Letters

Wrong Orwell novel

I fear that Paul Greenberg got it wrong about George Orwell's 1984 in his recent column. The novel wasn't turned down by multiple publishers during World War II. Orwell wrote it in 1947, two years after the conflict ended.

The novel Greenberg may be thinking about is Animal Farm. Orwell submitted it to several publishers in 1943 and 1944 who rejected it for various reasons--some patriotic. The satire is a bitter attack on Soviet communism, with pointed references to recent events in Russian history. With the very survival of European democracy in doubt, many thought it was the wrong time to depict England's allies as murdering pigs.

Indeed, Orwell anticipated as much. He sent the manuscript off with insulting letters to his left-wing publishers accusing them of Stalinism, which was bitterly resented. He was taken aback when Tory-aligned publishers took the same view.

The poet and editor T.S. Eliot warned Orwell that his fable was inherently ambiguous, and could be misinterpreted in ways he wouldn't like. After Animal Farm's 1945 publication made him world-famous, Orwell protested that it shouldn't be seen as an attack on socialism, but its betrayal. Too late.

In contrast, the totalitarian world of Orwell's 1984 depicts elements of Stalinism and Nazism. But its real target is power-worship. Big Brother is neither Russian nor German. He lives in London and speaks English.

GENE LYONS

Little Rock

Israel and Palestine

I believe Palestine should recognize Israel's right to exist as a state.

Having stated the above, I also believe President Barack Obama was right in having the U.S. abstain when the United Nations Security Council recently voted 14-0 to oppose more Jewish settlements in occupied areas that are claimed by Palestine, with overwhelming world support.

A recent poll allegedly shows Jews in this country are evenly split on that position.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in my opinion, is an extreme right-winger who threatens any nation when Israel doesn't get its way in the UN. There have been times when most UN members refused to let Netanyahu have his way, with only the U.S. supporting him.

Could virtually the entire world be wrong and only Israel right? Possibly, but not likely. I admire Obama for having stood up to this Israeli bully. Many of Netanyahu's own people also, reportedly, don't like his attitude.

The U.S. gives billions to Israel each year and may have helped that nation obtain nuclear weapons. Netanyahu returns the favor by threatening us and others. Netanyahu has canceled diplomatic visits with the countries who voted against him and summoned ambassadors to Israel in order to lodge his protest.

Too late, Netanyahu, the Security Council resolution stands and I believe not even Donald Trump can likely change it.

VERNON McDANIEL

Ozark

Where are we living?

I find it hard to believe that Donald Trump can say he admires the dictator of Russia but makes a derogatory remark about a sitting judge, and the vice president agrees.

CARL ANDERSON

Hot Springs Village

Rename that bridge

I would like to echo the recent letter of Jackson T. Stephens Jr. about renaming the Broadway Bridge in Little Rock the Donald J. and Melania Trump Bridge. I think this is very significant and a proper way to signify Little Rock support for making America great again, and a great first step to show our community's support for the Trump presidency.

ILEENE WATKINS

Little Rock

'Those people' whine

Interesting that some individuals have personally adopted the "basket of deplorables" title as a badge of conservative honor. Hillary Clinton specifically identified the characteristics of the occupants of that basket: sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic. That list does represent a degree of diversity. Clinton admitted she was being "grossly generalistic" and that many Trump supporters "feel that the government has let them down."

To actually claim to be a member of that basket is to acknowledge having one or more of those views. Identifying oneself as a deplorable-basket resident means sharing the opinions of that population. A different interpretation would be awkwardly difficult. I wonder that someone would volunteer to be a deplorable-basket person, based on the views Clinton identified.

And yes, deplorables pay for those assistance subsidies. All taxpayers pay for those subsidies, not just the self-identified deplorables.

I'm mostly liberal, but certainly not perfect. And arrogance is a condition we all, liberals and conservatives, prefer to attribute to those other people.

And that "get used to it," or "quit whining," sounds like what King George III and the British Parliament might have said to the American colonists when those colonists protested the tax acts, Currency Act, Townshend Acts, Tea Act, Navigation Acts, etc. If the colonists had agreed to get used to it, this country might have a government more like Canada's.

Citizens have the right to speak to issues that concern them. There is no requirement to "get used to it."

ED ROGERS

Little Rock

Thankful, in one way

If Betsy DeVos had not been confirmed, I'm sure Donald Trump would have appointed someone less controversial to destroy public, secular, desegregated education in this country. I believe the confirmation of DeVos brings crystal clarity to the nature of the struggle ahead, especially here in Little Rock, where the ghost of Orval Faubus haunts every debate about charter schools and "choice."

In this way I'm glad DeVos will be our new secretary of Education: Her "face" will launch a thousand public protests.

JOHN A. BALL

Little Rock

A danger to country

Re Paul Greenberg's essay on newspeak: I had to read his essay twice before it sunk in as to who and what he was talking about.

I remember, when Mr. Trump was running for president, he said some things that should have been a big red flag about why it was dangerous to vote for him, but apparently the Republicans were too anxious to be in power again that they thought they could control him. Obviously they thought wrong, but even now it seems they ignore what he is becoming--a dictator--and I greatly fear for this country if they don't wake up and realize what is happening right now and right here. We must find a way of stopping him before it is too late.

MELODY HAGAN

Hot Springs

Editorial on 02/09/2017

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