Quality of life matters
In a recent Perspective guest column, Trent Garner declares that "different" shouldn't be a death sentence for those who have Down syndrome. He wishes to pass legislation that would prohibit the selective abortion of children with Down syndrome--and ultimately, "other genetic and medical conditions."
Is the difference between those who support choice and those who violently and totally oppose it an opinion about the value of life? If Mr. Garner believes that any life, however brutish and painful, is better than none, then we disagree. The quality of life matters as well.
My son was born with cerebral palsy, profound mental retardation, and an IQ of 12. His life was an endless cycle of explosive diarrhea, seizures, and fevers of 105 degrees; he died at the age of 8 in diapers, never having spoken a word. I loved him dearly, but would have ended that life in a second had I known what the quality of it would be.
Mr. Garner, beware of the universal laws you want to impose in areas such as life and morality. There are no universal situations, and each family must seek and own the solution peculiar to itself.
ANN LINK
Little Rock
Consequences to acts
Re the idea that it doesn't require belief in God to live moral lives, I am conscious of feeling mental states for which I feel praise- or blame-worthy. I am accountable for my actions not merely to myself and to society, but to some law-giver. Law, in the generic, is a rule of action apprehended by the mind, which the Bible calls heart. The Bible also tells us those who do instinctively what the law requires are a law unto themselves. God's moral law does not change, will not change, and cannot change.
We have involuntary acts and voluntary acts. Involuntary controls the functions of the body but does not control thoughts that enter the mind. Voluntary is choice. I drink, eat, sleep, get up, tie my shoes, open the door, go to work, and choose to reject or act on the thoughts that enter my mind.
The book of Genesis gives an account of God's creation of the world and all within it. The books called the gospels give an account of God sending his only son as a sacrifice. This is the rest of God. We may choose forgiveness and salvation, i.e., eternal life and the church. The books written by the apostle Paul explain salvation, and with the Holy Spirit, we choose to learn and train ourselves as the church.
Choice is more than belief; it is also what we do, a way of life. When we choose immoral acts, there are consequences, and I quote: "Sin will take you farther than you want to go, keep you longer than you want to stay, and cost you more than you want to pay."
B.W. FERGUSON
Lonoke
Senator disappoints
I am writing to express my disappointment and disapproval of the way that Sen. Tom Cotton and his office have treated constituents who are critical of the senator's positions and votes. It is a fundamental part of our democracy that our representatives listen to their constituents, even when that process is difficult or uncomfortable.
For us, the lifelong residents of the state Cotton is supposed to represent, his decisions matter. When he won't stand up for CHIP, for benefits like SNAP or Social Security, or for the immigrants who make our economy and society strong, this is life and death for us.
If Cotton is a coward and can't listen to a disabled Arkansan who could die without health care, then he should resign, because it takes courage to stand up to Koch funding, to the NRA, to insurance companies and say, "No, what you want is bad for my state and my constituents."
We, the voters and Arkansans affected by Cotton's atrocious positions, are taking note of how little he cares for us. We take note of how detached he is, we notice how little of his time is spent here, and we see how infrequently he makes time for town halls, for voters, and for listening to us.
RAMEY MOORE
Fayetteville
Nice guys finish first
UA Athletics ... where losers are winners and nice guys finish first. Jeff Long, $4.625 million buyout; Bret Bielema, $11.9 million buyout. Coach Anderson, you know they'll take care of you too.
Maybe someone from Walmart could do a better job negotiating these contracts in the future?
SCOTT SCHUH
Little Rock
Editorial on 02/09/2018