Promoting the humanities

In the past couple years, we’ve heard a lot — and probably thought a lot — about AI. What separates humans from machines? Is it creativity? Culture? Compassion? Just what does it mean to be human?

As a human being, I do things that machines don’t do, at least not yet. I love talking with my book club about the lives of people in other times and other cultures. We celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Cesar Chavez Day, Norwegian Independence Day, and Juneteenth. My brother and sister and I just sent our DNA to Ancestry.com to find out more about our distant ancestors. And I love telling my French grandchildren stories about growing up in the United States.

Do you go to museums? Do you read to your children? Listen to podcasts? Have you gone to an event where historic figures like Rosa Parks, Rachel Carson, or Edgar Allen Poe were portrayed? Do you enjoy listening to oral histories? These are often some of our favorite times, things that bring a sense of joy to our lives.

In each of these instances, there’s storytelling going on. Through these experiences, we learn more about our diverse heritage, traditions, culture, and history that help us better understand ourselves and each other, understand the human experience, and, fundamentally, what it is to be human. That is the very definition of the humanities.

Colorado Humanities is the organization that helps promote and elevate the humanities throughout the state with a mission to tell the many and varied stories of our Colorado residents. It is the state council associated with the National Endowment for the Humanities, which was formed by Congress back in 1965. NEH has councils in every state. Those councils, like Colorado Humanities, provide programs and support local humanities organizations in communities around the state.

During COVID lockdown, Colorado Humanities supported museums, libraries, theaters and community radio stations across the state and enabled them to continue their work. Its current activities include programs designed to encourage parents and childcare providers to read to children, to celebrate Black History Month, to support local living history programs, to consider the changes in rural America, and to encourage community conversations about issues important to that community.

Over the course of the next few months, Colorado Humanities will be asking people around the state what it can do to promote the humanities in their communities. Are you interested in a Chautauqua program where performers appear as historic figures? Would you like to encourage moms and dads in your community to read to their little ones? Would a viewing of the beautifully photographed film, The Five States of Colorado, about the distinct regions within our state be something your community might like to watch and discuss together? Or are there concerns in your community that you would like to see addressed, but need a little help to bring people together?

To learn more about Colorado Humanities, please visit our website: coloradohumanities.org. To speak to a staff member about bringing the humanities to your community, write to: info@coloradohumanities.org.

And if you receive a survey directly from Colorado Humanities or are invited to a roundtable discussion to talk about the humanities in your community, please participate. We are listening.

Deb Kalish

Greenwood Village

Spending out of control

The interest alone on our current national debt is over $70 billion per month. Our Congressional bipartisan “leaders” know this but continue to pass massive spending bills on so much that is unnecessary. We are spending the annual revenue of many future generations, and our country’s financial security is seriously threatened.

Because government representatives will not exercise fiscal restraint, “we the people” can push for controls in the form of a Balanced Budget Amendment.

Germany, Italy, Switzerland, as well as all 50 states, operate with a law requiring that the government can only spend the amount that it receives annually in revenue. No further borrowing and increasing the federal debt. Only an uproar from the taxpayers will stop our “representatives” from this financial betrayal. Please sign and promote the Balanced Budget Amendment petition:

Sign The Petition – Balanced Budget

Hollis Endres

Denver

Lipstick on a pig

As we witness the Governor, Mayor, and liberal progressive elected officials trying to handle the homeless issue and the illegal immigrant invasion, you can’t help but wonder how stupid these elected officials think the taxpayers are. You notice I used the word taxpayers. Magic Mike told us this week they will spend another 98 million on the invasion taking over the city. He is telling us this is good for the city and the taxpayers. Thats called putting lipstick on a pig, gold bar on a donkey, blowing smoke up my dress!

Of all places the GOP in California is asking for Gavin Newsom to account for $27 billion spent on the homeless. A little window into the future of Colorado. Newsom will not be able to account for the money, it’s been flushed down the preverbal toilet. with no end in sight. If the truth were known Colorado has only spent $3 billion between the two self-induced social problems plaguing our state. Until the city and state “gument” change their policies the situation will not get any better. Yes, you do pronounce it ‘gument’ because they gum up everything they touch. If you sat down and dreamed away to waste billions of taxpayers’ dollars, could you dream this up and tell the taxpayers, it’s good for them. Homeless and illegals don’t pay any taxes! Next the Mayor will be looking for more money to bail out the local hospitals because the homeless and the illegals are taking over the health care system.

Trig Travis

Aurora