High hopes for downfall of nation’s ‘clown’
Thank you, Don Switzer [“Are Americans being willfully blind?” May 14] for your most accurate letter. Thank you, John Brummett, for covering correctly and without prejudice only some of the many faults of the “clown” in the White House. And, even more importantly, thank you, Democrat-Gazette, for having the courage to publish these writers’ remarks.
Here is hoping this egomaniac steps on his own “clown” shoes and falls flat on his face, sooner rather than later. He is a detriment to this nation.
ROSS SANCHEZ
Bella Vista
Thankful for ongoing efforts
to restore bobwhites
As a lifelong admirer and student of Mr. and Mrs. Bob White (and pursuer till they died out), it’s a joy to read about their restoration efforts here. Bryan Hendricks, Rex Nelson, Bob Brown with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the editor of this newspaper, commission Chairman Emon Mahoney in El Dorado, and most recently Flip Putthoff regarding Pea Ridge, are keeping my (our) hopes alive.
Further, in the Pea Ridge article, it’s heartening to finally read about the nocturnal ground predator as a major contributor to the bobwhite’s demis, that being the most untalked about and difficult problem of all. Why? First, they are, well, nocturnal. People don’t see that their population has exploded. Second it’s the hardest to solve. Habitat is relatively easy: spray/kill the fescue, plant warm-season grasses, let the fence rows grow up, increase Conservation Reserve Program incentives, and do it in large enough blocks as it takes about 40 acres of decent habitat to support just one covey. Not so easy with skunks, coons, armadillos, feral and house cats, feral hogs and ground hogs (only I think they are herbivores and so not a quail problem, but I’m not sure). Coyotes are a bit of bad/good news. Bad news that they too destroy ground-nesting bird’s eggs and chicks. The good news is if the aforementioned numbers were slashed, the coyotes would move on. Quail, meadowlarks and other ground nesters are at the bottom of the field food chain. The number of critters in the upper links is way too high, resulting in the bottom link’s disappearance (and failure at restoration).
So this summer, try an experiment at Pea Ridge. Conduct controlled hunts of the nocturnal ground predators on the area, in the morning paying $10 per dead animal brought in. There are lots of ol’ boys with their hound dogs who would go for it. Might even be a way for some high school students to earn summer money. Give it a shot … literally. And all outspoken advocates for Mr. and Mrs. Bob White, thank you, and keep on with your good work.
DAVE JOHNSON
Fayetteville
Memorial Day a time
to remember sacrifices
Two and a half centuries ago, 5,000 men died fighting against the world’s most powerful military so that the United States of America could be born. It became a beacon of liberty to nations everywhere and created the modern western civilization billions have enjoyed. We all owe a debt to those who sacrificed so much to make that happen, especially those 5,000 who gave all.
In the years since, millions have served this country in the military to pay back the debt to those original few. Some of our wars have been just; some not so much. Many of those liberties won at such a high cost have been eroded away. But the call to duty has never gone unanswered. One million American servicemen have died serving during our various wars. They should be remembered. They gave all so others wouldn’t have to.
As the Memorial Day weekend ushers in the beginning of summer celebrations and revelry, let us not forget the meaning of the holiday. Let us pause to remember and give thanks to the million souls who gave their lives for us. Let us take just a moment to remember and value the sacrifices they made, so that we can fully understand the tremendous price that was and is still being paid.
MICHAEL J. KALAGIAS
Benton County Libertarians
Garfield