DEI purge disrespects military women
I can’t let this one go. The new regime in D.C. has made a priority of scouring possibilities of DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) from all military records. This comes from the website Military.com. As a Navy brat and a former soldier, I have an interest in the military. Here’s the headline: “Civil War Nurses, USS Constitution Commander Among Female Veterans Removed in Pentagon DEI Sweep.” Really? That is the same warship that launched in 1797. It is still commissioned, and the captain is Navy Commander B.J. Farrell. There is a great picture of her in the old uniform with the sword in a Cape Cod, Mass., St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Another story about 93 woman veterans in D.C. who fought in wars from WWII, Korea and the Vietnam War was erased. “Operation Her Story” was one of the sponsors in 2021. “In my 99 years, I have never been so overtaken with emotion,” said Bette Horstman, a World War II Army veteran who served as a medical officer on Midway Island and other parts of the Pacific Campaign.

There are people in D.C. now that believe any references to another gender or another race diminishes the accomplishments of the white, male military and thereby promotes “affirmative action,” which lessens the overall warfighting effectiveness. (What a sentence.) In researching this letter, I was able to read stories about military women who had amazing careers and lives. Not the least is one Senator Tammy Duckworth, who was piloting a chopper that was hit by a rifle-propelled grenade. She crash-landed and saved her crew but lost most of her legs. Her mom is Thai Chinese. The senator holds many firsts for her gender and ethnicity for the military and for politics.

Patrick Hunter, Carbondale

The Electoral College is not a miracle
Mr. Navaja, we all know the Electoral College is a convoluted way of cheating and stealing an election. It should have been eliminated decades ago. And when the Dems gain control, that will be first on the agenda to eliminate. No, not a miracle or a landslide. He won by 1.4% of the voting electorate. Not even a mandate. So please don’t create your own set of facts.

Ken Fry, Glenwood Springs

Thrift stores work together to serve community
For the past 17 years, our local nonprofit thrift stores have been proud to serve our small-town community, offering affordable goods, supporting local programs, and providing a place where generosity thrives. We have been blessed with loyal donors and customers whose kindness and support make our mission possible.

We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you for supporting our Carbondale store, Cattle Creek Thrift and Furniture, since 2021, as well as our recent expansion to Clifton, Colo., with Community Thrift Shop GJT. Your continued support allows us to grow and reach even more people in need.

As our town grows, so does the need for accessible thrift shopping. We welcome the addition of ARC, a large corporate thrift store moving into the old Safeway building. More thrift stores mean more choices, more visitors from neighboring towns, and ultimately, more help for those in need. Thrift stores are about community, and together, we can make an even greater impact.

We extend our deepest gratitude to those who have supported us over the years,  our donors, shoppers, and volunteers. Your generosity has been the heart of our success, and we look forward to continuing our work alongside you.

With the spirit of community in mind, we are excited about the future and the opportunities ahead. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of so many.

Sincerely,
Community Thrift & Treasure, Inc., Executive Director Kimberly L. Cabeceiras, Glenwood Springs

TrumPutin at it again
Any of us who have not attended one of Trump’s rallies in person have likely noticed a mesmerized Republican House and Senate sitting on their hands as Trump carries out the legislative and executive duties, single-handedly. This is a trick that Trump learned from his mentor, the master hypnotist Vladimir Putin. Trump has been enthusiastically enacting Putin’s agenda of crashing the American economy, society, and government while alienating the U.S. from all our allies and trading partners,  including his Putin-ization of our foreign policy by suggesting we take over sovereign foreign countries. And disappearing U.S. citizens to prisons.

If you have gone shopping, you may have noticed that Trump’s centi-billionaire Cabinet has already begun raising prices in anticipation of the tariffs kicking in. Tariffs that promise more dollars in their pockets. Like the COVID-19 containership embargo of the summer of 2021 that jumped prices by 25 to 40%. The tariffs promise a 25% gain on billionaire investments. Prices that will not drop when the tariffs go away.

The bright spot is that we don’t have to let Trump take us to the woodshed daily for the next four years. In two years, we can flip the House and Senate and make the president a lame duck. Trump’s 1.6% lead will not be there when the 6 million Democrats who couldn’t bring themselves to hold their nose and vote in the last election come out in droves to change our trajectory. I can’t wait.

John Hoffmann, Carbondale

MAGA math doesn’t add up
Well now, what just happened on Tuesday evening? Dear Pedro Navaja: Once again here I am teaching you math. Funny how you just make numbers up in your letters to the editor. I would call it “fuzzy math” except for the fact it is not even close to being fuzzy math, but pure misinformation. Where do you MAGA cult members go to get your facts?

1. Joe Biden still owns the biggest voter turnout for presidential election. Fact. Donald Trump and Pedro Navaja think winning the Electoral College somehow equates to a “landslide” in 2024? Sorry bubba, it does not. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016, but lost the Electoral College. Joe Biden in 2020 crushed Donald Trump easily with him getting 81,000,000 votes. In 2024, Trump got only 77,000,000 votes. Where is the landslide, Pedro?
2. Susan Crawford of Wisconsin won her election last night by a real landslide! Crushed her Trump/Elon Musk candidate easily, once the good people of Wisconsin saw him put a cheese hat on and dance around their stage in Green Bay like a clown.
3. In Florida, the two open seats in the House of Reps were won by two MAGA Republicans, but wait!! Both were supposed to win by 32 points +. But alas, they won by only 12 points!! That difference of only winning by 12 points represents more than 1 million voters in Florida that went against MAGA, Donald Trump, and his best buddy Elon Musk.

Sorry Pedro, numbers don’t lie — people lie. Donald Trump lies nonstop. You lie too, Pedro, when you come here to tell us you know something about math? Save it. Now, being a MAGA cult member doesn’t mean much. Turn your TVs on this coming Saturday. Over 1,000 separate protests are planned nationwide. Watch how the real authorities of Trump/Musk bad deeds come out in mass. It will be something to behold. We are watching in real time the dismantling of MAGA on a daily basis. Pedro, when Donald Trump passes away eventually from one of his many illnesses, who will you follow then? Don Jr.?

Steven Fredericks, Grand Junction

Growing Glenwood together
With rising food prices and stress levels, now is a great time to learn to garden at the Glenwood Springs Community Organic Garden at 100 Wulfsohn Road. We are excited to be partnering with the Community Center to offer a Learn to Garden class. Getting outdoors and gardening can do more than just provide some physical activity and produce food for the table; it can be beneficial to the mind as well. Research has established a striking list of physical and mental health benefits that can result from gardening and exposure to green spaces, including:

• Increased happiness and life satisfaction
• Reduced anxiety, stress and depression
• Enhanced creativity, productivity, attention and self-esteem
• Improved memory and reduced effects from dementia and PTSD

Learn to Garden Class
Register: bit.ly/GlenwoodRec-Garden
Gain valuable gardening insights and hands-on support every step of the way with Master Gardener Tom Trowbridge.

• Indoor planning workshops: Wednesdays, April 9, 16, 23 and 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
• Monthly learning workshop and weekly support in the garden: May 7 – Oct. 29 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Cost: $150 for the season (includes up to 4 people per garden bed)

All ages, skill levels, abilities and community organizations are encouraged to register.

If you already have a green thumb, join us in the Glenwood Community Garden (plots available).
https://glenwoodcommunitygarden.com/

Come join our nurturing community! We look forward to playing in the dirt with you!

Glenwood Community Garden President Mary Wiener, Glenwood Springs