LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Meanings muddled

Words mean things. Misuse of words changes meanings.

Reporters using “democratic” instead of “democrat” imply different things. One is a noun, the other is an adjective. Republicans are democratic, independents are democratic, Tea Partiers are democratic, even Democrats are democratic, but to refer to a person as Democratic Representative so-and-so is misleading.

Newspapers are a source of education, so you should get it right for your readers.

JOAN YVONNE MILLER Scott Responsibility is hers

Katrina King recently wrote of being “completely flabbergasted over the conservative views regarding birth control.” It seems that she just can’t believe that the conservative members of our state and country are not eager to pay for and/or provide protection and resolution to indiscriminate sex outside wedlock.

She warns that the loss of birth control and abortion could set us back to the pre-20th Century if conservatives are successful in denying these “rights.” Actually, I wouldn’t mind being set back in respect to how we view sex outside wedlock. Why should those who believe that God created sex for marriage have to pay for people who don’t have those beliefs? Why shouldn’t those who want to have sex outside of marriage pay for the protection and/or deal with the aftermath?

As an American, I believe it is my responsibility to pay taxes for those who are unable to provide food and clothing for their family. No way do I feel that I should pay taxes so that people who do not respect God’s laws and my beliefs can participate in sex outside marriage. Frankly, I am “ completely flabbergasted” that anyone thinks we should.

One last thing, in the matter that if we stopped providing funding for abortions, society would have to pay for all the orphans that would be produced-maybe childless Americans could adopt American children instead of having to travel to foreign countries. Sex has a cost and that cost should be borne by the participants. If you want to have sex, have it on your dime, not mine.

PHARRIS KNIGHT Maumelle Messages inconsistent

I find it very ironic that we single handedly sell people drugs that have the potential to kill them. What’s the point of telling children to stay off drugs when we offer them in almost every store?

Smoking is a horrible addiction that kills thousands of people, while extremely affecting others who don’t smoke. Nicotine will take over every aspect of a person’s life. I’ve known smokers who take “smoke breaks” in 20-minute intervals.

The thing that irritates me most is how hypocritical we are. Schools love to have red-ribbon week, bring in motivational speakers, and preach about the dangers of smoking. For what? All that does is give children the thought of rebellion and acting out.

We are Americans and we are better than that.

It’s simple-take tobacco off the shelves or stop acting like you care. Stay consistent.

Tobacco companies shouldn’t be able to take our money and, furthermore, take our lives.

JOHN CHUNN SherwoodArkansas case study

Higher education has become ridiculous. We have created the notion that the only way to be successful in life is through higher education. We have begun to judge ourselves by the number of high school students we send on to two- and four-year colleges. As a result, we have begun to guide students to higher education who have no business being there.

Arkansas is a perfect example. We brag about sending two-thirds of our high school graduates on to higher education. Once they arrive there, half require remediation. Of the high school graduates entering college, only around one-quarter graduate in six years. More students allow colleges to justify increasing staff (and, consequentially, tuition) to support these students.

A larger problems lies in the money we provide for this education. Our lottery scholarship, while a good idea, is a model of wasteful spending. We provide funds to students who score 19 on the ACT while the state average is 20. We are giving students who are considered marginal for success in higher education money for that education without likelihood of success. We then scream that we have a crisis of funding the scholarships and have been forced to revamp the system.

We are seeing the effects of demand-side economics. The more the demand, the greater the cost becomes. In this case, it means more taxpayer money is needed to support the system, and the cycle repeats itself. It only ends when the whole system collapses.

STEVE LaVERGNE MalvernMust not hold tongue

I am deeply concerned about clergy silence on the worldwide persecution of Christians. This problem was addressed by U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., recently in a letter to nearly 300 Protestant and Catholic leaders. Congressman Wolf detailed evidence of the persecution and called on these leaders to speak out on behalf of the victims. The persecution is especially severe in North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Pakistan, Egypt and Afghanistan and has been verified by several organizations.

American pastors face crucial questions: Do they have empathy for persecuted fellow believers? Will they demonstrate compassion by speaking out against this persecution, advocating governmental intervention and encouraging church members to pray for the persecuted? Or, will they yield to fear and remain silent? Congressman Wolf reminded pastors of the Proverbs instruction to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

I hope pastors also ponder the words of the courageous German pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil. God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” STEPHEN L. CLARK Little Rock