LETTERS

Description appalling

I am totally appalled and disgusted that Philip Martin wrote about a disabled man the way he did: “a scuttling wretched creature, a twisted and snarling lump of bespectacled protoplasm who looked less like a man …”

How dare he!

What does he know about anyone in that position? How would he feel if he had a family member in such a state?

I work with many disabled adults here in Arkansas and am just floored that Martin would describe anyone this way.

He also called him a “thing” and an “it.” Really? I could never have read more horrific wording about anyone.

Does this paper have proofreaders? If so, then they did not do their jobs. Does your paper condone this sort of talk about its citizens?

I think Martin needs to write an apology immediately.

CONNIE CUNNINGHAM

Beebe

Those repulsive words

Philip Martin’s obviously unpleasant family gathering evidently put a chip on his shoulder.

But no human being should be described in the disgusting manner as “it” was at the end of his recent essay.

I represent many individuals with disabilities, and Mr. Martin would never measure up to their character. An apology is demanded for these repulsive words.

PATTI SPRADLEY

Lonoke

Humble trumps rude

I take issue with the recent commentary written by Philip Martin in Perspective. Mr. Martin used several big words to describe a disabled writer. At least we know he can use a thesaurus; that is the only thing I can say about this rude man. Was Mr. Martin jealous of this man’s many accomplishments, or was he just being flippant?

I have a disabled child I’m very proud of. He may never be a writer or have children of his own. But he is a humble, loving soul. His self-esteem does not depend on degrading others

just because he can.

I believe Mr. Martin’s opinion is so wrong. I challenge him to spend some time with a disabled person.

He will find that they love unconditionally and respect everyone equally. I work with disabled clients every day. They are my dear friends.

Given the opportunity to spend five minutes with Mr. Martin or the disabled author, I would choose the humble author. Mr. Martin, what goes around comes around, sir.

LAURA GINDLESBERGER

Cabot

Warrants an apology

As an advocate for people with intellectual and physical disabilities, I am shocked and appalled at the statements that Philip Martin made about the gentleman in his column in Perspective.

To refer to anyone as “a twisted and snarling lump” is rude and degrading. I won’t quote anything else as it makes me physically ill to think that someone would view anyone else in the world this way, but even worse to actually print it in a newspaper. I believe to call this gentleman an “it” is as hurtful as anything we could ever say to anyone.

People with differences are still people and deserve the same respect as anyone else. They deserve to live with the same dignity that everyone should.

In 2013, to print such an outrageous narrative makes Mr. Martin sound prejudiced and uneducated. I think an apology to the entire community of persons with disabilities is warranted.

MARGIE M. PECKAT

Lonoke

What it is not about

This letter isn’t about politics. This letter isn’t about religion. This letter isn’t about the weather.

This letter isn’t about saying how someone is wrong if their opinion differs. This letter isn’t about criticizing someone. This letter isn’t about pointing out faults of others.

This letter isn’t about any of that stuff. No, this letter is simply to state that soon we will be in what is perhaps the greatest time of year.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, tailgating season is about to begin!

Rejoice and be glad, and may the grilling commence.

DAVID KELLEY

Fort Smith

Was highly offensive

I found Philip Martin’s column last week in Perspective to be highly offensive.

I work with adults and children with disabilities every day, and reading Mr. Martin’s column made me utterly sick to my stomach.

We all as humans have rights, and for him to refer to a person with a disability as “less than a man” and refer to this person as an “it” is, I believe, extreme, hateful disrespect.

I cannot believe that during this day in time there are still people such as Mr. Martin who say things like that. This is the most discriminatory and hateful piece I have read in a very long time.

Mr. Martin as well as the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette should be very ashamed for publishing trash like this!

BRITTANY DAVIS

Cabot

Execute death penalty

I think the death penalty should be served on those proven without a doubt to have committed a crime worthy of death.

DNA has now come to fruition. Eyewitness accounts and cameras can convict criminals. I think someone-such as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, who admittedly committed the heinous crime at the Boston Marathon-should be fairly tried, sentenced and executed promptly, preferably within the first year after conviction.

Are we, as citizens, going to make sure a little terrorist moron on death row gets a well-balanced diet, free dental and medical care, cable TV, an exercise room and access to the Internet so he can contact his al-Qaida friends? Why, he might find himself a girlfriend on the Internet and get married.

The state proclaims that it can’t even find the drugs to execute criminals on death row. I bet there are enough drugs in the lockup area of any police station to neatly and painlessly do the job. With all the drug companies in the U.S., we still can’t make a lethal drug to carry out an execution? Who’s fooling who? A fist full of sleeping pills could do the job. Set up a guillotine on the Capitol lawn or a nice gallows for a public hanging. Chlorine gas and carbon monoxide gas also would do the job cheaply and efficiently.

The electric chair, gas chamber or firing squad may seem too barbaric for some. How barbaric is placing a bomb in a crowd of people, killing children and blowing off hands and legs?

Yes, I am a Christian and I am tired of the bleeding hearts feeling sorry for hardened criminals and tired of our governor pardoning them.

TOM KNIGHT

Little Rock

Editorial, Pages 80 on 07/28/2013

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