LETTERS: Wednesday

The system worked?

On Christmas Day, we as a nation dodged a bullet. A committed terrorist boarded an airliner in Amsterdam and headed for Detroit, intending to blow up the airplane en route, along with approximately 300 innocent men, women and children. Luckily, the attempted detonation was only partially successful, and once again brave passengers intervened and subdued him.

Several things should have prevented this aspiring murderer from boarding the airplane in the first place. First, he was already on a terrorist “watch list”, but no preemptive actions were taken to prevent him from carrying out an actual terrorist act. Second, his father, a successful Nigerian banker, reportedly warned the U.S. Embassy (twice) that his son had potentially become an Islamic fanatic. Why was this warning ignored? Third, the terrorist paid for his airline ticket in cash and checked no luggage, two signs that should have set off some alarm bells within “the system.”

After all of these obvious failures of “the system” (and there may be more uncovered during the ensuing investigation of this incident), the Secretary of Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano declared that: “The system worked!” She later tried to backtrack by qualifying her remarks, saying she meant the system worked after the event had taken place. She’s wrong on both counts. Obviously, the system (which she is largely responsible for) failed miserably in preventing the terrorist from boarding the airplane successfully with explosives strapped to his body. I credit President Obama for refuting Napolitano’s comments and admitting that failures had occurred. But, “the system” has also failed after the fact, given that Napolitano still holds her job. Anyone who can stand before the public she is responsible for defending and declare that: “The system worked” after multiple near fatal failures, is frankly too clueless to occupy such a critical position. And, any system of political favoritism that allows someone that clueless to keep her job has also failed.

We are at war with a dedicated enemy bent on our destruction. The American people deserve to have someone in a position as important as the Secretary of Homeland Security who inspires confidence in those she serves and reluctant respect (at a minimum) in those who would do us harm. Janet Napolitano does neither. The first step in making “the system work” is finding a Secretary of Homeland Security who is up to the job.

Gary R. Dylewski

Colorado Springs

Questions for WIA

The recent Woodmoor Improvement Association board of directors (BOD) meeting was a real eye opening experience. I had always felt that the “majority” of the current BOD was out of touch with the residents but this meeting confirmed this. The main issue presented by the residents was the construction of a 4,300 foot walking trail and adjoining parking lot on the Marsh Common area that borders Top of the Moor and Woodmoor Drive. This project will cost $20,000 when completed. The residents who spoke were all opposed to the project and their major issue was that they had never been involved in the decision making process for this project. The residents asked the following “What is the process for notification and involvement of residents in projects of this magnitude?” The response of George McFadden BOD president was basically there was no process for involving the residents in projects of this magnitude. Further, after reviewing the covenants and by-laws of the community George concluded there was nothing that required the BOD to check with the community and get their approval before making decisions. He went on to say that once we elect members to the board it is up to them to decide what is best for the residents. He even likened the board to the U.S. Congress and stated that once we elect members to Congress they can pass any laws they want regardless of how these laws are perceived by the people. This leaves me wondering about what kind of BOD we currently have. Are they working for the residents or themselves? Since four of the nine current BOD members were appointed to the BOD by the BOD I think that the current BOD is working for themselves and not the residents.

Ed Miller

Woodmoor

In touch with reality

Kudos to Laurence R. Warner (‘Scientists aren’t scared of God’, Dec. 30) for superbly presented reasoning as to why those with genuine scientific minds (who are mainly unbelievers) don’t fear the deity concocted by Christians or others.

I would just to add a bit more to what he said, in the course of reinforcing his arguments. This is in respect to the excellent article: ‘Atheism Rising’ appearing in Skeptic Magazine (Vol. 15, No.2, 2009) currently available at newsstands.

The most significant point brought out in James Allan Cheyne’s article is the negative correlation between intelligence and religious belief. Cheyne observes (ibid.):

“Correlations between measures of intelligence and reported religious belief are remarkably consistent. Approximately 90 percent of all the studies ever conducted have reported that.. as intelligence (as measured by IQ) goes up, religious belief goes down.”

This doesn’t appear so fantastic a claim, based on the statistics he cites, when one realizes that just a moderate IQ (105-115) should be able to see that talking snakes (as in the “Garden of Eden”), guys living in whales’ bellies, and a man who can walk on water... are all preposterous. No genuinely intelligent person could buy into any of these any more than a smart kid would buy into Santa Claus.

Warner’s reference to Leviticus 11:21 is also pertinent. Thus, the truly intelligent person will always opt to treat the Leviticus claim of a four-legged insect as nonsense and refer to his biology text instead.

What about those Christians and other believers who happen to belong to high IQ societies like Mensa, Intertel, Poetic Genius Society? I believe their cases can easily be explained by a latent psychological neediness that seeks to create a fantasy world with which they are more comfortable. But like a guy suffering from delirium tremens who sees 10-foot high spiders — that doesn’t confer reality.

Philip A. Stahl

Colorado Springs

No-name strip joint letter

Since when does The Gazette publish a letter without a name, which self-servingly praises the police for wasting resources by hanging out at sleazy girlie joints? (Re: “Don’t criticize vice cops,” Dec. 30).

I have written many letters espousing very unpopular opinions, which could have put me in danger. Last April, I lost my 20-year association with the area’s largest real estate company as an immediate and direct result of an anti-tax letter I wrote and The Gazette published, which was critical of my own industry’s undue influence on City Council. I got the axe within minutes of publication. I always knew that, one day, my willingness to stick my neck out would get me in trouble, but I never hid.

Many folks who write regularly and put themselves at some risk for their radical and unpopular views. So why do you, Gazette, not stick to your guns and make everyone follow your rules about letters to the editor. Those who haven’t the strength of their convictions ought not to be flaunting their viewpoints.

Terry Shattuck

Colorado Springs