Narrowing down ill feelings for others

Violations should keep Trump off ballot

Thank you so much for today’s excellent opinion, “Why does it scare us to enforce the republic’s Constitution?” Even though Donald Trump might be the clear favorite of Americans of all ethnicities and genders, I completely agree that his constitutional violation prohibits him from being on the ballot.

Even assuming that 90% of Americans favored Donald Trump for president, they should have no say or opinion on the issue. Even if Donald Trump has the overwhelming support of the majority of voters, it doesn’t matter. Democracy is never been about majority rule. Hopefully, the Colorado Supreme Court agrees with my view. Once again, thanks for the thoughtful comments.

— Scott Jurdem, Boulder

Goose Creek should remain a natural area

It’s very obvious. All urban areas need unadulterated natural areas for wildlife. It is our only hope for the future.

— Cara Stiles, Boulder in my 1998 Jeep boot during the Denver Black Friday snowy weather, my thoughts were focusing on the nice-looking man standing nearby smoking a cigarette.

After finishing his cig he gave me a kind departing greeting. My mind was wrestling with my heart, “Should I or not,” placed myself next to this stranger’s car motioning for him to roll his window down.

My 71-year-old Alabama sound mixed with my blue eyes was kindly received as I got emotional telling him that I was 11 years old when smoking killed my father. He shared that he was thinking of vaping only.

His Motown-like voice gave me the most genuine, “Thank you, and God bless you,” ever.

— Mike Sawyer,

Denver

It seems to me there is a massive number of ill feelings and name-calling on our earth these days. Russians hate Ukrainians, Israelis hate Palestinians, Democrats hate Republicans, etc.

And yes, feelings are often mutual, as well as name-calling.

I want to suggest a narrowing down of our ill feelings, just diminish them, not eliminate them in spite of all religious wisdom to the contrary.

For instance: I don’t dislike Jews, just Netanyahu, so I’m not antisemitic. I’m not against Palestinians, just Hamas, so I’m not anti-muslim. I don’t have a problem with Iranians, just their theocratic leadership, so I’m not anti-persian. I don’t dislike Republicans, just Trumpism, so they can call me names. I don’t dislike religious people, just religious bigots, (and other bigots as well), so you can’t say I’m an atheist.

I don’t dislike money, just greedy people; okay, I wish I had more of it.

Now, my faith teaches me to love GOD in every way possible and my neighbors (all of them) as myself. It even instructs me to love my enemies. I’m working on all three of those teachings, but it occurs to me, that it would be helpful to narrow down the “hate list.”

For example: Not Russians, just Putin, not apartheid Israel, just Netanyahu. This kind of thinking helps me narrow down the number of difficult human beings my faith says I am supposed to love, and in doing so, I can be more pleasant — loving — to everyone. Please join me wherever you are, whenever you can.

— Eugene Wilson,

Longmont