Misdirected worshipping at the altar of Trump
Re: “Jesus is their savior, and Trump is their candidate,” May 19 news story
The article is frightening for serious Christians. Quoting, “Trump supports Jesus, and without Jesus, America will fail.” Jesus does not need or depend upon Donald Trump to survive. Jesus is forever. Politicians are quickly forgotten.
America will live a long time, but not Trump.
God does not depend upon a popular vote. God is God. He does not win or lose in an election, and neither His fate nor America’s is in the hands of Trump. Jesus clearly stated to “give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.” In other words, don’t get God involved in man’s politics. God is not a politician.
Christ is not a bedroom inspector spying on gays or lesbians; he is concerned about the souls of people. The Bible condemns gossip, backbiters, character assassination and false statements. Christ is neither capitalist nor socialist. His kingdom is not of this world. A habitual liar and character assassin is not a good example of fundamental Christian values.
The conservative political platform is shifting sand and not holy doctrine.
Paul Bonnifield, Yampa
I am a devout follower of Jesus. Raised by an atheist father and deist mother, both science lovers, I (like millions of others) got saved during the Jesus Revolution. I never lost my love of science but found a deep spirituality that has lasted from 1971 to the present day. Trump is the utter antithesis of the Jesus I know.
It is mind-boggling that anyone who claims to be a Christian could ever vote for that hate-filled would-be despot.
Dixie J Elder, Longmont
Donald Trump relies on fear to convince us all to see each other as he sees us — no one can be trusted until they pledge their allegiance to him.
Bob McCormick, Denver
Conservative Christian supporters of Trump made some questionable statements. such as, “I believe he believes in God and our military men and women …” The truth is he dodged the draft and referred to military members as “suckers” and “losers.”
Several Trump supporters “cited their belief that Trump has followed the Christian path of repenting and starting a new life.” Let’s see. He has been caught on tape attacking Gold Star family members and bragging about grabbing women by their genitals. A jury found him liable for sexually abusing a woman and defaming her. He bragged about extramarital affairs. A repentant sinner would apologize for these actions and make amends to the victims. Trump has never apologized.
In his letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul wrote that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
I have not observed any of those fruits in Donald Trump. Waving the Bible without being contrite is hypocrisy. To follow someone like that is idolatry. I urge believers to honestly evaluate Donald Trump by biblical standards.
Ray Harlan, Denver
Supreme Court Justices should recuse themselves
Re: “Report: Alito’s home flew U.S. flag upside down after Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ claims,” May 18 news story
It’s past time for U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas to do their patriotic duty and stop hiding behind their wives to appear politically impartial.
In the days following the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, an upside-down flag symbolizing “Stop the Steal” was hung outside Alito’s home. He claimed his wife, Martha-Ann, had put it there. Clarence Thomas’s wife, Ginni Thomas, went even further, helping to lead the campaign to overturn the 2020 election and attending the rally near the White House on Jan. 6.
It should be obvious to all Americans where these men stand in relation to upholding our democracy and the Constitution. Their recusal from all cases involving Jan. 6 and Trump is the least we can demand from these traitors. Their resignation or impeachment would be even better.
Karen Mohr, Denver
The candidate — if not the political party — continues to show the most disregard for electoral precedence, and that represents the biggest threat to American democracy since the Civil War is the very candidate/party warning about “stop the steal” by flying the American flag upside down!
While the political air has been definitely fouled, if ever “The smeller’s the feller” was an appropriate call, this is it.
Robert J. Smith, Longmont
It is inconceivable that U.S. Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito (and their wives) actually believe the utter nonsense, the totally unbelievable utter nonsense, that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election. How can they possibly be unaware of the numerous investigations and court cases that clearly document the legitimacy of the 2020 election? It is most likely that Justices Thomas and Alito are simply abusing their lifetime appointments to force their parochial, extremist, unpopular, and dangerous political and religious views on American citizens.
Is there any question why the Supreme Court is no longer respected?
Daniel Chilcoat, Lakewood
When it comes to limiting growth, we’ve lost the battle
Re: “Colorado has reached a saturation point,” May 19 letter to the editor
I agree with the letter writer, but it’s too little, too late. In 1972, the future Gov. Richard Lamm and the vast majority of Colorado voters told the 1976 Olympics organizers to “shove it.” Unfortunately, the voters weren’t given the chance to tell “developers” to “go to … ” — well, you know where.
So here we are today, facing even more development. Too many of my friends have simply moved away because the Colorado they loved is gone — forever. We won the battle but lost the war
Joe McGloin, Sheridan
I agree with the letter writer. As far as I’m concerned, Colorado reached its saturation point at least 10 years ago. I relocated here in 1995 after having spent more than 20 years in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Manhattan and Brooklyn, looking for clean air, blue skies and no crowding.
Neither the governor nor various mayors seem to be paying attention to the downside of growth and “increasing the tax rolls.” After all, you have to use plenty of that new tax money to build more schools, hospitals, houses, and roads to service the newcomers. You just end up with more pollution, overused, degraded open space, and urban sprawl (or density), none of which is desirable. Everyone’s quality of life is adversely affected. There are just some qualities of life that money, from increasing the number of taxpayers, can’t buy.
We definitely don’t need another 1.7 million people. When you add the increase in noise, crowds, and reckless, speeding drivers to more pollution, degraded open spaces, and urban sprawl/density, it’ll be “goodbye Colorado.”
Carrie J. Austin, Denver
Polis’s veto disappoints
Re: “Polis signs four bills pumping millions into public transit,” May 17 news story
When I voted for Gov. Jared Polis for governor in 2018 and 2022 – I hoped for his leadership on reining in climate change – at least he talked a good game. But it appears that I was conned.
Although I was mixed on Polis’s action last year, this year the governor has shown himself to be very aligned with the oil and gas industry (O&G). Last week, we heard about Polis’s “grand bargain” with the O&G which means more inaction on fracking, taking care of orphan and stripper wells, and a business-as-usual approach on partnerships with O&G. But it keeps on coming.
The last straw for me was the veto on Senate Bill 150 — Processing of Municipal Solid Waste. Polis has allowed the O&G/plastics industry to embark on the use of pyrolysis and incineration to deal with Colorado’s plastic waste problem. Instead of focusing on how to minimize the use of plastics in the state – he decided to give another plum to the industry.
Polis’s veto of this bill will create a “witches brew” of toxic poisons which will continue to pollute our air and will likely leach into our water as well. Additionally, it allows these industries to take advantage of tax credits to invest in these new unproven approaches to polluting our state. As a side note – we have been advised that they are planning to put one of these facilities into Northern Colorado – you can be sure that I will be opposing this development.
But what really saddens me is that the climate change community was played for the fool. As the saying goes, “Fool me once; shame on you. Fool me twice; shame on me.” I will not make the same mistake, governor.
Scott Simmons, Windsor
God is on “our” side?
The God of Abraham — the deity of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, militant factions of which are currently waging horrific war across the Middle East and each claiming to have his favor — is portrayed as being all-powerful and occasionally vengeful toward those not giving him due honor. To a degree, this explains the death and destruction raging in the region. We are fulfilling the wishes of our God.
Christianity began as an alternative to old-world ethics. “Love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek, practice charity” were its directives, but with the weaker, darker elements of human nature, a thirst for power and wealth, and a strong tendency to larceny, these were cast aside in favor of militancy. Sadly, feeling powerful, in all its manifestations, has become “the human way of life.”
All three religions profess to have a gentler ethos. It simply has been buried.
Robert Porath, Boulder
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