LETTERS

Academic failure perilous

The bombings at the Boston Marathon have made me realize something regarding the potential demise of the United States. It will not be brought about or even facilitated by terrorist activities. Such acts only make us stronger as a nation. The incredible reaction to the bombings by the city of Boston, and indeed by the entire nation, was inspirational and strengthening.

I predict that America will fall because of the failure of our academics to maintain superiority over the rest of the world, especially in the areas of science and math.

Respect for academic accomplishments in our nation is overshadowed by respect for athletic accomplishments. Expectation levels in pre-college and college education are lower than ever. Gratuitous C’s seem to be the order of the day. Whether a student has exhibited mastery of the material in a given course is less important than retention of that student in the system.

Nowadays, almost everyone has financial aid to attend the university. Going to college has become a rite of passage rather than a privilege.

A few years ago, the following phrase emerged, describing modern American students: “They’re not dumb, they’re just different.” Apparently, “different” means unable to read and write at a respectable level, unable to perform simple calculations, and generally disrespectful of the learning environment.

I respect the dwindling number of good, hardworking American students, and rue the fact that they have to share the classroom with the “different” students.

FRED WATSON

Conway

Good reason for pride

Congratulations to Paul Greenberg and David Barham for winning the 79th National Headliner Award for editorial writing.

Y’all are another reason to be proud of Arkansas. Crystal Bridges, E. Fay Jones, Garvan Gardens, the beauty of the natural state, and the quiet, humble people of the state who love these editorials. There is hope.

However, don’t put your light under the basket. Try the front page instead of page 12. Thank you.

MIKE BROWN

Redfield

Keep bad guys away

My prayers go out to the families who have suffered the loss of loved ones because irresponsible people with no regard or respect for human life used guns to kill people.

I am definitely for keeping our Second Amendment right to own and bear arms. Good, law-abiding citizens don’t kill people, and if our right to own guns come to an end, then look out. The bad guys will have a field day if we can’t protect ourselves and our families.

People die in car wrecks every day, but I haven’t heard anything about banning cars. I applaud the politicians who are fighting for those of us who own guns for hunting, protection and sport shooting.

We basically let one person take prayer out of our schools. What’s happened to majority rule?

RON CHAMBLISS

Lincoln

Show our acceptance

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers pour to the innocent victims in Boston. Arkansans hope all those closely touched by this will find the deepest strength to be empowered through the sorrow and rehabilitation.

Thank you to Arkansas for being a state that embraces our multicultural neighbors. Too many innocent people continue to be victimized and harassed in America since the tragedy.

Having brown skin does not make someone a terrorist. Being Muslim does not make someone a terrorist. I am a Christian of European descent and can promise that I have no interest in resurrecting the violence of the Crusades. Nor did I personally cause any violence by criminals in America simply because I was born in this country.

May we continue to show the rest of America what our justice system truly means. Let the violence be contained with the terrorists, and end with the terrorists.

DAPHNE TERRY

Little Rock

Linchpin of freedom

To be ignorant concerning humans’ vast abilities to solve problems and adjust to life’s hurdles is unconscionable, even more so for elected officials. Knee-jerk reaction to calamities likely results in stupid legislation. So it seems with our president’s attempts to whip the public into a frenzy, apparently in hopes of forcing Congress to negate the Second Amendment.

Should Congress actually legislate controls on the public’s right to bear arms, I believe a black market will immediately arise, selling arms outside the law. Homeowners would become prime targets for thieves to break in and steal guns knowing they may have to kill those who would attempt to stop them. Problems much more serious than the one perceived to exist will be created.

Given our success in stopping drug proliferation over time, I think it’s unreasonable to believe enforcement would be successful. And what sane policeman would give up his personal weapons? And will convicted drug dealers be released from prisons to make room for the many offenders of new gun laws should enforcement actually occur?

The Second Amendment is the linchpin of personal freedom. Once negated, freedom of the individual to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness would immediately evaporate. Any whittling away of it is a direct threat to each and every one of us and much more detrimental to all than the sum of all calamities we’ve known involving firearms.

JIMMIE TREWITT

Ward

Less like our America

OK, let’s cheat granny out of her promised Social Security (based on her lifetime of hard work and payments into the system) living-expense adjustment of $600 per year over the next few years and let her choose between eating beans instead of hamburger, or buying her medicine, all so huge U.S. corporations like GE can continue to enjoy their billion-dollar-plus annual tax credits while they avoid paying income taxes, and Wall Street bankers can keep having their trough filled with free money (creating the inflation that squeezes granny’s budget to start with), and the rich never have to go back to the Clinton-era tax rates so they can buy a bigger yacht. Everybody wins, except granny.

Sounds great to me. We could start a reality TV series for the entertainment of the wealthy. We could call it Will Granny Survive. The cameras could look in on different little apartments each week across our wonderful country to enjoy the fun when America’s senior citizens get evicted, or hungry, or become homeless or kill themselves when their situation finally becomes hopeless. Done right, the networks could even set up a betting pool to allow the rich to profit betting on the day of each featured person’s demise.

So in today’s America, we are willing and eager to cheat seniors out of a $50 a month expense adjustment to appease the Republicans and strike a “grand bargain” while corporations continue to get billion-dollar tax credits? This is looking less like my America every day, I am sad to say.

JACK STONE

Holiday Island

Making better citizens

Dana Kelley was on to something when he advocated something like a universal national service program draft in a recent column. He suggested it would be a rite of passage for young people. I agree, but it’s more than that. It would make better citizens of the rest of us.

When I was serving back in the ’70s, I suspected that abolishing the draft was a mistake. Our people had raised Holy Ned over Vietnam, and I was wondering if that would have happened without the draft. Judging by current events, I’d say no.

While “skin in the game” is not my favorite metaphor, it contains a lot of truth. It was a powerful incentive to hold our policymakers accountable 40 years ago, and I think it would be again.

CARI KING

Pocahontas

Time to come home

I have never witnessed a more gutless performance by an elected official than Mark Pryor’s “no” vote on the gun-control bill recently before the Senate. I expected such a performance from our junior senator. I did not expect it from Pryor.

When an elected official becomes more concerned with preserving his seat than with voting for what is good and right and true for our country, then it is time for that elected official to come home. My guess is, in 2014, the voters of Arkansas will vote to bring Pryor home.

LEWIS T. SEE JR.

Bryant

Will hurt middle class

The Great Recession devastated the middle class. The average American family’s net worth plummeted by nearly 40 percent in three years. For many black citizens, the losses were even more striking.

The unfortunate reality is that many middle-income blacks are simply not served by many financial institutions. I see it every day as a financial services representative and entrepreneur. Almost half of black workers don’t have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan, which is why opening an individual retirement account is important. Unfortunately, the Department of Labor is considering a rule that experts believe will make it harder for middle-income blacks to gain access to affordable retirement education and advice.

I’ve seen many blacks’ confidence and savings grow when they work with financial representatives to better plan their family budgets. The new rule being considered by the Labor Department could put that in jeopardy by forcing many families to either fend for themselves or pay higher fees for education and advice.

The government should be doing everything it can to help the middle class recover and save for retirement. The department fiduciary initiative would do just the opposite by reducing access and increasing costs at a time when the American family can least afford it.

Sen. Mark Pryor should help Arkansas middle-class families and our economy by preventing new regulations that decrease access to IRAs and affordable retirement education and advice.

MARK GOODLOW

Pine Bluff

That’s where cash is …

I don’t tweet, but I enjoy chatting with the dead. Recently, I asked Willie Sutton why we should tax the rich.

“Because that’s where the money is,” he replied.

JOHN R. PIAZZA

Bethel Heights

Feedback

Right isn’t absolute

It goes without question that the Constitution of the United States grants us the right to free speech. It is also universally accepted that, in fact, that right to free speech is subject to reasonable restrictions. (The obvious, yelling “fire” in a crowded theater, comes to mind.)

How is it, then, that the constitutional right to keep and bear arms, that is seemingly granted for the express purpose of maintaining a “well regulated militia,” is deemed by some to be absolute and not subject to any restrictions whatsoever?

Guns do not kill people, people kill people. I must agree. However, if the gun had not been readily available, the killing may very well not have occurred.

RICHARD PICARD

Cabot

Toward democracy

It seems to me that it would be more democratic if candidates for political office were limited to accepting contributions only from residents in their jurisdiction.

That would keep fat cats like the Koch brothers from buying elections, and we could get rid of the current collection of do-nothing congressmen with which we are currently burdened.

JOHN F. JENNINGS

Wilburn