I want to thank The New Mexican for featuring the article "An invisible loss" on Sunday's front page. In this time of hatred for religions different from ours and distrust of people different from us, it is important to illustrate the similarities that all of humankind share. We all lose loved ones, we all grieve, we all need to find comfort somewhere.


Nix name-calling

A thank you to Gregg Bemis and another to The New Mexican for printing his column, "Old subject, but a shameful new twist to it," on Aug. 29.

This column brought to mind that "name-calling" is the most prevalent form of bullying among school-age children and young adults.

I wonder why it is so acceptable to children to berate their peers with derogatory words and names. Could it be that hearing adults talk to others who might disagree with them this way makes it acceptable for children to abuse their contemporaries in this manner?

Dictionaries are full of ways to disagree with others using words that are thought-provoking and not disrespectful. I am fully capable of developing my own opinions based on discussion and not by being abused by those who might disagree with me. Do not ask for my opinion and then berate me for it. I will listen to you and consider your thoughts. Please extend this courtesy to me.


Slander's worse

In his Aug. 29 column, "Old subject, but a shameful new twist to it," Gregg Bemis chides The New Mexican's editorial writer for describing certain politicians opposed to the new Muslim center near ground zero as "right-wing wackos," etc. Yet, Bemis refers to sponsors of the proposed center as "associates of the attackers," a much worse form of name-calling. The word associates implies sympathy or collusion with the attackers of 9/11 — an incredible slander!

The particular members of Islam sponsoring the center in New York are Sufi Muslims, an especially peaceful branch of the Muslim faith. Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf has been called on by various administrations, Republican and Democrat, to serve as an adviser and peacemaker on subjects related to Islam in the United States and the Middle East. Bemis should follow his own advice and refrain from prejudicial speech that misinforms and contributes to the alarming rise in anti-Islamic rhetoric in the United States.


Take it back

Regarding Gregg Bemis' Aug. 29 column, "Old subject, but with a shameful twist to it": I think Gregg Bemis joined the name-callers he decried. He states that those wanting to build a mosque near ground zero in New York City are "associates of the attackers"?

Along that line of thought, should a Christian church near the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City be removed because the congregants are "associates of the attackers"? I generally appreciate Bemis' opinions but feel a retraction is in order.


Get more bids

The proposed consolidation of Acequia Madre and Atalaya elementary schools cannot be done well for
$5 million? All we can get for that amount (according to the well-chosen team handling the job) is something resembling a Quonset hut without a sprinkler system. That comes as quite a surprise to Santa Fe residents who see many magnificent homes built in Santa Fe for far, far less than
$5 million.

And last week, Yellowstone National Park opened its new cathedral-like, 26,000-square-foot visitor center. The cost? $26 million, the same price tag put on the Atalaya renovation. Has Santa Fe Public Schools Superintendent Bobbie Gutiérrez considered throwing open the bidding on this job?