LETTERS

In one hairy situation

I just read in disbelief the letter “Always a bad hair day.”

I also don’t happen to watch Duck Dynasty, but I can assure the lady that the South is not the only place that lice, fleas and ticks exist. And that beards are not the conducive reason someone might have such vermin on their body.

Also, I’m sure most men who choose to wear beards also are quite mentally aware of how to maintain them in an appropriate, clean manner. Having seen segments of the aforementioned TV program, I haven’t noticed anything that indicated that the beards were gross or filthy or contained food particles.

If beards don’t happen to appeal to this lady, fine. That is her prerogative, just as wearing beards are the prerogative for the Robertson men. But I think to insult people because they both choose to have beards and live in the South is more than a little out of line.

The only reason I can fathom that the newspaper would even print such a letter is to uphold this unfortunate lady to ridicule and disdain, which is a poor reason to print a letter. And my pointing this out will probably mean that my letter won’t be printed because it is a little too honest regarding the newspaper.

BILLIE REYNOLDS

Springdale

Get ready, set … shred

The mess up at Fayetteville looks to me very much like Washington, D.C.

I didn’t know it was happening until it was on TV. This is the first I’ve heard of it, but get those shredders fired up. You know, it’s not my money, so do with it however you wish.

By the way, are those shredders done yet? It’s time to bring out a large broom.

Enough said.

ROBERT RANDALL

Hot Springs Village

Available to everyone

In response to Paul Greenberg’s “A man for one season,” I have two observations.

First: It has been said that the free contraceptives/abortifacients section of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is there in order to guarantee women’s reproductive rights. If we are to enshrine women’s reproductive rights into law, then where is the section of the law that enshrines free artificial insemination, free fertility treatments and other such reproductive services?

In order for something to achieve the status of a right, it must be available, in all forms, to the widest group possible. Why must women’s reproductive rights always be about the state’s duty to deliver a dead body upon demand?

Second: How can any advanced society proclaim that it is in favor of universal human civil rights and simultaneously refuse to protect the lives of the most helpless and innocent among us?

Once again, in order to qualify as a right, it must be available to the widest group possible. Is a right to life not a civil right?

WILLIAM WAVERING

Bonnerdale

Who’s footing the bill

About those young folks who consider themselves sort of immortal, i.e., healthy, and don’t think that they are just as likely to get into an accident or develop a serious illness and thus do not think they should be asked to take out a health insurance policy:Young, healthy people need to be in the health-insurance pool to spread the cost, which will be higher for the older and sicker population.

They don’t want to help carry the cost of health insurance for the older, sicker people. As if they will never, ever get older and possibly sicker, and the now younger people are needed to even the cost.

However, the reason they think that it is okay to risk not having insurance is because they know that there is such a thing as EMTALA-the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act-which means that if they do get into an accident or get sick, they can go to the emergency room and get treated regardless of their ability to pay, which means that we, the taxpayers, will be footing their bill.

Maybe we should do away with EMTALA and put everybody on an even footing, as long as everybody can get health insurance, if too poor, via Medicaid.

VIVIAN MICHAELS

Bella Vista

Took gamble and lost

Arkansas auto dealer and businessman Frank Fletcher wagered the state before the beginning of the 2013 college football season, stipulating that if the Razorbacks were to go winless in the Southeastern Conference, he would give away one new vehicle per month for a full year.

Was he testing fate? The big payoff became a reality for Fletcher after the Hogs surrendered the lead against LSU late in the game and lost in heartbreaking fashion to end the season 3-9, and 0-8 in SEC play.

The question becomes: Why did Fletcher bet on the Hogs having a winless SEC season rather than a blemish-free SEC season? Were the results of this season another karma type moment after Fletcher’s bet?

Making outlandish, public bets often can result in one winding up on the short end of that bet and having to face the absolute truth and consequences of it. Nevertheless, good tidings of great joy will come to those 12 beneficiaries of Fletcher’s lost bet.

I would suggest before the 2014 football season begins that Fletcher place the exact same bet, but this time on the Hogs going 8-0 in SEC play and see if the payoff is the same. If he loses the bet again next year, then you can bet he will have a big smile on his face rather than an ambivalent frown.

By the way, any chance Fletcher posted a behind-the-scenes wager on the Hog basketball team going winless on the road in the SEC this season?

REEVES HUIE

Benton

At the River Market

In reference to your article about eateries leaving Little Rock’s River Market, we have visited the Middle Eastern restaurant since it opened there, and find it to be the best food in Little Rock.

The rest of the River Market, inside and out, though, looks dirty and greasy and could benefit from a thorough cleaning and weekly power washing.

GALE STEWART

Little Rock