Carters: leading by example
Re: “Tributes highlight reach as first lady, humanitarian” and “Trump hints at expanded role for the military within the U.S.,” Nov. 28 news stories
I couldn’t help but chuckle at the juxtaposition on page 13A of Tuesday’s Denver Post, where the article memorializing the life of First Lady Rosalynn Carter, who spent nearly a century alongside her husband, former President Jimmy Carter, devoting their lives to the welfare of others, sat side to side with the continuation of the story about former President Donald Trump suggesting the use of America’s military against its own people.
Could the comparison be any more striking?
While President Carter and his wife weathered a difficult presidency, they went on to use their position to show what true civil service looks like. It looks like humility, compassion, kindness, selflessness and service. It is putting the well-being of others before yourself.
In comparison, Trump has never lifted his finger to do a charitable thing in his life. At over 90, President Carter was still hammering nails into boards to build homes.
Trump boasts and brags. He has been indicted for lying and cheating. He is embroiled in political and personal scandals and sowed the seeds of division that led to the most shameful political event in the United States in well over 100 years: Jan. 6th. The Carters leave the legacy of Habitat for Humanity, which works in 70 countries and has helped more than 46 million people.
The side-by-side placement of these stories in The Post reminds me that we all have a choice to make every day. Do we choose a life of vice or of virtue? Let’s all choose humility, compassion, kindness and service. America will be a better place for it. Thank you, Rosalynn, for showing us how.
Christie McNeill, Englewood
Was officer guilty of lesser charges?
Re: “Officer returns, will get back pay,” Nov. 29 news story
It is perhaps understandable that a jury would have acquitted Aurora patrol officer Nathan Woodyard on manslaughter, or homicide charges in the arrest death of Elijah McClain, given that ketamine administered by paramedics arriving later in the arrest played a part in the sad outcome. Should there not have been a lesser charge also made against Woodyard — perhaps a felony assault — which could have more likely resulted in a conviction? Doing so would have disqualified Woodyard from reinstatement or other police employment while avoiding the reported taxpayer cost of $212,546 in back pay for the 26 months of his suspension time, which equates to around $98,000 a year.
Peter Ehrlich, Denver
Mayor victim of car theft punctuates the city’s epidemic
News that Mike Johnston’s car was stolen about a month ago, and the fact that this happened to him before as well, goes on to show the extremely high auto theft crime rate in the metro area, which even the mayor is not immune to. However, not every Denverite is as lucky as Mayor Johnston in recovering their vehicles. If this incident will not wake up the authorities to crack down on auto theft, there is little hope for what can help the Mile High City.
Hassaan Idrees, Denver
Sports columnists should tackle political commentary
Please help! When I opened the paper one morning, I turned immediately to the sports section (usually my go-to is the editorial pages). The Post has great sports columnists featuring clear-eyed opinions leavened with humor. And sports as an activity, despite everything, has a spontaneous beauty supported by supreme athleticism. (They work so hard, and the risk is so great!)
For a day, can your sports columnists anonymously weigh in on our political competitions?
Evan Siegel, Westminster
