountability are sometimes lacking. This underscores the need to undertake a top-down review of the city's organizational chart, as well as the enterprises, with an eye toward improving efficiency, functionality and accountability.

What a better organizational chart might look like still must be studied and debated; it's something I hope the city's Sustainable Funding Committee will seriously consider. The Limited Government Forum and LocalLibertyOnline.org also stand ready to participate in and facilitate that discussion. But something, clearly, must be done.

Sean Paige
Limited Government Forum Colorado Springs

A helpful push
Motorist grateful for gentlemen who came to a lady's aid

I want to take the time to thank the two gentlemen who helped push my broken-down car from the southbound off-ramp at Fillmore Street, across Chestnut Street and over to the north side of Fillmore in front of the Conoco station. There is simply no way I could have pushed the car that far by myself.

I also want to thank the Colorado Springs police officer who stationed his car behind mine as I was partially blocking the right lane of Fillmore. He stayed there until the tow truck was able to get my car loaded up.

It's nice to know that even on a day when it's 20 degrees and spitting rain and snow, there are kindhearted people out there willing to help a total stranger. Thanks guys, you made my day a whole lot easier.

Darlene Smith
Colorado Springs

Hard working kids
High school stage production provided great entertainment

I spent Thursday evening enjoying one of the best local productions I've ever seen. Sierra High School's production of Neil Simon's "Rumors" was wonderful. Every member of the cast seemed totally caught up in his or her character, and it was clear a great deal of time, energy and fun went into getting this great play onto the stage.

My thanks to the students and staff who produced this delightful production.

Sharon Wells
Colorado Springs

Expensive lessons
Retailers would do well to remember customer service

Despite current economic challenges, it appears today's retailers still have not learned a valuable lesson: Customer service and associate training are key to a rewarding shopping experience.

On a recent excursion to a big box store, the rudeness of store associates and lack of customer service led me to question if anyone has heard of serving the customer. A simple smile or understanding of a customer's wants and needs would go a long way. Customer word-of-mouth advertising is many times more effective than a TV ad.

When will all retailers learn this simple lesson? Retail CEOs should stop lamenting about falling sales and profits, and look at themselves, and how they are treating the customers they have.

Charles Irons
Falcon

In her prayers
Billboard backers reinforce believer's faith in higher power

My sympathies go out to the people of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Their lives must be so empty. And as for their stupid signs, they just make my religion and belief in God that much stronger.

God bless us all, even those poor atheists. They need God's blessing.

Edith Crawford
Colorado Springs

Cutting costs
Reducing wages of high-paid bosses could save local jobs

In regard to the changes and layoffs due to the failure of the county sales tax issue, I have a suggestion. It is probably not going to happen, but if you took the 100 highest-salaried people in both the city and county governments, including Memorial Hospital and Utilities, and reduced their salaries by 25 percent, they would still have very comfortable incomes, and it would help many of their co-workers keep their jobs.

With the economy down, I do not know why governments should not share in the slowdown, as the people affected are the people paying the salaries.

Ed Hayes
Colorado Springs

Grateful vets
Customer bought breakfast for troopers on Veterans Day

My friends, Tom and Ted, and I would like thank the kind lady who picked up the tab for our breakfasts on Veterans Day. We were at Wade's Cafe on North Academy with our wives, having breakfast and when we asked for our check, the waitress told us that a kind lady, who apparently sat in the booth next to ours, had already paid it.

Two of us are World War II vets and the other is a Korean War vet. Two are former Marines and were wearing U.S. Marines caps. We feel that is what prompted her to make such a kind gesture, seeing the caps. We are truly grateful for her generosity.

Tony Occhiuto
Colorado Springs