Letters - Friday

VETERANS AFFAIRS

Wear something red to support troops

I wanted to let Gazette readers know the Reserve Officers Association League is encouraging everyone to wear something red on Fridays to show support for members of the armed services serving in harm’s way.

As spouses of reserve and guard members, we have a unique perspective on challenges facing our airmen, Marines, soldiers and sailors. They truly appreciate knowing their sacrifices are acknowledged — as do their families who face long separations.

We encourage everyone to join us in wearing something red every Friday.

Kay Rendleman

President, Colorado Springs ROAL

Colorado Springs

Interservice rivalries not limited to football games

Thanks go to George Lewis for his enjoyable column about the U.S. Marine Corps in Thursday’s Gazette (“Happy birthday, Marines, and Semper Fi!” Other Voices, Nov. 10). We love and salute our comrades in arms, “The few, the proud, the Marines.” Who cannot pause in awe to see a Marine in dress blues? Whose heartstrings do not flutter when we hear: “From the halls of Montezuma to the shores of Tripoli”? Happy birthday and Veteran’s Day to The Corps!

Having said that, and I’m sure The Gazette will agree, only the very best may serve in the U.S. Army.

“Over hill, over dale, we have hit the dusty trail, as the Army goes rolling along.”

John E. Anderson

U.S. Army, 1966-68

Colorado Springs

PAIGE SNUBBED

Union ‘hacks’ now the ones blocking schoolhouse door

I was flabbergasted at Gazette Managing Editor Jeff Thomas’ column in Sunday’s paper (“Why The Gazette refused to play politics”). Rod Paige’s visit and the snub by District 11 Superintendent Sharon Thomas certainly was deserving of coverage. Never in his 70 years has this former secretary of education and National Superintendent of the Year been turned away from a public school.

Unfortunately, and most often the case in District 11, the real losers in this whole fiasco are the children. The students of Helen Hunt may never have the honor of meeting such a prominent individual again. They were robbed by Thomas and the 30 or so union hacks, as well as D-11 candidate (now board member-elect) Sandra Mann, who all acted liked spoiled brats. Mann, who threatened disruption along with the others, should be recalled before she even takes office. Maybe she is the next Eric Christen. If so, God help us all.

Linda Carroll

Colorado Springs

NICKEL AND DIME

Boosting parking rates could backfire on airport

I read with concern the Gazette article, “Airport parking too cheap?” Nov. 7. In traveling in and out of Denver International Airport, one can readily see the effects of increased airport parking costs. Numerous off-site parking at DIA with $5 to $8 daily rates and timely shuttle service to the airline counter doors is available and very much utilized. Statements such as “airport fees . . . rank among the lowest in the nation” and “airport staff is studying how much of an increase would be needed,” could boost the number of travelers choosing to fly in and out of DIA.

Does Colorado Springs really care what other national airports are charging? It appears that there is already a good return on parking lot investments at the Springs airport, or we would have heard about it before now.

John Tucker

Colorado Springs

THE PLAME GAME

Wilson’s credibility called into question

Joseph Wilson was the ambassador to Gabon, not Niger as asserted by Kathy Wallace (“Wilson became target for telling the truth,” Letters, Nov. 8).

The fact that Wilson lied or misrepresented his visit to Niger was proven by the Senate Intelligence Committee report in the summer of 2004. The link to Iraq was backed up by several European intelligence agencies and reported in the Financial Times that same year.

As Susan Schmidt reported in The Washington Post: “Contrary to Wilson’s assertions and even the government’s previous statements, the CIA did not tell the White House it had qualms about the reliability of the Africa intelligence.” This article was also written in July 2004.

Finally, it has been irrefutably proven that Wilson got the job because his wife suggested him to her superiors at the CIA, and that she was not a covert agent during this entire mess. In his op-ed he lied, stating that he had been sent by Vice President Dick Cheney. Therefore, I believe Wallace is wrong when she says that “this man of impeccable integrity has been smeared because he looked for the truth.” The truth is that Wilson was primarily a General Services Administration employee in the Foreign Service, and did not have the required background to investigate anything.

I spent more than two years in the U.S. embassy in Morocco, and I can assure you the GSA office concerns itself with basic housekeeping for the embassy and for the U.S. citizens assigned to the embassy.

Ross Gubser

Colorado Springs

DOUBLE STANDARD?

Why is high-flying studio OK, but Kempf’s works had to go?

Regarding the story, “High art / Artist’s dreams take flight as studio gets airliner,” in the Nov. 1 Gazette, I am wondering why this monstrosity can be parked in the yard of Rick Broome’s Broadmoor home when some of the beautiful wind sculptures at the Starr Kempf home had to be removed. There is something wrong with this picture.

Courtney Sterk

Colorado Springs

RACE RELATIONS

Gazette report ignored elected black officials

I can’t be the first black Gazette reader to have noticed that the newspaper usually turns to the same two or three “activists” to capture the African-American voice of Colorado Springs (“Aching to be heard,” Nov. 5). It’s hard to imagine that even those who were featured in the latest frontpage story about minorities in the Springs aren’t getting tired of The Gazette pestering them for their views.

I have plenty of respect for men like James Stewart, who was featured in the story, but you would think The Gazette also would make an effort to contact black people who are elected representatives of the people. Nowhere in the story, which refers to our community as a “sea of white,” was there any mention of the fact that El Paso County has at least three prominent black officials who were voted into office.

Darryl Glenn offers a distinct and articulate voice for fiscal responsibility on the Colorado Springs City Council. Willie Breazell is the first African-American in memory to serve on the board of our community’s largest school system, District 11, and he has been in the forefront of those calling for greater accountability in our public schools. Ed Jones has been an enduring presence in local politics, first as a twoterm El Paso County commissioner and now as a state senator in the Legislature, where he champions school choice and other education reforms.

Was any attempt made to contact these gentlemen and interview them? If not, why not? For all the challenges facing the local black community, we also have made strides. Let’s acknowledge them.

Reginald Perry

Colorado Springs