Regarding Steve Jackson's "Top of Their Game" in the September 21 issue:
It would seem as though the PC police have now found it necessary to inflict their own brand of morality even on top of our highest mountains. In your story about the "Fourteeners Cleaner," it is clear that the main motivation for the group is to try something to discourage people from enjoying the same activity that they enjoy.
Yes, the registry canisters can be hit by lightning, crushed by rocks or vandalized, and it would be hoped that anyone would pack out the resulting mess, but that's not reason enough to go around removing undamaged canisters. People climb Fourteeners because of the mountains, not because of the registries, and removing the canisters will not stop people from climbing the mountains.
The best reason for having the registries on top of our Fourteeners is to provide a relief for that part of human nature that moves people to want to leave behind something that says "I was here." The Native Americans left pictographs all over the continent; the Spanish and English settlers carved their names all over the Southwest and various stops along the Oregon and Santa Fe trails. Accepting human nature as it is and always has been, I would rather have the registries on top of the mountains than have the tops of our mountains covered with painted and carved rocks.
Robert W. Shannon
Denver
Thank you for clarifying the motivations of "Bob," who steals register cylinders from the summits of Fourteeners. Bob believes that too many people climb Fourteeners for the wrong reason. Shouldn't people decide on their own reasons to climb Fourteeners?
The public lands of Colorado are for everyone to enjoy as long as their behavior is legal. Certainly let us remove any trash or debris from the tops of Fourteeners. But I have been on many Fourteeners, and it is very rare for a cylinder to be broken or unsightly.
Dave Muller
Denver
Steve Jackson's article about the Fourteener register thieves was an excellent piece of reporting on a subject that local newsprint media tend to ignore. (Thank you, Steve!)
I am quite disturbed by "Bob" and his gang of eco-thugs. As an avid climber, I can appreciate their desire to keep trails maintained and summits free of debris, but the register of a peak is not trash, having been packed in as a service to the mountaineer. Bob should spend a minute finding a suitable paperweight for the register (perhaps his head) and less time stroking his ice ax in the thin air.
Randy Novick
Denver
I find it interesting that "Bob," who admitted to bagging Fourteeners in his youth before his mountain consciousness evolved into "the more sublime alpine experience," would like to eliminate that opportunity for everyone else. Many times people need a challenge to become interested in the Colorado mountains, then become environmental advocates after they've climbed a few peaks. Obviously, the "sublime alpine experience" has done nothing to affect Bob's character. Bob believes he's a righteous guardian of the mountains, but in reality, he is a selfish and dishonest thief.
David Carter
Denver
I would like to personally add a $500 reward for the apprehension of "Bob" and his gang of thieves stealing the registers off of Colorado's mountain summits.
This self-righteous little twit needs to reflect on the good works that the Colorado Mountain Club has done over the last seventy-odd years to preserve these areas and prevent the kind of despoilment that would have happened had they not intervened.
Bob says he climbed Little Bear. Did Bob notice the names carved into the rocks at the summit there? Given the dubious yet undeniable tendency of people to want to make a mark of some sort at the top, would Bob prefer the summits be covered with that?
Come on, Bob. Canisters break because of rocks, hungry marmots and normal wear and tear. If they do, the rest of us appreciate your efforts to tidy them up. But cut out this other crap, because the registers do more good than harm, and we can sure as hell replace them faster than you can take them.
W. Bart Berger
Denver
It's Miller Time
Regarding Ward Harkavy's "Don't Start the Revolution Without Me," in the September 21 issue:
Your biased article painting Pat Miller as a conservative radical did not point out the liberal--often considered radical by some--agenda of David Skaggs.
David Skaggs concentrates on the abortion issue because it draws attention from his other policies. These include the tax-and-spend Democratic policy that has driven this country into bankruptcy, support for gun-control laws that violate the very premise of the Constitution, support for federal mandates that disregard Amendment 10, and the socialization of one of the biggest industries in the country. If opposition to these views is considered radical, then I can group myself with this radical collection, along with the rest of the ignored conservative electorate in David Skaggs's district (a group that might possibly compose up to 60 percent).
And on the subject of one-world government, why don't your readers check into committee hearings in Washington that are addressing the issue of putting our military under the supervision of the United Nations?
Nathan Hatcher
Denver
I read your article on Pat Miller to find out what those wacky, kooky, zany, right-wing ideologues are up to. Ms. Miller says her main objective is to defend Christian values and the Constitution? Does anyone besides me see a slight contradiction there? You see, I'm not a Christian and I do not and will not live by Christian values. I have my own set of values that suit me just fine, and I don't care what anyone thinks of that. If we are purportedly "equal under the law," how can our government hold one set of religious beliefs (values) above all others? I thought we had freedom of (and from) religion. I see all kinds of double standards in her ideas. She expects me (a non-Christian) to honor her values, yet it's clear she doesn't honor mine. Where is the equality there? This is nothing more than a ploy to obtain "special rights" for Christians. To use a phrase that comes from her camp, "No one should have special rights."
Mark Woods
Denver
Denver Nurses a Grudge
Thank you for Steve Jackson's article in the September 14 issue, "Denver or Busted," highlighting the committed service to the people of Denver by Georgia Caven, nurse at Denver General Hospital.
At the age of 28 my son was diagnosed with cancer, and for a year, Georgia, along with Dr. Adam Myers, provided both professional and loving care for him and his family. I could enumerate many instances when Georgia spent her off-duty time helping and caring, including attending an evening lecture on the mind-body connection with the family, dropping by my son's house to assist with the after-effects of chemo, etc.
If the City of Denver cannot recognize and reward such an outstanding employee, but instead seeks to have her fired, then I submit that the voters in Denver are at least smart enough to change the mayor. That is hard for me to say, because I have always been a strong supporter of Mayor Webb, but I will be watching the city's action with great interest.
I know the city refers to the "law," but having served another city as city attorney for many years, I know that all municipalities choose their battles. If my city chooses to "battle" one of its most committed and caring employees, thereby harming my fellow residents, then I will battle the mayor and his administration in memory of my son, David.
Charles Sparks
Denver
I have known Georgia Caven for a long time, dating back to my days as a neurology resident at Denver General Hospital. She is one of those wonderful and exceptional people that one actually has to meet in order to believe that they exist. She exudes incredible warmth and love.
The idiocy of the politicians and bureaucrats actually even considering not having a person like this working in their hospital is a telling example of what would happen if we let people with so little insight and judgment totally run the health-care system. Instead of being thankful that someone like Georgia exists and is actually willing to work in their hospital, they want to get rid of her.
I hope someone with a sufficient amount of power will wake up and realize the stupidity of this.
Karl F. Gross, M.D.
Aurora
Westword's story on Georgia Caven goes a long way in pointing out that, although the Denver residency rule may sound good on the surface, it's really a setback for the city. I'm not so sure that building a city with walls is the best way to go.
In light of the AIDS epidemic, it's imperative that this city be able to hire compassionate, caring and knowledgeable health-care workers. No matter where they hang their hats at night!
Doug Crawford
Denver
Citizens of Denver, wake up and count the number of people in need who get hurt with the residency rule. This archaic law undermines basic freedoms and hurts everyone by excluding highly qualified health-care professionals who would like to work for Denver Health and Hospitals but who want to live beyond the city and county boundaries.
Egos, politicos and small-minded mentalities get in the way of the greater good regarding the health of our underserved. With a broad stroke--i.e., changing the residency rule--the health care of Denver, as well as its fire and police protection, would be stabilized and improved.
A radical idea? Not really: Common sense for the common good.
Money, loss of tax dollars and a tax base, and fear of white flight to the suburbs are the real issues. Don't mention the C-word, because Commitment is already alive and well at Denver General Hospital and Denver police and fire departments.
P.S.: Georgia Caven, R.N., is one hell of a person and nurse, as are others at DGH.
Paul Bregman, M.D.
DGH staff physician and Denver resident
