Let compassion prevail

Retirement in Fayetteville filled us with joy, as we came here in 2010 to spend the last chapters of our lives.

We knew this beautiful city. We flew in from the Midwest for graduation of family members from the University of Arkansas, from the school of law and for visits to a son on staff at the university, over the course of a decade.

We ultimately chose to retire in Fayetteville over Texas, my home state, or Florida, and over staying in Illinois. We were excited by the cultural and ethnic diversity, the graciousness of Southern people.

We shared the values of tolerance and respect for difference we found here.

Five years later, we encounter bigotry, religious wars, denigration of the rights of women and widespread hypocrisy on the part of elected officials.

Our quiet dinner hour has been invaded by recorded messages from strident self-described "Christians" who inform us that our lovely transgender friend is "a man in disguise" who wants to barge into restrooms and sexually attack our children.

Our discomfort and dismay increased as a small, self-righteous minority of Fayetteville's population overturned a needed anti-discrimination city ordinance.

At age 82 and 87, we'll not move on. Our beloved country is embroiled in culture and religious wars vigorously waged wherever we go. We can only hold to our values of respect, acceptance and love for all persons.

I pray that compassion will prevail over hatred and vituperation in the days to come.

Sue Coppernoll

Fayetteville

LGBT people have equal rights

I am gay and I am voting against Fayetteville's Ordinance 5781.

I moved here from West Hollywood, Calif., (which has a 30 percent self-identified gay population, a gay mayor and a rainbow-colored city logo emblazoned on all city vehicles including police cars). I like Fayetteville because it is socially progressive and welcomes diversity while being constitutionally conservative. Municipal ordinances, like 5781, posture to give additional rights to special interest groups. Why would anyone vote for something inherently divisive and ripe for abuse?

Our Constitution already gives me and all LGBT citizens equal rights. Our aldermen have chosen to ignore Arkansas law as well as the people's previous vote. In doing so they are trying to bully people into believing something they don't. So, now we have sanctioned bullying instead of random discrimination. How is this better?

We can't make people change their beliefs by passing a law. But we can model mutual respect for each other.

Stafford Stevens

Fayetteville

Editorial on 09/01/2015

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