Change needs to happen

How many more lives do we need to lose before we realize that people in this country need to work together toward a common goal, which is to value human life?

With all due respect for our current president, I ask that he sees the reality of the way things are now: division, hatred, injustice, greed and misuse of power come from the top of the political spectrum. The fact that good changes are also taking place, e.g. illegal immigration control, crime control, and such, they should not happen at the expense of human lives. Such a conundrum here. …

The words “The Radical Left” spoken by the president are absolutely void of the element of thought. I would dare say that even the deaf, blind and mute feel the connection between violence in this country today and the triggers behind it among many of all political affiliations. So what is wrong with this picture? Why are so many in this country so utterly silent?

Substance abuse, domestic violence, food addiction and the ripple effect of such is more and more prevalent now; yet, no positive action seems to be taken by enough well-meaning individuals who can actually make a difference by speaking up about what is wrong.

Chances are, our current president, as his predecessors, have had the best of intentions to keep this country as the best one in the world. However, as things are now, many seem to be in denial of the fact that we are going in the opposite direction. Just how much more tragedy does this country have to experience before waking up to the reality that change needs to happen before more innocent lives are taken?

Marcela Gaumer

Colorado Springs

Time to recreate the nation

We are writing to express our appreciation for Rev. Ron Phares’ clear and bold calling out of the violence and atrocities taking place in our country on a scale not seen in recent history.

The behavior of the people holding the highest offices in our land, from the Presidency at the top through the appointed officials of his administration, are indeed a betrayal of the aspirations this nation was founded on and are yet to be fulfilled.

It is a time for all of us to pursue civil, lawful, peaceful means and work for, in Rev. Phares’ words, “A land of opportunity where you are free to be who you are and pursue your dreams untethered to class and race; where heritage is celebrated and shared and the mistakes of the past are remedied. Where cultures combine to create a kaleidoscope country, rich in its flavors, perspectives and possibility.”

It is time to acknowledge and remedy perhaps the most egregious mistakes of the past; among them the genocide and displacement of the indigenous peoples already living on this land, and the cruelty of the enslavement of vast numbers of people brought against their will to do the hard work of building the wealth of the nation.

It is time for all of us to have the courage to speak out and overcome fear, and participate in re-creating a nation based on the inalienable rights of all people (and our non-human relations) to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Barry and Ellen Johnson-Fay

Colorado Springs

Neighborhood of guardian angels

In the last year, my life has taken a sad and confusing turn with the death of my husband of almost 65 years. Having been a young couple of the 1950s, we were typical of many. He worked, I stayed home with the kids, until the kids were both in school and then I worked but always got home to make dinner, etc. Therefore, there were his jobs and her jobs in our daily lives and that was the way it was .

As we got older, of course, things changed, but some things remained the same. He did the taxes, I took care of our social life, he did the yardwork, I took care of buying gifts for people, and etc.

In the past 30 years or so, having moved to a different state and gained a house on a large piece of property, he became an amateur landscaper and as a result, we have a beautiful yard with many great trees, something he was very proud of. I am proud of all he did. He spend a lot of time working on his yard, and as a result met many neighbors walking their pets, and so on. After he died, I received cards from people I didn’t even know, expressing so many lovely thoughts about him.

I know nothing about planting trees and pretty much all that is involved in keeping up a yard. I was thinking and wondering about getting someone to take care of the yard, shovel snow, move heavy things for me, and numerous other daunting chores for an old, arthritic person with little of the strength and energy that was there not all that long ago.

But — lo and behold — people started showing up at my house with riding mowers and keeping the lawn mowed. People started walking my dog, people took my trash out, people offered to be available if I needed anything, all I had to do was ask. It has been amazing and incredible and I wish I could do something in return. I feel like I live in a neighborhood of guardian angels! I can’t thank all of these fabulous people enough.

To everyone in my neighborhood, in Monument, your kindness and your willingness to give so much has made the hardest year of my life so much easier.

I only wish my husband were here to see his yard being kept up, he would be so glad to see that, and to see what these wonderful neighbors are doing to help his wife. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Sally Alberts

Monument

Not a ‘Christian nation’

To whom it may concern: “God and country” is not a New Testament Christian concept. There is no such thing as a “Christian nation.”

When Constantine granted Christianity the official sanction of the Roman state in the early fourth century it was the worst thing that ever happened to the church. God is indifferent to the strivings of political entities (Isaiah 40:17). The Messiah’s kingdom will supplant the idols of the nation-states. His is a kingdom drawn from “every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues” (Revelation 7:9). This is the theme of Scripture from beginning to end.

Jim Ware

Colorado Springs