Letters

I've seen this before

In 1960, Robert Chesley Osborn created a caricature of President Richard Nixon as a winged creature attacking the jugular of a faceless figure. The drawing is titled Nixon, the Instinct for the Jugular.

President Donald Trump appears to have the Nixonian insecurity, resentment, and urge to lash out at those he considers his enemies. Yogi Berra might call it "déjà vu all over again."

President Nixon knew how the government operated, and he had serious accomplishments during his time in office. President Trump has no experience in public service, and he appears incurious and indifferent to the workings of government.

I watched most of the Watergate hearings and remember Richard Nixon's V-sign as he finally left the White House on Army One. Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his team are gathering evidence. Can President Trump rein in his dark side and begin to govern effectively? Or will it be "déjà vu all over again"?

BETTY HUNT

North Little Rock

Table at last supper

The Lady of Liberty sits in the middle of the long table surrounded by her most devoted Republican disciples, including Tom Cotton, John Boozman, and Steve Womack. Her eyes are deep pools of sadness as she has learned of the hidden agenda behind this otherwise celebratory dinner. Judas Cotton, on the other hand, contemplates his perfect plan to dispatch this Roman Goddess of Freedom and Mother of all Exiles.

The signature entree of betrayal is announced as the plates are delivered. Plates piled high with hatred, greed, racism, sexism, and xenophobia, carefully prepared according to the GOP agenda. The all white-male Republicans relish their meal, savoring every bite as they celebrate their efforts to destroy health care for millions, to strip away the rights of females, immigrants, people of color, and those in the LGBTQ community. As the meal draws to a close, they raise their chalices in a final toast to Nazi and white supremacist values. All, that is, except for the mother of these victims, whose eyes are brimming with tears, running blood red down her cheeks. Stripped of her clothes, she is crucified.

As a clinical psychologist, I hereby condemn our GOP for the savage destruction of our beloved mother country and her people. Such vile acts point to unconscious hatred and are carried out as a way to further one's own selfish goals. Mr. Cotton, Boozman, and Womack, may you be tormented for the rest of your miserable lives by the avenging Furies for your abominable actions.

KATHY MARTONE

Eureka Springs

Of illegal immigrants

In response to Jud Hanson's letter on immigration reform, he conveniently omitted one important five-letter word in front of immigrant--legal.

The USA is a country where legal immigrants are welcome to pursue freedom and economic prosperity. If you broke the law to get here, you are an illegal immigrant with little regard for those pursuing immigration by following the laws of this country.

STEVE BRANDEBURG

Maumelle

Must unify the nation

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Wouldn't it be great if everyone, including the president, would repeat those words daily? With liberty and justice for all, not a race or religion or political view, for all.

People should rally around elected officials that unify the country, not those who look to divide and conquer. Avoid those who try to gerrymander congressional districts, refuse to work with the other party on legislation, or try to instill a state religion.

In the words of those great philosophers, The Judds, "Love can build a bridge, don't you think it's time."

ED PARKS

Rogers

The Legion turns 100

I am a member of the American Legion. Our organization has been trying to get approval through Congress to have a commemorative coin minted to recognize the 100th anniversary.

You may know that the Legion was born in Paris in early 1919 while our military was still occupying parts of Europe following the armistice that ended World War I. The organization came about from the desire by some good leaders to ensure our military would have an advocate when they returned home. There are many truly good things that I could say about Legion accomplishments, but the greatest one is the "G.I. Bill of Rights," the common term for the Servicemen's Readjustment Act of 1944, signed by President Franklin Roosevelt.

So, what is the issue about this coin? The issue for me is this: Arkansas' Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton and Reps. French Hill and Steve Womack all signed on to sponsor that rightful recognition so a coin will be available in time for the anniversary. It requires some "magic" number of sponsors to advance bills in each chamber, Senate and House of Representatives. Our fine representatives, Rick Crawford and Bruce Westerman, were holdouts and would not sign on. I tried to find out why they would not see fit to join their fellow Arkansans in the right thing to do, but I cannot communicate with them because I live in a different congressional district than they represent. They say they have so much correspondence from within their district that they do not have time to consider my inquiry.

As I see it, their votes in Congress certainly impact me, my family and friends. They should at least be open for communication with all citizens of Arkansas. I am sure they do not hesitate to accept contributions from outside their district. That is my issue. I hope a few others feel that way also.

BILL EATON

Russellville

Don't blame victims

Upon reading Bradley Gitz's column "Our legal racism," I think he is looking at the situation upside down.

Everything might be a lot easier for us as a nation if we would learn from history and stop doing things to our minorities that cause us to have to make "reparations" in the first place. What can be done about such a situation--theoretical conundrum ... inherent interminability? I know--we can blame the victims for causing the "disuniting of America."

We seem to never learn.

Here we are in the year 2017 with Muslim bans--a reminder of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. A lot of people want to treat our Muslim citizenry like we did the Japanese during World War II out of suspicion and fear.

The time is coming when white people will no longer be in the majority. I think this fear is fueling some of the white supremacy and neo-Nazi groups. They fear being treated the way minorities are being treated now.

If only we could live up to our country's ideals and treat everyone equally regardless of race, religion or other differences.

SALLY J. MAYS

Roland

Editorial on 08/21/2017

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