LETTERS

Wave flag on that play

Re the recent editorial about Eureka Springs: For the record, I did not call anyone a “Nazi,” and my comments were mine only.

When Bill Bowden, a reporter at the paper, rang me, I said that “dozens of flags reminded me of national socialism” and further stated that “you don’t have to wave a flag to be patriotic.” I also stated that the U.S. flag is displayed prominently on Memorial Day, Veterans Day (formerly Armistice Day), Flag Day (June 14, if anyone cares to know), the Fourth of July, as well as year-round in all sorts of places. Mine was one of the very few houses in Eureka Springs that had a U.S. flag out on our national Flag Day.

I also noted that the U.S.A. has specific traditions of proper flag-keeping and wondered if those traditions would be kept, or if the flags were to simply be raised and left there.

However-and I don’t believe any student of history would disagree-flags on every pole is a hallmark of fascist regimes. If one looks at old photos of Nazi Germany, that’s what you see. So, to me, it is a bit creepy to see flags waving on every pole, especially since I’ve known some dear people who suffered miserably during the Holocaust at the hands of extreme nationalists.

Be that as it may, to each his own. Merry Christmas to all. And, Chanukah Sameach.

MARTY COGAN

Eureka Springs

Government necessity

I enjoy reading John Brummett. He irritates the dickens out of me with, I believe, his wrong-headed political outlook. We are polar opposites usually. Apparently, he thinks government should take care of (control) everything and free government money solves all problems. I believe government should stay out of my life and let me make my own decisions (as long as I don’t hurt anyone), and quit taking money out of my pocket.

Government is a necessity. I believe politics and politicians who practice today are an abomination. As long as you have people like me and Mr. Brummett (forever), politics are absolutely necessary, though. Negotiation and compromise are the tools of government. When you have both sides saying, “I will not negotiate. Do it my way or I’ll shut everything down,” then “of the people, by the people, for the people” becomes meaningless.

Proper use of tools determines whether you do a good job. Politicians are ridiculous. According to surveys, the worst insult you can give is to call a person a politician.

Do you remember, “Ask not what your country can do for you”? How about this one: “… that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The only solution to politics as usual is the ballot box. Government by the people must be re-established.

Mr Brummett, keep up the good work.

People, learn how to think again.

HENRY COOPER

Rogers

Pryor’s commitments

Is it my imagination, or are we seeing a lot more of our illustrious Sen. Mark Pryor, both in our local and national news?

Must be re-election time!

ED FERREE

Deer

Ohio State deserves it

As the college football season winds down, it appears as if the Ohio State Buckeyes might play for the national championship. Even though they went undefeated last year when they were not bowl-eligible, they could have been forgiven had they lost a bit of focus and passion. Even though they are undefeated this year, many seem to doubt their ranking. As Mr. “Tell It Like It Sometimes Is” Wally Hall so eloquently put it in a column expressing sympathy for Baylor for not jumping Ohio State in the rankings, “few people outside of that beautiful little state feel the Buckeyes deserve a shot at the BCS Championship because of their schedule.” After this past weekend, SEC folks have simply substituted Auburn for Baylor. Thus, Auburn’s AD remarked that it would be “a disservice to college football” if the Buckeyes trumped a single-loss SEC team for the championship game berth.

Quite so. The Buckeyes played a very weak schedule compared to the SEC. They could have had to play such powerhouses as Virginia Tech, Colorado State, Kentucky, Arkansas and Chattanooga. That’s a schedule worthy of a No. 1 team. That’s Alabama’s schedule.

As a graduate of Ohio State transplanted to Arkansas some decades ago, I have come to love this state and the South. But constant harping on the Olympian superiority of the SEC grows somewhat tiresome-sort of like Paul Greenberg’s periodic riffs on “The Song of the South.” It’s time the BCS folks darken their computers and employ a little common sense. Given the current standings, should Ohio State win out and not play in the championship game, that would be the real disservice to the game.

STEWART DIPPEL

Clarksville

More ideas for coach

I was reading that a company owned by Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn wants to trademark the name of a type of play he crafted called “Hurry Up, No Huddle,” referred to as HUNH. I’m not quite sure how to pronounce it, nor do I think it would fit well in a football cheer.

At the time, I thought the style was somewhat reminiscent of the way John Elway, quarterback of the Denver Broncos, used to win a game he seemingly had no chance of winning. Somehow, Elway would score as many points necessary in two minutes to win the game. This got me thinking there may be other phrases that he might be interested in, based on Auburn’s last two victories.

First, there was the INIDRT, known as the “Immaculate Near Interception Deflection for a Reception Touchdown” that propelled Auburn to a victory over Georgia at the end of that game. Now, of course, everyone is talking about the NSD1SDFGAIRPT, or the “Nick Saban Demanded 1 Second Deficient Field Goal Attempt for an Immaculate Reception Possession Touchdown,” resulting in a 109-yard return score against No. 1 ranked Alabama on the last reviewed play of the game. I am pretty sure that last one won’t fit in a cheer no matter how hard they try, even though the Auburn Nation will remember it for eternity.

I have only spent a few minutes on Facebook in my life, but if Coach Malzahn will friend me, we can discuss the MDCIAWSP, or my “Million Dollar Commission for his Immaculate Award Winning Season Precision.” Now that would be something to cheer about! Congratulations and salutations to Coach Gus Malzahn and the Auburn Tigers.

STEVE HOOVER

Sheridan