Letters

Many gracious people

On Nov. 2, I had a doctor's appointment and was in a parking lot across from St. Vincent's Hospital in Little Rock with an almost dead cell phone. I am 77 and on oxygen.

The first person to help was a young man who gave me a pen. His name was Justin. Then I asked a lady if I could use her cell phone, and she literally climbed up a hill to get it to me. The number didn't work, but I promised to pray for her daughter Sheila.

I got out of my car, started out a few feet but I knew it would be impossible to climb. I saw a man walking down the hill. As he walked up to his red SUV, I spoke up and said, "Sir, would you please ride me to the entrance of the building?" This gentleman kindly and graciously drove me there. The last person was David, who was on his break. He saw I was in distress and immediately got me a chair. He would not leave me alone and watched over me until I caught my breath.

I sit here fighting back tears just thinking about these wonderful people who took their time and effort to help me. May God's blessings be upon them and may he richly reward them for their sacrifices!

B.E. SPURGEON

North Little Rock

In need of honest men

More and more over time, I've had to come to the conclusion that an objective and fair system, like ours was intended to be, was to be operated at all levels with honest people in every position. It becomes a nightmare of corruption if they are not.

I believe that's what we're seeing. The men who designed ours would have likely been appalled at the amount of it we now see. Surely they would see provisions for harsh rules of corrective action would have to be applied. If not, it will go on.

WILLIAM L. RAMSEY

North Little Rock

Got a trick and a treat

It was Halloween. Too much I-30 traffic for an old lady to drive to Little Rock, but a doctor's appointment awaited. With time to spare, I stopped for lunch at IHOP where I was seated facing a young couple about one-third my age. Our only contact was a slight smile as our eyes met.

After my food was delivered, the trick happened. The shaker dumped its lid and about a tablespoon of pepper on my eggs. My waitress quickly got fresh eggs. (The culprit would have been disappointed with our lack of emotion from this trick.)

The treat came when I was leaving. The waitress informed me that the young man had paid for my meal after requesting that the waitress not tell me until after he was gone.

I hope you, young man, will read this. Thank you! You touched me deeply and helped renew my faith in your generation. You are a credit to your parents and yourself.

Be assured that one day soon, I will "pay it forward" when I see a young mother or father struggling to raise young children in this less-than-perfect world.

M.J. DIXON

Benton

Shelter from storms

Another day of sadness. Another day to mourn. Another mass killing.

This time evil went to church and bared its ugly fangs. Six and 20 souls were slain before they sang their last hymn. It's not like he hasn't been there before. It seems he is becoming a regular church attendee. Perhaps he's been one all along, just not always violent.

I've only recently become familiar with a Bob Dylan song that has a chorus as follows: "'Come in,' she said, 'I'll give ya shelter from the storm'." I don't know if Mr. Dylan had the church in mind when he wrote those words or not, but to me it says what the church is all about: giving life-weary folks shelter from the storms of life. Not physical shelter, necessarily, but life-sustaining comfort and friendship of fellow strugglers.

We can't do much to ward off evil from the physical, be it our bodies or buildings, but if we fill our hearts with thankfulness and the peace that passes understanding and give hate the boot, Jesus and his church can give our souls a shelter from the storms. He promised that the gates of hell (evil) would not prevail against it.

JOHN McPHERSON

Searcy

Slap in veterans' faces

When I turned on the news and heard the Bowe Bergdahl sentence, it made me almost ashamed to be a veteran. Notice the "almost." I am proud of my service--but as a disabled vet due to service in the waters of Vietnam--but to see a deserter receive such a light sentence is a slap in the face to every service man and woman and veteran.

He admitted desertion and improper action before the enemy. I believe if not for the improper action of the sitting president he could have been sentenced to death. If something isn't done to restore pride in our military and people don't learn to fulfill promises and contracts, we are doomed to failure as a people and country.

I believe the draft should be reinstated, and everyone drafted, or who enlists, should read the contract before signing. I read the whole thing; some would be surprised to find out what they are agreeing to. We need people who will be proud of their service and see it for what it is, service to our fellow man.

Keep up the good work, Brenda. People need to realize that most folks don't write in unless they are upset about something and the letters section is not necessarily an indication of how the majority thinks. That shows up, mostly, at the polls.

ROBERT E. DAVIS

Crossett

Editorial on 11/08/2017

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