We don’t write letters often, but we wanted to brag a little about a Northwest Arkansas veterinarian.
On June 12, Dr. Karen Sherman of Oak View Animal Clinic in Pea Ridge saved our 8-month-old lab puppy, Faith. Faith is a very special dog — a family member. We’ve had her since she was 6 weeks old and she’s literally become our little girl. Bright and intelligent, playful and mostly obedient, she has turned into the joy in our lives with a lot of promise to become quite possibly one of the best duck-hunting dogs we’ve ever seen. More importantly, Faith was received as a special present to Jon just days before he would lose one of his best friends. The puppy didn’t yet have a name when Jon and his friends left Northwest Arkansas on their way to a Cowboys game and none of them knew that a few hours later, someone very special to them would quite literally die in Jon’s arms as they frantically tried to revive their friend. The coming days would prove difficult for them, but their “faith” in God and the example set by their late friend Eric would see them through, with extra love and puppy kisses from the little black puppy. She was named in honor of this extraordinary man.
That morning on June 12, I awakened to the panicked yelps of our puppy. She had cut her front leg so badly that she’d severed an artery and was bleeding profusely. Thankfully, I was home and able to get her into my car. On my way, I called the clinic. When I drove up, they were ready and waiting. Faith stayed overnight two days and despite all the blood loss and damage to her leg, Dr. Sherman was able to not only save her life but did such an excellent job in repairing the muscle tissue that Faith will make a full recovery.
They’ve been there to answer questions, check up on her and help us to make sure she is healthy and recovering well. We can’t say enough about Dr. Sherman, who came out of surgery exhausted and blood-soaked but still wanted to personally give an update on her condition. She saved Faith’s life and has become a trusted veterinarian and friend. I stood in the waiting room and heard the staff turn away non-emergencies that day to give Faith the attention and care she needed. We won’t forget that.
It is rare to find a veterinarian who doesn’t just automatically direct you to an after-hours emergency clinic. We wanted to say publicly that we are thankful to have someone like Dr. Sherman here in NWA.
Kristin Webb
and Jon Sumpter
Garfield
Marriage Important For Common Good As Evident In Laws Of Nature
In many discourses, there is a need to focus on what the matter at hand is all about. This is certainly the case in regard to discussions of marriage. The nature of “what is a marriage” is the important consideration in law and for the common good. This is an evidential phenomenon and not prejudicial. Marriage is the comprehensive relationship between one man and one woman. It follows sexuality in the complementarity and anatomical function of the relation to being male and female. It follows scientifically from evolutionary biology in sexual dimorphism and reproduction to further the survival of the species. Marriage is a sociological and anthropological benefit to the common good of society. It is ordered to the good of spouses, and the procreation and education of children. The genetic, psychological, and affective emotional bonds for the healthy growth of children are intrinsically formed in heterosexual marital relationships. Children have the natural right to a mother and a father for their development and well-being as is uniquely ordered by that relationship. Marriage requires a woman and a man for it to be equitable in this way and beneficial to development in a family structure. Following from that, a well-developed family and social life is paramount for a well-developed society that contributes to the common good of all.
While anyone may have the right to be in a relationship with whomever they wish and to enter into legal contracts with whomever they wish, it does not follow that a person has a right to impose on society a redefinition of marriage to fit that relationship. Whatever that relationship may be, it is not the same thing as marriage. The desire for a person to do something, as opposed to a matter involving their own intrinsic dignity and tolerance as a person, does not make that desire a right in relation to the whole of society. In fact, one cannot alter the basic truth of marriage, but a society that attempts to do so, will in time, harm itself.
Not all that glitters is gold and not all change is good. This is especially true of matters that are carrying the force of law from the state, which redefining legal marriage would carry. It is unjust to not draw a distinction between marriage and other forms of relationships. It will weaken the very nature of marriage, harm the common good, and destroy the liberty of those attempting to uphold the value and truth of the marital relationship of one man and one woman. These truths are important for the common good as are evident in the laws of nature and easily verified not only by intelligent logical analysis but also through openness in observation and the experience of millennia of human history. One can thus know what marriage is and thereby, what it is not.
Jason Sharbaugh
Rogers