Don’t doubt that a little faith can go a long way for nation
An columnist in the Nov. 17 edition gave an opinion on how much better we all are now that religious affiliations are waning in the United States. Really? I hear this from one who obviously perceives himself as a superior intellectual, and who is unfortunately one of those arrogant liberals teaching our children in institutions of higher learning.
One who does follow a spiritual path that gives purpose, hope and guidance on serving others is not to be demeaned as a person who is blindly following beliefs in “immaculate conceptions and people rising from the tomb,” as the author suggests. It is not religion that teaches hate; people do that quite well by themselves.
This is a nation founded on Christian principles and, yes, they have been misinterpreted and abused by many. While the columnist may think of Europe as “enlightened,” we are not Europe and never hope to be. The problems we face as a society today could certainly benefit from having more faith in something beyond our everyday lives and a bit more moral direction from such as Art Hobson.
PHYLLIS JONES
Holiday Island
Artwork’s beauty not seen
in the eye of this beholder
Well, I’ve seen a great deal and today I’ve seen even more in the stupid and bizarre category. The front page of the Nov. 17 Democrat-Gazette reports (with a photo) a recent Christie’s auction acquisition by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art that will become part of its permanent collection in Bentonville. I use the word “art” in its loosest possible sense to describe a 10- to 15-foot-long by maybe 12- to 18-inches-wide strip of green, individually wrapped candy pieces that sits on the floor like a sort of bumpy piece of carpet. Patrons will be encouraged to help themselves to the candy while docents replenish the pot, forever presumably.
Price for this “Untitled” bit of tasteless claptrap by Felix Gonzalez-Torres? A mere, a paltry $7.6 million.
I ask you: Has the world gone stark raving mad?
Yes. On all fronts. The dumbing down of schools, the dumbing down of national and international news, and this latest dumbing down of taste (literal, it being consumable candy pieces).
Well, as the denizens of the Fire Sign Theatre said years ago, “There you are, Judge Poop!” (exiting, stage right)
MARY MCREYNOLDS
Eureka Springs