LETTERS

— River’s banks on horizon

The phrase “crossing the Rubicon” has never been more relevant than it is now.

Rome was master of the known world, and its legions had conquered everyone they had engaged in battle. It was the mightiest, most feared nation on earth.

Julius Caesar, in a defiant move, took his army into Italy proper by crossing the Rubicon River in 49 B.C. It was against an ancient Roman law to take a standing army from a province across the Rubicon into Italy. At the time, Caesar was quoted as saying, “The die is cast.” The result of his action was the start of a civil war and the ultimate downfall of the Roman Republic.

Thus began the transition to the Roman Empire, with Julius Caesar ultimately having himself declared emperor, which amounted to dictatorial powers. After this, the Roman Republic ceased to exist and freedoms under Roman law vanished, along with the viability of the Senate. In time, Rome itself would fall as a result of these actions.

I believe this current president has now come to his Rubicon. On the verge of crossing it, he has usurped the Congress time and time again and has shown disregard, if not defiance, in upholding both the Constitution and the laws of our nation, which he has sworn to uphold in his oath of office.

If Barack Obama “crosses the Rubicon,” I believe this nation, like Rome, will plunge into chaos and lawlessness, the likes of which we’ve never seen. The banks of the river are in sight.

LES BLEDSOE

North Little Rock

Two issues not same

We have subscribed to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette since before we moved to Arkansas almost four years ago. We were offended by the cartoon comparing gun violence to abortion. The two issues are separate. Murder by firearm is not legal, but whether you agree with it or not, a woman’s right to choose is the law of the land, albeit an extremely divisive one.

We own guns and have both been hunters in the past. We support reasonable and sensible restrictions on guns, including across-the-board background checks to purchase a firearm, a ban on assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazines, and centralized records of gun serial numbers to assist law enforcement officers when a gun is used in the commission of a crime.

When you purchase an automobile, you must register it, and that information is kept in a centralized data file. You must have a license to operate an automobile because of its destructive power. These laws protect the innocent.

How can we be less stringent on ownership and operation of firearms?

VERONICA and FARRIS CLARK

Bella Vista

Many died for rights

There are thousands of unknown places where the bones of service personnel lay decaying. The ocean floor is covered with sunken ships and aircraft holding bodies of sailors and airmen. Military cemeteries are full of people who gave their lives protecting our freedom and rights guaranteed by the Constitution.

It’s unfortunate that we have elected and re-elected ignorant politicians who have never served two minutes in the military and now they want to destroy the Constitution many died to protect. In addition, the Second Amendment was written so we could protect ourselves from a corrupt government.

I believe the present administration is full of liars and perverts, so it’s hard to predict what will be next. I will never vote for anyone who attempts to alter the Second Amendment.

GRANT C. GATLIFF

Delight

Memories of Musial

I lived in St. Louis in the early 1940s. I was an avid Cardinal baseball fan and, of course, “Stan the Man” Musial,who sadly passed away last week. I would sit by my radio and listen to Harry Caray calling the games at the old Sportsman’s Park.

My “Uncle Chunk,” C.R. Baldwin, who owned Baldwin Regalia a few blocks from the park, made all the team pennants that flew around the perimeter of the stadium; little elderly ladies working with the old foot-pedal sewing machines made the pennants. I was at a double-header with him, and back then, players would go to the concession stands between games. I went down to get a hot dog and there was Del Rice, the catcher, in line; I got his autograph on my program.

I have a beautiful Cardinal pennant my uncle made, with the raised lettering and figures, that has the bat with the cardinal birds sitting on each end; it’s hanging in a plastic dry-cleaning wrapper in my closet. I hope my son will cherish it even though he is a Cubs fan.

My uncle took me to Stan Musial and Biggies restaurant to meet the “Man”; went to his office with his large, beautiful desk and got his autograph on a photo, signed to “Don,” but I’ve found another my uncle must have given me, signed to “Donnie,” which Chunk called me much to my dismay. I have two other photos autographed by Musial that I hope my son will also keep for his dad’s memories of his love for the Cardinals.

DONALD D. DUGAN SR.

Little Rock

Bridge just needs help

I’m in the seventh grade. To me, the current Broadway bridge is a historical artifact. It was built in 1923 and is going to be demolished, which will kill fish and other animals from what is left over, which is against our state nickname, “The Natural State.” Now we want to paint the bridge and it is supposed to be for our veterans. Why not just give some of that investment to them so they do not go bankrupt, which is already happening?

The Broadway Bridge can be repaired; there is no reason not to. It is historical, it would be much cheaper than building a new one, and it could be used as a foundation for the new bridge so we can still get the money from the government to help build it.

All in all, keeping the old bridge would be better-fish will live much longer, it is cheaper, it is 89 years old, and the only thing it needs is some hard work.

JOSHUA PORTZER

Little Rock

Weak detour attempt

I was appalled to see Lisa Benson’s editorial cartoon comparing gun violence with abortion. The cartoon about Planned Parenthood fails to highlight the amazing services it offers thousands of Arkansas men and women each year. Ninety-seven percent of Planned Parenthood’s work is preventive: providing contraceptives, performing cancer screenings, and testing for sexually transmitted infections, among other services.

Abortion is never an easy choice, but sometimes it is the right choice. Comparing that choice to gun violence is a weak attempt to draw the conversation away from gun control. There were 16 mass shootings in the U.S. last year. An emotionally unstable man used his mother’s arsenal of heavy weaponry to murder 26 people at a school, including 20 children.

Please, let’s focus on the safety of our community, not on controlling women’s bodies.

KATHERINE BARLOW

Little Rock

A shameless display

You really gave me a “What the-” moment with the editorial cartoon depicting Barack Obama on a wooden nickel inscribed with “Indian Giver.” Seriously? “Indian Giver”? I thought that this racist tripe had long since been eradicated from the minds of enlightened people in this country, and I certainly don’t expect it to be displayed on the Voices page of the state’s leading newspaper.

Absolutely shameless.

TROY JUZELER

Bentonville

Insensitive to victims

The decision of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette editorial page to run a political cartoon comparing gun-violence deaths and Planned Parenthood is shameful. The attempted message is deeply insensitive to the families who have been victims of gun violence, and to the women who have had to make that complex and highly personal decision regarding pregnancy.

There are many outcomes to a pregnancy, as no two are the same. Whether it is adoption, ending a pregnancy or raising a child, these decisions are personal and should be left between a woman, her doctor, and those in her life whom she trusts.

Planned Parenthood respects these decisions, which is why millions of men and women trust this organization as their health-care provider. By providing lifesaving cancer screenings, annual exams and birth control, Planned Parenthood offers more preventive care for women than any women’s health organization in the country.

Attacking the group with an offensive cartoon intensifies the negative stigma against a woman who makes responsible decisions regarding her care. This paper should be embarrassed for associating itself with such a statement and I hope it reconsiders publishing such cartoons in the future.

DEBBIE GOOLSBY

Little Rock

Very simple solution

How stupid can Congress get? It keeps passing laws that have all kinds of loopholes that lawyers can use to keep crooks, murderers, rapists, etc., out of jail. Those laws are generally thousands of pages long and no one can understand them. Then we have to create a new government agency and employ thousands of employees to train, find and furnish offices across the nation, government cars, salaries,expense accounts, etc. It will take billions to establish the agency.

How about passing a one-half-page law that anyone could understand? I believe you could stop the killing within 30 days when this law is in effect. Pass one law with no loopholes. Anyone arrested for using a gun to rob a person, bank, store, home or business, or entering a church or school with a loaded gun, is not fit to live. Answer: Have portable hanging gallows. Hang them without a trial. When enforced, you have just solved the gun problem.

Put it before the voters. I guarantee you it will pass. A similar law would also pass for dope.

FRANK CORLEY

Russellville

Credibility damaged

I was appalled to see Lisa Benson’s twisted and highly offensive cartoon on the editorial page. The issue of when life begins is complex, and opinion varies greatly. But this cartoon crosses the line.

Benson’s flippant statement on a woman’s deeply personal decision to end her pregnancy is callous and ignorant. The credibility of this paper has been degraded by printing it.

CHRISTINA MULLINAX

Little Rock

Feedback

They’re right caliber

I read that Asa Hutchinson is pushing for arming school security personnel and maybe teachers.

I think he should go one step further-arm the children.

Every week, we see photos of 7-year-olds with their prized bucks. If they can handle a 30.06 carbine, they surely can handle an AR-15 or a Glock.

Of course, carrying the guns would be restricted to the classroom. No arms in the halls, at recess or at graduation ceremonies.

A gunman would think twice before facing a kid with an AR-15.

P.J. McGUIRE

Hot Springs

Our wavering chief

The year 2006: The debt limit was $8.2 trillion, and an increase was requested to $9 trillion.

Sen. Barack Obama speaks: “The fact that we are here today to debate raising America’s debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. . . . It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government’s reckless fiscal policies. . . . I therefore intend to oppose the effort to increase America’s debt limit.”

The year 2013: Same man, different story. What are we to believe?

LEONARD R. MANO

Little Rock

Editorial, Pages 17 on 01/24/2013

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