Something’s fishy in Paris
Apparently, many people think all the backlash for the Paris Olympic opening ceremony is from uneducated, right-wing Christian zealots who should “learn something,” “chill,” or, as The View’s Caryn Elaine “Whoopie” Johnson advised, “just turn the TV off.”
I am a rube — of the nonreligious, apolitical variety. And what I saw during the opening ceremony was the desire to get a rise out of 2.4 billion faithful by befouling Christianity.
The spectacle combined both Christian and pagan imagery. Even with my backwoods education, I immediately discerned central figures in colors and poses reminiscent of Leonardo da Vinci’s 15th-century painting “The Last Supper.” Olympics organizers reported that Jan van Bijlert’s “The Feast of the Gods,” painted over a century later, was the purported muse for this production.
This was followed by an infusion of Greco-Roman mythology. During this pivot, we saw — not a big loaf of Eucharistic bread — but a nearly naked Papa Smurf-like Dionysus (Bacchus) figure. Dionysus is the androgynous god of ritual madness and ecstasy, among other things.
Catholicism impedes the LGBTQ movement’s doctrine of Hedonism.
Let’s permit the Jesus portrayer from the Olympics spectacle, Barbara Butch, to speak to the production’s intent: “OH YES, OH YES, THE NEW GAY TESTAMENT!”
This exclamation captioned two juxtaposed photos on Butch’s Instagram: the drag-queen tableau and “The Last Supper painting.” Her post has been deleted.
Scott R. Hammond, Denver
Rewarding illegal immigration is not right or fair
Re: “Demonizing illegal immigrants is a betrayal of America,” July 20 letter to the editor
What this letter writer and all the illegal immigration advocates conveniently choose not to acknowledge when they misappropriate the innocuous “immigrant” moniker, is that while our nation was most certainly built by immigrants, those immigrants were compelled to comply with the laws of our nation instead of rationalizing their breaking them to illegally gain entry.
It’s easy to allege respect for the United States, citizenship, and the rule of law, but how much respect can illegal aliens have for our nation and its laws if they’re willing and eager to rationalize breaking them?
Isn’t it illogical and unfair to try to group people coming here illegally in the same category as legal immigrants when earlier generations of legal immigrants, who came through Ellis Island, were screened and their identities verified, not all who came were accepted, and many were sent back for legal and health reasons.
So how are all the letter writer’s rationalizations fair to all the other potential legal immigrants, from all over the world, who would love the opportunity to play by the rules instead of cutting in line.
Not all illegal aliens are as harmless, benign, or innocuous as some may perceive. Kate Steinle, Laken Riley, and Jocelyn Nagaray would very likely disagree with him if only they could.
Unfortunately, there are political groups whose goal is to enable and facilitate illegal aliens breaking our nation’s laws to increase their membership. They realized years ago that they would never get the changes they wanted through congressional legislation, so they rationalized creating a gigantic problem to force the nation to contend with the illegal aliens by overwhelming the laws, facilities, and systems to accommodate legal immigration. Of course, by helping them evade consequences for their illegal actions, they created an obligation to support and vote for the political groups supporting them.
Right is right, wrong is wrong, and fair is fair. Rewarding illegal aliens for their proficiency at breaking our laws is neither right nor fair.
Gordon Carleton, Pueblo West
Dwindling police presence, traffic enforcement
Re: “Cities scaled back traffic stops, and road deaths soared,” New York Times news story, Aug. 1
I’ve come to think that the Denver Police Department has become a public Rent-a-Cop operation. The only time that I see a live police person is at stores or events that rent them. I continually hear about how long a call for service takes and still see a multitude of expired license plates. In Thursday’s New York Times there is a report of Denver’s traffic stops in 2022 being down 62% and road deaths up 21% since 2019. Chief Ron Thomas is a good guy but maybe he should start kicking some rear-ends.
Jim Hannifin Sr., Denver
Skimpy women’s uniforms raise questions about respect
Have we lost our sense of dignity, respect, and honor for the professionals who work so diligently to prepare themselves to be worthy of performing for the world’s greatest audience? I am referencing the nearly naked volleyball women participants as well as the barely there swimsuits in certain swimming competitions. Is it necessary to expose women’s bodies in this way and does the brief attire advance chances of winning the gold?
Constance Grotel, Lakewood
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