On eradication of evil
I often think about politics and religion, but keep it to myself. The older one gets the more they begin to see how there is so much overlap between the two. Most recently in Nigeria another evil group of militants has mixed the two by stealing innocent Nigerian school-aged girls in a ploy to gain some sort of political control, or money to do so.
Both control and the means to get it (money) are becoming increasingly more appealing to those committing evil acts. The militants who stole the girls are guilty of evil, but I believe those in the world who are evil enough to accept these girls into sex, marriage, etc., are just as evil.
Can this be eradicated? What limits would be put on eradication of evil--what would be exempt from evil acts? Can evil be eradicated, or even controlled by those who choose to do good? I think it can. I think instead of funding scientists who want to find out what is at the beginning of the universe and staring into space at incomprehensible distances, we should be funding the eradication of terror and evil in the entire world.
Most people don't care what is out there. It really is good versus evil, but we all do have darker sides to an extent, so for a parameter use the 10 Commandments, or common sense. Hunt those down. Imprison them in their own hell; let them fight each other, etc. There are plenty of places we could put them and keep an eye on them. We all must do our part, including our government. We could start by going into Nigeria and doing a clean sweep, find these girls and place their captors in hellish environments. I hope they like being naked and afraid.
SHANE HAMPTON
Fayetteville
The PC Police appear
I had been wondering when the PC Police would arrest Sarge and place him in the stockade for bullying poor, hapless Beetle Bailey. Thanks to Janet Ragan, my wait is over.
Forget the fact that Beetle should have been in the stockade years ago for failure to obey orders, Sarge should be held accountable for his horrific behavior.
I guess Ms. Ragan will go after that mean ol' Lucy, who continually torments Charlie Brown. How many more blows can Charlie's self-esteem take due to Lucy pulling the football away at the last second, causing him to miss the kick and fall flat on his back? Lucy must pay for her devious actions.
Good grief, PC Police, where is the outrage?
GARY TULLER
Russellville
A missed opportunity
When Barack Obama was elected president, he had a golden opportunity to be a world-beater (top dog).
With a Hillary Clinton/John Kerry State Department, it seems our enemies and allies alike consider us a bad joke, not to be trusted or feared.
TOM C. BUCKTHORPE
Little Rock
A cycle of civilization
I believe the whole issue of God and morals is critical to our culture, not just personally. It makes all the difference in the world if everything in the universe is just a blind accident of atoms (with mankind as microscopic freaks of consciousness), or if there is a supreme intelligence underlying the fabric of our reality, giving us meaning, purpose and hope. That faith is not just based on scriptures, but every time we go for a hike in the glories of the pristine wilderness. I believe all the founding fathers believed it and based our philosophy necessarily upon it, from Thomas Jefferson's Declaration to George Washington's Farewell, on and on to today, in our anthems, our mottoes, our pledge, symbolized by the eye in the pyramid on our money, etc. That's not mythology, that is reality for the human race and always will be.
Similarly, I believe the founding fathers believed that our civilization requires a moral and ethical structure--one based on common sense and reasoning, determined by We the People and not by any arbitrary judicial oligarchy. It is never productive when a culture institutes the perpetual generation of moral chaos from within. The flimsy notion of "political correctness" is essentially partisan--superficial, illogical and hypocritical in the extreme, and can never substitute for the true principles of a republic. That is the same old self-destructive cycle of civilization.
Just my two cents, which combined with a couple of "In God we trusts" would get you a mocha.
STEPHAN ALLSUP
Little Rock
Deciding for all of us
Well, it seems once again one man has decided for the rest of us what is best for us. Once again, the special-rights group (the gays) has bent the rules for themselves. They apparently got one man to decide in their favor while the rest of us must be too stupid to know what is right.
I guess if one clerk issues a same-sex license, then the next person in line will have to be a 56-year-old man and his 8-year-old wife-to-be. The same law would apply. Both couples are making a choice to live abnormal lives. Next I guess I would need to get more licenses for multiple wives. See, another choice.
I think this the real problem: Gay couples seem to think they should get special treatment for a choice that they make. This is not a civil-rights issue, just a personal-choice issue. I believe they made a choice to be who they are but won't admit it; that proves they only want to be treated special because they are not brave enough to admit they choose their lives. Must not be too important if they had no say in it.
TONY W. DAVIS
Rogers
A reason to be proud
Today I could not be more proud than to have the rest of the country reading Judge Chris Piazza's ruling striking down a clearly unconstitutional law. I believe his ruling is remarkably cogent, brilliantly written, and based on constitutional law.
Basically, his ruling is simple: It is unconstitutional in the United States of America to single out one group of people and deny them justice and equality based on our deeply learned prejudices, whether based on religion, personal beliefs or fear.
As a Christian, I happen to believe this is true for the LGBT friends I know and love all over this state, but no matter. We may continue believing whatever we believe. But we can't pass unconstitutional laws to protect what we believe.
Thank you, Judge Piazza!
LARRY E. MAZE
Little Rock
Editorial on 05/13/2014