LETTERS

Presence is a constant

In this time of wars raging, weather, homelessness and unrest, you can be comforted in knowing there is one person who is always there and he never changes: Jesus Christ.

His word says he is the same yesterday, today and forever. He says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

Easter and Christmas always come no matter what. Jesus Christ is risen and the cross is empty.

Hallelujah. Happy Easter!

CHERYL BRANNAN

Little Rock

Not wild over hog farm

Re the factory hog farm being permitted to operate in the Buffalo River watershed: I am in total and complete disbelief that anyone, much less the department in charge of protecting our state from possible pollution, would think this is an acceptable risk.

The Buffalo is the first national river, for crying out loud, and to think you would even consider, much less permit this impending pollution travesty, is simply beyond belief. It is not a question of if it will have a pollution effect-it will contaminate this pristine crown jewel of our Natural State.

I’m not a scientist or environmental engineer, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that the waste of 6,500+ hogs being sprayed over 600 acres of mostly rocky ground will most definitely run off into the creeks and rivers feeding the Buffalo. Where do you possibly imagine that waste is going to go when it rains?

I lived in Virginia for 13 years near the border of North Carolina where there were many factory hog farms, and let me tell you, when the hurricanes came through and flooded the “lagoons,” waste spread all over the coastal areas, contaminating the ground, the groundwater and all the rural folks’ wells. A huge mess that took years to clean up.

The bottom line: Corporate profit should not trump the rights of the citizens of this state and the folks who come from all over the country to experience the beauty and majesty of floating, fishing and camping on the Buffalo National River. Please reconsider this permit and stop the insanity.

ELLEN M. MITCHELL

Fayetteville

Can we have a re-do?

Several years ago, the Arkansas Constitution was amended to allow the Legislature to meet each year rather than every other year. I admit to voting for that change because I believed that events, particularly economic events, were happening more frequently in this fast-moving world and it was necessary for our state to stay abreast of the times.

I see now that I made a mistake.

It had irritated me that the “Ledge” had seemed to be overly criticized by the press for its some of its bad bills and lack of discipline. Now that it is meeting every year and has more time, this propensity of the Legislature to over legislate has become more apparent to me, and I would like to have an opportunity to vote again on this.

JIM MOSELEY

Fort Smith

Our Southern home

“Where’re you folks from?” I had heard the question so many times, but this time I looked at the old man and carefully thought.

“Well, sir, we’re from a place where the pine trees grow so tall the tops are sometimes lost in the clouds; where the dogwood and red bud trees chatter through the forest in early spring; where the kudzu vine meets the wisteria; where Magnolia blossoms grow as big as dinner plates and gentle breezes cool a hot afternoon just at sundown when the fireflies begin their dance across the meadows; where the blackberries mingle with the honeysuckle; where the creeks and streams tumble down the mountains to gather into rivers moving so slow they seem to be standing still.

“It’s a place where black bass and catfish loaf in the shade of an overhanging tree waiting for a shad or a salamander to swim by just in time for lunch; where eagles rest in the winter and ducks gather by the millions on flooded rice fields.

“We’re from a place where folks still say ‘yes sir and no ma’am’ to those older than themselves; where folks drop the ‘g’ from the end of words and add a syllable or two when pronouncing others; where relationships and family history are just as important as the news of the day; where a man can borrow a cup of sugar or a tractor from a neighbor because his is ‘down’ and the fields need plowing. Yes, sir, we’re from the South.”

“Where in the South are you from?” he asked.

“We’re from a place where diamonds lie sparkling in a freshly plowed field and our blood runs Razorback red. We’re from Arkansas.”

WILLIAM B. TATE

Bella Vista

Can come back better

For anyone whose NCAA men’s bracket has been busted, there is always another year for people to learn to play to win better.

Many teams have been kicked out and those include the Butler Bulldogs, Kansas State, New Mexico, and the Georgetown Hoyas, who were ousted early by the surprising Cinderella team, Florida Gulf Coast.

The Gonzaga “Zags” are also out, so don’t be disappointed, but please remain a fan of men’s basketball because spirit does count.

JOHN HUERTA

Warren

And throw away keys

The column by guest writer Bill Rausch about the sequester was one of the best we have ever read in our 20+ years of reading the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The last two paragraphs were especially appropriate. If that budget solution doesn’t work, we suggest our leaders all be put aboard a Carnival cruise ship rigged to break down mid-Caribbean and don’t rescue them until they get their job done.

ROBERT and MARTHA MAJOR

Fairfield Bay