We must ‘be roses that grow in the concrete’

In response to the recent removal of 381 books from the U.S. Naval Academy Library, Retired Admiral James G. Stavridis responded, “Book banning can be a canary in a coal mine and predict a stifling of free speech and thought. Books that challenge us make us stronger. We need officers who are educated, not indoctrinated,” according to the New York Times. As a result of Trump/Hesgeth’s orders at the Academy, books like Geraldine Brooks’ “Horse” and Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give” are no longer in the collection. Ironically, Angie Thomas’s book is about standing up to injustice.

If you are looking for ways to engage during these times, you can protest, write letters, make phone calls, demand Congressional, Supreme Court, and Presidential accountability, work to replace unresponsive officials, and begin by reading banned books. In the words of Angie Thomas, “Your voices matter, your dreams matter, your lives matter. Be roses that grow in the concrete.”

— Kathe Gibb, Lafayette

Harming the earth evokes serious consequence

Mark Wilson’s guest opinion from April 22, “This Earth Day, love creation as God does,” rightly reminds us that to love God is to love His creation. This message can be taken to its natural conclusion, found in the Book of Revelation.

Though Revelation can be challenging to read, some truths are strikingly clear. Revelation 11:18 warns that God will “destroy those who destroy the earth.” This is not a translation quirk; nearly every version of the Bible conveys the same powerful warning.

Revelation reminds us of our responsibility to cherish and protect the gift we have been given. If we truly love God, we are expected to honor His creation with care, reverence and gratitude.

As a book of prophecy, Revelation speaks to final accountability. Harming the earth is not just careless; it evokes serious consequence.

If we claim to love the Creator, we must also protect His creation — or risk the sorrow of seeing what we were meant to love destroyed by our own hands.

— Meredith Preston, Louisville

Passing off untrained pets as service dogs

Boulder is a city that values access and inclusion, but when it comes to service animals, that openness is being taken advantage of. More and more, people are passing off untrained pets as service dogs, abusing protective rules under the Americans with Disabilities Act and creating confusion for those who really depend on trained service animals.

Real service dogs are life-saving tools. They’re constantly trained to assist with medical conditions like PTSD, seizures and mobility impairments in their young life. But when someone walks into a store with an aggressive or disruptive pet that is labeled as a “service dog,” it creates confusion, legal risk, and, worst of all, public mistrust for service dogs.

Businesses are afraid to ask questions because of the legal issues, and the real handlers who follow the law pay the price in suspicion and denial of access even though it is legal.

This deception isn’t harmless. It takes away from the rights of disabled people, puts danger to the public and hurts small businesses trying to follow the law.

Boulder must act. First, start a citywide education campaign to clarify what qualifies as a service animal and what does not. Second, post standardized signage across businesses: “Trained service animals welcome, pets and emotional support animals are not.” And finally, create a voluntary certification program for service dog handlers using a simple, city-issued tag or vest that’s not required by law, but helps signal legit service pets and reduce unnecessary conflict in stores and public areas.

We cannot let fake service dogs ruin the system for those who need it most. Boulder has the opportunity to lead the way, not by restricting access, but by defending it from abuse.

— Jonathan Chaix, Boulder