One of the few things I regret in my move, several years ago, from LA to Denver, is losing the Los Angeles Times as a paper. Or, rather, being stuck with the local papers (the Denver Post and the Rocky Mountain News, now quasi-joined in their mediocrity) instead of the Times.
An aspect of the papers that very much stands out in contrast is the reader letters. Granted, there are plenty of yahoos, dimbulbs, and people who see the world in sound bites in LA, too. Probably more of them. But the larger population there allows the editors of the Times to be a pit more picky-and-choosey as to what letters they print. Thus, on the whole, they are a more articulate, and, usually, more thoughtful bunch. It’s not a fair sample, to be sure, but it’s better reading.
From this morning’s letters:
“If we are to be secure … we must make them fear us more than death and more than dishonor. Our response to their attack on us must be so brutal, so violent and deadly that they will cut their own throats before daring to attack us again. And since they are obviously willing to sacrifice their own lives to kill us, we must be willing also to sacrifice the lives of their famiy, friends and neighbors.”
“Most of the world’s problems stem from religion. If you go from the Crusades to the persecution of the Jews in World War II to what’s going on in Ireland between Protestants and Catholics now and then this. The institution of the church is the root of all problems in this world.”
“It is time for an end to politically correct speech about radical Islam. The truth is that it is a cancer that feeds on violence and murder. It is totally alien to Judeo-Christian morality. The children and grandchildren of the free world are not safe until it is eradicated.”
And this gem from the other end of the political spectrum, as given by an anti-globalist activist from San Francisco to the Wall Street Journal: “We’re supercritical of [Tuesday’s] terrorists’ scorn for human life. Why couldn’t they have done what they did on a Sunday? There are always ways to make allowances for people’s lives.”
It’s the Silly Season, folks. Only problem is, too many of the Sillies have access to guns, or to Congressmen.
On the bright side, as asinine, if not infuriating, as much of the above was to me, most of the commentary, and the letters, were within the bounds of sanity. Messages of tolerance, of compassion, of determination, and of justice. Those are the voices we need to be listening to.
On another note, we went to visit Rick & Amanda’s new house yesterday afternoon, up near Longmont. As we traveled along I-25 north of the city, the continued suburban sprawl was apparent. Indeed, Rick & Amanda live in brand-new block of houses, with vacant agricultural lots (with zoning change signs festooned upon them) in all directions.
It’s a problem that has needled Colorado for decades — how to accomodate those who wish to come here, adding to our economy and diversity, while also preserving the rural and mountain character that makes this such a neat place to live.
In some ways, the dangers, threats, fear and devastation of the past week render such considerations trivial. And yet … these problems, and so many others in our society, the ones that in any relatively sane week would have been our headlines, remain. The horror of terrorism, and the difficult, complex decisions we need to make regarding it and our future, do not replace these issues on our list of Things to Do. They simply add to that list. The same way a serious illness in the family doesn’t mean the bills don’t have to be paid, the furnace doesn’t have to be replaced, or the baby doesn’t have to be fed.
Life goes on. We have to along with it, handling what it throws at us. The alternative is not really an option.