Something must give

Ihave debated writing this column for some time. I understand the subject is controversial, but I feel in my heart that sometimes we must write something tough because it is the right thing to do.

children are mature enough for a drag show, but I get to be the one to decide. I do not want some town council, county, state or federal government telling me yea or nay.

e books some are ghting in the library — I ask why. Just don’t let your children read them.

To those boycotting Bud Light — I understand the argument. If you want to protest through your pocketbook — whether I agree or disagree with your reasoning — I say go for it as long as you do not have some law passed to force it on me.

e louder the opponents have gotten — the more the other side has been pushing back.

However, like many, I am growing tired of the controversies and what feels like contrived battles over the LGBTQ community.

We are nearly a year removed from the unfortunate event at PrideFest in Castle Rock that has been dubbed a “wardrobe malfunction.” Let’s just say it — a drag queen’s breast plate was exposed.

It feels like those angered by this incident have taken the ght to councils, the county and more. It just hasn’t stopped.

I continue to be saddened by the local and national rhetoric targeting the LGBTQ community. I am saddened that people are vulnerable because of the increase in violent incidents and hate.

Two of my dearest friends in the world are a gay couple living in Palm Springs. eir friendship means so much to me. When I hear the hate being spewed out there — I often think of them and know they are such amazing people that I can’t in good conscience just keep standing by watching.

Regarding the drag queen show drama — to those protesting — you are often the same people saying we need less government in our lives. I often agree. I agree on this issue too.

Hear me out. What right do we have to say that an age restriction should be placed on a show like this in Highlands Ranch, Castle Rock, or Arapahoe County? Shouldn’t that be up to the parents? Shouldn’t it be completely up to the adults buying tickets?

In all honesty, I don’t think my

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As someone trying to skate the slippery slope known as the middle, and others like me, I am tired of it all. I am tired of the petty back and forth ghting.

I am absolutely no fan whatsoever of casting a large net of hate on an entire group. Why be so angry and hateful? And, before we talk about the idiot in Canada who said, “they are coming for your children” during a parade, please remember that is not a re ection of everyone.

I have gotten to know someone who transitioned from a man to a woman over the last few years. She is a beautiful soul whom I believe is a courageous human being. She has more courage than I could ever have. She is someone who has carried herself with great dignity in the face of a very critical society.

I do not believe she is someone who will hurt or negatively a ect my children. In fact, I have explained to my own children what she did. Because I did not make it a big deal, but just let them know to respect someone else’s choice — they treat her like everyone else and I am proud of that.

We may not agree or understand but somehow, some way — we must get back to a much more accepting place in our world. We need to be civil because this all comes down to human beings who are hurt by what’s happening every day. Another’s choices and decisions cannot become about making laws to stop them.

LINDA SHAPLEY Publisher lshapley@coloradocommunitymedia.com

MICHAEL DE YOANNA Editor-in-Chief michael@coloradocommunitymedia.com

THELMA GRIMES South Metro Editor tgrimes@coloradocommunitymedia.com

TAYLER SHAW Community Editor tshaw@coloradocommunitymedia.com

Handling the turbulence of life

With over 2 million miles own, I have experienced a lot of turbulence during those ights. Last month my wife and I were on a ight and for the most part it was a fairly smooth ight. However, during our descent the plane was violently rocked and had we not had our seatbelts on, we would have been tossed from our seats. In all my years of ying that was de nitely the toughest turbulence that I had ever experienced.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to sit next to many captains and pilots. As we would y through the turbulence, they would provide calming assurances that the planes are built to handle the turbulence and the pilots are trained to y us through safely. at has given me such great comfort over the years, a comfort that I tried passing along to some of the nervous yers I have had sitting next to me.

On one such ight as we were ying from Denver to Albuquerque, the turbulence was bad the entire ight as the pilot couldn’t nd an altitude where the air was smooth. e woman sitting next to me literally squeezed my forearm the entire

ERIN ADDENBROOKE Marketing Consultant eaddenbrooke@coloradocommunitymedia.com

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LINDSAY NICOLETTI Operations/ Circulation Manager lnicoletti@coloradocommunitymedia.com ight, and I had never met her before. I didn’t mind and tried to assure her of the safety by sharing the stories pilots have shared with me, but she still held on for dear life.

Just last week I was ying on a Dreamliner, a massive airplane and super comfortable. e ight was full, and as we went through our ascent, the plane hit a pocket of turbulence and gave us a fairly good bounce up and down. ere were a few quick screams and gasps, but there was another sound I heard, children laughing. e plane went through a little more bumpiness before nding smoother air and with each bump and drop of the plane, the children continued to squeal as if they were on an amusement park ride. I believe their laughter and relaxed attitude served to calm the nerves of others who didn’t nd the turbulence so amusing.

Life is full of turbulence, isn’t it? It just seems that every single day we are at odds with one another over something. e turbulence of politics, of cancel culture, of societal pressures, and just overall discontent and disagreements brewing everywhere. Sometimes the turbulence is frightening as it escalates and becomes erce. And sometimes the turbulence is slight, but still enough to cause us some fear, worry, and doubt.

It has been said that our character

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