An unfortunate straw horse
To NRA’s Executive Vice President
Wayne LaPierre’s appearance on national TV and your question, “Do you think armed security would deter potential assailants at schools?”: Being an NRA member for years, and well able to separate fact from fiction, I applaud LaPierre for appearing in public and stating his case. I’ve read many of his arguments defending the Constitution, especially 1st and 2nd amendment rights and know from politicians’ words how much mud they like to throw, how much these words threaten their world and how much the absence/modification of the same threaten ours.
Firearms (not the innumerable other tools of death and heartbreak) are an unfortunate straw horse; to attack them soothes no pain and only misdirects social solutions. So I don’t agree totally that armed guards are the answer. There are so many other clues to explore (the murderer at Fort Hood knew that weapons are prohibited from being carried on stateside bases/posts so he had an open invitation to kill before security arrived).
What’s better than nothing? I don’t think there ever has been a castle that wasn’t breached. Selective arming using low penetration ammunition and high pressure canisters of “bear” spray; reaching out to retired military; full turnstile entrances?
James Omillian
Colorado Springs
The list goes on and on
There has always been evil in the world, but it seems to be growing in leaps and bounds the older I get. Shooters (suicide bombers, etc.) have no compunctions against killing children, parents and others, including themselves. This lack of compunction is fed by the morals of today’s society. It is considered normal to play games or watch movies based on killing as many people as possible with high-powered assault rifles or other methods of destruction. It is deemed normal to kill babies in the womb but abnormal to kill domesticated or wild animals. It is deemed normal to require employers to provide means of abortion and contraception regardless of conscience. It is deemed normal to put a crucifix in a jar of urine and call it art but abnormal to say a prayer at a public gathering.
Until the world returns to Christian principles and morals in our public and private lives, nothing is going to change and, in fact, is going to keep snowballing. Until we allow the power and presence of God to re-enter this world, things will not improve. If not now, when?
Thomas H. Fickas
Colorado Springs
No longer in ‘Little London’
The vast majority of our countrymen believe in the meaningful words declared by the founders that: “all men are created equal and have rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” A minority of naysayers, NIMBYs, and dooms-dayers apparently think they are “more equal” than the rest of us. By their protests, and sometimes complicity of judges, they have managed to stop Wal-Marts, housing and apartment developments.
In this 1½ years of dialogue about oil and gas, they have contributed only negativity to the discussions. Representative government calls for a measure of faith and trust by citizens represented
City Council, its committees and task forces studied oil and gas for 18 months. Their primary concern was safe and orderly development. To that end, the council voted 6-3 on Nov. 30 to pass a local ordinance to take effect after second reading on Dec. 10. Predictably, many naysayers showed up, raising again the bogeyman issues thoroughly dealt with in 18 months of deliberation.
Whatever has become of the common good, defined as the greatest good of the greatest number? Our community has an intelligent, alert population. People recognize a potential economic engine when they see one. Is the oil and gas industry a risk-reward activity? Yes, like SDS and many other resource enterprises, the rewards in employment and tax revenue justify minimizing and mitigating the risks.
We no longer live in the “Little London” envisioned by our city’s founder, General William Palmer. Horse-drawn surreys, hickory golf clubs and buggy whips are quaint memories of a more genteel time. The common good remains a solid criterion for now and the future.
John A. Daly
Colorado Springs
Schooled by a teenager
As I sat reading the letter by a young 16-year-old in the Dec. 24 edition, it took me by surprise.
Here is a young man that has more on his mind than clothes, looks and a driver’s license.
The first thing that came to mind was to thank his parents for raising such a caring young man. I know that many caring teenagers are out there and do more in a day than most adults. But to see that the very thing we hope for is starting to speak out — caring young teenagers, the next generation that we have been teaching in hopes that they can take the reins.
Young man, you must make your parents proud. Love is a powerful thing in more ways than one. As adults we often forget just how far a hello or a thank you can go for someone having a bad day. We are so concerned about our jobs, money, politics that we often forget to just hug our kids every day or say I love you or just speak to them at all. They might not answer, but they heard you loud and clear!
Why does it take a tragedy to remind parents to say simple words to their kids? Or adults to even say hello to their neighbors?
We are so caught up in life we forget the little things. We let out anger while driving, or yell or name call because we can. We often forget to just listen to our teenage kids. If we listen more, we will see, just like this young man, they have something profound to say.
Too bad many will not hear this young man. Many will go about their daily busy lives in a few weeks and forget about the tragedy that just happened. You will go back to your daily routines of working and forgetting to say good day, I love you or thank you.
No, instead we will all concentrate on guns and all the negative. We forget to see what is right before our eyes — the next generation!
You are a caring young man, I wish you the best and please do not remain silent, speak up!
We as adults were just schooled by the younger generation. Will we listen and make a change?
Jeanine Fark
Colorado Springs