LETTERS

LITTLE ROCK — Ship must be righted

There is a movie, and I cannot recall the name, but in this movie a luxury liner turns upside down. When this happens everything on the inside is totally opposite to what it should be. The floor is the ceiling and ceiling is the floor.

This is a very good picture of how our government looks today. The Constitution is being shredded, basic human values are not as they once were. Marriage has become a mockery and gay rights are moved to high priority. If we are to regain the status of a God-fearing nation, things must change and this change must take place in the hearts of the American people. Talking about what is wrong will not correct what is wrong. Until we are on our knees before an almighty God begging for forgiveness of our national sins, I just do not see things improving. My parents taught me the value of working for an honest day’s wage, but today much of what I hear is “give me, give me.” Have we become a “give me” society? Should we not be a working society with a mindset to help those in need? No, I do mean give them what they want, but what they need.

Why are our elected government officials still giving billions to countries that do not even like us while many Americans are going hungry? How is it that we can advertise the saving of animals and encourage the killing of babies? It is just plain wrong.

Our ship is upside down and until it is righted, I fear for this great country. May God have mercy on America, because our government will not.

FREDDY BOEN

Fordyce

Nation ruled by fear

The fear of the NRA is that President Barack Obama will make the military-type rapid-fire rifles illegal for private ownership.

My fear is that he won’t.

JOSEPH CORBA

Heber Springs

For health of the state

Shortly, the Arkansas Legislature will be making a huge decision for the state: Will Arkansas participate (opt in) or reject (opt out) of the opportunity to expand Medicaid in our state as allowed by the Affordable Care Act, and thus provide life changing and lifesaving basic health care for 250,000 currently uninsured residents?

“Opting in,” which is supported by all state health-care associations of doctors, hospitals and public-health professionals who have taken a public position, is funded at least 90 percent by federal money, thus benefiting our state’s economy, state and local budgets and health outcomes, all without increasing taxes on Arkansans, compared with “opting out.”

It is a rare opportunity to simultaneously benefit our people and our pocketbooks, but requires a 75 percent vote of our lawmakers. Please join me in contacting our legislators and encouraging them to do the right thing for Arkansas. And vote to “opt in.”

CLARK FINCHER

Searcy

Clark Fincher is governor of the Arkansas chapter of the American College of Physicians.

Appearances concern

I worked for Memphis Publishing Company for almost four years during the 1960s when I was in college. This company published two different papers daily, morning and afternoon. Cold type had not come on the scene yet, so I have first hand knowledge and an appreciation for the tremendous dedication, effort and expense it takes to publish even one large newspaper-and make a profit.

Of course, cold type initially improved profitability. I have no idea today if this is still true. I do know that income from paid circulation has not been a strong profit center for dailies for years and paid advertising has carried the load.

I have been a loyal subscriber for years-first the Gazette and the Democrat, and now the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. It would be very disturbing for me if the paper were to fold.

I say all of this because I know there are always circulation challenges with a lot of turnover and customer complaints. I noticed in a recent paper that there were more than 20 classified ads for mostly circulation positions with your paper. I hope this is not an indication of the demise of a newspaper that, I think, is worth more than what I pay for my seven-days-a-week newspaper.

Say it isn’t so, Joe.

ROGER STOUT

Little Rock

Won’t change minds

You know, Al Case has a right to be an atheist. He even has a right to voice his opinion that there is no one true God, but he doesn’t have a right to call me and millions of others basically stupid because we do believe in one God.

Case can go on and on every month in this paper that we who believe in Jesus Christ are no different than others who believed in Greek gods. Well, I’m here to tell you he is flat-out wrong and I won’t let some supposedly intellectual nitwit tell me I’m wrong.

You see, there is one thing that Case and others like him can’t explain, and that’s a personal relationship we Christians have with Jesus Christ. We don’t believe in a myth or idol. We have been transformed because of his love and we know his existence just as sure as we know Case will write another anti-Christianity letter if he lives long enough.

Millions of people have asked Jesus to come into their lives and he has done so. He has shown them his love and healed them. They don’t just believe in him, they know him, and a million Al Cases will never be able to take that away.

So Case can go on and live his life in misery with all of his ranting and raving, but he will never change the mind of someone who knows the Lord. Christians should pray for Al Case. I can think of no better testimony than to have Case write in this paper about how Jesus saved him, can you?

MIKE DAVIS

Maumelle

Wasn’t man she knew

I suppose the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette found it necessary to print the story about Msgr. Royce Thomas being dismissed as a Catholic priest. However, I think it would have been better to have omitted the quote from the bishop.

Surely there was a better picture in your archives than the one included with the story; this is not the Msgr. Thomas that I know. He would always be in front of the church greeting the parishioners before and after mass with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face. He was a good priest and a good man.

ANN HOFFMANN

Little Rock