Is history repeating itself?

Reading Doug Meyers letter in the PI, and I agree that claims comparing the Nazi camps with todays situation of deportees in El Salvador may be a bit overblown and exaggerated. And maybe not.

The Nazi camps began with a single prison for political prisoners, those who dared disagree with the Nazis and Hitler. That was Dachau, established in March of 1933. As it turned out it was the first of many between 1933 and 1945.

The internments and creation of “camps” grew as the Nazi regime imprisoned and eventually murdered those who they saw as undesirable. It started with political prisoners, then included homosexuals and any others deemed “undesirable” or useless to the Nazi model of purity, both in race and belief. It expanded to the Holocaust. As we all know the Nazi camps didn’t end with Dachau. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.

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Ken Neubecker, Glenwood Springs

‘A government separate from any one belief’

In response to Caleb Waller’s column on “How Christians should approach politics.” As a free thinking Christian, I feel it necessary to respond to your column and ask you if you support the current President and his administration? If you agree with Romans 13, that our government should not promote a specific religion, but defend individual liberty, then how do you feel about the actions of the President and his administration, or the judges he’s appointed?

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Nothing I’ve seen in the first 100 days of the current administration has inspired love for humanity, in fact it appears that the current administration has a clear goal to oppress and punish those who dissent from the administration’s agenda. We will never be united under the current administration, Christian or not. I appreciate the ideas you have about Christianity, however, people deserve a government separate from any one belief, and one that doesn’t use religion as a scapegoat to perpetuate their political agenda.

Bret Conant, Silt

Bob Gardner for Holy Cross board

I am very happy to be a member of Holy Cross Energy’s cooperative and believe the leadership of the organization has been exemplary. 

Bob Gardner has been part of that leadership as a staff member and now Board member. I encourage members to re-elect him to the Holy Cross board. The board sets policy direction, hires the CEO, and makes sure that it is a good employer.

Bob has been a leader on the board which has set Holy Cross on a path toward optimizing use of renewable energy while maintaining low electric rates, Bob was part of hiring/retaining an excellent CEO, and Holy Cross continues to be a good place to work.

Holy Cross members enjoy the opportunity to select our board, and I encourage members to participate in that process and to support Bob Gardner.

Bob Schultz, Carbondale

Thanks from the Morgans

We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, cousin, and friend, Travis Lynn Morgan. However, the outpouring of support, kindness, and love shown us has helped start our healing. We are astonished at the many, many cards, letters, text messages, Emails, phone calls, visitors, flowers, food, thoughts and prayers, and hugs we have received. 

“Thank you” seems inadequate when expressing our gratitude to everyone for the kindnesses, with a special thank-you to the many, many people who attended the memorial celebration for Travis and those who helped with it. 

Also, a special thank-you goes to Colorado River Fire Rescue for allowing us to honor Travis as a firefighter, by holding the celebration there, to Rifle Funeral Home for all their help, to Jean’s Printing for the wonderful job they did on the program, to the many people who prepared the food and those who served it, to all the people who helped with the set-up and those who helped clean up, and to the firefighters who helped with all of that.

Also, a profound thank-you goes to Reverend Mark Opstein for his wonderful message and to family and friends who shared “Travis Stories” during the services. 

Thanks also to those people making donations to CRFR in honor of Travis. 

It is wonderful to be surrounded by so much love and support from family and friends. We are truly blessed. 

Family of Travis Lynn Morgan: Ted & Cheryl Morgan, Kristi Morgan Franks & Family, Britt Swanson Morgan & Family; Rifle

Glenwood Springs Community Concert Association closed season with a wonderful performer

Last Friday, May 2, I attended the Glenwood Springs Community Concert Association (GSCCA) presentation of the concert  “Sing us a Song You’re the Piano Man” to a full house and a cheering crowd. 

Jim Witter and his band paid tribute to Billy Joel demonstrating their world-class talent. If you closed your eyes you’d think the original Billy Joel was actually performing for you. However you weren’t in a big city nor did you have to pay “big bucks.” You were in Glenwood Springs with friends and neighbors as a member of GSCCA paying only $60 for your five-concert season ticket. 

It’s a great price for wonderful music, and leaving with a smile on your face.        

Joan Davids, Glenwood Springs

Tyranny is our current condition

James Madison wrote in Federalist 47: “The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”

I submit that tyranny is the current condition in our national government. Many are saying that we have a constitutional crisis. Ralph Nader and two constitutional experts have just composed a letter listing 22 reasons for impeaching the president. Our congress has overall clearly failed to operate as they were intended.  

Take just fiscal matters. The budget is long overdue. But instead of debating each matter of spending in the budget separately, they are creating only one large bill. It will be full of pork. That bill will have just one vote. The Republicans have the majority. It is expected that the very large tax cuts for the wealthy will be included. Many of the long-standing agencies will be cut in whole or in part. The voting public has no input. 

We have tyranny. 

Patrick Hunter, Carbondale

Is it happening here?

Two famous American novels, “The Iron Heel” (1908) by Jack London and “It Can’t Happen Here” (1935) by Sinclair Lewis, are worth reading or rereading in these troubled times (you can find a synopsis of each on Google).

Here are two summaries from Wikipedia that summarize the message of these two dystopian novels:

“‘The Iron Heel’ paints a grim picture of a future America where a powerful group of capitalists, known as The Iron Heel, seize control (of the government) and establish a fascist dictatorship.”

In ‘It Can’t Happen Here’ Lewis considers “themes like American Totalitarianism and The Conditions Necessary for Liberal Democracy to Survive.” He “argues for a politically engaged and informed citizenry that can resist the empty promises of demagogues, and for establishment political and economic elites to be aware of how they may inadvertently create the conditions that allow totalitarianism to flourish.”

Unfortunately, the grim takeover of our democracy (as predicted in these two novels) by a demagogue (who seems to be able to make draconian decisions without the approval of our senators and representatives) and extremely wealthy capitalists may actually be taking place right now, right here, and we, the citizens of a threatened and possibly fading great democracy, must act individually and/or in groups now. 

“Uncle Sam needs you” to join the fight for the preservation of democracy. And he needs you now. Write your elected officials in the Senate and House of Representatives. Join action groups. Above all, don’t just sit back and let others fight the good fight for you. 

Clay Boland Jr., Carbondale