LETTERS

The loss was colossal

In March of 1965, I left my studies at Hendrix to join Dr. Martin Luther King’s protest march outside Selma. I marched for a day, in step with the descendants of the people my ancestors called “dark white men.” I believed Dr. King would be able to level the playing field for all races in America.

I consider his assassination even more damaging to America than the loss of Lincoln, and JFK’s death should hardly be mentioned in the same breath with Dr. King’s. The loss of his leadership may never be overcome.

Two negatives point to the enormity of that loss. First is the absence of a true black culture in the urban South. Culture is defined as “the knowledge, sophistication and enlightenment, usually acquired through education and study, that reflect the values and social behavior of a particular people.” Had there been a true black culture in place, it would have prevented the loss of Dr. King from being so enormous.

A true black culture based on knowledge, sophistication and enlightenment would have ignored the second negative point, the furious rantings of the charlatans who promote themselves at the expense of their race. If these charlatans had the courage to follow in Dr. King’s footsteps, they would be searching for solutions to black-on-black violence, emphasizing education for our young black men and promoting social responsibility that might lead to a black culture worthy of the name.

Does anyone even know about Shakir Williams? Dr. King must be crying.

JERRY COOKUS Maumelle

A very large what-if

It’s interesting to me that Philip Martin’s recent column on acceptance of gays and lesbians used the “correct” word only once: homosexuality.

How long does he think the human race would exist if everyone was homosexual?

LLOYD HEDDEN Benton

Hey, what’s that smell

When the lottery started a few years ago, it had a bad smell that has not improved. What am I missing? Based on what record or accomplishment do Bishop Woosley and 79 other employees of the lottery deserve or are entitled to raises or bonuses?

Gary Newton’s recent comments on school boards are certainly timely; however, the real problem is on a much higher level. How on earth can they live with their profession, being 48th, 49th and 50th in our highest education goals? The last time I checked, Subway and McDonald’s did not require a degree or even a 12thgrade education. Why even graduate from high school since you may end up flipping burgers anyway?

Follow the money. Woosley makes $165,000 a year and he’s to get a lumpsum, cost-of-living raise of $2,832 next year.

Which is more difficult, admitting guilt or forgiving the guilty?

VES PANKEY McCrory

Saw himself above law

Regarding the idea that that our national focus on the personal lives of elected officials might deter competent candidates from running, I can’t say I totally disagree with the premise, but using the former attorney general and governor of New York is a poor example at best, and cheap promotion at worst.

Eliot Spitzer was responsible for prosecuting several members of prostitution rings in New York before he was governor, and while campaigning for that office and attorney general, took on a fairly self-righteous attitude while insinuating that his opponents may not have been as ethical as he claimed to be. You’ll have to excuse me if I find it relevant that a candidate who is responsible for upholding the laws of our society is also breaking them. How are we to know with certainty that Mr. Spitzer didn’t selectively prosecute depending on which lawbreakers he had a special interest in?

I believe Mr. Spitzer is no victim of personal intrusiveness. He is an unethical politician who considered himself above the law he was elected to uphold.

DAVID GERSON North Little Rock

Failed those standards

This country of ours was founded on the principles stated in the Declaration of Independence, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

Unfortunately, we are failing to meet these standards today.

Consider abortion. Those of my generation saw the horrible results of back-alley abortions. When Roe v. Wade became law, we were convinced that the standards set by the Declaration of Independence were finally being met. Now, all we see are states trying to destroy Roe and betraying the principles under which we were founded.

When you consider unalienable rights, we have finally come to learn that being gay is genetically inherited, and those Americans should receive the equal rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence. Unfortunately, some state laws still discriminate against them and treat gays and lesbians as criminals.

Lastly, we are now seeing states passing so-called ID laws that will take away the right to vote from many of the poor and the elderly.

We the people need to do whatever we can to right these wrongs, even if we are perceived, in our dissent, as radicals or destroyers of so-called states’ rights.

BOB WATERS Hot Springs Village

Sale on expert opinion

I am reluctant to write Voices again. On some occasions when I do, I receive an unsigned hate letter in response. Incidentally, I turn those over to the local FBI office in Little Rock and I urge others who receive such letters to do so, too.

I continue to be amazed that news outlets use Charles Krauthammer. I understand he was educated as a psychiatrist but is now an expert on everything-economics, defense, foreign affairs, politics, etc. He may even claim to be an expert on more issues than Rush Limbaugh.

But the universal question to apply to all such self-anointed experts: Would you buy a used car from him? GEORGE W. McCLAIN Little Rock