Treat disabled humanely

It’s been decades since I’ve traveled cross-country on a bus, but I recall how poorly people with disabilities were treated. Reading about David Smock’s nightmarish experience and inexcusable treatment by Greyhound confirmed that despite the Americans with Disabilities Act little has changed (“Disabled man’s trip to Springs an ordeal,” June 21).

It grieves one’s heart when people are treated with such indignity and have no recourse. Compounding his misery and humiliation, Greyhound offered to refund $60 of his $250 ticket. The entire cost should be refunded, and it should reimburse him for his hotel expenses.

The intent of the Americans with Disabilities Act was to ensure that reasonable accommodations be made for those with disabilities. ADA executive consultant Geoff Ames is correct when he recounted the history of abysmal treatment of people with disabilities. It’s clear that a two-tiered system of treatment has become embedded in much of society. Those without political power must suffer the indignities of companies that arrogantly assume they can treat people inhumanely with impunity.

All people with disabilities ask is to be treated with the same respect and consideration as the rest of us. Beyond the fact that it’s the law, it’s disturbing that so many companies flout our accepted notions of common decency.

Philip Mella

Woodland Park

Late-night bad call

Last night, we got a reverse 911 call from Colorado Springs Police Department about a missing man. The man was 60, not “at risk”. A lot of people go missing, this is not a matter of life and death for the entire community, The initial call came around 9 p.m., which was no big deal. The big deal came after 1 a.m. when we were awakened by a “we found him” call. Really? This call was unnecessary and destroyed a good night’s sleep. In the future, we would appreciate if the CSPD confined calls to really urgent matters. Perhaps it thought we were going to get dressed and search Palmer Park for a man that they didn’t identify. Bad call.

June Heimsoth

Colorado Springs

We treat animals better

I am an independent voter and an old, white woman. And I have thanked my lucky stars since childhood for being born in America. As a child, I was protected from the discrimination against black and brown-skinned people. Over the years, I’ve learned a lot.

What we are doing to the Mexican and Central American people at our borders is criminal. They are simply seeking safety and opportunity in America. The situation reminds me of the treatment of blacks before the Civil War. Slave owners sold their children, separated loved ones, caged them and abused them.

If you’ve had a blood transfusion, there’s a chance it came from someone of color. We all bleed the same, love our children, and want to be safe where we live.

Government corruption and gang violence in the countries these people are escaping is rampant. What would you do to protect your family?

No, I don’t believe in open borders, but people seeking asylum should be heard and given decent treatment, even if their admittance is denied. We treat our animals — even in zoos — with far more compassion than these human beings.

D. L. Nelson

Colorado Springs

Children as a bargaining chip

Amid all the print on the issue of separating children from their parents, at the Mexican border, I have not seen a reference to the disturbing strategy of using children as a bargaining tool. (The elephant in the room.) Our president uses the strategy of “bargaining tool” over and over again, in dealing with trade (employ extensive tariffs), NATO (withdraw or threaten to withdraw), pull major funding from the climate control coalition and on it goes.

It is one thing to bargain with our pocket books, our wealth, fire power and influence, and another to use children as a bargaining chip. Our president continues to be preoccupied with building “The Wall”, and was willing to use children to get immigration reform legislation, which included funding for the wall. After weeks of blaming the law, Congress, the Democrats, the president signs a document without the action of Congress that reverses the policy he put into place (not a law) and children will no longer be separated from their family. So very sad (to quote one of his political ads) that he waited weeks to make this decision, affecting hundreds of children and families.

William I. Brown

Colorado Springs

We still do nothing

The United States of America is dying before our eyes. All those promises of freedom, justice, equality and truth are disappearing day by day. When the Germans said they did nothing to save their country from fascism because they didn’t know what was happening, you could almost believe it… We know and we still do nothing. For a country and its people who are always screaming about their rights and freedom, this is a terrible way to go down. Not fighting, not kicking and screaming but with a whimper. Are we too smug, arrogant, greedy to acknowledge when we have erred and stand up against all authority to make things right?

We accuse our Congress of being cowards, but we elected them and are just as responsible for what we allow to happen. We are Americans, I would like to feel proud of that again and our government isn’t taking us that way. Ben Franklin said to give up your freedom for security, you will end up with neither.

That’s where we are right now, fellow Americans. We must make a choice to follow our values and fight for what we know is right. Make that choice while you can. The time is now.

Della Valk

Colorado Springs