Looking for athletes
Missing: rebounding, perimeter shooting, free-throw shooting, defense, execution, and hustle. Last seen circa 1985 in the vicinity of the Boston Garden, in the company of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, etc.
If found, please forward to the Stephens Center, University Avenue, in care of this year’s University of Arkansas at Little Rock Trojans, who’ve displayed none of the aforementioned.
This was not supposed to be a rebuilding year-very disappointing effort up to this point by Steve Shields and the Trojans.
ANTHONY LLOYD
Hot Springs
On moving forward
And now we are 76. Like people in the United States of 1776 we will move forward, confident we can deal with whatever comes. Bring it on. Seventy-six trombones led the big parade. We remember the Philadelphia 76ers, Union 76 gas stations. Habemus Papen! We have Pope Francis, a vigorous 76 years old when selected. He’s a peaceful, spiritual, pastoral, prayerful man, servant of the people, dedicated to the poorest of the poor.
For the first time, we are as old as the pope. We expect and pray for an energized church and world peace under his leadership. He has said it is time for the church to put more emphasis on love, compassion and mercy. He provides enlightenment, no lists of do’s and don’ts; he acts like Jesus and draws people to himself. Francis speaks of God in simple, authoritative language clear to everyone, everywhere. Pope Francis sees the church as a home for all, not a small chapel for a few chosen ones; the perfect ending for emeritus Pope Benedict’s year of prayer. It is a step. At 76, we like steps, and the new pope.
With our brothers and sisters, we are learning to deal with increasing medical issues. Some parts of our bodies don’t work as well as we’d like, but we’re still luckily and actively evading the most critical symptoms. We exercise on a regular basis, often eat healthy fresh foods, almost always get a good night’s sleep, and laugh at every opportunity. Life is good; full of fun activities, prayer, church, volunteer efforts, friends, family.
Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to all. God willing, we’ll welcome and accept 77 soon. We’ll never be 76 again.
TOM MURRAY
Bella Vista
Fear of empleomania
What is an empleomaniac? An empleomaniac is an individual who is overly eager to hold political public office.
I believe someone who is overeager to obtain public office obviously falls into one of three categories:
The individual is inherently corrupt and seeks to make a fortune at the taxpayers’ expense.
The individual is delusional enough to believe that he or she can actually make a difference.
The individual is completely insane.
I’ve been an ardent observer and pundit of politics for years. I have come to beware of an empleomaniac.
BILL BOATRIGHT
Fayetteville
In case you didn’t see
Just so folks will know for sure, the extended period of cold winter weather affecting the nation is caused by global warming.
MIKE BURSON
Little Rock
Complaint department
’Twas the day after Christmas and all through the letters, writers were moaning and clanking their fetters.
First Vernon Lott proclaimed he would gladly pay tax dollars for policemen and firemen because they risk their lives-but not one cent for those women and others who just answer telephones or do other “ordinary” work. Now who will pay somebody to take my call that the house is on fire or somebody is kicking in the door? Under Lott’s plan, police and fire departments would have to do without dispatchers, forensic scientists, and fire-code inspectors because their jobs aren’t dangerous enough.
Although President Barack Obama graduated from Harvard Law School and taught at the University of Chicago, Derrel Thomas feels he is not a learned man. Well, for goodness sake, he’s half-black, a Democrat, and a Northerner, so how could he be?
Gary McDonald makes it official: Everybody must be at one extreme or another, with only two sides to every issue. Politics is war and moderates are cowards.
Phil Phillips seems to say that Hobby Lobby’s interpretation of religion applies to its 13,000 employees, I guess something like in centuries past when everybody in the country had to follow the religion of the king. Now it’s business corporations who dictate the religion.
But Hobby Lobby is not legally forced to offer health insurance as part of its compensation to employees. And the drugs that Phillips says “might” cause abortions are generally considered to be contraceptives.
CORALIE KOONCE
Fayetteville
Follow that example
I was a child in California when this happened, not once but twice. Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron saint of immigrants, had a chapel on the hill. A devastating fire engulfed the surrounding olive groves, stopping at the chapel.
Recently I looked through books at St. Scholastica Monastery and came across a prayer: “Lord, St. Frances Cabrini crossed oceans and borders sharing your love with many nations. By her example, teach us concern for the stranger.”
She left the physical for the metaphysical world in 1917 and no doubt would despair over our lack of progress. Surely ours can be a nation of compassion and tolerance in the name of humanity.
The prayer ends thus: “May our land and our hearts be places of welcome.”
May St. Frances Cabrini turn the hearts of those opposed to the welfare of immigrants as she turned back the fire that threatened to destroy the chapel and the sisters of her order.
CONSTANCE DURKIN
Fort Smith
Editorial, Pages 17 on 01/01/2014