LETTERS

Hogging our Arkansas

I love the Buffalo River better’n just about anybody, and am outraged and disappointed that the people tasked with protecting our environment have so obviously dropped the ball, unknowingly, or worse, are promoting factory farming over the well-being of what is surely Arkansas’ greatest natural asset.

My attitude, held by many, must be called what it is: NIMBY, or “not in-my-backyard.” Many unspeakable things are required to provide a certain quality of life, but nobody wants such things to happen near where they live. In this case, it’s simply NIMB, “not-in-my-Buffalo”: I don’t want a 6,500-hog confinement operation, with its toxic waste and other horrifically inhumane problems, dripping into my Buffalo River. And where exactly will these hapless hogs be slaughtered and the leftovers go?

Well, folks, ham and bacon don’t drop from the sky or grow on trees. Where should such a huge CAFO (confined animal feeding operation) be placed in our beautiful, natural state?How about no place? How about NIAB: “not-in-anybody’s-backyard”? There is no place for an animal confinement operation of this size, or even half this size, anywhere in Arkansas. I am already sickened by the look and smell of huge chicken CAFOs. Our precious Arkansas home and its stinking air. Now comes C&H to compound the problems.

Where is the courageous legislator who will introduce a bill to outlaw such atrocities? Please, put down your ham sandwich and stand up. For the Buffalo and all of Arkansas.

SUSAN COCKRELL

Fayetteville

What about Benghazi?

I think it is a crying shame that Wesley Clark’s “valuable procedures in U.S. military leadership,” the after-action review, “no holds barred. What happened? Why did it happen? How can we do better next time?” cannot be applied to the Benghazi fiasco.

Wesley, what say you?

MARILYN WOODS

Lakeview

Constitutional myths

Marriage, as defined in most states and the federal government, is between a man and a woman. I believe this definition applies equally and precisely to all adults, and is therefore, by definition, nondiscriminatory and is not a constitutional issue.

The fact than some do not like this legal definition and want it changed is not a reason for the courts to be involved. It is totally a legislative-not judicial-matter.

If, perchance, the U.S. Supreme Court disagrees with me, and decides that “want” takes precedence over law and reason, then the courts will likely be hearing the identical arguments again when I am denied the “right” to marry my dog.

G. GORDON APPLE

Little Rock

An outdated contract

Today’s litigious society, along with the ACLU, has created a legal atmosphere which no longer allows a “marriage contract” to fulfill the legal requirements of relations between citizens. Therefore, I think a “civil union” contract should be issued by states instead of the current “marriage contract.”

The law needs to recognize the legal status of relations between adults other than just a women and man. Relations between adults of the same sex, or others, such as siblings, and adult child and parent who also support each other, must also be recognized.Legal restrictions and rights similar to those that now apply to marriage would also apply to a “civil union.”

The “marriage contract” would continue to meet its religious and social obligation, but not as a legal contract. This in no way would diminish the statue of marriage; it would only return it to its religious base.

JOHN CRAMM

Hot Springs Village

Humanity is lacking

I am married and my children are grown. I never faced the decision of whether or not to bear a child. I was in the enviable position of always seeing a way to provide, and was not abused in any way.

But I protest the Legislature passing laws which restrict the capacity for women to be able to seek abortions when they feel the need.

I also protest any attempts to defund Planned Parenthood. I have worked in an advocacy center where I did child abuse/neglect exams. I found that some of the best clinic referrals we got were from Planned Parenthood. They were the place where young teens in trouble could seek out competent, confidential and professional care. They assisted us in educating and empowering young people who did not have a competent parent to help them. If people want to decrease abortions in this state, they should seek to further fund these types of clinics, not defund them.

In addition, if you want to decrease abortion rates, then make this a more hospitable place to raise a child. End the poverty, hunger and lack of education that young women face when they become pregnant.

No one wants to raise a child in desperate circumstances, and no child would want the abuse, neglect and horrific life that many face when born into an unwanted situation. To force someone to be born into those circumstances is less than humane.

SUSAN NIMMO

Fayetteville

Rights being trampled

A recent letter from a pro-death advocate stated that the new abortion laws of Arkansas have placed the women of Arkansas “under attack.” How I wish those sharing this opinion could take a deep breath, fall to their knees, and look deep into their hearts and examine just who is and has been for the past 40 years seriously under attack.

Is murder of a child at home, at school, at the theater, or just out playing legal and acceptable in this country? Of course not. Where is a child’s first home? Can we not agree that it is the mother’s womb? And yet the Supreme Court has ruled this home is legal hunting grounds and placed at risk the most innocent among us, all for the purpose of convenience to someone whom the child has inconvenienced by his presence on this earth.

A popular political term being tossed around these days is “disenfranchisement.”

Have 50 million babies in this country been disenfranchised of their dreams, their hopes, their very lives-all in the name of convenience or rights? I propose that we all have rights, supreme among those being life, and that right has been trampled upon long enough.

JERRY MANNING

Maumelle

Editorial, Pages 15 on 04/02/2013

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