LETTERS

— Demolishing our heritage

The trustees and administrators of Arkansas State University have decided to demolish the home of V.C. Kays, the first president of Arkansas State College, now ASU, to make way for four sorority houses. Built in 1936 and located in the center of the campus, this home is of both historical value to the university and architectural value as a beautiful example of the American Tudor style. I wish to pose the following questions about the decision to demolish this grand home:

Why is it that the university administrators always seem to plead poor when a worthy project such as the preservation of the Kays Home is presented, but they always find money for football coaches, a house in Little Rock for the ASU president and even more for recreation centers and sports fields?

If the lack of money, as has been suggested by the administration, is the reason for not restoring the Kays Home, why did administrators not initiate a fund drive or apply for a grant from one of the many foundations that specialize in the preservation of our national heritage?

Why is the administration in such a hurry with this project? Since the sororities have lived comfortably for decades in the dormitories, could they not continue to do so for another year and allow for a complete and open debate of the matter?

If it is simply a matter of the cost of preserving the Kays Home, why could administrators not have chosen a different site for the sorority houses?

I eagerly await the answers.

J. SCOTT DARWIN

Jonesboro

Rethink election laws

The state needs to pass a constitutional amendment that limits all governments in the state (local, county, city, etc.), to two election cycles per year, May and November. There is absolutely no reason why we need to have more than two elections. Poor planning on our government’s part is not a reason to justify the additional expenses associated with these special elections.

Why couldn’t the recent Little Rock special election be done in two months, during the scheduled primary in May? The answer seems simple: The people who wanted this to pass understood that very few would partake in it.

Also, the language used in referendums must be simplified. Arkansas seems to be proud of being ranked so low in education in the statement, “Thank God for Mississippi.” We need to understand that the average voter is not a lawyer, especially here in Arkansas. Therefore, the language in referendums should be written in terms of what the “average” voter understands. The verbiage used in this referendum implied the taxes would be lowered. Yes, the taxes would drop for year one, but the net effect would be an increase in taxes.

Congratulations, taxpayers, the referendum passed and now we will be paying higher taxes.

BARON DAVIS

Little Rock

Sure, he is just like us

Political advisers are the key to success for candidates to become president. I particularly admire Mitt Romney’s advisers.

Early on, they saw a problem with Mitt connecting to the hoi polloi. The hokey solution, as I imagine it: “Mitt, we have bought some used blue jeans. We insist you wear them in all campaign encounters with the common folks in the Midwest, West and anywhere south of the Mason/Dixon line. Also we have ordered your laundry to reduce starch in dress shirts from heavy to light. And remember to use local vernacular when possible, ‘yawl,’ for instance. Blend into the hearts of the voters.”

When Mitt said, “My wife drives two Cadillacs,’ one adviser likely fainted. My reaction was also a little negative. But hell, if I was a multimillionaire . . .

Congratulations, advisers, for making Mitt resemble one of us, the 99 percent. If we can just hold our noses and vote Romney, he says all of us can be rich.

P.S. We forgive the Mormons who massacred 120 Arkansans at Mountain Meadows, Utah.

JERRY DAVID KAHLER

Little Rock

Pills have other uses

Many letters have been published in support of, and agreeing with, Rush Limbaugh’s unwarranted criticism of Sandra Fluke, the young female law student who spoke out in support of medical coverage for birth control. Other writers have taken an opposing view.

None of the writers have pointed out that the friend Fluke testified about was prescribed birth-control medication to help or alleviate problems related to polycystic ovarian syndrome. Many doctors prescribe such medications to female patients for things other than to prevent pregnancy.

How would critics feel if a female family member had a health problem that could be helped by taking birthcontrol medicine?

J.D. McGEE Little Rock

Don’t pet those dogs

I read that Ali Larijani, Iran’s parliament speaker, said that Israelis are just barking dogs who wouldn’t dare attack Iran.

Oh, yeah. Put your hand inside the fence.

RAY WILSON Conway

Outfoxing those foxes

Growing up as a Depression-era boy around Ash Flat, a proud hillbilly, I recall some of the prevailing beliefs.

The most hated actions included lying, stealing, greediness and hypocrisy. The most admired include honesty, generosity, consistency, dependability and nonhypocrisy. One must never lie or steal even if in terrible straits. Always share whatever you have and never show greed or overindulgence.

What a difference from those basic beliefs prevails today as practiced by politicians! We all hear about lobbyists and special interests (foxes) lurking and using enticements to obtain influence with weak-kneed congressmen (chickens).

We would do well to follow the example of the aforementioned hill children who selected leaders based upon honesty, unselfishness, consistency and nonhypocritical actions. I am a Christian Democrat (not a dichotomy), a respecter of the Bill of Rights who lives in a complicated multiethnic country with diminishing resources. I believe great problems exist, caused by mismanagement and special interests.

Folks, we are in trouble. Please eliminate any prejudices.

Recognize that the country is different than it was in 1776, 1918 or 1941, and elect people with the ability and guts to remove the foxes and put this country first.

DOYLE E. COLLINS Sherwood

Time to see the lights

Everyone knows it’s the law to have your lights on when it’s raining; the minute those wipers are turned on, those lights are supposed to go on.

Newer cars have front lights that come on automatically, but you have to physically pull your light switch on so the back ones will come on, too. I wish that the people who haven’t been turning on their lights when it’s raining would start doing so, as it is a safety measure. When it is raining hard, others can’t see you if your lights aren’t on. Be respectful and turn your lights on.

Common sense goes a long way. If you don’t have your lights on and you have a wreck, whose fault will it be? Not the person who has their lights on. It’ll be you.

Safety first.

NEITA PHILLIPS Jacksonville

No sense in that vote

Gene Mason writes that conservatives can “protect Arkansas from the black man in the White House” by throwing away our votes on a thirdparty candidate and not wasting them on a “liberal Mormon.”

Shame on him.

Conservatives don’t have any problems with either a black man or a Mormon in the White House.

Conservatives do have a problem with having a community organizer, who consistently shows the leadership and management skills that have manifested from that vast experience, in the White House.

Oh yes, and there is that redistribution-of-wealth thing and Obamacare that are rather troubling.

Mason seems to be ashamed that Arkansas is a red state. Arkansas is a red state because the majority of its people are conservative in their values and in their voting record.

They are Democrats, and they are Republican, but they are conservative.

Voting libertarian, as he suggests, would allow libertarians on all ballots in 2014.

Gosh, how exciting.

Casting a protest vote in 2012, with the kind of problems that we have in this country, makes about as much sense as shooting off a sore toe.

A lot of people who voted for “hope” and “change” in 2008 are now hoping for a change in the 2012 election.

GORDON GONDEK

Little Rock

Good for what ails us

Wouldn’t it be great if the world could take a moratorium from the incessant, the relentless, and the evermore increasingly strident in what passes for alleged discussion of religion and politics?

Not to totally forget them, just put them on hold for a moment, take a deep breath, put on some Corelli or Telemann (woefully underappreciated Baroque geniuses), pour a nice cup of coffee and simply sit still, listen and reflect.

Reflect on the positives, the good, those things which we might all take for granted every day.

Loved ones, pets, yards turning green, beautiful music, rain, the wonderful variety of barbecue sauces—too many joys to name. Tailgating at Arrowhead Stadium, beating cancer, friends and family, the list goes on and on. Simply take a moment, and let it turn into another one. And another one after that.

DAVID KELLEY Fort Smith

Those squealing pigs

I’ve really enjoyed the Voices letters from the brain-dead liberals lately. Go, Rush. Go, Brad. Go, Paul. To use the vernacular, you have them squealing like pigs under a gate.

WAYNE WYATT Sherwood

Feedback

Gives us bad name

Regarding the renaming of Adams Field (Little Rock’s national airport) after Bill and Hillary Clinton, I do not believe that any public edifice should be named after a living political figure. The practice encourages wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.

In this case, the renaming is especially unwise since the colloquial name for the airport will likely instantly become the “Hill-Billy Airport.”

Enough said.

ROBERT SLAYMAKER

Maumelle

The war on women

To my Catholic friends and all Christian organizations regarding Barack Obama requiring health care that goes against your core convictions: I believe it was Peter and the other apostles who, when ordered to quit teaching about Jesus, said we ought to obey God rather than man.

It is not the Republican Party that has declared war on women. It is the men of all persuasions who introduce women of all ages into prostitution, drug addiction, physical abuse, etc.

BOB LAMB

Alexander

Editorial, Pages 17 on 03/21/2012

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