Dumbing down Durango?

Dear Editors:

I was extremely disappointed that the peace resolution before City Council was voted down, especially with such a wide margin. I wish we could move beyond the simplistic analysis that supporting peace is tantamount to supporting Saddam Hussein. We do not live in a black-or-white, us-or-them world, although this attitude is propagated by the administration to assist in the “dumbing down” of America, and sadly, we are only too susceptible.

It is incredibly short-sighted to think local politics are exclusive and independent of international affairs. Our actions are interconnected. We live in a global community. If the U.S. begins a pre-emptive war on Iraq, it could potentially unleash severe retaliation on our country. Will we feel like the domestic and foreign realms are so separate when bio chemical poisons taint our town? Or if the U.S. becomes the target of a nuclear missile? Or when community members return from fighting in Iraq disabled and sick from chemical exposure? It is crucial that we involve ourselves in these grave world events.

Seeking peaceful solutions as an alternative to rash war is NOT disrespecting the people who have enlisted in military service. Listen to the veterans who have lived war and don’t wish it on anyone else. By encouraging this impending war, you send people who serve into almost certain physical and mental harm, and possible death. And death is guaranteed for thousands of innocent people in Iraq. Peace is the ULTIMATE respect for human life, us and them. It is our responsibility as citizens in our American democracy to stand up for what we believe is true and right. We might as well live in a dictatorship if people prefer to silently conform to the president’s agenda. Please don’t allow patriotism to bury common sense and compassion.

– Elizabeth Suttle,

via e-mail

Give Rendon your vote

Letter to editors:

There is a City Council election for Durango coming up. This is our chance to elect someone who shares our concerns and desires for the direction of our city. Michael Rendon, a Colorado native and graduate of FLC, promises to bring enthusiasm and hard work to the City Council. Rendon believes in affordable housing, open space, water conservation, and responsible and appropriate growth, which does not include trophy homes for part-time residents and/or Animas Valley development. Rendon emphasizes community vitality and the importance of supporting local businesses. His platform seeks to preserve the ways of life we all cherish in living here as well as offer reasonable, cautious expansion into the larger city we are growing into.

This election will be our first mail in, with ballots being sent to the homes of registered voters. If you moved since the last election you can still vote in person at City Hall between the dates of March 18 and April 1.

Vote Michael Rendon.

– Rachel Turiel,

Durango

No child left standing

To the Editors:

President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” education law should be relabeled the “No Child Left Standing Act” if his latest proposed tax cuts are allowed to go into effect. It is unconscionable and irresponsible for the president to propose tax cuts for the wealthiest citizens while reducing after-school program funding by $400 million, including $4 million in Colorado.

What is the president thinking? After-school education programs are popular with parents and children and provide a safe, supervised and supportive place for young people to spend their after-school hours. Even before Bush’s latest tax cuts for the wealthy were proposed, 44 Colorado communities that sought after-school funding did not receive it. This means that more than 61,000 Colorado kids are already shut out of after-school programs before the situation gets worse still with the new Bush budget.

According to the national Afterschool Alliance, a recent study shows the profound impact that after-school programs can have on the safety and behavior of teen-agers. It found that teens who were unsupervised by adults compared with those in an after-school program were much more likely to commit a crime or smoke, drink alcohol, have sex or use drugs.

President Bush and congress, especially Colorado’s U.S. Senators Wayne Allard and Ben Nighthorse-Campbell, need to restore the funding to after-school programs to support the millions of families who won’t benefit from the administration’s economic incentive plan. The president is pulling the plug in Washington, and the lights are going out on our youth and families here in Colorado.

– Sincerely,

Jeannette Galanis

policy director, Colorado Progressive Coalition

Some kind of Christian thing

Dear Editors:

This is just a personal observation that I thought I should mention – it’s about your logo...

I have nothing against Christian publications, I just don’t read them. For the first few months that the Telegraph was on the stands, I didn’t pick it up because I thought the “telegraph pole” on your logo was a “cross” and your paper was some kind of Christian thing, so I missed the first few issues. Once I finally looked at an issue, I realized my mistake and regretted missing them.

I don’t know if this has happened to anyone else – but you might be missing some readers because of it. Just something to consider...

Your paper is great, by the way. Keep up the good work.

–Dennis Finn

Arboles