LETTERS

— New year, new focus

Another year has come and gone, and I am one step closer to the Lord.

Some things from 2012 that I have thought about over the last few days: Why was everyone in such an uproar over the use of medical marijuana when thousands are dying from alcohol-related deaths? Alcohol destroys families, it costs jobs, and kills innocent people on the highways and creates disease that leads to death. Why aren’t people that focused on banning alcohol?

In the political ring, I couldn’t believe that more people were interested in entitlements than prosperity for our country. I looked at the blue and red on the map at election time and thought it sure takes a lot of red to pay for the blue. I know in the coming governor’s race in a couple of years that I can’t vote for a man who would break his holy vow to his wife only two years into the marriage and expect us to trust him.

I wonder who Barack Obama will lay blame on for this term?

I think of Sandy Hook and it brings tears to my eyes and makes me wonder when we are going to admit that God needs to be back in our schools. I personally thought the NRA’s idea of armed guards at schools was excellent.

In 2013, I hope parents will take their kids to church on Sundays. If they don’t learn that Jesus is real in church or home, there are many out there willing to lead them to sin and deny that God exists.

God bless, and I pray for a wonderful 2013 for all.

MIKE JENKINS

North Little Rock

Death far from pretty

A recent letter from Gary Garner ranted on about how God was all over the place at the Sandy Hook school massacre. Garner said proof of God was there in the bullet-ridden walls, on the blood-stained floors and he even said that angels were sitting on everybody’s shoulders.

Fluffing up such a horrific tragedy by trying to make it look pretty when it certainly isn’t pretty really does rub me the wrong way, and I find it so offensive.

If I was one of those unfortunate parents and someone came up rambling such stuff as what Garner wrote, then I would be intensely angry, especially if I had spent my lost child’s life teaching him that God was supposed to be a loving and protective entity.

What really was in that school building was a bunch of live Earth angels in euphoric anticipation for Christmas which was getting so near.

What wasn’t in that school building was 26 guardian angels of people who ended up on the wrong end of a very vicious gun, which was in the hands of an extremely immature adult who wasn’t weaned away from gun-shooting video games.

I think movies likeRed Dawn,which is about shooting young schoolkids, give these gun-crazy nuts ideas about where to attack for best shock value.

But it sure doesn’t make God look very good to say he was in the same building that evil was in and that he allowed such a thing as what happened to have occurred.

GARY McLEHANEY

Benton

Idea taxing patience

Fort Smith plans on using a part of the recent state sales-tax increase to build new sidewalks within the city. I don’t doubt the sidewalks are needed, but I don’t believe we voted the tax increase for sidewalks.

The ballot title said “state highways, county roads, city streets, bridges and other surface transportation.” Do sidewalks fall under “other surface transportation”? I didn’t understand it to be that. I was under the impression that the use for the tax was for improvement of roadways for vehicles.

I have also read that some local officials are moving budgeted money from streets and replacing it with sales-tax revenue. This was not the intent of the tax amendment. The budget should remain the same, with the tax increase to be added so that improvements that would not otherwise be done could be accomplished. If that gives the city more money than needed for streets, turn it back to the state to be used on major highways.

That’s a problem with any tax increase. Give our politicians more money and they will find a way to spend it, even if it’s not needed.

This is to be a temporary tax. Do you really believe that?

ROBERT HARMON

Bentonville

Tips for better world

Re the Newtown, Conn., massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Dec. 14, 2012: Here are 26 random acts of kindness for each of the murder victims.

(1) Drive the speed limit. (2) Stop tailgating. (3) Do not run through yellow caution lights. (4) Use your seat belt. (5) Stop littering. (6) Turn on your headlights in inclement weather. (7) Slow down and save gas. (8) Keep some battery cables in your car. (9) Don’t text and drive. (10) Don’t keep valuables in your car. (11) Lock your car at night. (12) Drive around the turtle in the road. (13) Dress decently without the latest styles. (14) Lock up your guns. (15) Parents, go to a PTA meeting and hug your kids and give them a compliment sometime. (16) Stop bullying. (17) Say something positive to another student or co-worker who’s not too popular. (18) Don’t let your dog poop in someone else’s yard. (19) Tell your spouse you love them every day. (20) Listen to another person and learn something. (21) Give your unused items to charity. (22) Let someone with fewer items go ahead of you in the store. (23) Parents, teach your kids right from wrong and take them to church. (24) Buy a special gift for your spouse for a nonspecial day. (25) Compliment your spouse on their clothes, hair, grocery shopping or cooking. (26) Tell veterans that you respect them for serving our country.

And one more: (*27) To the persona non grata who did this heinous crime against humanity, “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

THOMAS F. KNIGHT

Little Rock

Driven over the edge

Word comes that the government is contemplating taxing us for how many miles we drive each year. We need to mount a great collective scream to Washington.

You don’t need any more revenue. Quit wasting the money we’ve given you.

STEVE WILSON Hot Springs Village

Was a job well-done

To all of you power and electric companies: Blessings and thank you for jobs well-done. Love all of you.

ANNIE NELSON Little Rock

Editorial, Pages 17 on 01/09/2013

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