Hypocritical analysis
I think all of you "Ferguson" and "hands-up, don't shoot" protesters across this country share one main thing in common--you are all world-class hypocrites! Whether you like it or not, 93 out of 100 violent black deaths come at the hands of other black hands and only seven from non-black hands. That is the truth, reality, the facts, not just an opinion or some "feeling."
To prove a point and put things in perspective, allow me to change just a few of the words used above. Let's say that 93 of every 100 violent black deaths are caused by squirrels and the other seven by bunnies. Now a rational person, one who is truly concerned about deaths and mistreatment in their community (and honest with themselves) would be far more upset about what the squirrels are doing. But no, you fine citizens are only concerned about the bunnies. Evidently, you think those many more lives taken by the squirrels are worthless and don't mean anything because you sure don't seem to give a damn about them.
That is why I believe everyone participating in these protests are all world-class hypocrites. You pretend to be crusaders for justice, but the signs you carry should identify yourselves by saying, "We are the most bigoted and racist jerks on the planet!"
RON ARMSTRONG
North Little Rock
Kind, caring workers
People complain very often about city and state employees. I am happy to tell of the extremely kind, efficient treatment I received from employees of the City of Little Rock. I was told that “311” could not help me for “20-30 days.” I wrote an email to the city, begging for holiday help. A Solid Waste Department employee, who was kind and caring, wrote me, jumped into action and solved my problem in two days. She also wrote to see if all was well after the help arrived. Blessings on all of them!
TONYA McNAIR
Little Rock
Governor disappoints
As the youngest person in the room at last week’s LifeQuest event where John Brummett interviewed Gov. Mike Beebe, I feel obligated to give a youth response. (I’m 34 and LifeQuest is a senior citizens’ program.)
Most of the hour-long talk taught me a lot about the governor’s impressive career as a lawyer and a lot about what a compassionate person he is.
However, the talk ended on a very disappointing note. He would not take up Mr. Brummett’s invitation to show support for equal marriage rights. It was disappointing that someone so knowledgeable about the law, and who seemed to be in touch with giving back to the community, apparently would discriminate in this area and not see marriage equality as something that’s more than a trend. Even though, sadly, he personally does not support it, I think he would have been smart to state that despite what he believes, the law is on the side of the gay community.
JULIE HARDEE
Cammack Village
What the word means
Increasingly these days, we hear politicians and others described (sometimes self-described) as Libertarian rather than conservative. But what does that term mean? Different things to different folks, it would appear.
Dictionary definitions of the term stress a commitment to freedom and autonomy—in short, individual liberty. Some definitions specify “civil” liberties—as in ACLU? Not necessarily. The more I have grappled with this term, it appears there is a Column A and a Column B for Libertarianism.
Column A focuses primarily on economics: lower taxes and less regulation of industry predominate. An individual should be able to make as much money as possible and keep all of it, even when the making of that money harms others. When confronted with the need for social services (e.g., police, firefighters) and infrastructure (roads, schools, hospitals), one solution offered is that individuals should pay for what they use. Column A also includes the freedom to own guns as a way of protecting the money from burglars, terrorists, and other miscreants.
Column B of the commitment to maximizing individual freedoms includes such things as a woman’s right to use contraceptives; a woman’s right to choose abortion over child-bearing; a loving couple’s right to marry, regardless of gender; the right to vote regardless of ethnicity, age, or finances; Muslims’ right to build a cultural facility at Ground Zero; and the right to use recreational drugs.
If you fully support both Column A and Column B, you are indeed a Libertarian. If you only support Column B, you are a liberal. If you only support Column A, you may just be greedy, but certainly not a Libertarian.
EARL BABBIE
Hot Springs Village
Dangerous disclosure
The Democratic-controlled Senate is relinquishing power, kicking and screaming, tearing up the furniture, breaking windows as they go. I believe the release by California’s Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, of secret CIA documents regarding interrogations of our enemies will no doubt cost many lives in the future. Even Secretary of State John Kerry is worried about this stirring up more trouble given the constant threats from terrorists.
We were fighting for our nation’s safety after 9/11 and I believe those who were interrogated were the scum of the earth. We’re hanging people out to dry who tried to keep our country safe. Can you imagine fighting Hitler in World War II with no interrogations by the U.S. army in order to save lives? I’m sure countries around the world will feign cooperation with the U.S. in hunting down terrorists, fearing the release of their information regarding their own operatives and the compromise of their safety. I believe this is traitorous!
GREG CARLTON
Harrison
A uniform proposal
While I fully understand that the people up in Northwest Arkansas couldn’t care less what the folks in central, southern or northeast Arkansas think, just for grins, why don’t we run a statewide poll and see what the rest of Arkansas thinks? A: Traditional uniforms (say, 10 years ago). B: Whatever that is we’re wearing now.
I’m sure Wally Hall would be glad to run this poll for us. The traditional uniforms still seem to work okay down in Alabama!
Just think, we could possibly use the money saved to hire a new offensive coordinator to actually run the plays that Coach B recruited for.
DUANE HEARD
Little Rock
Editorial on 12/14/2014