LETTERS

Only decent decision

The “What could it hurt” editorial was right on. I believe Belynda Goff should have the opportunity to clear her name afforded by DNA tests that weren’t available when she was convicted.

The woman has spent two decades in prison, and has been labeled a murderess. But now there is a chance to support her insistent claim of innocence, or at least to provide the reasonable doubt that could free her and clear her name.

But the Carroll County prosecutor representing all the power of government arrayed against an individual says no to the tests, and the judge appears to be dithering when the only decent decision is to give the woman a chance.

I believe the Carroll County prosecutor has lost his moral compass. He can find it by asking himself, if he were in Ms. Goff’s situation, would he not want an opportunity to support his innocence and get out of prison? It relates to that Golden Rule thing in the book of Matthew, the one about doing unto others.

RANDALL WARD Garfield

Should not be proud

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the story with those men patting each other on the back for that obscenely expensive 3-mile stretch of road that got completed as part of the Bella Vista bypass. A 3-mile stretch of two-lane road that goes from nowhere to nowhere, that should have been a much longer four-lane road completed 10 years ago.

Shame on the Arkansas Highway Commission and whoever else is responsible for that road never being finished. I can’t believe they are actually proud of themselves.

GLORIA J. KABERLE Bella Vista

Explanation needed

During an interview on KUAR radio recently, Professor and state House Rep. Ann Clemmer, who is running in the Republican primary to be the representative for Central Arkansas (District 2) in the U.S. House, referred to President Barack Obama’s “Kumbaya” foreign policy.

I think that’s an obvious racial dig, since the word is the title (“Come by Here” in Gullah) of a spiritual song in the dialect spoken by blacks of the coastal islands of South Carolina and Georgia.

Playing the racial card so early in the electoral cycle is probably not a good winning strategy in the general election. If Professor Clemmer wants to be taken seriously, I think she has some serious explaining to do.

SARKIS M. NAZARIAN Little Rock

We must get involved

Many thanks to Mr. Grimsley Graham for his very appropriate emphasis on education in a recent letter. If you are a puzzle worker or if you’re not, you may know it’s all part of the same picture.

Whether you’re talking about black-on-black violence or violence in public schools, the dropout rate, persistent poverty, rise of depression-related mental illness, unemployment, underemployment, rising crime and overcrowded prisons, overtaxation in society, the disappearance of the middle class, inappropriate influence of monied and special-interest groups on government or even the melting of polar ice, rising of ocean levels and flooding of coastal communities, environment, degradation, habitat destruction and loss of wildlife, cancer, diabetes, increasing levels of stress in the general public and associated negative consequences, it’s all part of the same picture.

Quality of life is going down or staying too low for too many. We’re not doing things right, America. We need change. Thinking long-term is crucial.

Education is key. Personal involvement is absolutely necessary.

KAY CARPENTER Little Rock

Ballot issue is a ruse

Even though the November election is six months away, I hope that before then Arkansas voters will realize what Ballot Issue 3 is about. The main title of this issue includes “and setting term limits for members of the General Assembly.”

The voters of Arkansas voted to set term limits years ago. This issue to be voted on in November is a guise to increase term limits for legislators. Currently the limits are six years for representatives and eight years for senators.

If Issue 3 is approved, the limit (if you can call it that) increases to 16 years for representatives and senators.

I hope the voters who don’t want longer term limits will read the ballot issue carefully, and vote against it, if only for this reason.

TIMOTHY CLEARY Tumbling Shoals

Who’s really overpaid

Let’s see … Arkansas’ football coach in 2013 earns a little over $5 million plus was eligible for a $700,000 bonus; Texas’ football coach, $5.3 million plus an $800,000 bonus; Alabama’s football coach, $5.5 million plus a $700,000 bonus.

These are examples of just a few of the highly paid persons who help athletes beat their heads together.

A writer on a recent Voices page is worried about Wal-Mart executives’ pay scales. Wal-Mart management persons make decisions for a multibillion-dollar company, creating millions of jobs here in the U.S.A.

Are they overpaid? I don’t think so. SANDY JOHANSEN Hot Springs Village

Obscene and unfunny

I’ve enjoyed comics for over 60 years, some good (Calvin and Hobbes), some bad. But you have reached a new low.

A recent Wumo strip is awful. I think two sheep skewered through their butts and proudly displayed by a simple shepherd is obscene and not fit for a family paper or any paper. Explain it to your 6-year-old.

That strip should be cancelled. It’s never funny.

JAY FULBRIGHT III Malvern

TV, radio saved lives

I would like to commend all of our local television and radio stations for their news and weather-team broadcasters and for their care and concern for the residents of Arkansas during this last deadly tornado and thunderstorm outbreak. They had great concern in telling residents in the path of the tornado when to take cover, and I truly feel their actions helped save lives.

May God bless all of you.

EVELYN FREEMAN Perryville