LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Recycling of secession

I have heard much about states’ rights to secede with the 2012 reelection of President Barack Obama.

I have also learned much about Texans wanting to secede from the union as well as people from the 49 other states wanting to leave the United States to become their own country.

The issue is not new to many Americans because it goes back to the time of the American Revolution in 1776.

Secession would also be an issue nearly a century later when Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, spurring South Carolina, and later, six other states, to secede and form the Confederate States of America.

It would take the attacks on Fort Sumter and President Lincoln’s call for troops to force four more Southern states in the space of a month—Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia—to secede as well.

JOHN HUERTA

Warren

Interpretation wrong

Just wanted to comment on what I believe to be a very erroneous interpretation of an historical event, the war for Southern independence, as mentioned by Michael Klossner.

I believe the South neither rebelled against the U.S, nor invaded the U.S.; it simply declared independence, just as the founding fathers did in the century before that.

The founders and the Confederacy did not want to fight anyone. If no U.S. troops would have come to force the South back into the Union, I believe no war would have occurred. Therefore, because the South did not invade or rebel, what Abraham Lincoln did was indeed unconstitutional.

I believe the Yankees called it a rebellion so it would sound legal. It was the Union soldiers who invaded and destroyed Southern homes, livestock, factories, and caused the death of 750,000 Americans, black and white.

Look at what actually happened instead of what somebody who hasn’t studied the war says happened.

CLIFFORD PEARSON

Beebe

Suitable replacements

With the coming departures of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, I would make a few suggestions.

As widely debated, I would recommend United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice to become secretary of state. Rice has experience as a National Security Council staff member, and later, as assistant secretary of state of African affairs.

I would also recommend Sen. John Kerry to take Rice’s place at the UN.

Kerry was awarded three Purple Hearts for his injuries suffered when he and his crew were on Vietnam swiftboat duty. Kerry has also chaired the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

For secretary of defense, I would suggest Gen. Wesley Clark. His long, outstanding service record makes him capable of heading the Pentagon.

LESLIE PUTMAN

El Dorado

Startling parallel seen

In a recent Voices letter, Gary McLehaney suggests that Israel is an eternal battlefield because it is dominated by religion.

In a New York Times best-selling book, The Harbinger, published in 2012, author Jonathan Cahn contends that Israel’s continuing problems began in 732 B.C. when Israel turned away from God and was then overrun by Assyria.

More alarming, Cahn lays out the case that the social and economic decline of the United States parallels the turning away from God as experienced by Israel.

DAVID GAYLOR

Eureka Springs

It’s freedom of choice

It seems the freethinkers are raising a stink about some primary-school kids going to see A Charlie Brown Christmas as a school field trip.

The person being interviewed on the evening news stated that the children were not required to go; however, he felt that the children should not have to make that choice.

And here I thought making choices was a part of life and our freedoms as citizens.

We all make choices every day; even children are allowed choices. I sincerely hope the Little Rock School District stands up to this minority group and says enough—bring on the lawsuit, because we are not backing down.

There are far bigger problems to solve in this country and state than whether or not children are allowed to view Charlie Brown, and heaven forbid, the traditional Christmas story. Obviously these few disgruntled folks have nothing better to do with their time than to protest against whether children can have a field trip and oh, of course, to put up their winter solstice display.

I have no problem with this display. It is called freedom of choice, which may be a new concept to this group.

Honestly, freethinkers, the only offensive thing I see in your display is that it is so darn ugly. Get some artistic advice, and at least make it somewhat attractive.

LINDA HAMMONTREE

Greenbrier

Aid not our problem

Re the fiscal cliff that Congress is trying to solve: Start with spending cuts in foreign aid (quit trying to buy friends; it doesn’t work) and quit funding the United Nations (a bunch of self-serving leeches and jerks).

I believe the American people should not be financially responsible for foreign aid and the worthless UN since we have to borrow the money to fund these two worthless items. It doesn’t make sense.

So why do Barack Obama and Congress not see this? Or is there something else that has not been told to the American people?

I would remind Obama and members of Congress that they work for the American people, and not foreign countries and the worthless jerks in the UN.

The future of my children and grandchildren mean more to me than foreign aid and the UN.

BILL SCHEIDERER Forrest City

Beat around the Bush

I’m not gloating as a Democrat. The election is over and that’s that.

But Mitt Romney was the only candidate the Republicans could find, since they didn’t have another Bush to hide behind.

PAUL McCULLOCH Beebe