LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Ignorance promoted

Karl Marx once stated that religion is the opiate of the people. My belief is that the true opiate of the people is not so much religion as it is a combination of mindless entertainment, comfortable routine and encouraged ignorance.

Mindless entertainment and comfortable routine have worked in unison for the past few generations to perpetuate a form of apathy that a large portions of Americans refuse to wean themselves from. The ever-so evolving media is on a constant quest to mold the masses into rejecting that life is all about choices dependent upon attitude, but more so to the notion of a right to a lack of self-discipline that is limited, if not free of, negative consequences.

Encouraged ignorance is simply political correctness. Politically correct lingo is basically the fear of putting your true self into your own words when you may be in the presence of those who fear the truth. Fortunately, the medical community recognizes cancer as deadly, rather than a group of cells with a differing opinion protected by their right to an assembly. And the right to denial is plain to see.

In a nutshell, this is a simplified explanation of liberalism and its method of progression.

It’s evident to me that Karl Marx shunned God for the sake of something that can only work if people were perfect, which is plain to see otherwise. And besides, how possible is it for any man to make the claim to hold the keys to any salvation in a fallen world without God? Go figure.

HEATH BREAUX

Greenbrier

Fighting losing battle

Henry Ford had two game-changing innovations in manufacturing. The assembly line we remember and still use. The other idea was that the people building the products his company made should earn enough to allow them to buy those products. That one we are losing.

When new factories are so automated that very few people work in them, who is supposed to buy the products they roll out?

ROY LYNN VAIL

Mena

More than we ‘know’

In 1976, a friend of mine and his father buried a number of their guns in their field, because they “knew” that if Jimmy Carter were elected president, all of the guns in America would be confiscated.

I wonder how that worked out. I guess I’ll check a history book sometime to put my mind at ease.

The current hysteria over any sort of gun legislation also makes one consider the election of 1800, when supporters of John Adams had many gullible Americans believing that they should hide their Bibles in their wells, or bury them in their back gardens, for Thomas Jefferson was sure to take them all and burn them.

I guess that’s why I can’t find one in any bookstores today.

A 21st Century myth tells us that mass shootings don’t happen very often. This will be pleasant news indeed for all those who have lost loved ones in shootings in factories, post offices, office buildings, hair salons, malls, government buildings and yes, Virginia, schools.

Mass shootings may be “rare,” but mass readings are even more so.

RICHARD S. DRAKE

Fayetteville

The veil’s been lifted

Dana Kelley is to be commended for tearing off the diaphanous veil that historically hid the real purpose for weapons like assault rifles with large magazines. Any gun control has hitherto been opposed in order to preserve the rights to hunting and self-defense, issues hard to square with ersatz AK-47s. (What are you hunting or protecting against, Alien or Predator?)

The truth is often shrouded by code words, such as “watering the tree,” from a Thomas Jefferson quote. Second Amendment wording about militias’ true function is ignored; some instead use it to claim the right to maintain arsenals with heavy firepower to be able to counter our elected government and its agents, specifically local and state police and the U.S. military.

If it weren’t so dangerous for the innocent, it would be laughable. These “patriots” think their stores will enable them to oppose any action, law or judgment they deem unsuitable. It may be useful to remind these crypto-insurrectionists that they want to take on the best military force in the world, that Gitmo is full of people who hate American democracy, and that, should they survive the initial onslaught, they will join their anti-democratic brethren.

Now the veil is torn away, the debate is much clearer. Do we want to abet insurrection? Should we as a nation allow these people access to inappropriate weapons, or should we support the rule of law and limit firearms with reasonable and appropriate controls?

ANGELO TURTURRO

North Little Rock

A dangerous invasion

Fourth Amendment to the Constitution: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

People are in a constant stir about the Second Amendment for fear that the government will come for their guns. This is a hot-button issue used by politicians to inflame certain segments of the population.

It is not happening now, nor is it likely to happen.

However, I believe a much more serious violation of constitutional rights happens daily: violation of the Fourth Amendment. Last week we saw the trial of a person arrested subsequent to a search of his vehicle after failure to give a proper turn signal. Routinely the local papers report arrest of people after finding a small amount of marijuana in their vehicle as the result of a search following a traffic stop.

As much as we would like to see drug use curtailed, we should not allow routine traffic stops with search and seizure as a means of control. I believe this issue is a much more dangerous invasion of your constitutional rights than gun control.

DAVID O. RAULS

Nashville

Director’s apologist?

Wally Hall has again proven himself unable to be an unbiased reporter with his recent column about Jeff Long. He would appear to be a Jeff Long apologist, but perhaps I am simply misreading his intentions.

Wally’s apparent love affair with everything Jeff reminds me of a young puppy’s love affair with whoever feeds him.

JOHN LEONARD

Fayetteville