Letters to the Editor

Eileen Claffy
Animation Ranch

Enlisting help:Regarding last week's response from a recruiter to Michael Roberts's "Wanted," in the September 29 issue:

I think it is awful that military recruiters use misleading tactics to recruit students, especially at a time when so many of our troops are in harm's way in Iraq. The promise of $70,000 for college is just factually wrong. If you study the GI Bill, you will learn that very few veterans qualify for the amounts that recruiters and advertisements quote. The United States government needs to understand that today's students are smart and can read the fine print about how much money we will actually receive for our education in return for military service. The amounts typically received aren't even close to the ever-increasing costs of a college education. We need to work together to end these misleading ad campaigns that entice young people to enlist by offering false hope and empty promises. Surely America can do better than that! Enlisting when you are told the truth and have the facts you need to make an informed decision is one thing, but enlisting when you are given misleading or false information is just plain wrong.

Hassan Khalatbari
Denver

A true helping hand:I read the September 29 letter from "name withheld" about Leon Kelly and Brad Braxton (Luke Turf's "Last Chance," September 22). It saddens me to hear a person talk about another person who has stepped up and worked with the young people in our inner city, when most people would turn and look away and not concern themselves with such problems.

I know Reverend Leon Kelly, and I am very proud to consider him my friend. I have seen the good work he has done firsthand. Furthermore, anyone who would step up and work more than full-time and try to point our youth on the right path in times when our troubled young people are forgotten and dismissed is a great person. It is easy to say "Do what makes you feel good, don't be a follower," but it is quite another to have an active role trying to help our youth. I have seen kids say, "Remember me? I am doing good now," and that is cool!

So I say if you are going to speak "the truth," then leave your name, so it is written who said it.

Mike Cordova
Denver

Shake and flake:In response to Michael Roberts's "Real News," in the September 22 issue:

Yes, the Hurricane Katrina stories continue. I have worked in local television for over twenty years as a producer, director and camera person; recently, I worked for LASEA Broadcasting, channel 53, a Christian-based television station in the Tech Center that has affiliates throughout the U.S.

What a three-ring circus! While employed at LASEA, I was witness to a weekly staff video from Pete Summerall, owner of LASEA Broadcasting. On the last video, Pete told everybody within his network that New Orleans (where he lost a television station because of the hurricane) needed a few improvements. But first, he stated it wasn't his problem to get paychecks to the people who were no longer working at the New Orleans station because it was destroyed. They should have had direct deposit; otherwise, it was their fault that they didn't get paid. He then stated that New Orleans needed to be cleansed of the bad people. His words: "I don't care if we have to shoot and kill people, put them in jail. or run them out of town. If they don't believe in what we do, get rid of them!"

Wow, spoken just like a religious terrorist changing the words of his bible to suit his situation. I'm sure he is endorsed by Republicans everywhere. It's that kind of airhead mentality from rich Republicans that keeps the "United States" name a hated word in other countries.

You thought news stations were flaky?

Pat Halsey
Lafayette

Our weekly bread:I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate Jason Sheehan's writing style. Reading his restaurant reviews has become a weekly tradition for us. We gather around the glow of the laptop, with friends and family, good food and drink, and take turns reading his reviews. We're always impressed, usually laugh, and sometimes are moved to tears. Thanks for being a part of our lives!

Stacie Demchak
Littleton

All that jazz:Regarding Shawn Bauer's Critic's Choice on Buckner Funken Jazz in the September 29 issue:

That's nice work, captain.

Daniel White
Denver