Proud of the students
Paul Greenberg is a skillful writer, no question. His columns flow easily—very articulate. My high school composition teacher would have been impressed with his skills. In fact, when I pick up your paper, I usually start by checking to see if he’s contributed to the editorial page.
This letter is in regard to his recent piece on former Secretary Condoleezza Rice’s withdrawing as the commencement speaker at Rutgers. It seems he was contemptuous of the efforts by some of the students to prevent her from receiving this high honor.
I would have been proud to have been among those students. Ms. Rice contributed to the public’s acceptance of going to war in Iraq. I’ve known too many people whose lives will be forever changed as a result. I think other than Halliburton, Big Oil, and other friends of Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney, no one really benefited. For that alone I’d be mortified to have Ms. Rice serve as keynote speaker at any university I’d attended. To let her speak in this role would be to condone her actions.
I think if she and others on the right would admit that they messed up in a truly horrific way, I’d feel a lot a more kindly toward them. Bless their hearts. That would be a wonderful first step in our national healing.
DONALD W. AUSTIN
Fayetteville
Make standards same
I am a Catholic. I’ve heard arguments against homosexual relationships and gay marriage my whole life. While I appreciate the “hate the sin, not the sinner” rhetoric that attempts to promote love and not hate, I’m not sure the two sentiments are compatible.
I’m also not convinced that the church’s anti-gay-marriage stance isn’t based on fear and intransigence.
So here’s what I think needs to happen. The standards that homosexuals are held to must be placed on all people.
The church says that a true marriage is between a man and a woman who are open to God’s gift of life. Sex is for procreation, and homosexuality is wrong because it will never lead to new life. What if a heterosexual couple cannot or will not have children? Catholics must work to ban all marriages that will not lead to childbearing. This includes marriage between couples where one or both is infertile or utilizing artificial birth control.
Gay marriage is also decried because it is “unnatural” and goes against “tradition.” Sex using artificial birth control is by definition unnatural. And while methods of artificial birth control have been around throughout history (much like homosexual relations), they do not fit the church’s definition of traditional. Banning these marriages will promote marriages the church claims to be interested in.
Or we could all admit to the hypocrisy involved with bans on samesex marriage and focus on the true moral issues our state faces: poverty, poor health and low educational attainment.
MARISA NELSON
Little Rock
How is that an asset?
I think it is alarming when an individual who is running for statewide office has a political advertisement which boasts that she carries a gun, as if that is an asset or qualification. What has become of our state?
KATSY BROCKMANN Maumelle
A moment of history
Much has been made of the recent marriage equality ruling in Arkansas and the subsequent stay of the ruling. During the interim, over 400 couples finally received legal recognition of their relationships. As a straight ally of marriage equality, I say it was a great moment in this state’s history. In about three years, I predict marriage equality will be the law in most if not all 50 states.
Obviously, this has stirred much controversy. Many complain that marriage is a religious ceremony and thus shouldn’t be associated with same-sex couples, who some Christians believe are immoral. As a Christian from the liberal tradition, it is obvious to me that marriage has always been a legal construct. Many people (gay and straight) choose to associate marriage with religion, which is fine, but many choose to have their marriage done by a government official, not a priest. When you sign a marriage license, you are signing a legal document that, when you break it, has real-world consequences.
Another argument those who oppose marriage equality make is that it goes against the wishes of 75 percent of Arkansans. That was true 10 years ago. It isn’t now. And just because “the majority” agrees with something, that doesn’t always make it right. A majority in this state stood behind the confederacy in the 1860s, Orval Faubus at Central High in 1957, bans on interracial marriage, and sodomy laws. All failed the moral test of time.
I am a frequent critic of the Democrat-Gazette and its editorial policies, but it captured the moment marriage equality reached the South perfectly with its above-the-fold kiss of the first same-sex couple to marry in the state. To that, I say bravo!
RICHARD MOORE
Camden
Acknowledge problem
It seems there remains no conversation on the most important issue surrounding Malaysian 370. Last week the 9/11 Museum opened in New York. Four flights were taken over by men upset with the world. Since that time it looks like it’s happened twice more. First Egypt Air 990, and now Malaysia Air 370.
But there likely will be no memorial to the folks on those flights and it appears little to prevent its re-occurrence.
Perhaps due to the FAA wanting to “promote air travel” or a reluctance to alarm the public, there apparently is no conversation about the rules enacted as a result of 9/11. Prior to 9/11, flight attendants had keys to the cockpit, or a swift kick to the door would open it. Now the doors are practically impenetrable inflight.
This seemed like a good idea at the time despite flight attendant objections. But like any new rule, it’s had unintended consequences. Namely, now any 90-pound weakling pilot with a gripe at the world can take an airplane anywhere the fuel will take them. Major airline aircraft require two pilots, any of which can overcome the other in any number of ways.
This scenario won’t happen often, but I think it will happen again unless dealt with. There are many possible solutions, but we have to first acknowledge there is a problem.
PHILLIP FINCH
Batesville
Editorial on 05/24/2014