LETTERS

Education for good of all

For many years, societies have searched for panaceas (i.e. cure-alls). Where education is concerned, the current panacea is claimed by some to be school “choice” and charter schools. Let’s be clear-everyone does deserve choice, but do we ever truly get a full choice? Progress and change are also great when for the good of all.

It is absolutely true that some students need alternate learning environments and curriculums, but not all-and definitely not under the guise of a failing public school. If charters truly did live by their mission of wanting to focus on all students, why would all students not choose to go to the so-called better school; and then, would we not be back to square one?

One difference would be the demographics. The public school would have special-education students, lower socioeconomic students, several minority groups, English learners, etc. (all of whom have to be educated the same); whereas, the charters would not have such an eclectic version. Another major difference is in what is being taught and how it is being taught; in public schools, teachers would be teaching the same general curriculum, in the same general manner, while the charters have a little more leniency and flexibility.

Maybe the panacea is not charters, but possibly the two simple differences mentioned above. Or better yet, maybe there is no panacea. Honestly, how many lower socioeconomic and minority students would choose not to go to these charter schools, or any school for that matter, if really given choices?

SHANE HAMPTON

Fayetteville

Misuse it, and lose it

Who decided the word “problem” had to go? Was it then-Sen. John Kerry who had issues with his hair, not problems? Rush had great fun with that.

Now, it’s on everyone’s lips; even the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette has picked it up in headlines: “More issues found at veterans home.” No, “More problems found at veterans home.”

The two words have very different derivations and definitions: Issue-from the Latin exire, to go out: a matter in dispute or disagreement; a point of debate or controversy; a result or conclusion. For instance, we speak of an issue at law, our progeny as issue, an issue of new currency or of a newspaper or magazine, an issue of great importance, etc.

Problem-from the Greek problema, something thrown forward: a question raised for inquiry, consideration, or solution; a source of perplexity; dealing with a problem of human conduct.

We speak of a problem child, and problems of all kinds to be solved: mathematical, marital, mechanical, mental, physical, societal, institutional-yes, even unruly hair.

Just as the word “gay” has been distorted by its misuse, so will befall the word “issue” if we fail of precision.

CATHERINE WILSON

Center Ridge

Euphemistic tactics

Our English language has evolved into something unrecognizable.

No one has problems any more, they have issues. Why does every paragraph begin with the word “like?” And of course when you say “know what I’m saying?” of course I do, if I’m listening. If you lose track of what your subject is, do you really have to preface the next sentence with “um?” If we end our conversation with “at the end of the day,” what happens in the morning or at noon? What’s wrong with saying “excuse me” or “I’m sorry” instead of “my bad?” And if a person has committed a crime why is it “inappropriate”-is that a way to turn down the intensity of what they have done?

And finally, why does every problem have to be laden with “forensics?”

DAVE STUFF

Little Rock

If only we had a ban

I read about the young man who went on a stabbing rampage at a Texas community college. He wounded 14 people before being subdued.

How long are we, as a nation, going to allow this carnage to continue before Congress has the guts to stand up to the National Knife Association and big knife manufacturers? Even though this kid stated he had a fantasy about such an attack since elementary school, this tragedy couldn’t be his fault. It is obviously the fault of the National Knife Association and American’s obsession with knives.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I support the right of the people to have butter knives and target-throwing knives, but something has got to be done about all those other knives that I personally don’t feel other people have a right to own.

Heck, the 9/11 hijackers used box-cutters to subdue the flight crews and murder 3,000 people. Why do we allow people to own box-cutters?

The National Knife Association ought to be ashamed for supporting the private ownership of these types of weapons that are only designed to kill people! Contact your senators and congressmen now and demand sensible and reasonable knife control.

KELLY McELYEA

Benton

Fear as a selling point

I used to be a gun nut-would have bought any type, not necessarily to shoot, but to collect. I got out of the NRA when it became clear to me that it was promoting fear of the government in order to collect yearly dues and make money.

The NRA and other organizations, along with people who don’t know who they are selling to, are partly responsible for the 300 million guns in the U.S. Schoolchildren should not have to have armed guards protecting them. If you own guns to shoot or to protect yourself, that’s okay.

The NRA is getting money not just from members’ dues but from people like the Koch brothers, according to Mother Jones.

Leaders like David Keene tell white lies about assault weapons being the same as other semiautomatic rifles. They are not. Crazy people love them and the power that assault weapons give them.

Comprehensive background checks should be required of every gun sale. If you want to exclude family transactions in order to get a bill passed, okay.

Wayne LaPierre of the NRA reminds me of Hitler and Stalin. He has the passion of both as he deceives and twists the truth.

STEVE WHEELER

North Little Rock

Don’t have authority

The press and TV have given me the impression that many people approve of same-sex marriage. I don’t care if the majority of mankind approves of it, they do not have the authority to declare that it is a good, moral act.

Doesn’t anyone remember the two cities that were destroyed because of this unnatural sin? If you think the world is in a mess now, you haven’t seen anything yet if we continue to call sin a virtue.

Doesn’t anyone read the Bible anymore or memorize the Ten Commandments of God? Do you parents watch what your children see on TV and their computers? If we don’t watch what our children are watching and the company they keep, we are all headed for a very hot place without end.

Pray that God will give us all the grace to obey our creator.

LAMBERT SMITH

Pocahontas

Trying to stop the tide

Arkansas just failed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment: “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.”

Our founding fathers chose to apply citizens’ rights only to property-owning white males when they created the Constitution. There were no women present during its writing. There are no women’s names on the Constitution. They were happily unaware of the fact that they were not equal under the Constitution. Thus, they were excluded.

All males-white, black, brown or gay-are equal under the Constitution while all females are not equal.

What is opposition to the ERA really all about? It is a frantic attempt to block, and then reverse, one of the most extraordinary and mighty tides of change in all of human history; the emergence, at last, of the long-suppressed women, half of the human race, to full and equal participation in society and the shaping of a better future for all.

ROSELINDA JOHNSON

Russellville

Insensitive ignorance

Shame on state Rep. Charlie Collins for using the term “crazies” to refer to the mentally ill. His use of this particularly insensitive term and one like it marred an otherwise articulate response to questions he answered while appearing on PBS’ Newshour.

This offensive term is often used by NRA spokesmen and by members of the Republican Party opposed to gun legislation. Mental illness is a sickness, not a choice, and referring to the mentally ill as “crazies” reflects ignorance and callousness. It is akin to racism as it is a slur against a large group of suffering Americans.

I’m willing to bet that, somewhere in Collins’ family tree, there is a victim of mental illness. Surely he wouldn’t refer to these family members as “crazies.”

GRIMSLEY GRAHAM

Rogers

TV stations failing job

Two thumbs up to Mike Masterson’s campaign to halt the potential devastation of our Buffalo National River by C&H Hog Farms’ 6,500-head farm.

Thumbs down to the Little Rock television stations for failing to extensively report on this pending disaster. They say they are on our side, but their silence means most Arkansans I speak with do not know that one of nature’s true gifts is under threat of irrevocable harm. Arkansas needs local television to step up to the plate and inform viewers of this pending crisis as unfortunately most of our citizens get their only news through the tube.

The loss of a little sausage advertising may hurt their bottom line, but Arkansas needs viewers to be informed.

ED HUDNALL

Bryant

Feedback

For all the marbles

Referring to a recent letter written by John Gray of Greenland, Mike Harnett also has a “disturbing revelation,” as I view it.

He quotes Gray’s comment regarding Karl Marx’s revelations that nobody will hire you if you don’t bring in more money than you are paid, and that small American farms of the 1880s were well-run.

His next paragraph is what confused me. His statement: “I don’t know about you, but I’m shocked and outraged at the suggestion that an employee should earn his keep by being productive at work.”

Surely he writes that in jest. Who in the world would hire someone that is not productive?

Or am I losing my marbles?

BILL BURK

Rogers

An endless supply

Patricia Nesiewicz of Rogers writes a nice letter about Nikita Khrushchev’s statement that our own working people will bury us. I agree with her about how this country has managed to slip into the ditches of degradation now that men are marrying men and women marrying women.

Patricia asks the question of where our population growth will come from. I think I can help her on that-Mexico.

JOHN FREY

Berryville