LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Beliefs and facts different

Bradley Gitz is correct in claiming there is “all the difference in the world” between Hillary Clinton’s alleged prevarication on behalf of the Obama administration and George W. Bush’s alleged falsehoods which led to the deaths of 4,000 Americans and tens of thousand of Iraqi civilians. But he is not right about much else.

His argument which calls Clinton a liar while in the same breath exonerating Bush is based not on evidence, but on innuendo. The fact is that there exists no concrete evidence that Clinton and the Obama administration intentionally created a false-but politically palatable-explanation for the events in Benghazi. Gitz just apparently believes this to be the case. Belief is not a replacement for actual facts. Gitz also believes that Bush and his neocon entourage really thought Saddam Hussein had nuclear and chemical weapons of mass destruction; therefore, he argues, Bush didn’t lie, he was merely acting on false information. Sadly, Gitz’s belief in this theory does not constitute evidence either.

What we are left with is that we don’t really know if Clinton and/or Bush actually lied. All we know is that in one case, an incorrect assessment of a situation was put forth after four Americans had died in a terrorist attack; while in the other an incorrect assessment led to thousands of American and Iraqi deaths. And between these two scenarios, there is indeed a world of difference that Gitz’s petty sophistry can neither reverse nor erase.

ALEX MIRONOFF

Fayetteville

Tragic consequences

Jason Rapert, state legislator and gynecological expert, has informed us that he knows that life begins at conception, and that a heartbeat can be detected at six to eight weeks of pregnancy. That is until a couple of weeks later when he apparently had an epiphany that said it was at 12 weeks.

I wonder what his pronouncement will be on this tomorrow.

Rapert also seems to think that every pregnancy ends magically with a healthy baby popping out to loving parents. He ignored the testimony of actual gynecological experts who informed him that his one-size-fits-all, big-government solution could have some tragic consequences for pregnant women.

Would a pregnant woman with a dying fetus have to wait until her own infection became life-threatening for termination? How about a woman who discovers she has cancer and might die if treatment is delayed?

These are desperate decisions a woman and her doctor need to make. But Rapert wants to decide these things for your wives, sisters and daughters-because he knows.

What incredible hubris.

CARLA BERROYER

Hot Springs Village

Something to nurture

Biology 101 was the closest I got to medical school, but I don’t think I need that degree to know when something/someone is alive. It occurs when the male part joins the female part, be it petunia, trout, man, chicken, tiger, etc. I may hurl my cookies the next time I hear the term “woman’s choice.” The woman had a choice when she chose to have unprotected sex, and what some seem to consider a blob began to develop. If it wasn’t living, it wouldn’t be growing. At what point does it become something to be saved and nurtured? If it is in the blob stage, it still horrifies me think of its being thrown into the trash with the other medical waste.

That tissue might have been a scientist who had it in his power to find the cure of cancer, a composer of great music or a person meant to love someone who is all alone in the world. I could make a very long list of people I thank God for who did not choose to treat that tissue as an inconvenience and kill it, but I’ll make do with a short one: the mothers of Albert Schweitzer, Billy Graham, Walt Disney, Michelangelo, my mother-in-law and my own mom. The world would be a lesser place if their babies had not been born. I can see the need for abortions in cases of rape, incest and to save the mother’s life. It’s still killing but at least there’s a valid reason for it.

Even though we Christians seem to be getting quieter during these times, this is still a Christian nation and we should act like one, especially when it comes to protecting our most vulnerable members.

MARTY HENRY

Malvern

Laws won’t aid safety

After reading Leslie Putman’s recent letter, I am convinced that he and at least quite a few in the teaching profession are Democrats, and he at least is very gullible. They seem to fall for the old Democrat talking points about making more gun laws and getting rid of the “assault weapons” to make us safer. He must surely know that true assault, fully automatic firearms have been largely against the law going back at least to the 1930s.

I believe none of the recent murders of our precious children could have been prevented unless someone with a gun was there to confront the deranged nut and either kill him or take him into custody. There is no way to keep a criminal from getting a gun in a free society that has some 300 million guns around the nation, but you can stop him if someone such as an armed guard is there with a gun before he can kill so many of the innocent children in the room. He might even prevent him from killing anyone at all.

If I were Mr. Putman, I would be careful about letting it be known that I did not have any way to defend myself.

HAROLD HICKS

Mabelvale

To help her recovery

Now that Hillary Clinton has some spare time to rest and recuperate, maybe the Kennedys can lend her Teddy’s old neck brace.

Not, of course, that it makes any difference now.

DON SHORT

Farmington

Start preparing early

Arkansas is currently ranked 49th in the nation in terms of adults who have a bachelor’s degree, and the college graduation rates are among the lowest in the nation.

This is a frightening prospect for a high school student, such as myself, who hopes to get into a good college and earn a degree in Arkansas.

Lack of financial aid and inadequate preparation are major problems among current and prospective Arkansas college students. Although increasing the scholarships awarded to students in financial need would be a great step, it would also be very costly. Creating new scholarships or even reforming current ones would take millions from the state budget.

The best and most cost-effective way to keep students in college would be to improve the current high school classes available.

Nearly half of all public-college students in Arkansas are placed in remediation, and those in remediation are less likely to graduate than their peers who are not. More college-level classes and supplementary help are necessary in high schools. Improving preparation would decrease the need for remediation and increase the number of students graduating each year.

Preventing a problem before it can even begin is the best method, I believe, and changing how high schools offer their classes would be less expensive and more effective in the long run.

VIVIAN LE

Hot Springs

When in wrong hands

Guns are U.S., one nation under God and the gun. The Second Amendment to our Constitution has been stretched by the gun extremists and gun manufacturers to suit their purpose of gun proliferation.

This is what it says: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.”

In the year 1776, arms consisted of single-shot muzzle-loading rifles and pistols, as well as bows and arrows and swords. These arms were necessary at that time, due to the need to kill game for food and defend against hostile Indians and the British. Today many think the need for arms seems to be defending themselves or property against each other or our government. This state now allows armed churchgoers.

Are we our own worst enemy?

The Second Amendment does not say that a citizen can be the judge, jury and executioner who can administer deadly force against another human being with the use of a gun, unless for the security of this country.

I am a gun owner and an Army veteran. The Supreme Court has affirmed repeatedly the right of law abiding citizens to own and responsibly use guns. The NRA and many gun extremists do not seem to believe the court and are hoarding mass-killing guns and ammunition.

Is this overkill paranoia?

Modern guns can and do engender mass killings when in the wrong hands.

RICHARD SNIVELY

Fayetteville

Keeps stirring the pot

Bradley Gitz needs to be pushed to do more deep and creative thinking. All he seems to do, like too many others, is stir the pot rather than employing resources and problem-solving in an objective, enlightening manner.

We get that he’s a right-wing conservative. So what? What does he have to offer besides complaints and biased commentary? We can all repeat ourselves ad infinitum, but that won’t get us anywhere we need to be.

Gitz’s column often evokes a response which may be the fulfillment of a purpose for these column writers, but I keep wondering why he doesn’t use his background and education more effectively.

Clearly some of the things we are doing in this country are good for some citizens and the country in general. Why doesn’t he talk about those? Some things we have done in the past have yielded unsatisfactory results. Why doesn’t he talk about where we need to go as a nation and the possibilities for achieving healthy goals?

The world needs change. Our country needs to change to fulfill the needs of its citizens and address the future adequately. You don’t keep doing the same things and expect different results.

He mentions lower population figures. That’s a desirable general outcome. What is it that we really need and how do we get it? Adding to the population creates problems.

KAY CARPENTER

Little Rock

Feedback

Project looks risky

Looking at our economy and the work’s economy, I think the new steel mill appears to be a bad investment at this time.

As a citizen of Mississippi County, I would not want my taxes spent on this project. If I were an Arkansas teacher, I would be scared to death about the state retirement system putting $60 million into this project as well.

We hope the Arkansas Legislature takes a very long appraisal of this venture before spending our tax money as well. Another steel mill in Northeast Arkansas at this time looks to be very risky.

EDWIN HOLSTEAD

Blytheville

Money, not rights

There is zero chance that our government will seize or ban our guns. If the second coming were to happen today and the first words our Lord spoke were, “I am the Lord your God and I want a gun ban in the U.S.,” we would not enact one.

Multitudes believe otherwise, thanks to the NRA and the gun industry. Not to dismiss the NRA; they have some good arguments. Unfortunately, it benefits them to create paranoia.

It’s more about money than rights.

JOHN CASEY

Fort Smith