Academics, not color
A recent editorial about the Little Rock School District cited data about the black and white enrollment to make the point that black students were leaving the school district at greater rates than white students. It appears the editorial went further to claim that this was evidence that charter schools were not skimming the best students.
This conclusion only follows if you make the assumption that black students who are leaving the school district are not the best students. The data only gives the skin color and tells us nothing about academic capabilities.
Paraphrasing a bit and with apologies to Dr. King, it seems that we have not reached that point where a person is judged on their academic ability instead of the color of their skin.
RICHARD FISH
Little Rock
More than 2 choices
The Grill Party gets truly despondent when witnessing the current state of affairs in our world. All too often, it appears, choices come down to this or that, this one or that one, only two choices available or allowed.
The Grill Party would like to remind everyone to please go to your grocery store of choice, meander over to the barbecue sauce section, and notice the number of choices available. Surely this is a metaphor for life. The Grill Party cringes and goes into a depression when a discussion or debate deteriorates into a choice between only two options, as if more choices or possibilities would make our brains explode.
Yes, dear voters, there are more choices than this or that, this one or that one, my way or no way. One of the favorite places for the Grill Party to shop has 38 varieties of brats. Thirty-eight! The Grill Gods are thanked each time one of these offerings is submitted. Life, and grilling, would be horrendous if there were only two choices.
A point to ponder. As always--slow down and grill.
DAVID KELLEY
Fort Smith
Laws don't address it
Mr. Dana Kelley, in his Nov. 10 column, states that no new laws are needed to control gun violence. He neglects to focus on the main problem that present laws fail to address. As long as any criminal or mentally damaged person can freely buy weapons either at a gun show or from private sales, gun deaths will continue freely.
What is needed is national registration and limits on who and where a sale of guns can occur. Only licensed dealers should be allowed to sell guns after strict background checks take place. Said dealers should be subject to strict laws and controls by government.
BILL FRITZ
Hot Springs Village
Doing all a disservice
The story is that Trump blames Democrats for no health-care changes. He and his friends need to look in the mirror as to who will cause 50 percent of health insurance rates to go up next year, according to AP. Trump writes in his book about fantasy and hyperbole (exaggerating); these things cause confusion also. Unless you're a Trump supporter you know that he's lying.
Second point: Years ago a congressman said that the methamphetamine epidemic was over. At that moment there were dozens if not hundreds of towns dealing with that crisis.
If people don't vote next year to throw these bozos out, they are doing a disservice to America and themselves.
STEVE WHEELER
North Little Rock
Misled on immigrants
Recent articles about immigrant child poverty appear to seek to lay the blame on the immigrants. Missing from the argument is the obvious culprit--work permits.
Tossing aside centuries of precedent where work was a Creator-ordained right, Congress claimed the power to order U.S. citizens to deny work opportunities to unfavored groups. The Constitution forbids such laws.
Both political parties call for "humane procedures" to impoverish unwanted immigrants. Federal statutes outlaw work, impose higher taxes on undocumented immigrants, and sanction states that refuse to pass oppressive laws like denying driver licenses, raising college tuition, denying child medical benefits, allowing citizens to breach contracts with and commit torts against immigrants with impunity, criminalizing transportation, denying housing, and incentivizing crime against immigrants by deporting victims who seek police help.
In short, our governments are saying to some immigrants: "We don't want you here. We will keep harming your children until you leave."
So that is why many immigrant children are in poverty. It is part of the plan.
Either the writers are ignorant of these causes of immigrant poverty or they omit them in order to promote President Trump's immigration reform--one that removes the family unification strategy in favor of a system for letting in richer immigrants. They claim there is something wrong with low-skilled Latinos, and thus we should stop letting them in.
Why mislead? If we want to lower child poverty, simply let their parents work.
DONALD P. BALLA
Siloam Springs
That dedication to life
My travels often take me along the street where our local Planned Parenthood office is located. The right-to-life pickets are ever-present. They may or may not be there 24/7, but whenever I pass by they always seem to be there. And they persist in all kinds of weather. I do admire their dedication.
However, the efficacy of their logic seems questionable. I assume they are there because they think their presence might influence a pregnant woman and save a baby from abortion. Or, more generally, to influence public opinion to be on their side. Or, more specifically, to gain support for legislation restricting, if not outlawing, abortion.
If human life begins before birth, it damn sure continues after birth. If all their hours of effort and enthusiasm went to supporting life after birth, their commitment to lives of children would be affirmed magnificently. Not only would they not have to embarrass women who already have plentiful problems, but also some women considering abortion, looking at more favorable post-natal options, might opt for life. Finally, the kids. Some youngsters who are most at risk would get the help they so desperately need.
LEN WHITE
Fayetteville
Editorial on 11/17/2017