Better school security
I believe that all schools should have a better security system. We hear a lot about school shootings or stabbings, but it seems as if no one is trying to solve that problem. The U.S. has enough money to fund better security systems for schools.
Many schools that are around the Little Rock area do not have armed police officers present at their doors. They have men and women with shirts that say “Security.” The shirts are not going to be able to save the kids or school staff. Many schools have the doors locked with a button to push to be let in, but that would not help in the event of a violent act.
I believe that metal detectors should be at every school with an armed police officer or trained security with a gun, just as airports and hospitals have screening equipment at their entrances checking to make sure a person is okay to proceed on. I know the schools probably believe that having metal detectors and someone there to go through everything is time-consuming, but it could save a child’s life or a staff member’s life.
I have two daughters in school, and I pray for protection for my daughters’ lives every day. I would love to be sure that my girls and everyone’s children and loved ones are safe. I think children and staff are murdered because there are not enough safety measures in schools.
KEENYA HAWKINS
Little Rock
If they’re the enemy
I will believe that China is the enemy, or is about to become the enemy, whenever the big-box stores quit selling “Made in China” goods. This includes those based in Arkansas. Have a good day.
DALE GOSSIEN Little Rock
Partisans in lockstep
While not authorized to speak for Sarkis Nazarian, I am compelled to respond to the accusation by Will Cohen that “it is Nazarian’s ilk that is responsible for the absence of civilized public discourse today.”
I agree with Mr. Cohen that Ms. Ann Clemmer probably was not being racist in using “Kumbaya foreign policy” in conjunction with President Barack Obama. I question his assertion that only a trivial number of people understand the meaning or etymology of “Kumbaya.” This song has been sung since the 1920s and recorded and heard widely for almost a century, with popular versions by Pete Seeger, Joan Baez, the Weavers, the Seekers, and so on up to the late 1990s when Peter, Paul and Mary included it in another album.
More pertinently, not all who disagree with the president, contrary to Mr. Cohen’s opinion, are routinely branded as racists. Really? Why even make that accusation? To thinking persons, accusations are not proof; caricatures are not evidence.
Frankly—regrettably—this red herring accusation attempts to put on the defensive those who object to the racist characterizations of the president which have been bandied about for the last five years in lieu of presentation of facts. The right wing has surely stood steadfast in its opposition, with firm lockstep refusal to approach major problems in our country, to wit, the disastrous increase in costs of medical care, the problems of immigration, corporate welfare, and the environment.
Lockstep partisanship and refusal to approach productive discourse on our country’s problems bear the major responsibility for the absence of civilized public discourse. They are equivalent to Nero’s fiddling while Rome burned.
DENNIS A. BERRY Bryant
Decision a landmark
The editorial page described Judge Chris Piazza as a bad judge and disparaged his decision as polemical. I disagree.
I believe the decision was a landmark, and Judge Piazza will be remembered as a voice in the wilderness who had the courage to tell the people of Arkansas, in 2014, that the 14th Amendment means what it says: “(N)or shall any state … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
JACKSON JONES
Harrell
Arts aid to education
I have never written a letter to the editor before, but this seemed like the right time. I want to express my gratitude for the number of arts, film and similar festivals offered throughout our beautiful state. This past week and weekend, the Little Rock area was able to enjoy the Little Rock Film Festival, the Greek Food Festival, and a visit by the one and only Dale Chihuly. This has been a great week.
Recently, I read that art and music play an important role in children and youth regarding their ability to learn. This relationship was explored a couple of years ago when the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville undertook a large-scale, random-assignment study of school tours to the museum. They were able to determine that a strong causal relationship does in fact exist between arts education, attendance of museums, galleries and art performances and a range of desirable outcomes for children. In other words, kids did better on tests and retention rates went up.
Realizing the importance of the arts in children’s lives caused me to volunteer for the ACANSA Arts Festival planned in Central Arkansas this fall. I think if every adult became involved in their local schools and/or arts organizations, Arkansas would quickly see the level of educational success increase in our children. Join me in volunteering. It’s not just worthwhile, it’s fun!
DONNA HELMS
Little Rock
Destroying their land
The following letter was written by my third-grade son to TransCanada.— Kyle Holton
“This is what I think about the pipeline going from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico to be shipped around the world where a big oil spill could happen. It is polluting the air. You are also completely destroying Canada and people’s land. Finally you are endangering these animals: the whooping crane, greater sage grouse, swift fox, burying beetle, and the chestnut collared longspur. All that is for ‘very precious oil.’ That is what I think about the Keystone Pipeline. You should stop.”
ELI HOLTON
Little Rock