A taste for gold and grandeur

Donald Trump has always jonesed for wealth and glamour. With his entry into politics, he has added power to his must-have list. It is not clear yet how expansive his global ambition may be, but the White House decor is proving too plebeian for his tastes.

Gold trappings from Mar-a-Lago are popping up in backdrop for his media appearances, and he has expressed changing the grounds (walking on grass apparently not his style) and adding a ballroom to the building, like a fairy tale palace. Similarly, Air Force One is too plain for his flying carriage. Qatar has offered a luxury jumbo liner for his use, one he intends to keep for himself after he leaves office. One can wonder if enough can ever be attained.

Robert Porath, Boulder/Meredith

Protecting the Dolores for future generations

Dear Sens. Bennet and Hickenlooper:

In early June of 2023, the water was high and we rafted the Dolores from Bradfield Park all the way to Dewey Bridge on the Colorado. It was 184 miles in nine days, and eight nights camping out. It was some of the most spectacular scenery, wildlife and challenging rapids I’ve encountered in 35 years of rafting.

The Dolores watershed is truly a gem that should be preserved and restored for future generations. Thank you for your efforts in this regard.

Joe Mollica, Glenwood Springs

A reflection on history and terminology

The press misses the irony in the Jewish mantra after the Holocaust, “Never again.” It’s not missed by Palestinians trapped in Israel.

What is the origin of the term Holocaust anyway? The definition is as follows: “The word ‘holocaust,’ from the Greek words ‘holos’ (whole) and ‘kaustos’ (burned), was historically used to describe a sacrificial offering burned on an altar.” It isn’t a term owned by the Jews; it could apply to what the Zionists are doing to Palestinians — literally a “burning of the whole.”

Note that Zionists are different from Jews, National Socialists from Germans, Fascists from Italians, Soviets from Russians, and so on. Likewise, Hamas is different from the Palestinians. In other words, it’s political entities controlling ethnic or cultural identities.

Netanyahu’s fate could be Mussolini-style — hung upside down in public, at least in the hearts of Jews. No doubt, this wouldn’t sit well with those who decry any criticism of any Jew, regardless of their character. That’s bigotry in itself.

Fred Stewart, Grand Junction