No one's responsible
I find the column by Mike Masterson and the editorial titled "Justice, meet Mercy" offensive. According to them, it seems no one should be held responsible for the tragic death of the Naramore child, and allow his father to continue to play the victim.
It is really nice to see that the justice system apparently still has the two-tier policy: for the poor, swift and severe; for the elite, delayed and sympathetic.
I find it hard to believe Judge Naramore would have allowed the conduct and sideshow of his trial if he were the presiding judge.
DANA WALL
Heber Springs
Dark shadow on soul
In my opinion, Donald Trump is disqualified to be president.
He is disqualified because he has only talked about building a wall on our southern border when he should be concentrating on stopping illegal drug use in the U.S. He has failed to even mention Americans' incessant need for illegal drugs. Millions of dollars have been used in Mexico for the "war on drugs" when they would be better used in the U.S. to stop illegal drug use right here.
Trump and his shallow thinking on this and other serious matters reminds me of a classical example of what I believe to be his prejudiced Nationalsozialismus (National Socialism) views. Trump says only he can clear things up, he promotes militarism, intense nationalism, and he will ignore foreign treaties and he exploits fears. Look it up! Europe experienced the results of those views in World War II.
I lived in Europe for almost 30 years and have been made aware of the problems created by National Socialism. Good Americans must stand up against the bully and his National Socialism views before it is too late.
Trump has a very dark shadow on his soul and has shown his true colors from the start. However, they are not red, white and blue.
PORFIRIO GUTIERREZ
Hot Springs
A peek into the future
I have comments on a letter and a picture in a recent day's paper. First, I think Ed Parks is correct on the idea that Donald Trump does not want to be president. Second, in the picture of refugees fleeing Libya, they are all healthy young men. Does this give us a peek into our future?
MCK NORDBERG
Almyra
Try out public transit
Regarding the article about how the Broadway Bridge closing will affect traffic: This seems a good time to highlight our public transportation system. Perhaps some people can use the Rock Region Metro buses or trolleys to avoid dealing with extra traffic.
I think it would be good for Rock Region Metro to publicize the relevant routes (and for the Democrat-Gazette to report on them).
MARY LOWE KENNEDY
Little Rock
Certain lives matter?
I am an 80-year-old black male, and I must say I am confused by the phrase "Black Lives Matter" when so many blacks are murdering each other and there is no marching or protesting. Does this phrase only apply when a black person is killed by a white police officer? Does it only apply when it gives an opportunity to loot and burn some innocent merchant's property?
I don't suppose the life of the innocent black mother who was only pushing her baby down the street and was murdered by some no-account, lowlife scumbags matters. I am sorry, black people, but that is when I become enraged.
Where are these so-called black leaders when blacks are murdering each other? Oh I get it, there is no media in these types of murders, no opportunity to heckle or kill some white police officer who just may very well be one who is against their own killing of unarmed blacks.
Every pulpit in every black church across America should have been on fire about this life that matters to me! This young mother left a family of small innocent children who will grow up without her love because of some lowlife scumbag.
Black people, all lives matter, but get real and make some sense out of what is really meant by the phrase and when it applies. Will this young mother's life matter enough for someone to tell who murdered her? Does her life matter enough for black people to demand her executor be put to death expediently?
AUSTIN PORTER SR.
College Station
Uncommon courtesy
I was doing some errands on a recent morning and noticed a funeral procession coming toward me. I pulled over, as did most of the other cars. Excellent courtesy and respect shown.
However, I noticed some alleged humans who seemed to think that this was the perfect opportunity to zoom ahead, cut in and out of traffic, and one actually turned left across the procession. Ridiculous. Just appalling.
I also notice tremendous lack of common courtesies such as alleged humans letting a door slam behind them instead of taking a whole whopping two seconds and maybe doing something nice like holding the door for someone else.
Now, it would be tremendously easy to play the blame game and list a series of possible suspects for these lapses. Targets such as the media, the system, the family (or lack thereof), the schools, society, are all too common and too vague. No, let us instead focus on the individual, the possessor of the brain and the one committing the behavior. Let us put the responsibility squarely where it belongs--on the person, the individual. Not some nebulous or vague entity, but on the concrete, the one right there, the person. After all, if we can praise and uphold the behaviors of the individual for positive, productive actions, we can certainly do the opposite and hold accountable those on the other end of the spectrum.
And, as always, slow down and grill.
DAVID KELLEY
Fort Smith
Editorial on 09/01/2016