We need heroes to step up and lead in this moment

Yesterday I discovered a print copy of the right-wing propaganda rag, The Epoch Times, in my driveway. Complete with gushing kudos to the Felon in Chief, an article on the “historic Trump presidency” claims we “are getting back to the Founders’ views on what America is and how the Constitution should work.”

No, we are not. We are being swallowed up by craven corruption, repression, hatred and cruelty. And now propaganda is delivered free of charge right to our doorsteps. Inspectors General, FBI, DOJ staffers fired. DEI erased. Lives imperiled. We need heroes to step up and lead. And we need it now.

— Elizabeth Garfield, Boulder

Human sexuality is one of the most complex matters

The Catholic Church bases its theology on what is called natural law. So if one considers human activity in light of its natural consequences, then the Creator has intended activity in this light and proscribed conduct that doesn’t conform to its natural consequences. If human sexual activity is not intended to result in its natural consequence, birth of a child, then it is immoral. Thus the condemnation of especially abortion. This even though nature gives us abortion in the form of miscarriage. In our world, a “right to life” zealot most often indicates a practicing Catholic. And some scholars tell us that the abortion issue is a line drawn in the sand to indicate to the bishops who is with them and who is against them. It has been suggested this has come about because the revelation of significant abuse of children by the clergy over past decades resulted in many leaving the Church.

So in the Jan. 31 issue of the Camera, Mr. Danaher advances insights into the consequences of birth control. And most of his commentary is reasoned and informed. But subtly advanced by this father of five is the notion that contraception is wrong. As a Catholic, I suspect he buys into the Church’s doctrine of natural law. However, we know that human sexuality is motivated by more than simply creating a child. Margaret Mead tells us humans formed groups as a defense against a brutal existence and sexuality was part of the bond of the group. May I simply suggest to Mr. Danaher that he read a book published by the Paulist Press in 1977 entitled “Human Sexuality: New Directions in American Catholic Thought.” Human sexuality deserves a book like this as it is simply one of the most complex matters in our existence.

— Rick Kalamaya, Longmont

So long, Joe!

Thanks for all you have done in the past four years. I don’t follow politics that closely, but the changes during these four years have helped me and many more.

I’m amazed at how much my investments have increased these past two years and how much our family’s prescription drug expenses will decrease this year. Those are effects on me personally.

Under your administration, you have taken us from the disaster COVID wreaked on the country with the lowest inflation of any first-world country and created so many jobs that unemployment has been so low for so long. Limiting drug costs and finally getting Medicare to be able to negotiate medicine costs were no small feats. Decreasing the number of folks without health insurance to 7% is huge. Creating a majority in the middle of the political spectrum to get so many bi-partisan bills passed was no small achievement. The effects of the bipartisan Infrastructure bill are already starting to be seen.

You’ve had a busy and successful run at it. My best wishes are that you have half as good a run of being a healthy and successful ex-president. Thanks again, Joe. And most of all, thanks for conducting business and creating an environment in a positive way. Praising the good, damning the bad, always supporting the working Joes of the country.

— Stuart Kuzminsky, Longmont