Site search
sponsored by
Home
News
What do the Holocaust, Police Chief Loren Ryerson, Aspen High School football coach Mike Sirko and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have in common?
They all attracted ample comments last week from online readers of The Aspen Times.
Many online readers applauded the GrassRoots Television’s board of directors for deciding against the airing of a Holocaust-denial film, while a judge was taken to task for ordering a man, who illegally baited and killed a bear, to pay $500 to PETA. There were critics and supporters of the embattled Ryerson, who’s on administrative leave because of a sexual harassment investigation. And a column written by sportswriter Jon Maletz, who praised coach Sirko for his team’s meteoric rise this year, elicited many remarks as well.
<b>Chief Ryerson</b>
One reader said Ryerson may have many supporters, but sexual harassment is inexcusable, and offered this observation: <i>“Oh, please...Loren Ryerson has a lot of good friends in Aspen, of course who are stunned about this investigation. But, it appears he is a quite different man at work, away from friends and family. Apparently quite different with his female officers, to say the least ... This is to do with sexual harassment in the workplace. A situation that should not be tolerated ANYWHERE, let alone at a police department and especially at the hands of the chief of the department. He has violated the trust of his employees as well as the community. He needs to be FIRED! Not allowed to resign, FIRED!” </i>
Other online readers offered support. <i>“Our long, rich history with you and Mary and your family tells us that you will come through this tough time even stronger than you went into it. We wish for you that the appropriate privacy and protections will be afforded to you all until peace, fairness and truth prevail. Until then, we send all good thoughts and love.”</i>
<b>GrassRoots TV and the Holocaust</b>
A supporter of broadcasting the film prompted this comment: <i>“We cannot give away our freedom of speech just because those who we disagree with want to air a ridiculous point of view. I stand with the Jewish community but I will not support a suppression of a basic freedom. For the last couple of decades I have seen our freedoms being whittled away. Let's not give this freedom away. I would support a peaceful gathering in support of the Jewish community on the day of the airing. There is always a way to kill the messenger without them dying or giving away our freedoms.” </i>
There was also this comment: <i>“Free speech works also the way of Grass Roots saying no to airing a film that is offensive, hateful, dishonest and filled with lies. This is not really about free speech, but about doing the right thing which is not to air this hate, lie film or any film like this that demeans and downplays the real suffering of any group of people no matter their religion, color or nationality. There is a right and a wrong thing to do here. Americans still have freedom of speech by speaking up and saying no to crap!” </i>
<b>Coach Sirko</b>
Wrote one reader, sans the aid of spellcheck or a proofreader. <i>“A lot of the Skiers success this year is due to the foundation Coach Benson put down over the last several years--I take nothing away from coach Sirko- the guy is obviously good--but this did not happen overnight” </i>
And there was this: <i>“Coach Sirko has done this not once but many times at many different programs. What he has accomplished is nothing less than amazing. There is an entirely different offensive and defensive system and an entirely new work ethic in the weight room. THAT is a foundation for years to come.”</i>
<b>Paying PETA</b>
There were plenty of readers upset with Judge Buss’ order for the hunter to pay up to PETA.
Here’s one sampling: <i>“Judge Buss made a huge error by requiring the donation to PETA. If he's going to make the defendant give money to an organization, it should be the DOW or another sportsman’s organization NOT a group of whacked out terrorists who put animals above people. I am a hunter and I agree that this man should be punished for poaching the bear, but the actions of the judge indicate that he is against hunting and more than likely an animal rights whacko himself.” </i>
PETA also had at least one supporter, who offered this: <i>“You kind of don't know much about PETA, do you? They certainly do have hunting campaigns and work to help black bears. It's wrapped into their whole purpose. Hunters generally aren't too happy PETA exists so this penalty is far more just than just a measly contribution to a local group. Research people, research.”</i>
They all attracted ample comments last week from online readers of The Aspen Times.
Many online readers applauded the GrassRoots Television’s board of directors for deciding against the airing of a Holocaust-denial film, while a judge was taken to task for ordering a man, who illegally baited and killed a bear, to pay $500 to PETA. There were critics and supporters of the embattled Ryerson, who’s on administrative leave because of a sexual harassment investigation. And a column written by sportswriter Jon Maletz, who praised coach Sirko for his team’s meteoric rise this year, elicited many remarks as well.
<b>Chief Ryerson</b>
One reader said Ryerson may have many supporters, but sexual harassment is inexcusable, and offered this observation: <i>“Oh, please...Loren Ryerson has a lot of good friends in Aspen, of course who are stunned about this investigation. But, it appears he is a quite different man at work, away from friends and family. Apparently quite different with his female officers, to say the least ... This is to do with sexual harassment in the workplace. A situation that should not be tolerated ANYWHERE, let alone at a police department and especially at the hands of the chief of the department. He has violated the trust of his employees as well as the community. He needs to be FIRED! Not allowed to resign, FIRED!” </i>
Other online readers offered support. <i>“Our long, rich history with you and Mary and your family tells us that you will come through this tough time even stronger than you went into it. We wish for you that the appropriate privacy and protections will be afforded to you all until peace, fairness and truth prevail. Until then, we send all good thoughts and love.”</i>
<b>GrassRoots TV and the Holocaust</b>
A supporter of broadcasting the film prompted this comment: <i>“We cannot give away our freedom of speech just because those who we disagree with want to air a ridiculous point of view. I stand with the Jewish community but I will not support a suppression of a basic freedom. For the last couple of decades I have seen our freedoms being whittled away. Let's not give this freedom away. I would support a peaceful gathering in support of the Jewish community on the day of the airing. There is always a way to kill the messenger without them dying or giving away our freedoms.” </i>
There was also this comment: <i>“Free speech works also the way of Grass Roots saying no to airing a film that is offensive, hateful, dishonest and filled with lies. This is not really about free speech, but about doing the right thing which is not to air this hate, lie film or any film like this that demeans and downplays the real suffering of any group of people no matter their religion, color or nationality. There is a right and a wrong thing to do here. Americans still have freedom of speech by speaking up and saying no to crap!” </i>
<b>Coach Sirko</b>
Wrote one reader, sans the aid of spellcheck or a proofreader. <i>“A lot of the Skiers success this year is due to the foundation Coach Benson put down over the last several years--I take nothing away from coach Sirko- the guy is obviously good--but this did not happen overnight” </i>
And there was this: <i>“Coach Sirko has done this not once but many times at many different programs. What he has accomplished is nothing less than amazing. There is an entirely different offensive and defensive system and an entirely new work ethic in the weight room. THAT is a foundation for years to come.”</i>
<b>Paying PETA</b>
There were plenty of readers upset with Judge Buss’ order for the hunter to pay up to PETA.
Here’s one sampling: <i>“Judge Buss made a huge error by requiring the donation to PETA. If he's going to make the defendant give money to an organization, it should be the DOW or another sportsman’s organization NOT a group of whacked out terrorists who put animals above people. I am a hunter and I agree that this man should be punished for poaching the bear, but the actions of the judge indicate that he is against hunting and more than likely an animal rights whacko himself.” </i>
PETA also had at least one supporter, who offered this: <i>“You kind of don't know much about PETA, do you? They certainly do have hunting campaigns and work to help black bears. It's wrapped into their whole purpose. Hunters generally aren't too happy PETA exists so this penalty is far more just than just a measly contribution to a local group. Research people, research.”</i>
