Letters - Wednesday

HEADLINE HEADACHE

Gazette blew it on Romney headline

I was appalled by the headline, “Video: Romney said Mormons not Christian,” in the Jan. 26 Gazette. Someone from Focus on the Family stated that Mitt Romney said that Mormons are not Christians. The article did not substantiate the headline.

What if someone was quickly glancing at the headlines and told just one or two other people that Romney believes that Mormons are not Christians? That’s how rumors start.

Anyone who knows anything about Romney knows that he is a devout, practicing Christian. A Christian is someone who believes in Jesus Christ. The word Mormon is just a nickname for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

If Focus on the Family or anyone wants to research the Mormon church, they can go to LDS.org and see all the beliefs, church programs and worldwide service projects LDS members participate in.

I thought our country had progressed to a point where it doesn’t matter which church the president attends. Romney is a decent man, a great family man, and someone who has devoted his life to his church, his family and his country.

I would greatly appreciate if The Gazette would report in a more appropriate fashion, especially during an election year and just present the facts. If someone or some group states an opinion, it doesn’t need to be in bold headlines as if it’s a fact.

Rosalyn Hanson

Colorado Springs

Readers could be misled by incorrect headline

I could not stand idly by after reading the headline, “Video: Romney Said Mormons Not Christian”. Mitt Romney has never made such a statement. In fact, careful reading of the article explains clearly that this was just an opinion given by Tom Minnery, senior vice president of government and public policy at Focus on the Family Action. He came to his opinion after hearing Romney’s December “Faith in America” speech.

In that speech, Romney said he believes Jesus Christ is the son of God, the savior of mankind. I don’t know how much clearer a man can profess his Christian faith.

I have great respect for Focus On the Family and all its representatives for the great good they do. My quarrel is with The Gazette for printing an untruthful headline. The Gazette owes Romney, the Mormon community and reader’s an apology for such an untruthful headline. There are some people who would simply read the headline without even reading the article and be entirely misled.

Edward L. Nelson

Colorado Springs

OVER THE RIVER

‘Gentle disturbance’ will be awesome to behold

We have simple choices in life. We sit back and let things happen, or we create. As Christo and Jeanne-Claude reminded us, we are surrounded by controlled space. We sit at a desk, in a chair, in a building someone else designed. Dreadful design surrounds us and chokes our sense of wonder. How fortunate we have the mountains and valleys of Colorado in which to escape.

It is with that sense of wonder and awe that I look forward to the “gentle disturbance” along the Arkansas River. Shimmering cloth will reflect the sun’s rays. Rafters will gaze through the diaphanous fabric and catch sight of floating clouds and granite peaks. There will be two short weeks to experience an enchanting scene.

All materials will be recycled. Dirt will be replaced in the exact holes from whence it came. Copious pages have been devoted to the care and concern we all have for living things along the valley.

Who is the most selfish among us; opponents for not wanting this, or me for wanting this to happen?

If you want seven miles of gossamer cloth embellishing the beautiful Arkansas River, state your desire to your state representative now.

Diane Empey Leganza

Black Forest

PLAYING CATCH-UP

Bars should be allowed to sell packaged liquor

There is legislation proposed to allow Sunday beer and wine sales in Colorado grocery stores. Liquor store owners have traditionally opposed this legislation, primarily because they don’t want the competition and they may have to open on Sundays to compete.

Something that most have overlooked is that liquor stores have already benefited considerably by the smoking ban. Since the ban has been in place, many former regulars have chosen to buy their alcoholic beverages at package stores and drink and smoke at home. The bar owners’ loss has been the liquor stores’ gain.

As a bar owner, I ask, if grocery stores are allowed to sell these items, why shouldn’t bars be allowed to do the same? Many states currently allow package bar sales of beer, wine and spirits.

Bars already sell these items. Being able to sell these items “to go” would allow us to regain some of the revenue we have lost because of the smoking ban. Let’s first take care of Colorado bar businesses which the smoking ban has seriously affected, and in 70-plus cases state-wide put out of business, before we start placating the big box grocery stores owned by out-ofstate interests.

Will Pelz

Owner, Will’s Sports Pub

Colorado Springs

BUMBLING BUREAUCRACY

Stormwater Enterprise unable to handle money

The recent article about the Stormwater Enterprise reflected earlier concerns of many residents (“Agency falls short of revenue goal,” The Gazette, Jan. 27). Revenue falls short by $1.2 million, yet there will be a increase in staff of 25 percent.

The story also noted the bureaucracy cannot correctly credit those who have elected to pay. We are paying for a growing agency that has no governance and is inefficient.

Bertram Hayes-Davis

Colorado Springs