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The Children of Ludlow

One hundred years ago, a squad of murderous hitmen descended on southern Colorado. The hitmen were intent on teaching southern Coloradoans a lesson. You see, southern Coloradoans had committed the unpardonable sin of struggling to get their own little piece of the American Dream. They weren’t looking for handouts, or special treatment. They just wanted to make a decent living and give their kids a chance at a brighter future.

The hitmen massacred those people. Coldly and methodically, the hitmen turned their guns on women and children. The hitmen riddled the little tent village in Ludlow with bullets, and then they set that village alight. Amidst the screams of helpless, defenseless souls, the hitmen stood back and watched in satisfaction as the hopes and dreams of southern Coloradoans went up in smoke.

That was a century ago. But what, if anything, has changed in southern Colorado?

Today, the people of southern Colorado are still struggling to get their own little piece of the American Dream. They aren’t looking for handouts, or special treatment. They just want to make a decent living and give their kids a chance at a brighter future.

In recompense for this unpardonable sin, CSU Chancellor Michael Martin has assembled a hit list. Today, Michael Martin is traveling to CSU-Pueblo to terminate the 50 people who are on his hit list. In his own way, Michael Martin is putting a gun to the head of those 50 hard-working people while he also throws a burning match on the hopes and dreams of their helpless, defenseless families.

Even worse, Michael Martin is not only destroying the livelihood of the people that he is terminating, Michael Martin is also incinerating the best opportunity that southern Coloradoans have to earn their own little piece of the American Dream. Firing 50 people at CSU-Pueblo is not going to save the university, it will destroy the university. Michael Martin’s plan to save the university is like cutting off someone’s leg to cure a blister on their toe.

Michael Martin has stated that, because he is an economist, when he looks at CSU-Pueblo he sees nothing but a poor investment in a worthless community.

I can’t understand that. I simply can’t imagine how anyone could look upon the Children of Ludlow and see anything but the incalculable virtues of an indomitable people. Over the years, hitmen have repeatedly attacked, beaten, and burned the Children of Ludlow, but those hitmen have never broken the spirit of that proud and courageous people.

When the hitman returns today, the Children of Ludlow will once again be called upon to withstand the onslaught of a merciless enemy. I can’t roll back the clock to help to children who died at the hands of pitiless hitmen a hundred years ago. But, I swear to God, I will not abandon the Children of Ludlow when they face the latest in a long history of hitmen who have terrorized southern Colorado.

We can’t change the past, but, if we choose to, we can help the Children of Ludlow in their struggle to work toward a better, brighter future.

If you have the time and courage, please lend a hand this afternoon.

TODAY - “Free at last!”
Friday, Jan 17 at 2:00pm
Fountain Plaza (The big fountain next to the library at CUP/USC)

Many thanks,

Prof Tim