Iran's new day dawns
Emboldened students and others are increasingly expressing their frustration with the current theocratic rulers in Iran. It appears another "regime change" is on the horizon and may not be far away. The intensity and widespread nature of the protests are increasing exponentially and it is far more likely that the current repressive regime will be isolated and toppled sooner rather than later.
The average Iranian is a wonderful, intelligent, articulate person. The culture of Iran is an exceptional mix of talent and skill combined with an intense love of freedom and country. Iran deserves a much better future than dark, misguided theology and wasted resources.
A return to an Iranian monarchy and king or a constitutional democracy may be difficult to predict, but a toppling of the brutality of the clerics and Basij will clearly occur very soon. The support of the U.S. and maybe even Europe will give the protesters what they need to be an energized force of good.
Soon, the remnants of the revolution of 1979 will be discarded and the people of Iran will have their day in the sun.
NORM NORTH JR.
Springdale
Reach out, remember
Thank you for reprinting David Mills' letter from 13 years ago. He states, "Live your life as though [your loved ones] were standing in your shadow watching your every move." His letter concerned the loved ones who have gone before us.
To his thoughts, I would add, open your door to all the loved ones in your life today.
Begin 2018 thinking about how you can enjoy the family and friends you have by reaching out to them, remembering them, and praying for them. Be an inspiration to them this year.
Have a blessed 2018!
FREDDIE LOU QUIST
Heber Springs
This is commitment?
In 2014, Chad Morris signed a six-year contract with Southern Methodist University to become its head football coach, employing him to 2020. In 2016, he signed a three-year extension added on to the original contract, committing him to the university through 2023, all the while saying all the right things and promising his unselfish commitment to the SMU program.
It seems the second the U of A offered him its position, he was gone, leaving behind all the kids, fans and defensive coaches he had made those empty pledges to, not to mention six more years of contract to the school torn up and thrown out. It added insult on top of injury when he had the gall to text many of his former players prior to their bowl game, asking them to "represent" and to "be the standard."
Really? Wow ...
JOHN ZACH
North Little Rock
Opposite perspective
In reply to Michael Bishop and Kevin Wayne, I would offer these thoughts to them.
Michael first: I can understand your respect via parents that supported presidential candidates they did not vote for because the elected president was not daily bashing his defeated opponent. The elected president was the kind of person with morals and character and knew how to be content with the fact that he was elected and felt no need to constantly/daily waste time reminding us, the voters, that he had won.
And to Kevin I have this to say: No one, and I mean no one, daily brings up your dreaded names of Obama and Hillary more than your redneck president! Further, it seems you must not read or perhaps cannot comprehend the publicly printed data that our current president has spent over 30 percent of his time golfing, vacationing, and stirring unrest with our entire nation. But on the positive side for you, and thanks to your president, we can now return to our fear of nuclear war, something neither Obama nor Hillary ever gave us cause to worry about.
JUDY SAINDON
Fayetteville
Moved by news story
I had, on several occasions, thought of participating in the UAMS Anatomical Gift Program (body donation). Your beautifully written story last week gave me the incentive I needed to finally do something about it.
I hope that many other Arkansans were similarly moved by your story.
DAVID OLIN TULLIS
Little Rock
Back in Dodge City ...
I guess it's back to the "good ol' days" when people in the Wild West were carrying six-guns on their hips, having quick-draw and shooting contests, sometimes even on the streets of Dodge City. Yeehaw, Marshall Dillon. Maybe our smart lawmakers and NRA supporters will let us carry assault weapons too.
Won't we all feel safer, too, at our churches, theaters, weddings, banks, bathrooms, bars, and at ballgames? Having your gun displayed will say, "don't mess with me, you SOB." Too bad Jesus and his "Posse of 12" didn't have guns, for we all know WJWD, right?
Guns and the Second Amendment do not supercede the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and justice for all. Nor do they provide for a safer world.
Do you remember the statement by FDR, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"? Uncalled-for fear and distrust are causing us to lose sight of our inalienable rights.
When these rights are superceded by fear, you have injustice, loss of freedom, people taking the law into their own hands, and hate and prejudice taking hold. Examples: Native Americans and African Americans being treated as subhuman; Japanese Americans forced into internment camps, leaving all their belongings behind; citizens being accused of having Communist ties; women being treated as second-class citizens (sadly from long-held biblical beliefs) so they couldn't vote or get equal pay or equal respect; people of different faiths and beliefs like Jews, Mormons, Muslims, Hindus, etc., and many ethnic groups all across America treated unjustly at times.
At times it seems there is little hope for our country and the world to live in peace and harmony, and for people to treat each other with respect and love as so many teachings tell us to do. This is the only way we can continue on this earth of ours.
LARRY D. BINTLIFF
Bee Branch
Clean up your messes
I'm sure to bring up the topic of litter is a waste of my time and of space for this paper.
Yet I find myself screaming at the amounts I see everywhere. By the time I reach my destination I am worn out from mentally picking it all up.
Threatening signs of $1,000 fines do zero good. Is it possible to ever correct this scourge of our society? Probably not, but what if we look to the children?
What if teachers of the very young took their children to pick up the trash, with signs, "Children picking up adult trash." Maybe, just maybe, adults could find justifiable shame in seeing our precious children cleaning up adult messes. A glimmer of hope burns with today's children being taught about littering in their beginning classes. They know to respect the earth, which gives us so much.
Finally, one day we will all become a part of this earth one way or the other. To do so beneath a layer of trash, well, that's just unconscionable.
MARGARET EVANS
Roland
Editorial on 01/04/2018