Pledging allegiance to unity

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

I am an American. I love America. I did not pledge allegiance to a human. I voted for a human who loves America also. Four years from now, what will all the negative haters have to show for it? Letters to the editor and ranting Facebook posts and reposts.

I plan to make my corner of America great again. What’s the most important word here besides God? Indivisible. Look it up. It’s what we should all aspire to be in these times.

“We the people” is the goal here, not “we the government” or “we the president haters.” It’s all so negative and toxic. Use your energy to change your corner of the world in a positive way, or just be quiet and do nothing.

Laura Cammarota, Parachute

Preserving the elegance of Hotel Colorado’s past

Kudos to the staff and owners for preserving the grandeur of the Hotel Colorado, a magnificent gem modeled after an Italian palace.

Having enjoyed countless events here, we were thrilled to learn its rich history. Walter Devereux, a Columbia and Princeton engineering graduate, was recruited by Jerome Wheeler to manage Aspen’s mine and build a smelter. After he quit Aspen, Walter envisioned the hotel as America’s most luxurious spa, opening it on June 10, 1893, after two years of construction.

Recently, the Aspen Melville family of Mountain Chalet fame — formerly led by the kind and humble Ralph, a dear friend of our little family’s patriarch, Bud — acquired the hotel.

Ralph and Marian, rest in peace. Your Hotel Colorado team honors your legacy with pride.

Sandy and Lee Mulcahy, Basalt

Ending support for Israel’s campaign in Gaza

The terrorizing state of Israel needs to be reined in by stopping all arms shipments and support of the genocide by the U.S. The criminal ringleaders of Israel must be removed and brought to justice.

Then, a declaration of Palestine as a brother state would immediately release all hostages and cease all hostilities from Palestinians, Houthis and other Arab states. The 70-year occupation and containment of Gaza, as an open-air prison by the Jews, must be converted to normal international border protocols.

This is the only way that Hebrews will find peace in their homeland.

John Hoffman, Carbondale

A vote for a renewable energy future

When was the last time your electricity utility asked you to participate in guiding their future? If you get your electricity from Holy Cross Energy, you will have received your ballot for this year’s board election as well as an invitation to their annual meeting. This is participatory democracy at its finest.

As members of Holy Cross Energy, you have the ability to vote for board members who will guide your energy future. Holy Cross provides, quite literally, the lines that tie our disparate communities together for the good of all. They keep those electrons flowing to over 44,500 members in five counties. By the end of 2025, Holy Cross hopes to provide 90% of those electrons from renewable sources. By 2030, 100% of those electrons will be from renewable sources. By supporting your electrical cooperative and its forward-thinking mission, you are supporting actions that will have a positive effect on the planet and its climate.

Attending an electric cooperative’s annual meeting is your chance to sit with your community, share a meal, learn about what your co-op is doing for you and our planet, and feel the sense of pride in the folks who send electricity your way. I started attending many years ago, sitting with neighbors united by power lines who told stories of how their lives were changed when electricity first came to their homes. In the future, I hope to sit next to our next generation of electron consumers who can’t even imagine an electrical grid that isn’t powered by 100% renewable energy sources.

Two candidates in this year’s board election have the background, commitment and experience to ensure that Holy Cross Energy does more than just “keep the lights on.” Please support Robert Gardner and Kimberley Schlaepfer to lead us to a renewable energy future.

Susy Ellison, Carbondale