The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
It is Independence Day weekend. It is one of the biggest draws of the season in this small resort town and traditionally marks the start of the busiest six weeks of summer in the valley. So a few thoughts in the realm of the Fourth of July.
Several people have written the paper recently about various issues… the need for expanded public health care, getting the Forest Service to protect trails in the area, the recent House of Representatives vote on a climate change bill. Many of these wise letter writers have suggested contacting your representatives to voice your opinion and help shape the direction Congressman Salazar, or Senators Udall and Bennet might vote.
Do it. It can still work. This is the bedrock of the political process in the United States of America and it can have an impact. We are still very fortunate. The mullahs won’t rig an election here. The president won’t try to circumvent the Constitution to stay in power longer than allowed and the Army won’t burst into Obama’s bedroom and fly him to Costa Rica. It ain’t perfect and if you contribute a lot of money to these guys your voice is louder but the culmination of a public choir is still supposed to take precedence over money. Anyway…
Take the time and make your voice heard to the people you have sent to Washington, D.C. to represent you. That is their job. Their Western Slope contact numbers are at the end of this piece.
A local Town Council election is taking place this November in Crested Butte. Three seats (Skip Berkshire, Leah Williams and Billy Rankin) and the mayor’s position (Alan Bernholtz) are up for a vote. You must live in town to run for council. If you reside in Crested Butte, think about it. There is a lot of stuff going on at the moment. Sitting on an elected board is serious stuff but can be pretty fun. You have a few weeks to decide but it is part of living in a small town and in this country. So, stop whining, step up, talk to the people and make a real difference in your community.
It is 102 degrees in the shade in Texas this week. It is 72 degrees in the shade on Elk Avenue this week. Nothing more needs to be said.
The bulk of U.S. troops are shifting out of the major urban areas in Iraq and eventually out of the country. Iraqis taking charge of their own country. What a concept.
This week a guy who speaks Arabic is being discharged from the Army. He is gay. Did I mention he speaks Arabic (and Korean) and has been a translator in a region where we are at war?
I was listening to the radio on the way to a baseball game this week when I heard about Lt. Dan Choi. He could become the 266th service member discharged for being gay since President Obama took office.
I understand that the president will have to use up some political capital to right the wrong of “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” but I sort of figured not firing people who can translate Arabic was a no-brainer. And one reason I voted for Obama was because of his brain. Did I mention Choi understands Arabic?
There are an estimated 65,000 gay and lesbian members of the U.S. armed forces. So far, more than 12,500 have been let go for being gay. The army has discharged 59 gay Arabic linguists and nine gay Farsi linguists in the last five years, according to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Britain, Israel and dozens of other countries allow gay personnel to serve openly.
One of the people in the radio story, Lawrence Korb, an assistant defense secretary during the Reagan administration, said he understood there was still some resistance in the ranks about allowing openly gay members to serve but he notes “similar arguments were made against integrating blacks and women into the armed forces. In time, the services came around. One of the great things about the military is they will follow orders,” he said.“And eventually, they realize these changes that have been almost forced on them are basically good for them.”
Barack Obama has pledged to allow gay servicemen and women to serve openly, but the White House has yet to call for Congress to change the law.
As was mentioned at the top of this piece, you can call Congress just as well as the president.
If you think it is a little whacky, weird or even dangerous that the army is getting rid of soldiers who speak Arabic, call or email the people we sent to Washington and help them shape their decision.
Call the Grand Junction offices at:
Senator Mark Udall: (970) 245-9553
Senator Michael Bennet: (970) 241-6631
Representative John Salazar: (970) 245-7107
President Barack Obama: (202) 456-1111
I called and emailed these guys Tuesday on a number of issues. Obama’s line was busy but I spoke with three live human beings in the Congressional offices. That’s how it still works in this country.
Have a great Fourth of July everyone…
