Tell it to the Chieftain
Pagan community reaction to Forging Pueblo
In the article by Anna Lynn Winfrey and James Bartolo printed in the Pueblo Chieftain on Oct. 22, regarding Forging Pueblo, it states: “Forging Pueblo was founded in 2018 to ‘impact Pueblo with a biblical world-view.'” Their prior website, which has been taken down, stated “Our goal is to influence all major areas of society, including government, education, business, religion, arts and entertainment, media and family.”
We offer this statement in response.
We speak against Forging Pueblo and their efforts to impose their worldview on everyone in this community. The last time we looked, the First Amendment of the United States Constitution requires separation between church and state.
As spiritual people, we value the religion and spirituality of individuals and communities of faith. We do not value proselytizing nor imposing beliefs on others. As Pagans, we remind you that our Western Civilization, writ large, derives many of its institutions and philosophy from ancient Greek and Roman societies - Pagan societies. However, modern Pagans have no interest in forcing our beliefs on others. We would much rather have people find our traditions on their own.
Forging Pueblo would have us all conform to their limited Evangelical Christian beliefs. This is not only unamerican, but extremely distasteful to Paganism, and likely Judaism and Islam as well as other non-Abrahamic traditions. Their tactics are likely illegal.
The truth of human cultures is that they are diverse, just as nature is diverse. No one can tell another what to believe or how they should think based on those beliefs. It is up to each of us to find our path, our people and our spiritual sustenance.
People running for office should discuss their policy positions and how they would approach issues in the city of Pueblo, not use their faith to organize candidates to run for office, period. Imagine the outcry if Jewish people did this or Muslims did this or Pagans did this, and rightly so. Someone’s faith does not tell us anything about their leadership abilities, if they understand economics, or if they do research for policy decisions.
In conclusion, we urge all Puebloans who care about the separation of church and state to carefully review candidates and not vote for any supported by Forging Pueblo.
Laurel Holmstrom-Keyes, Pagan Community Minister, and the Pueblo Pagan community
Not our airport
Oh, heck yes, let's import the excitement, and frequently accompanying blood and gore, of the National Championship Air Races formerly held in Reno.
With ‘cha ching’ in their minds, a delegation from Pueblo attended what will be the last such race in Reno, with thoughts of making a proposal to have the races here. No mention reported for any of them regarding the last two pilot deaths at Reno on 9/17/23.
The Reno Gazette Journal lists a total of 34 deaths at the event over the years, including 10 spectator deaths.
So what will it be, ‘cha ching’ or a common sense consideration of avoiding being associated with needless loss of life?
John Anderson, Pueblo resident and retired district judge
Re-elect Sandy Gutierrez, the right candidate, the write-in candidate
Sandy Gutierrez should be re-elected to her post on the Board of Water Works as a write-in candidate.
Although her name will not appear on the printed ballot due to an issue during the petition process, she is committed to earning your vote of confidence to retain her seat. Her strong performance as a member of the Board during her current six-year term makes her the strongest choice for the position, for three key reasons:
As the incumbent with six years of water leadership experience, she has climbed the steep learning curve of complex water issues required to lead our water utility, making her capable of working with our other experienced Board members to protect Pueblo’s water from the many threats currently being faced, from long-term drought to water policy challenges at the state and federal levels.
Water planning involves long timelines, and Sandy is dedicated to shepherding projects begun during her first term to successful completion. As her decades of public service have proven, she’s in this for the long haul.
Sandy works across many perceived barriers to bring people together, focusing on the common good of providing water, our most precious resource, to all users in an equitable manner.
Please write-in Sandy Gutierrez under Pueblo Board of Water and fill in the bubble so your vote counts. Returning Sandy to the Water Board is the right thing to do.
Paul Fanning, retired from Pueblo Water in 2019
To submit a letter to the editor, email Editor Zach Hillstrom at zhillstrom@gannett.com. All letters may be edited for grammar and AP style. Letters that are wholly false in nature, discriminatory, offensive, obscene, or violent in any way will not run. There is only a certain amount of space allotted for letters each week. Letters received first have priority.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Tell it to the Chieftain
