Hurd enabling Trump’s cruelty

West Slope residents, like Americans everywhere, are realizing the cold and seemingly intentional cruelty of Donald Trump’s relentless quest to dismantle our government and replace it with a personality cult of revenge and authoritarianism. The list of his policies that hurt Colorado seems endless.

Republican members of Congress, including our Jeff Hurd, who could and should be a check on Trump’s worst impulses, have been pathetic cowards and enablers, competing to see whose lips can attach most firmly to his butt. For a party so obsessed with masculinity, it’s amazing how fast he castrated them all. At least when King Donald forms his royal court, Congress will supply plenty of eunuchs and court jesters to soothe his fragile ego. And yeah, Jeff, we’re looking at you.

If you don’t like your manhood being questioned, try growing a pair. If and when you put our democracy and the needs of your constituents before your personal power and greed, we’ll re-evaluate. And no, Jeff — telling us what we want to hear and then voting to give Trump everything he wants doesn’t count — just makes you a despicable liar!

Every American who loves our country needs to stop passively observing this administration’s atrocities (and Hurd’s complicity). Ask any German how that turns out! We all need to get off the sidelines and yell loud and long that we won’t stand for it. Dictators and their henchmen (yeah Jeff — still looking at you) fear the wrath of the people.

So let’s rise up and take back our democracy! Attend rallies, march in the streets, write letters, work on campaigns, and of course, vote! (Yeah Jeff — looking your way one more time).

Al Lowande, Ridgway

Bend the arc toward justice

The majority of voters in the U.S. are disturbed by the pervasive degradation of democracy and human rights violations perpetrated by the Trump regime. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker recently quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Pritzker followed with his own words: “Humbly, I would add, it doesn’t bend on its own. History tells us we often have to apply force needed to make sure that the arc gets where it needs to go. This is one of those times.”

Fellow community members who are part of the majority: Now is the time to apply force. Contrary to the intentional messaging we receive from those controlling the levers of power, what we do matters. They want us to feel that resistance is futile, but hope comes from action, not the other way around.

Bending the arc of the moral universe toward justice requires action from us, and it requires action now. Experts tell us that historically, when 3.5% of the population comes out to protest systematically and nonviolently, political change occurs. It’s time for you to get into the streets, to attend meetings, to write letters.

It’s time for you to talk to community members who are not MAGA but who are unengaged, and to talk about what matters to them: losing health care benefits, rising costs, and the performative cruelty of this administration toward immigrants. Critically, we can choose where we spend our dollars.

There is the obvious avoidance of corporations that have capitulated, but we can also look locally. This is a small enough community that we can ask a few questions, find out about the political leanings of local businesses and individuals, and tell our friends what we know. We, the majority, can and will choose to spend our money on people and businesses who support democracy.

Please reach out to your local Indivisible chapter at mountainactionindivisible.org and join us in bending the arc.

Sincerely,
Britton DeFord, Glenwood Springs

Honoring Sandy Mulcahy’s legacy

As a child, I thought all parents were alike, only later realizing I won the lottery with mine — two people dedicated to helping the less fortunate.

Sandy Mulcahy was laying in her mother’s arms at 7 during World War II when her mom suddenly died. She was raised and cared for by Gussie, their Black maid, sealing her supernatural love for the people of Kenya. A University of Texas graduate, she’s led as president of Chi Omega Alumnae, taught Bible Study Fellowship for 25 years, and currently teaches adult Sunday school while serving as historian for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra League. She received the 2015 Ruby Award in Education from Christian Women’s Job Corps and is being honored by Pitkin County with the Good Samaritan award.

In 2012, she and her late husband, Bud, co-founded Africa Water Wells, a ministry supporting Kenyan communities. Africa Water Wells’ eight team trips provided women’s life skills training, men’s teaching enhancement, a rehab center, Khan Academy’s RACHEL-Pi for offline education labs for students, and free medical exams and medicine. The ministry has drilled 17 water wells for schools and hospitals and trained rural families in clean water filter systems.

Sandy’s book, “Into Africa,” recounts how a 50th anniversary safari sparked this transformative work. It is available for check-out at the library.

Please join me for a brief talk about Sandy’s journey 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Basalt Library.

For less than the cost of an Aspen ski lift ticket, a filter can provide Kenyan families with a million gallons of clean water for 20 years. For $10,000, the price of a fancy Aspen lunch at Cloud 9 for some, one can dedicate a water well at Kipkelion Special Needs School, Moi Minaret Boys School, or for the 1,156 students at Chebirbelek Secondary to one’s family or a loved one.

I promise one of the highlights of an African safari trip will be experiencing the gratitude of the Kenyans by attending an unforgettable well dedication ceremony at your chosen school.

Lee Mulcahy, Basalt