The Late Shift
Excellent story by Karen Bowers about the murder of the security guard ("Graveyard Shift," June 5). The number of people at the Denver Wastewater facility saying "I can't believe this" probably hasn't decreased since the killing, either.
Imagine the joyous commute to work (is someone going to shoot me on the Interstate?), arriving at work (better not take the elevator!), riding home (are they going to get me now?), and then settling down in your La-Z-Boy with a beer at home (better move this baby away from the windows).
Hard to imagine having pleasant dreams, isn't it?
Chris Jones
via the Internet
Rude Alert
Thank you, Westword, for providing metro Denver employers with useful information on this year's Manual High School graduates ("What's Black and White and Rude All Over?," June 12).
Many Manual High students used racial epithets and called women "hoes" in the student newspaper. Denver employers now know that hiring one of these Manual grads is an invitation to a sexual-harassment lawsuit or other costly legal problems.
The letters in the Manual High student newspaper also indicate a very weak grasp of basic English communication skills. Employers would have to send these grads to costly remedial courses, as they are not ready for even entry-level positions.
And the letters are aptly called "confessions," as several of them are admissions of criminal activities--from attempted assault to pimping and pandering. Denver employers now know that these Manual grads are criminals...and boast about it.
No Denver employer in their right mind would hire a 1997 Manual High School graduate after reading this article. It appears that Manual High School diplomas are printed on a perforated roll (white, unscented).
It shocks me to read that these Denver high-school graduates are misogynist pigs, criminals and functional illiterates writing at the third-grade level. Manual High School needs the kind of "clean sweep" that DPS has done at elementary schools this year to make sure future classes are taught that women are not "hoes"...and that the correct spelling is "whores."
Tom Bell
Aurora
Regardless of content, graduating students have a freedom of press. Advertisers can voice their opinion by choosing whether or not to advertise through this venue again. If this paper was published with private funds, then they have a right to express their opinions in any language they choose.
Charles H. Lewis
Denver
Home In on the Rangers
Regarding Scott C. Yates's "A Rocky Road," in the May 29 issue:
There are people in this world who have a connection with place--knowledge of, empathy for and love of it--that can transcend the ability of others to understand such a connection. Unfortunately, these connections can be misinterpreted as a threat to those who come to control--either by ownership or stewardship--such places. Such is the case between Rocky Mountain National Park and two of its rangers, Jim Detterline and Bernie Holien. Both do their jobs so well that they have been dismissed from them by their employer, the National Park Service.
There is a place for rules in a national park beloved by so many. Inevitably, for some, their happy pursuit of its secrets is eclipsed by their inexperience, leading to harrowing rescues by park rangers and volunteers. But to whom would you rather trust such rescues--officials who know which rules apply to the use of flashing lights, or seasoned mountaineers, each of whom had been rescued early in their careers, hundreds of climbs ago? Which rescuers would know more about both the mountain you find yourself pinned to and the fears that surround you?
Surely the National Park Service, so esteemed in its care and respect for America's jewels of nature, can recognize these valued rangers and remedy this oversight.
Caprice Lawless
Louisville
A Read-Letter Day
First of all, allow me to say that I really enjoy Westword. It is my "bible of Denver" for the week. Regardless of how newsworthy the stories are, I am always entertained. One of my favorite sections is Letters, and over the last few weeks I've noticed many people imploring Westword to continue its free distribution since "no one with half a brain would read this crap." Obviously, these angry and aggressive letters come from folks who did "read this crap." It is also stunningly apparent to me that anyone writing such nonsensical tripe is insulting him/herself. Use that half-brain, kids, and realize that you are the ones you so heartily ridicule in your oh-so-intelligent and worthwhile comments.
Keep it up, Westword. You are a delightful refresher in Denver, a place where two boring papers "rule" our streets. I applaud your efforts.
Jack Trinco
via the Internet
I am one of those "slavering mutants" that Peggy J. Seaman referred to in her May 22 letter. I have a piece of advice for such self-appointed ranters of political correctness and intolerant "tolerance": If they don't want to get their sensibilities into such an uproar, I would suggest that they return to their regular reading of The Communist Manifesto, by Karl Marx, and The Satanic Bible, by Anton LaVey. Westword may be your paper, but this is our community and country. And this advice applies fully to the entire staff of Westword.
