Fix the few bad actors

Jerry Proctor’s letter, “Flag Stands for Great Nation,” states that America and our flag stand for freedom for everyone. The idea of America is very unique in the world, and every human being has a right to live free. I couldn’t agree more.

The idea of America, represented in our flag and anthem, is there for the world and every citizen to see. There are problems with small groups of people who stray from the ideal of America and do bad things to fellow citizens – including murder. But do not confuse those bad actions of a few with the overall ideal of what America stands for.

Some athletes have decided to disrespect America, our flag and national anthem to protest a few bad white cops. If these highly paid elitists were really concerned with losing “brothers” to violent crime, they would be protesting the hundreds of murders each month of black men, women and children in our inner cities like Chicago, Detroit and Philadelphia. But no, they are concerned with a couple of bad white cops. I think that makes these athletes racists, since they are only concerned with the white cops and not with actually solving the murder rates for black Americans.

The idea and spirit of America needs to be respected and not overshadowed by a few bad actors in the mix. Fix the bad actors.

Sam Bryant, Colorado Springs

Protesters uninformed, misguided

Where were all those who showed disrespect to our flag and national anthem when dozens and dozens of people were getting shot and killed in Chicago? You are hypocrites. You also have spit on the graves of all servicemen and women buried in Arlington National Cemetery and cemeteries elsewhere in the United States and the many cemeteries of American soldiers throughout Europe. Two of my eight uncles who served in WWII died from war wounds.

I will not watch NFL games this year and possibly longer. The black leadership in this country recently has been nothing short of pathetic. It doesn’t come close to people like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with whom I marched in the summer of 1965 in, of all places, the South Side of Chicago. That’s where I worked to help the (Gangster) Disciples and the (Blackstone) Rangers. I may have done more for the “brothers” than you – who show gross disrespect to our country and to those who gave their lives so that you can freely act like uninformed and misguided pseudo-patriots.

Roger W. Louden, Colorado Springs

We know that walls work

I agree with Robert Samuelson in his latest opinion piece on the southern border wall (“Border wall paves way for immigration redo,” Gazette, Sept. 13). Walls are sometimes necessary, and they are effective. They work, and that makes them good for their purpose. Just ask our Colorado politicians, bureaucrats and engineers. They recently built a wire cable fence, on both sides of I-25, between Sky View Lane and Castle Rock. If you drive to Denver, you know where I mean. Previously, if there was an accident (the usual) and the road was blocked, you could drive across the grass and the dirt and get on a parallel frontage road. No longer. Now you are stuck with nowhere to go. They are a pain, but they serve their purpose. So walls work and we know it. Especially us I-25 commuters.

Of course, some will say that this is not the same as a border wall. But all walls can be made to work. They can be metal, concrete, electronic or some other new technology best suited for the purpose. Walls are good.

Walter Marr, Colorado Springs

Issue is not just the pneumonia

I have recently become aware of conversations regarding Hilary Clinton’s health. My liberal friends have tried to convince me that her health is in no serious condition and that all of these speculations are just “sexism from the media.” Steve Almond of wbr.org sarcastically writes, “Hillary Clinton has pneumonia! Omigod! A 68-year-old woman who’s been racing around the country for months shaking a million hands has contracted a minor illness. She must be unfit to serve as president! She must be hiding something!” However, the issue is not just the pneumonia.

The more concerning part of her health is that in 2012, “Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was hospitalized Saturday after fainting and striking her head” (nydailynews.com). Doctors determined she suffered a concussion; she was then treated in the hospital. But, as many people who have a concussion know all too well, it’s that what happens after the concussion that can be detrimental to a person’s health. In Clinton’s case, she has had what appears to be a seizure in June as smobserved.com shows. She also had trouble with her vision as well as vertigo issues (nydailynews.com). If that’s not enough, it also seems as if Clinton may have an amnesia problem, or just a hard time answering the FBI’s questions for her as she responded “I don’t know” more than enough times to suggest she has trouble recalling important details (infowars.com).

Dr. Ben Carson gives his input on the issue stating that “he suggests both candidates seek out a third party practitioner to determine really how healthy, and fit each is for the most important role in this nation” (washingtonpost.com). It seems to me that one important factor we should take into consideration is not only their ideals, and agendas, but their health as well, lest we have a twitchy finger pushing the red button and not knowing who they fired at.

Josh Garzaniti, Elbert

Let homeless help ‘clean up’ trash

Just started reading “Helping Hands to Tackle Clean up of Area Waterways” and also just heard on my police scanner that a homeless woman who is living in a homeless camp down by Fountain Creek was seen “going to the bathroom” in the creek. There was also a report of trash where she was.

I want to know why these homeless camps are allowed in the first place, and if the city is not going to remove them, then at least make these people clean up their trash!

I’m sure some of these homeless are getting some kind of “check” from the government so they can afford a box of trash bags. Then maybe the city can provide a receptacle or pick up these bags weekly. We can’t just allow these people to do whatever they want on public property or they will keep on and it will get worse.

I can’t walk on the trail and just toss my trash out; that’s a littering violation and I could get a ticket, but if you’re a homeless person, its OK? My point is that the homeless should have been a part of those “helping hands” cleaning up the waterways!

Kelly Jordan, Calhan