LETTERS

Only small percentage

Al Case recently spoke of seemingly obvious and rational conclusions about the religious source of savagery through the centuries. What he failed to provide beyond his bold assertions was actual information that could be analyzed.

The three-volume Encyclopedia of Wars by Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod chronicles 1,763 wars, starting from 2325 B.C. In their analysis, they classify 123 of these wars as religious in cause. That amounts to 6.98 percent of the wars in their encyclopedia. Other reasons motivated the classification of the rest of the 93.02 percent.

I think it would be interesting for Mr. Case and other anti-religionists to address the reasons why the attributed combination of atheism and a vision for secular progress led to the pile-up of millions of bodies just in the 20th Century.

DAVID ROGERS

Biscoe

Truly support team

While people may wonder what rock I have been living under all these years, I only recently realized that folks who tailgate at the Razorback games at War Memorial may not have tickets to the game.

I think this is outrageous. I understand that these people pay for their tailgating space and that they have probably purchased pay-per-view to watch under their canopies. Nonetheless, I still think this is wrong.

My idea of supporting a team-any team-is to buy a ticket to see them play.

While the policy is probably the same at all stadiums, I think you should have a ticket for everyone in your party before being allowed tailgate space. If that is too over-the-top, at least the majority of your group should have tickets to the game, even if they choose to stay outside to party.

How can you be a loyal Razorback fan but never purchase tickets to the games if tickets are available? Sold out games are a horse (or pig) of a different color.

I am sure I am in for severe criticism from innumerable loyal tailgating Razorback fans, but I can take it because I think this policy is flat wrong.

Woo Pig Sooie!

KAY NOLEN

Sherwood

They should pay for it

In response to Mr. Victor J. Rojas, the teachers want me to send them more of my money to supplement their cost of premiums for their health insurance. I will gladly do that if, at the same time, I can go to my mailbox and expect a check from them to help pay for my insurance premiums. Quid pro quo.

I have a job, and honestly I’m a bit tired of working for the Egyptians, Afghans, Iraqis, Libyans, Pakistanis, etc., etc., and now you say I have to work for someone who has a job. Really?

Socialism only works until you run out of other people’s money.

CHARLES GLEBER

Alexander

Furthering malarkey

In a recent Perspective section piece, Scott Powell promulgates the myth that the housing bubble and the ensuing financial crisis was the result of the government forcing Freddie and Fannie to offer subprime mortgages to the poor.

Not true.

In fact, well over 80 percent of subprime mortgages were offered by private institutions. Thanks to banking deregulation, banks were free to go wild. They offered subprime mortgages and packaged them into investments that they then sold. The banks played and we all paid.

It seems the Discovery Institute, Fox News and the wealthy continue to encourage us to blame the poor. The U.S. government, we are repeatedly told, defies logic, natural law, and the entire course of human history by being the only major power structure to ever exist on the earth that is controlled by the poor and downtrodden. To quote the Kinks: “It’s a mixed up,muddled up, shook up world.” If only we can free our government from the power grip of the poor, we will all prosper. One more reason to allow unlimited campaign contributions!

Who believes this utter malarkey? The American people.

I believe the next victim of this “government is to blame” mindset will be our public schools. Private is better, they tell us, all the while ignoring the failure rate of these private ventures.

I am all for capitalism, but not when it runs roughshod over democracy and destroys the hope of social mobility, all the while blaming the least among us. Shame on you.

KATHY CURTIN

Fayetteville

Addressing problems

Vivian Michaels suggests that blacks are mistreated in the South. I think they are worse off in major cities of the North where gangs, drugs and unemployability take their toll on society, both white and black, this after years of government spending multiple billions of dollars, then walking away.

We lived next door to a widowed black woman in Racine, Wis., for eight years. Over and over she’d tell us she couldn’t wait to move back to Mississippi because of the subtle racism in the North. She moved to southern Mississippi 11 years ago.

Today, 55 percent of the nation’s blacks live in the South. Many have migrated from the North to a better life in the South.

As far as Ms. Michaels’ commentary on Christians, who does she think started the drive to do away with slavery, and who started and ran the Underground Railroad? I will admit it’s hard to watch race-baiting reverends addressing justice on TV in white neighborhoods instead of working in inner-city America to alleviate injustice.

Finally, Ms. Michaels offers no suggestions as to what citizens should’ve done to help freed slaves adjust 148 years ago. I think she may have favored one more failed government program.

If racism is affecting her life in Bible Belt Arkansas, how is she helping blacks in her area? Writing letters doesn’t count.

STEVE HILL

Bella Vista