The modern world was built on fuel extraction

If Iran had actually wanted to build an atom bomb, they could have done so years ago. They were using that threat as a bargaining chip in getting sanctions lifted against their economy imposed by Western powers. The existence of Israel has been an irritant to Islamic nations since it was forced on the region. The hidden issue, as in most things in the Middle East, is oil.

Iran is a founding member of BRICS, a consortion of nations including China, Russia, India and Brazil, challenging America’s dominance of the world economy, and has called for a Muslim embargo of crude oil into Israel. For those who remember when members of the Bush Administration were sharpening their knives to divide up the oil fields in Iraq, there are untapped oil reserves in Palestine. Meanwhile, the starvation and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza rages on. Iran’s real threat to Israel was not nuclear; it is economic. Controlling the production and flow of oil is the reason behind Israel’s attack on Iran. For Donald Trump and the Art of the Deal, “having the cards,” in this instance overwhelming military intelligence and air power, made his choice easy, and we are now “all in” on climate change and global warming denial and the continuation of fossil fuel extraction and burning. The modern world was built on its power. The planet is now clearly casting doubt on the wisdom of that choice, but no one wants, “whistling past the graveyard,” to pay heed to those voices. Power must be maintained at all costs.

— Robert Porath, Boulder

On July 4, extend freedom beyond our own species

As we celebrate the Fourth of July with friends, festivities and flags, basking in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, let’s pause to consider those denied even the most basic freedoms — not just people, but animals.

Whether hunted in the wild, confined in laboratories, imprisoned in zoos or circuses, caught in traps or caged, raised and killed for their fur, skin, feathers, flesh or by-products, animals have no freedom!

Consider farmed animals: billions live in confinement, deprived of autonomy, dignity and joy. Chickens never spread their wings, pigs never root in the soil, and cows never feel the sun on their bodies. They’re bred solely for exploitation — caged, mutilated and killed, with no say in their fate.

If freedom is a value we truly cherish, shouldn’t it extend beyond our own species?

Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one powerful way to put our values into action. On this Independence Day, let’s widen our circle of compassion. Liberation shouldn’t stop with humans — it should include every living being who longs to live freely.

If the roles were reversed, wouldn’t we want the same?

Think about it.

— Rudolph Helman, Boulder

Religion helps provide a shared, basic morality

I have enjoyed Fintan Steele’s essays published in the Camera. I must quibble slightly with his rejection of Stephen Jay Gould’s theory of non-overlapping magisteria. The major premise of Steele’s essay states that the spiritual and the scientific worlds both deal with the same reality. This may or may not be true. Reality here is not defined, and is, in fact, most difficult to define. Instead, let’s look at the individual domains. Science deals with what can be proven in a factual sense; religion deals with morality and things that cannot be proven. Naturally, there have been changes over the millennia. Advances in science have let us interpret Genesis differently. Advances in biology call for nuances in sexuality not available before. But the need for morality outside of pragmatics is there. The separate domains inform each other.

Also, the revelations of religions are not given by fiat, but are offered to those seeking the Truth. Faith and Grace matter.

Secularism is on the rise, and the world is not a better place.

We need a shared, basic morality that comes from established religions.

— Karen Flood, Boulder